Pros of coc.nvim

• Supports a wide range of language servers, including LSP, Vim script, and more
• Provides a rich set of features, such as code completion, code actions, and diagnostics
• Integrates well with other Vim/Neovim plugins, making it a powerful and extensible solution

Cons of coc.nvim

• Requires a significant amount of configuration to set up and customize
• Can be slower than some other LSP clients, especially for large projects
• Dependency on Node.js may be a concern for some users

Code Comparison

coc.nvim:

" Use tab for trigger completion with characters ahead and navigate.
inoremap <silent><expr> <TAB>
      \ pumvisible() ? "\<C-n>" :
      \ <SID>check_back_space() ? "\<TAB>" :
      \ coc#refresh()
inoremap <expr><S-TAB> pumvisible() ? "\<C-p>" : "\<C-h>"

function! s:check_back_space() abort
  let col = col('.') - 1
  return !col || getline('.')[col - 1]  =~# '\s'
endfunction

vim-lsp:

function! s:on_lsp_buffer_enabled() abort
    setlocal omnifunc=lsp#complete
    setlocal signcolumn=yes
    if exists('+tagfunc') | setlocal tagfunc=lsp#tagfunc | endif
    nmap <buffer> gd <plug>(lsp-definition)
    nmap <buffer> gs <plug>(lsp-document-symbol-search)
    nmap <buffer> gS <plug>(lsp-workspace-symbol-search)
    nmap <buffer> gr <plug>(lsp-references)
    nmap <buffer> gi <plug>(lsp-implementation)
    nmap <buffer> gt <plug>(lsp-type-definition)
    nmap <buffer> <leader>rn <plug>(lsp-rename)
    nmap <buffer> [g <plug>(lsp-previous-diagnostic)
    nmap <buffer> ]g <plug>(lsp-next-diagnostic)
    nmap <buffer> K <plug>(lsp-hover)
endfunction

Pros of ALE

• ALE supports a wide range of linters and formatters, including language servers, making it a versatile choice for various programming languages.
• ALE provides a consistent interface for integrating these tools, simplifying the configuration and usage across different projects.
• ALE offers features like automatic fixing of code issues, which can improve developer productivity.

Cons of ALE

• ALE may have a higher learning curve compared to Vim LSP, as it requires configuring and integrating multiple linters and formatters.
• ALE's performance may be slightly slower than Vim LSP, as it needs to manage and coordinate multiple external tools.

Code Comparison

Vim LSP:

" Initialize the language server
if executable('pyls')
    au User lsp_setup call lsp#register_server({
        \ 'name': 'pyls',
        \ 'cmd': {server_info->['pyls']},
        \ 'whitelist': ['python'],
    \ })
endif

ALE:

" Configure ALE to use the Python language server
let g:ale_linters = {
    \ 'python': ['pyls'],
    \ }
let g:ale_fixers = {
    \ 'python': ['black', 'isort'],
    \ }

Pros of LanguageClient-neovim

• Supports a wide range of programming languages and language servers, including popular ones like Python, JavaScript, and Go.
• Provides a more comprehensive set of features, such as code completion, go-to-definition, and code formatting.
• Integrates with a variety of Vim/Neovim plugins, allowing for a more seamless development experience.

Cons of LanguageClient-neovim

• Requires more configuration and setup compared to vim-lsp, which may be a barrier for some users.
• May have a larger footprint in terms of resource usage, as it includes more functionality.
• Might not be as actively maintained as vim-lsp, which has a dedicated maintainer.

Code Comparison

Here's a brief comparison of the code for setting up a language server in both projects:

LanguageClient-neovim:

let g:LanguageClient_serverCommands = {
    \ 'python': ['pyls'],
    \ 'javascript': ['javascript-typescript-stdio'],
    \ 'go': ['gopls'],
    \ }

nnoremap <F5> :call LanguageClient_contextMenu()<CR>

vim-lsp:

if executable('pyls')
    au User lsp_setup call lsp#register_server({
        \ 'name': 'pyls',
        \ 'cmd': {server_info->['pyls']},
        \ 'whitelist': ['python'],
        \ })
endif

if executable('gopls')
    au User lsp_setup call lsp#register_server({
        \ 'name': 'gopls',
        \ 'cmd': {server_info->['gopls']},
        \ 'whitelist': ['go'],
        \ })
endif

As you can see, LanguageClient-neovim provides a more concise configuration, while vim-lsp requires more explicit registration of language servers.

Pros of neovim/nvim-lspconfig

• Easier Configuration: neovim/nvim-lspconfig provides a more streamlined and modular approach to configuring Language Server Protocol (LSP) clients, making it easier to set up and manage multiple LSP servers.
• Wider Ecosystem: neovim/nvim-lspconfig is part of the larger Neovim ecosystem, which means it benefits from a wider range of community-contributed configurations and integrations.
• Improved Maintainability: neovim/nvim-lspconfig is actively maintained by the Neovim team, ensuring better long-term support and bug fixes.

Cons of neovim/nvim-lspconfig

• Limited Vim Support: neovim/nvim-lspconfig is primarily focused on Neovim, and while it can be used with Vim, the integration may not be as seamless as with prabirshrestha/vim-lsp.
• Steeper Learning Curve: Configuring neovim/nvim-lspconfig may require a deeper understanding of the Neovim ecosystem and its conventions, which can be a barrier for some users.
• Potential Compatibility Issues: As neovim/nvim-lspconfig is tightly integrated with Neovim, there may be compatibility issues when using it with older versions of Vim or other Vim-based plugins.

Code Comparison

prabirshrestha/vim-lsp:

function! s:on_lsp_buffer_enabled() abort
    setlocal omnifunc=lsp#complete
    setlocal signcolumn=yes
    if exists('+tagfunc') | setlocal tagfunc=lsp#tagfunc | endif
    nmap <buffer> gd <plug>(lsp-definition)
    nmap <buffer> gs <plug>(lsp-document-symbol)
    nmap <buffer> gr <plug>(lsp-references)
endfunction

neovim/nvim-lspconfig:

local on_attach = function(client, bufnr)
    vim.api.nvim_buf_set_option(bufnr, 'omnifunc', 'v:lua.vim.lsp.omnifunc')
    vim.api.nvim_buf_set_option(bufnr, 'signcolumn', 'yes')

    local opts = { noremap = true, silent = true }
    vim.api.nvim_buf_set_keymap(bufnr, 'n', 'gd', '<cmd>lua vim.lsp.buf.definition()<CR>', opts)
    vim.api.nvim_buf_set_keymap(bufnr, 'n', 'gs', '<cmd>lua vim.lsp.buf.document_symbol()<CR>', opts)
    vim.api.nvim_buf_set_keymap(bufnr, 'n', 'gr', '<cmd>lua vim.lsp.buf.references()<CR>', opts)
end