Former Vim user here - made the switch to Emacs last year.

My advice: start with vanilla Emacs + use-package for plugin management. Don't jump into Doom/Spacemacs right away.

Essential packages I'd recommend: • evil-mode (if you want Vim keybindings) • magit (best Git interface ever) • company (autocompletion) • projectile (project management)

The key is understanding how Emacs actually works (buffers, windows, frames) before layering on complexity. Once you get that, everything clicks.

Good luck with the journey!