Vim like navigation keys for Finder
Vim can get addictive once we get the hang of it. To vim-ify the Finder is a lovely idea.

However, what features are you thinking about? For example, browsing files using the navigation keys h, j, k, l, then pressing i to enter edit mode and rename files or folders?

Vim’s power lies in text mode, whereas macOS interface is designed to be used with a mouse/trackpad. It may be better to stick with vim to process textual information, and to use mouse/trackpad in a graphical environment.

By the way, I cannot see a simple and effective way to hack the Finder (as you said Karabiner is fantastic, but it just won't do it). It would probably require to program a specific macOS Finder utility using Swift.

Alternatively:


Some code editors can be controlled the vim way, like Sublime Text with enabling the Vintage Mode.
Web browsers can be controlled the vim way: Chrome with Vimium or cVim, Firefox with Vimium-FF or Vim Vixen (thanks to @Ruslan and @wchargin for mentioning it)
The bash shell running in Terminal.app can be used in vi mode using set -o vi or set editing-mode vi.
There are great textual file managers ready to install via Homebrew that worth a try, like:


nnn. To install run brew install nnn.
lf. To install run brew install lf.
vifm. To install run brew lf.
ranger. To install run brew install ranger.
midnight-commander. To install run brew install midnight-commander. Run by typing mc.
fdclone. To install run brew install fdclone. Run by typing fd.