Efficient Editing With vim

by ninjac0der • 17 years ago

218 121 17 years ago

10ren• 17 years ago

Cool feature I discovered today, for multi-file project navigation:

  :tag yourMethodNameHere

Tab-completion works, so typing ":tag yourM", and pressing tab repeatedly cycles through all the tags with that prefix (you need to have created the tags file with ctags first).

mustpax• 17 years ago

Tag jumping is also cool: Ctrl-] will jump to the tag under the cursor and pushes the current location on the tag. Ctrl-T pops the tag stack and moves you back to your previous location. Good for checking the definition of a function and jumping back.

jballanc• 17 years ago

See, this is one of the things I love about Vim: there's always something new to learn! Somehow I had overlooked "K" to go to man pages. The other thing I love about Vim is the excellent documentation! I wanted to know more about "K" so I typed ":help K" and learned that, for example, if you're editing Ruby and would rather use 'ri' in place of 'man', all you have to do is add ":set keywordprg=ri" to your .vimrc (and if you have the ruby.vim files, it's already done for you).

pyre4• 17 years ago

Just a note, but ':help' doesn't always go to what you want. For example the option 'smartindent' (set with ':set smartindent') can be abbreviated as ':set si', but ':help si' takes you to the help for the ':sim[alt]' command.

It's useful to note that when searching through help you type something like:

  :help 'si'

To get help on a variable and:

  :help :si

To get help on a command. The first form would take you to the help entry for 'smartindent' and the second would take you to the entry for :simalt. If you just use:

  :help si

It will just find the first match for 'si', which in this case is the tag :si and not the tag 'si'.

Other possible confusions with :help are:

  :help tab

Will take to the help for <Tab> (the tab key/tab character), whereas the help page for all the things related to Vim tabs is:

  :help tabpage

(though :help tabs will take you to the :tabs command which is part of the tabpage help doc)

graywh7• 17 years ago

":help help-context" explains this. And :h 'si' is for an option, not a variable.

And what's up with highlighting the most abused and misunderstood option ever? 'cindent' replaced 'smartindent', and usually you want "filetype indent on" in your .vimrc, not "set si" or "set cin".

nfnaaron• 17 years ago

:help si<CTL-D> (type :help space s i and control-d after the i) will give you all available variations in help on si, including 'si' and si among many others.

CTL-D is a sort of intelli-suggest in context (except it's move 1/2 page down in command mode)

:help<CTL-D> gives variations of help in your installation.

:help <CTL-D> (help then space then control-D) gives more variations.

:help help<CTL-D> (ask for help on help, with a control-D immediately after the last p) gives more variations on help.

:help c_CTRL-D (literally typed just like that) is the help entry for using CTL-D on the command line.

:help CTRL-D<CTL-D> (everything up to the first D literally, then control-D) lists all the different help subjects for CTRL-D in various contexts.

:<CTL-D> (control-D immediately after typing colon) lists all the things you can do on the command line, including help.

Help.

soundphed2• 17 years ago

dont forget :helpgrep !

graywh7• 17 years ago

Actually, you would use an ftplugin or autocmd to :set keywordprg=ri only when ft=ruby, which is what the ruby.vim files do. In fact, they are already part of the standard runtime files distribution.

daok• 17 years ago

I think it's the first time that I want to install vim to try it. As a Windows user, I always found NotePad++ and other text editor an easier choice but I can now see some powerfull utilities to vim now. Very clear article.

cturner2• 17 years ago

(I'm just throwing tips in comments where I see opportunities to help people who find any of the same niggles I've had over the years.)

Users who want to run Windows vim with no titlebar, create a file _vimrc in your base vim directory (on my windows desktop it's C:\Program Files\Vim). In this, put this line:

    set guioptions-=T

pyre4• 17 years ago

You can control a lot of things with guioptions. I would recommend doing a:

  :help guioptions

graywh7• 17 years ago

You mean toolbar?

scott_s4• 17 years ago

I feel silly for only recently discovering tabs in vim.

  :tabnew file

Opens up a new tab,

  :tabn

Goes to the next tab, and

  :tabp

Goes to the previous tab. Works great in both gui and non-gui mode.

DannoHung• 17 years ago

gt and gT in command mode also do next tab and previous tab

solutionyogi2• 17 years ago

Awesome, I didn't know this shortcut before! Much better than using :tabn :tabp !

bockris2• 17 years ago

also #gt will go that tab number. I've changed my tab text to show the number in parenthesis before the name.

apotheon20• 17 years ago

I never bothered to learn that stuff before I started using Vimperator. I tend to prefer buffers over tabs for dealing with multiple files in a single Vim instance, so I never had much use for tab-related keybindings until I started using a vi-like interface for a tabbed browser.

Maybe that's just me, though.

cturner2• 17 years ago

Similar to this, you can open up multiple files at the same time without saving.

    set bufhidden
    nmap <C-h> :bp
    nmap <C-l> :bn

If you put this in your .vimrc file, you'll need to put a '^M' at the end of the nmap lines. You do this by doing <C-v><C-m> and it puts in a special character that means newline. Then you can switch between open buffers with ctrl+l and ctrl+h even if you have unsaved changes. it will end up looking like this:

    set bufhidden
    nmap <C-h> :bp^M
    nmap <C-l> :bn^M

Unfortunately if you have many files open and don't touch them all it prevents you from quitting with a message 'E173: 17 more files to edit'. I haven't worked out how to obliterate this without damaging features I want (e.g. not quitting when there's unsaved data in those other files).

The default vim that ships with linux distributions is often a pile of junk that has been hacked by the distribution, is missing features like these. You want to get vim-extended under redhat-like distributions (they've significantly improved the quality if their junk vim in recent releases), and vim-nox or vim-full in debian-like distributions.

graywh7• 17 years ago

Instead of a literal ^M in the file, just use <CR>.

And I think you mean "set hidden".

And regarding E173: You can :qa, which won't lose any unsaved changes.

And the proper vim package for Debian or Ubuntu is "vim". "vim-full" is the old name and it just installs "vim".

Prolitheus5• 17 years ago

I rely on buffers rather than tabs, too, and find minibufexplorer.vim to be a great addition: http://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=159

EAMiller2• 17 years ago

I never got the hang of tabs. I got comfortable with buffers before tabs were out, and I didn't see anything that tabs could offer that buffers don't. I probably have my screen split between two buffers 60% of the time. Once in a while I have my screen split with screen AND with vim :D

apinstein2• 17 years ago

tabs are pretty cool, but I like split and a set of macros I use for easily switching. The main reason I prefer split screen to tabs is that I often want to see code in the other buffer while I work.

Open up a file, :split a new one, and then try these:

map <C-j> <C-w>j80<C-w>+ " up one window, maximized map <C-k> <C-w>k80<C-w>+ " down one window, maximized map <C-h> 80<C-w>+ " maximize current window map <C-i> <C-w>= " all windows equal height

apinstein2• 17 years ago

tabs are pretty cool, but I like split and a set of macros I use for easily switching. The main reason I prefer split screen to tabs is that I often want to see code in the other buffer while I work.

Open up a file, :split a new one, and then try these:

map <C-j> <C-w>j80<C-w>+ " up one window, maximized map <C-k> <C-w>k80<C-w>+ " down one window, maximized map <C-h> 80<C-w>+ " maximize current window map <C-i> <C-w>= " all windows equal height

wooby2• 17 years ago

You can always open files as tabs at startup too with -p, like this: vim -p foo.c foo.h

scott_s4• 17 years ago

Thanks, I've made frequent use of doing that with -o (horizontal split) and -O (vertical split).

lanstein• 17 years ago

Amazingly, this is the first I've heard of fx/tx/Fx. How ridiculously awesome.

latortuga• 17 years ago

This is especially powerful when trying to move small chunks of code around. Say you have something like

document.getElementById('asweetid')

and you want to grab just the id for use elsewhere. In command mode pressing f' will move your cursor to the quote, yf' will put 'asweetid' into your yank register and a p anywhere else will paste it. I also make heavy use of ctx where x is a character on a line that I want to replace up to. The best part about vim, I think, is how I think about the commands in my head and they just kind of flow out of my fingers.

"Hmm I want to change (press c) to (press t) that closing paren (press shift 0)."

Even just typing that my left hand instinctively moved toward the caps lock to go to command mode.

nostrademons2• 17 years ago

Yeah, I use 'dt,' or 'dt)' all the time to move single arguments of functions around, and 'd%' to move the function calls themselves.

puffythefish2• 17 years ago

yi' will also work in this example.

joshuaxls3• 17 years ago

I have this printed out and taped up right next to my monitor: http://wint1.kaist.ac.kr/files/attach/images/59/450/vi-vim-c...

It's helped me polish off those last few vim commands that I never got used to. I recommend looking at it daily.

chewbranca2• 17 years ago

I've got that cheat sheet saved on my computer and I've looked at it several times before, but today was the first time I realized that you can hit '&' to repeat the last :s command on the current line. Very slick!!

sofal• 17 years ago

I thought I was a Vim master and I just looked at that and discovered once again how stupid and inefficient I've been this whole time. This sort of thing keeps happening to me with Vim.

mhansen2• 17 years ago

Source: http://www.viemu.com/a_vi_vim_graphical_cheat_sheet_tutorial...

That's the tutorial that fed me that chart in easy-to-manage pieces, easing me into vim nicely.

Also highly recommended, the rant by the same guy: http://www.viemu.com/a-why-vi-vim.html

mrshoe• 17 years ago

Nooooo all of the secrets of our vim cult revealed in one easy-to-read document! Vim is hard, people! Trust me. You're not smart enough to use it.

:-P

pyre4• 17 years ago

Actually, I find that Emacs has a steeper learning curve than Vi/Vim. I had an easier time learning to switch between command/insert modes than to try and get comfortable with all of the Meta-/Control- sequences in Emacs.

{edit} not to start a flame war.. to each their own {/edit}

apotheon20• 17 years ago

I find that Vim's learning "curve" is almost vertical at first, but Emacs' gets worse as it goes while Vim's gets better. There's an image here that illustrates the phenomenon pretty well:

http://sob.apotheon.org/?p=981

It's sort of a "ha ha only serious" moment.

justinhj• 17 years ago

You can use a text editor for your whole working life, so what doesn't matter is the learning curve. What matters is what you can do once you're an expert.

grosales• 17 years ago

Pretty cool, I was learning Vim through "A Byte of Vim" at http://www.swaroopch.com/notes/Vim

Tihy• 17 years ago

Warning: learning Vim makes you look for Vim like commands in any program you interact with using the keyboard. Everything else will be frustrating.

scott_s4• 17 years ago

By force of habit, when I wanted to close an IM window, I have typed

:q

Instead of switching to the mouse and hitting the "x". Then I had to explain to the person that I wasn't sticking my tongue out at them.

nostrademons2• 17 years ago

I once wrote ":tabnew something.js" in my IM window and sent it before I realized that the wrong window had focus. The person replied with, "bash: :tabnew: command not found." I told him, "I was hoping you were vim, actually".

Pistos2• 17 years ago

I've hit Ctrl-W to try to delete a word, and ended up closing an IRC window. It's not exclusive to vim. :)

graywh7• 17 years ago

We see a lot of ":q" messages in #vim.

joshuaxls3• 17 years ago

I would kill for GMail to add vim-like text editing.

branden• 17 years ago

Have you heard of the "It's All Text" Firefox extension? It copies the content of any textarea to a tempfile and opens it up in an external editor of your choice. Writes to the tempfile are copied back to the textarea. It's not quite in-browser vim, but it's pretty close. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4125

pyre4• 17 years ago

Try the "it's all text!" Firefox extension.

apotheon20• 17 years ago

Meh. I just use Mutt.

greyfade3• 17 years ago

Try Vimperator. <C-i> opens gvim for the currently-focused text box.

hernan7• 17 years ago

20-year user of vi here... yes, once you get used to vi, going back to an editor for humans is hard.

GrandMasterBirt2• 17 years ago

I am still waiting for Vim FPS style (WSAD navigation keys, sniper scopes to skip words and all... sure it might need 3d graphics but hey, its the price you pay).

apotheon20• 17 years ago

Yeah -- giving up my transhuman lifestyle would be difficult.

tdavis• 17 years ago

It's gotten to the point now where the first thing I say about any editor is, "That's cool and all... but does it have vim key bindings?" If it doesn't.... :q

I don't care how many built-in debuggers your IDE has; if I can't navigate it like I can vim, it's infinitely less productive for me.

njharman• 17 years ago

I created this bash alias cause I was typing it so much at the the command line.

    alias :e=vim

chewbranca2• 17 years ago

hahahaha same here!

acg• 17 years ago

Have you tried vim like browsing?

http://vimperator.org/trac/wiki/Vimperator

For keyboard lovers.

apotheon20• 17 years ago

I'm using it now, as a matter of fact.

chickamade• 17 years ago

Can you explain why Vimperator is a good idea. As a vim user myself, I understand vim was designed first and foremost to input and edit text using the keyboard, is bringing those key bindings to browsing the web is a good idea?

For the best navigating experience, I feel Opera does really well. You keep one hand on the keyboard (nearing 1, 2 to switch tab; and z, x to move back & forth in history) and one hand on the mouse to click around & do gestures.

malditogeek2• 17 years ago

I've been using it for a long time and totally love it. I have the same mappings I have for Vim, for open and move between tabs and so on. It's an awesome tool.

wooby2• 17 years ago

You can always get vim keys in any readline-enabled terminal program (like bash) by creating ~/.inputrc and putting this in it:

set editing-mode vi set keymap vi

http://vim.wikia.com/wiki/Use_vi_shortcuts_in_terminal

travisp• 17 years ago

But, if something does have vim bindings, even in a limited manner, it suddenly gains extraordinary appeal (e.g. keyboard navigation in gmail)

barrkel2• 17 years ago

I find it amusing that he asserts "blockwise selection mode. Extremely powerful and available in very few other editors".

Blockwise selection mode is available in almost every Windows editor I use - from the Delphi IDE, Visual Studio, even to Notepad2, Shift+Alt does block selection, or alternatively Alt + mouse selection.

tetha2• 17 years ago

plus I still have to see a use for it. Usually I just go linewise or, inside a line, with movements like f) or $.

barrkel2• 17 years ago

It's mostly useful for ASCII diagrams, in conjunction with overwrite mode.

bbest86• 17 years ago

You can use it to block indent/unindent code, I find that quite useful.

puffythefish2• 17 years ago

I'm not familiar with most Windows editors, but — at least on OS X — although blockwise selection is available in most editors, blockwise insertion like vim has is usually left out.

E.g., in vim say I have a list like this that I wanted to append a period to on each line (a simple example, but you can see its uses):

    foo
    bar
    baz

I would just type block-wise select it (<c-v>$jj) and then type A.<esc>

I use this feature all the time.

mhansen2• 17 years ago

Wow, I had no idea you could bulk-insert that easily! Thanks for sharing

durdn• 17 years ago

This is one of the best articles to speed up vim proficiency. When I read it a long while ago it really made a difference in my speed and typing joy.

If you guys love these kind of vim related posts, a while ago I had collected some good articles with brilliant tips:

http://durdn.com/blog/2008/11/26/vim-mind-share-soaring-roun...

mkramlich• 17 years ago

vi is my favorite Rogue-like, with NetHack in close second, and my own http://DeadByZombie.com in third.

vi is the only Rogue-like where you can get real work done with it. And every time you learn a new trick it's like your XP level or attribs go up, or you've descended down to a new more evil level of the dungeon, with more powerful monsters to fight with your enhanced vi-fu.

apotheon20• 17 years ago

. . . and I thought vi(m) was awesome before!

I will never look at the king of all editors quite the same way. You have my thanks, mkramlich. May your life be long and prosperous.

(I totally didn't mean that to sound like a Vulcan blessing, I swear.)

Prolitheus5• 17 years ago

A decent intro; I'd add to the movement section these:

g$ - move cursor to last displayed character of line

Tx - move cursor backward and to the right of the first occurrence of x (reverse of tx)

And get started with split views:

^ws - horizontal split view

^wv - vertical split view

^w{h,j,k,l} - move to window in respective direction

Some decent scripts to get started with:

minibufexpl.vim: http://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=159

surround.vim: http://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=1697

More of a full-fledge suite, a frontend to a head{ed,less} Eclipse server: http://eclim.sourceforge.net

EAMiller2• 17 years ago

Another nice script I discovered recently is Nerd Tree : http://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=1658

Prolitheus5• 17 years ago

Nerd Tree is indeed a good one, and I'll add to this vimfs, which isn't a Vim plugin but rather a CLI file system browser with Vim bindings. I hardly ever actually browse my file system (zfs, grep, and locate do all of the work for me), so I'm not sure how much mileage one can get out of this (especially compared to something like Midnight Commander).

Prolitheus5• 17 years ago

^[ - Same as Esc (I prefer not reaching so far to Esc)

W - move forward a Word

B - move backward a Word

makecheck• 17 years ago

It is also very useful to learn the code-folding commands ("z*"). Rather than repeat them here, just say ":help fold".

yurifury• 17 years ago

:Ex is a very useful command. And at first I thought that doing 'vim foo' where foo was a folder was just a quirk of UNIX, but eventually I figured that it's a folder browse view.

No more feeling around folder structures with ':e'!

pssdbt• 17 years ago

Love me some vim, but isn't this kind of old? It is awesome though - think I used it back when I was getting started with vim.

malditogeek2• 17 years ago

TIP for the Vim lovers out there:

Firefox: you can do a quick search hitting '/' Skype [Mac]: you can replace text in your last sent message with the 's/<old>/<new>/' syntax

I would love to hear about other apps with Vim-ish behavior :)

VIM IS FULL OF WIN!

soundphed2• 17 years ago

if you are viming on an osx macbook of some sort and are sick of the damn small-ass control key they left us with, i've found it helpful to remap the caps lock key to control. you can do this easily in System Prefs > Keyboard > Modifier Keys. so now you can <esc> insert mode with the ^[, hardly moving your hands at all.

This works for me personally because I very rarely find myself even thinking about or noticing the true CAPS key, but if you are stuck on your CAPS bein CAPS, then this wouldn't be for you :!)

gnubardt• 17 years ago

remapping capslock -> esc will make editing so much easier and faster. being able to easily enter command mode has increased my speed more than anything else, it's also really useful in other interfaces, to be able to quickly hit escape instead of reaching over to the top of the keyboard.

add xmodmap -e 'clear Lock' -e 'keycode 0x42 = Escape' to your ~/.xinitrc on linux

graywh7• 17 years ago

Remapping capslock to another control will make editing even easier and faster. Especially when you realize escape can be entered with ctrl-[ and sometimes ctrl-3.

Efficient Editing With vim

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