Re-learning Vim (11)

TOC

Frequently used (n)vim actions

Here are my frequently used vim tricks under my LazyVim settings.

• change VIM operation mode

  • <esc> or quick jk – INSERT to NORMAL
  • a / A – NORMAL to INSERT (after cursor/line)
  • i / I – NORMAL to INSERT (before cursor/line)
  • o / O – NORMAL to INSERT with a open line (after/before)
  • R – NORMAL to REPLACE (on cursor)
    • r is for single char and not so useful (?may remap to R?)
  • v / V / <C-v> – NORMAL to VISUAL / V-LINE / V-BLOCK

  For NORMAL mode:

• cursor motions

  • h / j / k / l – cursor move
    • j shape points to downward.
    • k shape points to upward.
  • <c-h> / <c-j> / <c-k> / <c-l> – window jump
  • H / L – tabline jump (remapped)
    • J – join line, K – LSP
  • <C-left> / <c-down> / <c-up> / <c-right> – window resize
  • w b and W B – next(forward)/previous(backward) start of word
  • e ge and E gE – next/previous end of word
  • g and ] and [ + α – move with which-key selection
  • gg – move to the top of file
  • G – move to the bottom of file
  • 0 – move to the first column of the line
  • ^ – move to the first non-white space char of the line
  • $ – move to the last column of the line

• searches

  • f / F / t / T + {char}
    • fβi == tβa but I tend to use prior
    • repeat with , and ;, prefix with repeats
  • / / ? + {string} – repeat with n and N
  • * / # – repeat with n and N
  • m + β – mark as β
  • ' + β – jump to β (You may use `` (backtick) instead of’`)

• screen motions and foldings

  • <c-b> / <c-u> / <c-d> / <c-f> – screen jump (up, up/2, down/2, down)
  • zt – position cursor line at the top of screen
  • zz – position cursor line at the center of screen
  • zb – position cursor line at the bottom of screen
  • z + α – fold operations with which-key selection

• actions

  • u – Undo
  • <C-r> – Redo
  • . – Repeat

• actions with motion or text objects

  • c / d / y + {motion}
    • ciw change in a word (inside)
    • cib change in a whole balanced (...) [...] {...}
    • cit change in a whole balanced <tag>...</tag>
    • ci" change in a whole balanced "..."
    • c5e change next 5 words from cursor
  • v + cursor moves + c / d / y – actions with visual selection

• actions cut and paste like

  • p – paste (after)
  • P – paste (before)
  • dd – delete a whole line
  • D – delete cursor to the end of line
  • cc – delete a whole line and insert
  • C – delete cursor to the end of line and insert
  • J – join with the next line

• actions with MACRO

  • q + β – record MACRO as β
  • q – End-Recording MACRO
  • @ + β – Play Recorded MACRO
  • Q – Play the last Recorded MACRO
  • <C-r> + α – paste with selection + α

• global substitutions

  • :%s/pattern/subst/gc – all lines in the file
  • :cdo s/pattern/subst/gc – all quickfix lines

• reformat (V-LINE mode)

  • gq – reformat LSP
  • gw – reformat VIM
  • = – re-indent
  • > – increase indent
  • < – reduce indent

• Tag jumps (:help)

  • <C-]> – jump to link-destination
  • <C-t> – jump back to link-source
  • <C-i> / <C-o>: jump next / previous link-destination

• quickfix tricks

  • :vim /pattern/ % – search within a file
  • :gr 'pattern' ## – search within all open files
  • :cdo {cmd} and :cfdo {cmd} – execute {cmd} for all quickfix items
  • :cex script.sh
  • [q and ]q mapped to :cprev and :cnext
  • :packadd cfilter and use :Cfilter[!] – maybe not as useful over <leader>xs with <tab>.
    • :colder and :cnewer
  • Quickfix FzfLua UI
    • <leader>xs (or <leader>st) to access quickfix list
      • <Tab> / <S-Tab> is to mark list item
      • <c-q> / <m-q> is to down-select to marked or unmarked items
    • <leader>xh is to access quickfix stack to access older quickfix list
  • :h – help
  • :on – only
  • :wall – write all buffers
  • :qa – quit all buffers if already saved

Here, I used:

• “α” for a which-key prompted key input.
• “β” for a single character input.

For INSERT mode:

• <c-c> – Quit insert mode (It seems this is useful when resize cause screen freeze.)
• <c-u> – Erase line before cursor
• <c-v> – Input non-ascii using octal etc.
• <c-w> – Erase a word before cursor
• <c-r> – Insert register (with which-key help)

I realize I don’t use nor remember other esoteric keymps (especially ones in INSERT mode.).

Benefit of LazyVim over plain Nvim

Linters and formaters assisted by easy install via mason are the biggest benefit of using LazyVim.

LazyVim specific tricks

Now :message is shown in pop-up. Use <leader>snh or <leader>m to check.

Give up for now

• Stay out of “Lication list” and stick to “Quickfix List”
• Stay out of DAP
• Keep tab and navigate with H / L and give up using their native functions.