Vim Editor

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This notes is according to MIT’s course: missing-semester: Editors(Vim)

Vim

Vim is a command line based code editor, designed for programmers and designed by programmers. And other visual editors like VS Code can also integrate vim mode for advanced coding experience.

The core philosophy of vim editor is command, all operations are done by typing keys, using without mouse. After being familiar with these key settings, the speed of programming can be extremely improved.

Modes of vim

Vim contains several operating modes for different using:

  • Normal: navigating, moving, and simple editing. Press ESC for back to normal mode.
  • Insert: inserting text. Press i for switching to insert mode.
  • Replace: replacing text. Press shift-r for switching to replace mode.
  • Visual:
    • Visual-plain: selecting text by cursor movement. Press v.
    • Visual-line: selecting text by line. Press shift-v.
    • Visual-block: selecting text by block. Press ctrl-v.
  • Command-line: running command. Press shift-;.

Command-line

By pressing : to get into command-line mode, where can send command to operating thw vim in a whole.

  • :q | quit (or close current window).
  • :w | write and save.
  • :wq | save and quit.
  • :e {filename} | open file and edit.
  • :ls | show open buffers.
  • :help {topic} | open help
    • :help :w | help info for command :w.
    • :help w | help info for command w.

Cursor movement

  • Basic movement: hjkl | left, down, up, right.
  • Move by word: w, b, e | next word, beginning of word, end of word.
  • Move by line: 0, ^, $ | beginning of line, first non-blank character, end of line.
  • Move by screen: H, M, L | top of screen, middle of screen, bottom of screen.
  • Scroll: ctrl-u, ctrl-d | scroll up, scroll down.
  • Move by file: gg, G | beginning of file, end of file.
  • Misc: % | corresponding item.
  • Find: f{char}, t{char}, F{char}, T{char} | find\to forward\backward character on the current line.
  • Search: /{regex}, n, N | navigating match items.

Edits

  • i | enter insert mode.
  • o, O | insert line below, insert line above.
  • d{motion} | delete by motion command.
    • dw | delete word.
    • d$ | delete to end of line.
    • d0 | delete to beginning of line.
  • c{motion} | change by motion command.
  • x | delete character.
  • s | substitute character.
  • u | undo.
  • ctrl-r | redo.
  • y | copy
  • p | paste.

Counts

By using command pattern {number}{command} can do this command by times.

  • 3w move 3 words forward.
  • 5j move 5 lines down.
  • 7dw delete 7 words.

Modifiers

While using delete or change command, add i or a can specify the command is done inside or around.

  • ci( | change content inside current pair of parentheses.
  • ci[ | change content inside current pair of square brackets.
  • da' | delete a single-quoted string, including the surrounding single quotes.