Vim

Vim

Vim Modes

Vim operates in several modes, each with a different purpose:

  • Normal Mode (Command Mode):
    • The default mode when you open Vim.
    • Used for navigating and editing text.
    • Common commands: h, j, k, l (move cursor), x (delete character), dd (delete line), yy (copy line), p (paste).
  • Insert Mode:
    • Entered by pressing i, a, o, etc.
    • Used for inserting or modifying text.
    • Return to Normal mode by pressing Esc.
  • Visual Mode:
    • Entered by pressing v (character-wise), V (line-wise), or Ctrl+v (block-wise).
    • Used to select text for operations like copying or deleting.
    • Commands: y (yank/copy), d (delete), >, < (indentation).
  • Command-Line Mode: Entered by pressing : in Normal mode. Used for executing commands like saving, quitting, searching, and more. Example: :w (save), :q (quit), :wq (save and quit), :x (save and quit).

Basic Vim Commands

  • Opening a File:
    • vim filename: Opens a file in Vim.
    • vim -R filename: Opens a file in read-only mode.
  • Saving and Quitting:
    • :w: Save the file.
    • :w filename: Save as a new file.
    • :q: Quit Vim.
    • :wq: Save and quit.
    • :q!: Quit without saving.
    • ZZ: Save and quit (Normal mode).
  • Navigation:
    • h, j, k, l: Move cursor left, down, up, right.
    • 0: Move to the beginning of the line.
    • $: Move to the end of the line.
    • gg: Move to the beginning of the file.
    • G: Move to the end of the file.
    • Ctrl+d, Ctrl+u: Scroll half-page down, up.
    • Ctrl+f, Ctrl+b: Scroll full-page down, up.
  • Editing:
    • i: Enter Insert mode before the cursor.
    • a: Enter Insert mode after the cursor.
    • o: Open a new line below and enter Insert mode.
    • O: Open a new line above and enter Insert mode.
    • x: Delete the character under the cursor.
    • dw: Delete word.
    • dd: Delete line.
    • u: Undo.
    • Ctrl+r: Redo.
    • y: Yank (copy) selected text.
    • p: Paste after the cursor.
    • P: Paste before the cursor.
  • Search and Replace:
    • /pattern: Search for a pattern.
    • n: Repeat search forward.
    • N: Repeat search backward.
    • :%s/old/new/g: Replace all occurrences of old with new in the entire file.
    • :s/old/new/g: Replace in the current line.

Advanced Vim Features

  • Registers:
    • Vim has named registers ("a, "b, …) for copying and pasting.
    • Use "ay to yank into register a and "ap to paste from register a.
  • Macros:
    • Record and replay sequences of commands.
    • q<register>: Start recording a macro into a register (e.g., qa).
    • q: Stop recording.
    • @a: Replay the macro in register a.
  • Marks:
    • Set marks to jump between points in a file.
    • m<letter>: Set a mark (e.g., ma).
    • 'a: Jump to the mark a.
  • Buffers, Windows, and Tabs:
    • Buffers: Multiple files opened in Vim.
      • :bnext, :bprev: Navigate between buffers.
    • Windows: Split screen for editing multiple files simultaneously.
      • :split filename, :vsplit filename: Split horizontally or vertically.
      • Ctrl+w + h/j/k/l: Navigate between windows.
    • Tabs: Open files in tabs.
      • :tabnew filename: Open a file in a new tab.
      • gt, gT: Navigate between tabs.
  • Text Objects:
    • Operate on text objects like words, sentences, paragraphs.
    • diw: Delete inside word.
    • dap: Delete a paragraph.

Customization

  • .vimrc File:
    • Vim configuration file located in your home directory.
    • Example settings:
    set number          " Show line numbers
syntax on           " Enable syntax highlighting
set tabstop=4       " Set tab width to 4 spaces
set expandtab       " Convert tabs to spaces
set shiftwidth=4    " Indentation width
set autoindent      " Enable automatic indentation
  • Plugins:
    • Extend Vim’s functionality with plugins.
    • Vim Plugin Managers:
      • Vundle: Plugin manager for Vim.
      • Pathogen: Simplifies plugin management.
      • vim-plug: A minimalist plugin manager.
    • Example .vimrc for plugins:
call plug#begin('~/.vim/plugged')
Plug 'scrooloose/nerdtree'           " File explorer
Plug 'tpope/vim-fugitive'            " Git integration
call plug#end()
  • Themes:
    • Change the color scheme of Vim.
    • Example: ```vim colorscheme desert ” Set color scheme to desert

### Using Vundle

```sh
git clone https://github.com/VundleVim/Vundle.vim.git ~/.vim/bundle/Vundle.vim
vim +PluginInstall +qall

inside .vimrc


set nocompatible              " Required for Vundle
filetype off                  " Required for Vundle

" Set the runtime path to include Vundle and initialize
set rtp+=~/.vim/bundle/Vundle.vim
call vundle#begin()

" Let Vundle manage Vundle, required
Plugin 'VundleVim/Vundle.vim'

" === Example Plugins ===

" NERDTree: File system explorer for Vim
Plugin 'preservim/nerdtree'

" vim-airline: Lean & mean status/tabline for Vim
Plugin 'vim-airline/vim-airline'

" vim-fugitive: A Git wrapper so awesome, it should be illegal
Plugin 'tpope/vim-fugitive'

" lightline.vim: A lightweight statusline
Plugin 'itchyny/lightline.vim'

" syntastic: Syntax checking plugin
Plugin 'vim-syntastic/syntastic'

" vim-surround: Surround text objects easily
Plugin 'tpope/vim-surround'

" ctrlp.vim: Fuzzy file, buffer, MRU, tag, etc. finder
Plugin 'ctrlpvim/ctrlp.vim'

" vim-commentary: Comment stuff out
Plugin 'tpope/vim-commentary'

" vim-gitgutter: Shows a git diff in the 'gutter' (sign column)
Plugin 'airblade/vim-gitgutter'

" YouCompleteMe: Fast, as-you-type, fuzzy-search code completion
Plugin 'ycm-core/YouCompleteMe'

" vim-polyglot: Language pack for Vim (syntax highlighting for many languages)
Plugin 'sheerun/vim-polyglot'

" vim-indent-guides: A Vim plugin for visually displaying indent levels in code
Plugin 'nathanaelkane/vim-indent-guides'

" vim-markdown: Markdown syntax highlighting and editing
Plugin 'preservim/vim-markdown'

" vim-easymotion: EasyMotion provides a much simpler way to use some motions in Vim
Plugin 'easymotion/vim-easymotion'

" vim-startify: A fancy start screen for Vim
Plugin 'mhinz/vim-startify'

call vundle#end()            " Required for Vundle
filetype plugin indent on    " Required for Vundle
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