Summary of Practical Vim

TIP 1 : Meet the dot command ! Use . command as much as you can.

TIP 2 : Don’t repeat yourself ! Use Two for Price of one.

  • Use keys like C(c$), s(cl), S(^C), A($a), I(^i), o(A<CR>), O(ko) as much as you can.

TIP 3 : Take One step back, Then Three Forward.

  • (Inserting spaces in front and back of a character). Use s like this to enter spaces. f+s<space>+<space>. We can do this with all occurances using ; to go to next occurance and use . to execute above instruction again.

TIP 4 : Act, Repeat, Reverse

  • @: or & : can repeat last : command which could be a :substitute. Remember u can always use u to reverse unwanted changes.

TIP 5 : Find and Replace by Hand

  • Be Lazy : Search without Typing (use *).

TIP 6 : Meet the dot formula. (The Ideal : One Keystroke to move, One keystroke to execute)

Part 1 : Modes

Chapter 2 : Normal Mode

TIP 7 : Pause with Your Brush Off the Page (Discussion on why default mode is normal mode)

TIP 8 : Chunck your Undos (Moderating use ESC helps us achieve chunking of undo, u in vim depends on NormalMode-> InsertMode-> ESC)

TIP 9 : Compose Repeatable Changes. (daw is better way to delete a word rather many different ways, because . command can be composed to utilise entire operation.)

TIP 10 : Use counts to Do Simple Arithmetic. {val}Ctrl-a and {val}Ctrl-x . Note cursor need not to be on number ;P

TIP 11 : Don’t count if you can repeat

TIP 12 : Combine and Conquer (Operator + motion = action)

Chapter 3 : Insert Mode

TIP 13 : Make correction instantly from Insert Mode

  • In insert mode : <C-h> Delete one character, <C-w> Delete back one word, <C-u> delete back one line

TIP 14 : Get back to normal mode

  • <ESC> or <C-[> or <C-o> to go into normal mode. Last one is special Insert Normal Mode aka one bullet mode :)

TIP 15 : paste from register without leaving insert mode

  • <C-r>{register} to paste a register

TIP 16 : Do the back of the envelope calculation in place (The Expression Register) (In insert mode : <C-r>=)

TIP 17 : Insert unusual characters by character code. (In insert mode <C-v>{character_code}, e.g. <C-v>065 is same ‘A’)

TIP 18: Insert Unusual characters by digraph. (For example try : In insert mode <C-k>?I)

  • Fraction are 12, 14, 43 for 1/2 or 1/4 or 4/3

TIP 19 : Overwrite existing text with Replace Mode. (Note : Use special gR : Virtual Replace mode for those tab style weirdos :) and it replaces tabs with spaces)

Chapter 4 : Visual Mode

TIP 20 : Grok Visual Mode. (To quickly replace some words viw and then c to change its value, we can utilise all motion keybindings in visual mode). To trigger select mode <C-g>.

TIP 21 : Define a Visual Selection. (v , V, <C-v>, gv (last selection)) You can use o to jump around.

TIP 22 : Repeat Line-wise visual commands. (Yes . is our friend)

TIP 23 : Prefer Operators to Visual Commands wherever possible. (Sometime . doesn’t play well in visual mode)

TIP 24 : Edit tabular data with visual block mode.

TIP 25 : Change the Columns of Table. (Append EOF on visual block on text)

TIP 26 : Append After a ragged Visual Block

Chapter 5 : Command Line Mode

TIP 27 : Meet Vim’s Command Line : : to invoke command lines, refer Link (Ex Commands Strike far and wide than normal mode)

TIP 28 : Execute a command on one or more cosecutive lines. :{start},{end} for selection text

TIP 29 : Duplicate or Move lines using :t or :m commands

TIP 30 : Run normal mode commands across a range. (:%normal A; to semi colon the entire file :) (:%normal i// to comment entire file)

TIP 31 : Repeat Last Ex Command. @:

TIP 32 : Tab complete your Ex Command. (<C-d> to open entire list of suggestion)

TIP 33 : Insert Current word at Command Prompt. (<C-r><C-w> copies word under cursor and puts in command prompt)

TIP 34 : Recall commands from History. (q:) to quickly access command window.

TIP 35 : Run commands in shell.!{cmd} or utilise :shell command of vim

  • To view output in of vim’s cmd execute :read!{cmd}
  • To use contents of current buffer as input for cmd :write!{cmd}
  • Sort a list of numbers using above technique :) :2,5!sort -k2

Part 2 : Files

Chapter 6 : Manage Multiple Files

TIP 36 : Run multiple Ex Commands as a Batch

TIP 37 : Track Open files with the Buffer Lists.

  • Some Important Commands : :ls, :bnext, :bprev
  • Use mappings similar to Tim Pope's unimpaired.vim plugin. ([b ]b [B ]B)

TIP 38 : Group Buffers into a Collection with Argument List. (Utilize :argdo then to act on that list) (:args have buffers those are opened while opening vim).

TIP 39 : Manage Hidden Files

TIP 40 : Divide your workspace in Split windows

TIP 41 : Organize your windows Layout with Tab Pages\

Chater 7 : Open Files and Save Them to Disk

TIP 42 : Open a file by its Filepath using :edit

TIP 43 : Open a File by Its Filesename using :find

TIP 44 : Explore FileSystem with Netrw

TIP 45 : Save Files to Nonexistent Directories. (:!mkdir -p %:h)

TIP 46 : Save a File as the Super User. (:w !sudo tee % > /dev/null)

Part 3 : Getting Around Faster

Chapter 8 : Navigate Inside Files with Motions

TIP 47 : Keep your Fingers on the Home Row. (Disable Arrow Keys)

TIP 48 : Distinguish between Real Lines and Display Lines. (Difference after enabling wrap mode)

TIP 49 : Move word-wise. Use w, e ,b, ge, W, B, ea (feels like one key)

TIP 50 : Find by Character. f{char}, F{char}, t{char}, T{char}, ;, ,

TIP 51 : Search to Navigate

  • We can combine search with motions. v/ge<CR> selects text till /ge. or d/ge<CR> deletes text till ge.

TIP 52 : Trace your selection with precision Text Objects.

TIP 53 : Delete Around, or Change Inside. (iw, iW, is, ip or their a variants).

TIP 54 : Mark Your Place and Snap Back to It. m{a-zA-z} commands marks the current cursor position.

  • {a-z} : are local marks for a buffer, A-Z : are global marks.
  • ‘{mark} : move cursor to front of line where cursor was marked. (Used in context of Ex commands)
  • `{mark : moves cursor to exact character where cursor was marked.
  • Automatic Marks :“ (position before last jump) , ".( location of last change) , ‘^ (location of last insertion) or gi , ‘[ (start of last change/yank) , ‘], ‘<(start of last visual selection), ‘>

TIP 55 : Jump between matching parenthesis. Use %

Chapter 9 : Navigate Between Files with Jumps

TIP 56 : Traverse Jump List. (<C-o> and <C-i>)

TIP 57 : Traverse Change List. (g;, g, or hackish u<C-r>)

TIP 58 : Jump to the Filename Under the Cursor. (gf, Use suffuxesadd to configure gf to work correctly for files)

TIP 59 : Snap Between Files Using Global Marks. Always set global marks before executing commands like bufdo, vimgrep using mM

Part 4 : Registers

Chapter 10 : Copy and Paste

TIP 60 : Delete, Yank, and Put with Vim’s Unnamed Registers.

  • Conecpt of Transposing Characters xp , Lines ddp and yyp

TIP 61 : Grok vim’s registers

  • “{register} , if no register is specified, vim uses unnamed(“") register by default.
  • Yank Register “0 , The BlackHole Register (”_)
  • System Clipboard (“+) and selection (”*) Registers, Expression Register (“=)

TIP 62 : Replace a Visual Selection with Register. (Useful for swapping values inplace in unnamed register).

TIP 63 : Paste from a register. (Remember this nmenonic : puP and Pup) We can use <C-r>0 to paste registers in insert mode.

TIP 64 : Interact with the System Clipboard. (Pasting in windows and linux messes up formatting if autoindent is enabled)

Chapter 11 : Macros

TIP 65 : Record and Execute a Macro. (Record : q{register} and to stop recording q and to replay @a)

TIP 66 : Normalize cursor position (0) , Strike (Use correct motions like p, w, text-objects), Abort (vim stops macro execution if it encounters a motion that can’t be replayed).

TIP 67 : Playback with a count. (qq;.q to store last command in macro and then executing dot command multiple times.)

TIP 68 : Reapeat a Change on Contigous Lines. (Use parallel execution Select ---> Apply Macro) (Select the lines then :'<,'>normal @a)

TIP 69 : Append Commands to a Macro. (q{capital-register})

TIP 70 : Act Upon a Collection of Files. :argdo normal @a

TIP 71 : Evaluate an Iterator to Number Items in a List.

  • Put line number in front of every line, we will utilize rudimentry vim script
  • :let i=1 (declare var i = 1) , qa (start macro recording) , I<C-r>=i<CR>)<ESC> (prints current value of i), :let i+=1 (increment counter), q (stop macro recorder).

TIP 72 : Edit the Contents of Macro

  • :put a : put contents of macro at the end file.
  • Make changes to macro
  • “add : yank the text back into macro.

Part 5 : Patterns

Chapter 12 : Matching Patterns and Literals

TIP 73 : Tune the Case Sensitivity of Search Patterns

  • sets case sensitivity globally :set ignorecase
  • Setting Case sensitivity per Search : \c (ignorecase) and \C (strict case)
  • Enabling Smarter Default Case Sensitivity : smartcase (disabled ignorecase if search term has capital letters)

TIP 74 : Use the \v Pattern Switch for Regex Searches

  • Find Hex Colors with Magic Search
    • /#\([0-9a-fA-F]\{6}\|[0-9a-fA-F]\{3}\)
    • /\v#([0-9a-fA-F]{6}|[0-9a-fA-F]{3}) (very magic, similar to perl, python or Ruby)
    • Using Hex Character class further reduces expression. /\v#(\x{6}|\x{3})
    • Very Magic \v matches all characters literally except _.

TIP 75 : Use the \V Literal Switch for Verbatim Search.

  • If we search for word a.k.a then match result will not work correctly
  • /a\.k\.a\. : is correct matching regex
  • /\Va.k.a : is shorter and Verbatim Search

TIP 76 : Use Parentheses to Capture Submatches.

  • /\v<(\w+)\_s+\1> : This regex matches duplicate words

TIP 77 : Stake the boundaries of a word.

  • In very magic Searches < and > represents word boundary delimiters. \v<the><CR> : for searching the word the exactly. Zero Width Items.
  • In nomagic , magic, very nomagic searches < and > needs to be escaped.
  • Anyways * and # also does the same thing and includes word delimiter and g* and g# doens’t include word delimiter.

TIP 78 : Stake the Boundaries of a Match

  • Vim’s \zs and \ze allows us to specify a broad search pattern and then focus on a subset of a match.
  • Conceptually similar to Perl’s lookaround assertions.
  • \v"\zs[^"]+\ze"<CR> : Matches quote words but not quote marks.

TIP 79 : Escape Problem Characters

  • \V literal switch makes easier to search for text verbatim because disables the meaning for the ., + and * symbols, but there are a few characters whose special meaning can’t be turned off.

TIP 80 : Meet the Search Command. (/{search-pattern-text} forward search, or use ? for backward search).

  • gn and gN can visual select search matches

TIP 81 : Highlight Search Matches. hlsearch . Sometimes it can be a very annoying option and we can utilize this mapping to clear highlighted searches and redraw screen. nnoremap <silent> <C-l> :<C-u>nohlsearch<CR><C-l>

TIP 82 : Preview the First match Before Execution.

  • Enable incsearch
  • Autocomplete : <C-r><C-w>

TIP 83 : Offset the Cursor to the End of a Search Match

  • /lang/e : puts cursor at the end of word match
  • This could be done even after the search has been executed : Use //e<CR>

TIP 84 : Operate on a Complete Search Match. Utilise gn to jump to next word as well and condense the DOT formula.

  • Improved dot formula requires only 1 step . command only, by default it jumps to next occurance.

TIP 85 : Create Complex Pattern by Iterating upon Search History. Utilise q/ to prepopulated search history to revise our search patterns. Then we can use :%s//"\1"/g (empty search field defaults to last search, and \1 register stores current match word)

TIP 86 : Count the Matches for the Current Pattern

  • /{text-to-search} then :%s///gn (mathes last search and counts its occurence)
  • /{text-to-search} then :vimgrep //g % , you can then navigate using n , N or :cnext, :cprev

TIP 87 : Search for Current Visual Selection

Chapter 14 : Substitution

TIP 88 : Meet the Substitution Command

  • :[range]s[ubstitute]/{pattern}/{string}/[flags] : General format for substitution phrase.
  • Flags : g : globally, c : confirm/reject choice, n : usual substitute behaviour with reporting # occurances that will be affected, & : reuse same flags from previous substitute command
  • Special Characters for Replacement String : \r , \t , \\ , \1 , \2, \0 ,&,~ and \={vim-script}

TIP 89 : Find and Replace Every Match in a File

  • By default command works line wise and including g makes it act on entire line
  • % range is applied on every line of file.

TIP 90 : Eyeball Each Substitution. (C flag is very useful)

  • %s/content/copy/gc : substitution with global confirm

TIP 91 : Reuse the Last Search Pattern. (Leaving the search field of substitute command blank instructs vim to reuse most recent search pattern)

TIP 92 : Replace with the Contents of a Register.

  • Pass by value : :%s//<C-r>0/g
  • Pass by reference : :%s//\=@0/g

TIP 93 : Repeat the Previous Substitute Command

  • :s/target/replacement/g to repeat it we can utilise :%s//~/&
  • :&& (last ex command followed by last flags) or g& repeats last substitutions

TIP 94 : Rearrange CSV Fields Using Submatches

  • swapping order of fields in CSV three fields : /\v^([^,]*),([^,]*),([^,]*)$ Now execute substitute to search and reference these submatches :%s//\3,\2,\1

TIP 95 : Perform Arithmetic on the Replacement

  • Example promote all hx tags by 1 value : Search : /\v\<\/?h\zs\d now Substitue : :%s//\=submatch(0)-1/g

TIP 96 : Swap two or more words

  • Simple trick , we will create a dictionary like this : :let swapper={"dog":"man", "man":"dog"} now swapper["dog"] = man and vice-versa
  • Together in order : Search /\v(<man>|<dog>) then substitute :%s//\={"dog":"man","man":"dog"}[submatch(1)]/g
  • Even though in above example it seem like expensive thing to do for 2 variable but its very powerful when we got multiple variable whose value need to be changed.
  • You could try the Tim pope’s Abolish.vim : :%S/{man,dog}/{dog,man}/g

TIP 97 : Find and Replace Across Multiple Files

  • Project Wide Search : /Pragmatic\ze Vim then :vimgrep // **/*.txt (Every result from vimgrep is stored in quick fix list, can be confirmed using copen).
  • Project-Wide Substitution : :set hidden then :cfdo %s//Practical/gc then :cfdo update Last two commands combined : :cfdo %s//Practical/gc | update (cfdo operates on quickfix list).

Chapter 15 : Global Commands

:global Commands combine the power EX commands with Vim’s Pattern matching ability

TIP 98 : Meet the Global Command

  • :[range] global[!] /{pattern}/ [cmd] : (default range in %)
  • global! is same as vglobal which inverts the functionality of above command

TIP 99 : Delete lines containing a Pattern

  • Combining the :global and :delete commands allows us to cut down the size of a file rapidly.
  • Deleting Matching lines with :g/re/d : First lets search : /\v\<\/?\w+>(matches html tags) then :g//d
  • Keep only matching lines with :v/re/d : Use this functionality :v/href/d

TIP 100 : Collect TODO Items in a Register. (Combining the :global and :yank command allows us to collect all lines that match a {pattern} in a register.)

  • Lets assume file has text // TODO : {some-todo}
  • Collect all those files that have TODO text : :g/TODO(default cmd is :print so it actually prints the lines)
  • Yanking all lines that contain TODO text in a register. First clear the reigster qaq. Now :g/TODO/yank A
  • We could combine the :global command with either :bufdo or :argdo to collect all TODO items from a set of files.
  • We could also copy text to end of file : :g/TODO/t$

TIP 101 : Alphabetize the properties of Each Rule in a CSS File.

  • :g/{pattern}/[range][cmd] : limits the execution of gloabl command
  • A generalised form of this :global command goes like this :g/{start}/ .,{finish} [cmd]
  • Sorting all blocks of rules with this trick :g/{/ .+1,/}/-1 sort or we could indent all properties inside blocks :g/{/ .+1,/}/-1 > to silent :> prints use :sil command like this :g/{/sil . +1,/}/-1 >

Part 6 : Tools

Chapter 16 : Index and Navigate Source Code with ctags

TIP 102 : Meet ctags

  • Installing Exuberant Ctag

    bash sudo apt-get install exuberant-ctags

    MacOS user already have BSD version of ctags.

  • Indexing a Codebase with ctags : ctags *.rb, Now directory contains a plain text file called as tags

  • Anatomy of a tags File

    • Keywords Are Addressed by Pattern, Not by Line Number
    • Keywords Are Tagged with Metadata

TIP 103 : Configure Vim to work with ctags

  • Tell vim where to find the tags file. :set tags?output should be tags=./tags,tags. So vim only matches till first match. Ideally we should have tags file in every directory or we could keep things simple by having a global tags file at root of project directory.
  • Execute ctags Manually : :!ctags -R, we could create mapping for it. :nnoremap <f5> :!ctags -R --exclude=.git --languages=-sql<CR>
  • Vim’s autocommands can execute ctags Each Time a File is Saved. :autocmd BufWritePost * call system("ctags -R")
  • Automatically execute ctags with Version Control Hooks : In “Effortless Ctags with Git,” Tim Pope demonstrates how to set up hooks for the post-commit, post-merge, and post-checkout events

TIP 104 : Navigate Keyword Definitions with Vim’s Tag Navigation Commands

  • Usage of <C-]> and g<C-]> to navigate using ctags.
  • Use <C-t> as a history button to navigate tag history.
  • In case of multiple matches use g<C-]> and select the appropriate jump.
  • Using Ex Commands : We don’t have to move the cursor on top of a keyword to jump to its tag using :tag {keyword/regex} and :tjump {keyword/regex}.
  • Other keys :tnext , :tprev ,:tfirst , :tlast , :tselect ,:pop or <C-t>, :tjump

Chapter 17 : Compile Code and Navigate Errors with the Quickfix List

TIP 105 : Compile code without Leaving Vim

  • Preparation : Download the Examples. Cd to code/quickfix/wakeup directory.
  • Compile project in the shell : gcc -c -O wakeup.o wakeup.c
  • You will get some errors but thats alright.
  • Compiling from inside the vim. Launching vim with Makefile. vim -u NONE -N wakeup.c
  • From inside vim execute : :make. Upon encountering error vim moves you to the first error in quickfixlist. To avoid moving cursor automatically. :make! or use <C-o>
  • Now fixing the issue and recompiling using :make causes vim to clear quickfix list (since no errors) and leaves the cursor as it is.

TIP 106 : Browse the Quickfix List

  • Main set of commands : :cnext , :cprev, :cfirst , :clast , :cnfile (first item in next file), :cpfile (last item in previous file), :cc N jumps to nth item.
  • :copen : opens quickfix window, :cclose : closes quickfix window.
  • :cdo {cmd} : execute {cmd} on each line listed in quickfix list
  • :cfdo {cmd} : execute {cmd} once for each file listed in quickfix list.

TIP 107 : Recall Results from a Previous Quickfix List

  • Use :colder to get old quickfix list and :cnewer to get to new quickfixlist.

TIP 108 : Customize the External Compiler. (vim’s definition of external compiler is loose)

  • Customize so that :make calls node lint on your machine.
  • Install nodelint : npm install nodelint -g
  • Configure :make to invoke Nodelint : :setlocal makeprg=NODE_DISABLE_COLORS=1\ nodelint\ %
  • Populate the Quickfix List Using Nodelint’s Output : :setglobal errorformat? list current error format. Let’s correct it according to Nodelint. :setlocal efm=%A%f\,\ line\ %l\,\ character\ %c:%m,%Z%.%#,%-G%.%#
  • Setup makeprg and erroformat with a single command. :compiler nodelint

Chapter 18 : Search Project-Wide with grep, vimgrep, and Others

TIP 109 : Call grep without leaving vim

  • Using grep from command line : grep -n Waldo *
  • Now we know waldo occurs on line 6 and 9. We can open vim at that exact line number. vim goldrush.txt +9
  • Now calling grep from Inside Vim :grep Waldo *
  • Vim parses the result and populates quickfix list and we navigate around very easily

TIP 110 : Customize the grep Program

  • :grep in vim is a wrapper for external grep program and can be manipulated using grepprg and grepformat.
  • Defaults for both values are :

    grepprg="grep -n $* /dev/null" grepformat="%f:%l:%m,%f:%l%m,%f %l%m"

  • Make :grep call ack. Visit this link for details.Link. :set grepprg=ack\ --nogroup\ $*

  • To make ack store columns also set this :

    :set grepprg=ack\ --nogroup\ --column\ $* :set grepformat=%f:%l:%c:%m

TIP 111 : Grep with Vim’s Internal Search Engine.

  • :vim[grep][!] /{pattern}/[g][j] {file}
  • :vimgrep /going/ clock.txt tought.txt where.txt
  • Searching in entire project. First : /[Dd]on't then :vim //g *.txt

Chapter 19 : Dial X for Autocompletion

TIP 112 : Meet Vim’s Keyword Autocompletion

  • We can use <C-p> and <C-n> in insert mode to invoke generic keyword autocompletion.
  • <C-n> : generic keywords, <C-x><C-n> : Current buffer keywords, <C-x><C-i> : Included file keywords, <C-x><C-]> : tags file keywords, <C-x><C-l> whole line completion, <C-x><C-f> : filename completion and <C-x><C-o> : Omni-completion.

TIP 113 : Work with the Autocomplete Pop-up Menu

  • <C-n> : use the next match from the list.
  • <C-p> : Use the previous match from the list.
  • <Down> : Select the next match from the word list.
  • <Up> : Select the previous match from the word list.
  • <C-y> : accept the currently selected match (yes)
  • <C-e> : Rever to originally typed text (exit from the autocompletion)
  • <C-h> delete one character from current match
  • <C-l> add one character from current match
  • {char} stop completion and insert {char}
  • Refine the Word List as You type : <C-n><C-p> or <C-p><C-n>, similar for omni autocompletion : <C-x><C-o><C-p> to perform live filtering on omni autocompletion, or <C-x><C-f><C-p> to do the same with filename completion.

TIP 114 : Understand the source of the keyword

  • The Buffer List
  • Included Files
  • Tag Files
  • Put It All Together
  • Default setting for generic autocompletion : complete=.,w,b,u,t,i , to remove or add :set complete-=i and :set complete+=k respectively

TIP 115 : Autocomplete words from the dictionary

  • Triggered using <C-x><C-k>
  • Use :set spell to enable vim’s spell checker

TIP 116 : Autocomplete Entire Lines. (Use <C-x><C-l>)

TIP 117 : Autocomplete Sequence of Words. (Vim understand word pasting context and proceeds with pasting words faster) (Utilise <C-x><C-p> in rhythm)

TIP 118 : Autocomplete Filenames. (Use <C-x><C-f> command)

TIP 119 : Autocomplete with Context-Awareness. (Omni-completion is Vim’s answer to intellisense) It provides a list of suggestion that’s tailored for the context of the cursor placed. Trigger it using <C-x><C-o> command. Remember to enable set nocompatible and filetype plugin on

Chapter 20 : Find and fix typos with Vim’s Spell Checker

TIP 120 : Spell Check Your Work. :set spell

  • Use [s and ]s to jump forward and backward to bad spelled words.
  • Press z= to check list for correct word
  • if confident that first word in spell will be correct use 1z=
  • zg (Add current word to spell file) , zw (remove current word from spell file), zug revert zg or zw command for current words.

TIP 121 : Use Alternate Spelling Dictionaries

  • Specify a Regional Variant of a Language :set spelllang=en_us
  • Obtain Spell Files for Other Languages at here : :set spelllang=fr

TIP 122 : Add words to the Spell File

  • zg : adds word to dictionary and zw removes the word from dictionary and makes it misspelled word.

  • Create a spell file for specialist Jargon.

    vimscript setlocal spelllang=en_us setlocal spellfile=~/.vim/spell/en.utf-8.add setlocal spellfile+=~/books/practical_vim/jargon.utf-8.add

TIP 123 : Fix Spelling errors from insert mode.

  • Preparation : :set spell
  • Usual Way : [s to jump to previous errors 1z= put correct word, A to come back to insert mode.
  • Fast Way : <C-x>s or <C-s><C-x> to invoke it.
  • If line has multiple words which can be corrected try using <C-x>s mulitple times its very fast to fix mistakes.

Chapter 21 : Now What ?

  • Keep Practicing
  • Make Vim Your Own
  • Know the Saw, Then Sharpen It (Understand vim core functionality before copying someone else’s vimrc)
  • Customize Vim to suit your preferences. Read Bram Moolenaar’s classic essay “Seven Habits of Effective Text Editing,”
  • Customize Vim to Suit your preference
  • Change Vim’s Settings on the Fly

  • Apply Customization to Certain Types of Files

    vimscript if has("autocmd") filetype on autocmd FileType ruby setlocal ts=2 sts=2 sw=2 et autocmd FileType javascript setlocal ts=4 sts=4 sw=4 noet autocmd FileType javascript compiler nodelint endif

    We could put these customization in a separate files also in ~/vim/after/ftplugin/javascript.vim (ftplugin meaning filetype plugins)

  • Enable filetype plugins in vimrc filetype plugin on