vim

A gentle guide to vim

Vim is an improved version of vi editor. Its interface can be scary at the beginning but after understanding its modes and a few commands, it can be very productive.

Vim modes

Vim has two important modes to know:

• command mode: this is the default mode, you can go to other modes from the command.

  • From the command mode type i to go to insert mode.

• insert mode: this is for editing a file as you are expecting, i.e., what you type will be inserted where the cursor is blinking.

  • Press ESC to go back to command mode.

Navigating into a document

• h, J, k and l move the cursor one character to left, down, up and right. Arrow keys also work.

• 0 (zero) and $ move the cursor to the beginning and end of the line. Home and End keys also work.

• w and b move the cursor to the next and the previous word. Using Ctrl + left and right arrows move from words separated by spaces.

• gg and G move the cursor to the beginning or end of file. Ctrl+Home and Ctrl+End also work.

The commands can also be executed multiple times when preceded by a number, e.g., 3w will move the cursor 3 words forward.

Changing a document

• d delete from cursor, e.g., dh deletes the character on the left, d0 deletes until the beginning of the text.

• u and Ctrl+r undo and redo.

Selecting

• v, V and Ctrl+v go to visual from the cursor, entire line and by columns

Copying and pasting

• y copy

• p and P: paste after current line and on the current line

Searching and replacing

• /text and ?text search "text" going forward and backward

• n and N go to next occurrence going forward and backward

• :%s/text/new text/gc and :%s/text/new text/g replace "text" by "new text" asking to confirm on every occurrence and replacing without asking.

Saving and quitting

• :q! discard changes and quit

• :w save changes

• :wq save and quit