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vim

Basic VIM​

To open vim, run the vim <textfile.txt> command to open up a specific command in vim.

Modes​

Vim has two modes: insert (typing text) and edit (for commands) mode. Here is how to get to them:

  • insert mode: press i to enter insert mode
  • edit mode: press esc to enter edit mode

Quitting and writing files​

To quit vim, first get into command mode by hitting esc, and then type and run :q. To quit no matter what, run :q! .

Basic commands:

  • esc : toggles between typing mode and command mode. In typing mode you can make changes to your text file. In command mode you can type vim commands
  • :q : quit vim
  • :w : save file
  • :wq : save and exit
  • :qa! : quit no matter what.
  • :q! - discard all changes, exit without saving

Here are the different ways to navigate a file in vim while in edit mode

  • Arrow keys - move the cursor around
  • j, k, h, l - move the cursor down, up, left and right (similar to the arrow keys)
  • ^ - move cursor to beginning of current line
  • $ - move cursor to end of the current line
  • gg: move the first line in the file
  • G - move to the last line in the file
  • w - move forward one word
  • b - move backward one word
  • { - move backward one paragraph
  • } - move forward one paragraph

You also have these commands that take in numerical arguments:

  • <n>G - move to the nth line (eg 5G moves to 5th line)
  • <n>w - move forward n word (eg 2w moves two words forwards)
  • <n>b - move back n words

Turn on line numbers​

In edit mode, type this command to turn on line numbers for a file:

:set nu

Deleting content​

Here is how you can delete content while in edit mode

  • x - delete a single character
  • <n>x - delete n characters (eg 5x deletes five characters)
  • dd - delete the current line
  • D - delete the rest of the line (starting from current cursor position)
  • <n>dw - Deletes the next n words (eg 5dw means delete 5 words)
  • <n>dd - Deletes the next n lines (eg 5dd means delete 5 lines)

Undoing Changes​

Here is how you can undo any changes while in edit mode:

  • u - Undo the last action (you may keep pressing u to keep undoing)
  • U - Undo all changes to the current line

Copying and pasting​

  • p: paste the clipboard contents
  • yy: delete and copy the current line
  • yw: delete and copy the current word
  • y$: delete and copy all content in the current line starting from current cursor position

Find and replace​

basics​

  • /<pattern>: search for matches matching the specified regex pattern, enters search mode.
  • n: goes to next match while in search mode
  • :%s/<pattern>/<replace>/g: performs find and replace globally