My 10 favourite Vim tips, features and plugins

Contents


Tip 1: Save time with macros

A lot of text-editing tasks have a similar pattern. For example, doing the same kind of changes on multiple lines. While macros are not unique to Vim, the way you record and apply them is so fast, that you are really using them in practice. To record a macro simply press: (recording to register q)
qq
To stop recording:
q
And then execute the macro (from register q):
@q
Or execute it 10 times:
10@q

In the following example a macro gets recorded for the first line and is then applied to the next five lines:

Tip 2: Block mode editing

Many text files are structured column-wise and Vim has a powerful mode to edit them.
Ctrl-V Enter visual block mode
Ctrl-Q Enter visual block mode (Windows)
I Insert before selected block
A Append to selected block
c Change text in selected block
r Replace text in selected block with character

Tip 3: Powerful search and replace

Example: Turn e11, e12, ... to e(1, 1), e(1, 2), ...
:%s/search/replace/g
:%s/\(\w\)\(\d\)\(\d\)/\1(\2, \3)/g

\w Word character
\d Digit
\1, \2, ... Replaced with the pattern between \( and \)

Tip 4: Repeat actions with the .dot key

Simple actions can be repeated with the dot key:
.
The following example shows four function declarations that are turned into a body for the actual implementation. Only the first function body is typed, the rest is repeated by simply pressing the dot key.

Tip 5: Snippets

Quickly insert often-typed text patterns with the snipMate plugin for Vim.
For example to create the body of a for loop, type in for (in insert mode) and then tab. The snipMate will then insert the for loop body. It's a bit like IntelliSense. Pressing tab will cycle through the important parts of the for loop. You can customize your own snippets in a simple text file.

Tip 6: Switch between different open files (Lusty Juggler)

The LustyJuggler is a high speed buffer juggler plugin and highly recommended.
Lusty Juggler allows you to change the current file with the home row keys. This is especially great for touch typists.

Tip 7: Command-T plugin

Fast file opening with only a few keystrokes. Just type in parts of the file name to locate and open the file. Link to Command-T.

Tip 8: Taglist plugin

Source code navigation for all kinds of files with the taglist plugin:

Tip 9: Auto format source code

Auto format with the = command. A few examples:
= Format selected area
== Format current line
gg=G Format entire file

Tip 10: Split windows

Edit files with multiple views.
Ctrl-W s Split window
Ctrl-W v Split window vertical
Ctrl-W c Close split window

If you have any questions or suggestions, send me a mail: