View source for Vim

[[File:Vimlogo.png|thumb|Vim logo.]]
Vim (Vi IMproved) is a text editor based on the standard [[UNIX]] editor Vi. Its main feature is '''modal editing''', which minimizes the amount of keystrokes needed for performing tasks, thus greatly reducing strain.

[[File:Vim cheat sheet.png|200px|thumb|right|Vim Cheat Sheet for programmers]]

[[File:Vim cheat sheet 2.png|200px|thumb|right|Vim Cheat Sheet for programmers]]

== Learning Vim ==

=== General Advice ===

* If you're interested in learning Vim, it is likely for the purpose of programming or markup. In this case, it is recommended to look up online exercises of a language you're familiar with, and write them with Vim.
* It may be tempting to use the arrow, delete, backspace, home, pageup, pagedown, and end keys, but do not.
* When performing a task, always think about how to minimize the amount of keystrokes for it. Research online.
* Keep a cheat sheet, write down new commands you want to learn, keep only several or so commands at a time until you've learned them.

=== For Beginners ===

* http://vim-adventures.com/
* Type vimtutor in a terminal to get started
* If you're partial to books, try Practical Vim
* :h
* The collection of [[Daily vim tip]]s from the /vim/-generals on /g/

== Configuration ==

All configuration is kept in the <code>~/.vimrc</code> file, <code>~</code> being your home directory. It is advisable to look up existing online <code>vimrc</code>'s but do not just copy them. In Vim, <code>:h</code> each entry, read the description and decide for yourself if you want them.

Well documented base to start out with: https://github.com/timss/vimconf

== Plugins ==

=== Buffer Navigation ===

* [https://github.com/majutsushi/tagbar Tagbar] - Tag navigation, requires a '''ctags''' package.
* [https://github.com/kien/ctrlp.vim CtrlP] - Fuzzy file, buffer, mru, tag, etc finder.
* [https://github.com/haya14busa/incsearch.vim Incsearch.vim] - futher expands the power of incremental-search in vim
* [https://github.com/Lokaltog/vim-easymotion EasyMotion] - Spatial navigation, saves a lot of keystrokes.
* [https://github.com/wellle/targets.vim targets.vim] - adds extra motions to text objects 
* [https://github.com/justinmk/vim-sneak Sneak] - maps the s command (and optionally t/T/f/F) to search line-wise (minimalistic alternative to easymotion)

=== File Navigation ===

* [https://github.com/kien/ctrlp.vim CtrlP] - Fuzzy file, buffer, mru, tag, etc finder.
* [https://github.com/scrooloose/nerdtree NERDTree] - Tree explorer plugin.
* [https://github.com/Shougo/vimfiler VimFiler] - similar to built-in netrw but with improvements and fixes

=== Task Automation ===

* [https://github.com/junegunn/vim-easy-align EasyAlign] - Tool for aligning multiple lines of text in columns.
* [https://github.com/Raimondi/delimitMate DelimitMate] - Auto-completes surroundings and provides bindings for navigating through them.
* [https://github.com/tpope/vim-surround Vim-Surround] - Manipulates (insert, change, delete) pairs of surroundings.
* [https://github.com/scrooloose/nerdcommenter NERDCommenter] - Manipulates code comments according to the file type.
* [https://github.com/othree/vim-autocomplpop AutoComplPop] - Basic pop-up keyword-based completion.
* [https://github.com/mattn/emmet-vim Emmet] - Powerful text-expansion for HTML/XML markup
* [https://github.com/tpope/vim-repeat Vim-repeat] - expands the .(repeat) power of the command

=== Code Insertion/Completion ===

* [https://github.com/SirVer/ultisnips UltiSnips] - Customizable snippet engine for boilerplate code time-saving.
* [https://github.com/scrooloose/syntastic Syntastic] - Syntax checking.
* [https://github.com/Shougo/neocomplete.vim Neocomplete] - code completion engine with caching
* [https://github.com/Valloric/YouCompleteMe YouCompleteMe] - Advanced semantic code completion engine.
* [http://eclim.org/ Eclim] - Code completion making use of Eclipse's engine.

=== Miscellaneous ===

* [https://github.com/tpope/vim-sensible Vim-Sensible] - Provides a number of common and sane configurations.
* [https://github.com/tpope/vim-unimpaired vim-unimpaired] - Miscellaneous mappings for simple tasks
* [https://github.com/chrisbra/SudoEdit.vim SudoEdit] - Edit files using sudo or su or any other tool.
* [https://github.com/terryma/vim-multiple-cursors Multiple Cursors] - Sublime Text style multiple selections
* [https://github.com/koron/minimap-vim Minimap] - Minimap implementation similar to the one found in Sublime Text

=== Ricing ===

* [https://github.com/bling/vim-airline AirLine] - Status line with many out-of-the-box features and integration with other plugins.
* [https://github.com/itchyny/lightline.vim LightLine] - Status line with emphasis on minimalism and customizability.
* [http://bytefluent.com/vivify/ Vivify] - Color scheme editor for Vim

== External Links ==

* [http://robots.thoughtbot.com/the-vim-learning-curve-is-a-myth The Vim Learning Curve is a Myth]
* [http://www.danielmiessler.com/study/vim/ A Vim Tutorial and Primer]
* [http://yannesposito.com/Scratch/en/blog/Learn-Vim-Progressively/ Learn Vim Progressively]
* [http://yanpritzker.com/2011/12/16/learn-to-speak-vim-verbs-nouns-and-modifiers/ Learn to speak vim – verbs, nouns, and modifiers!]
* [https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1218390/what-is-your-most-productive-shortcut-with-vim Vim tips and tricks - StackOverflow]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkdrYWhh-8s Write code faster: expert-level Vim (Railsberry 2012) - YouTube]

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