Personal Notes on 'Practical Vim' (2nd Edition)

I recently went through “Practical Vim - Second Edition” by Drew Neil to improve my Vim skills. Put together some notes that might be useful as a reference for anyone working with Vim.

These are highlights from various chapters that helped me work more efficiently.

Navigating with Ease

Unlock Vim’s potential for seamless movement:

• H, M, L: Jump to the top, middle, and bottom of the screen, streamlining navigation.

Advanced File Management

Grasp Vim’s buffer-based file management for superior control:

• :ls: Reveals the buffer landscape, highlighting the active buffer with %.
• Navigate buffers effortlessly with :bnext, :bprevious, :bfirst, and :blast.

Incorporate these mappings for fluid buffer navigation, borrowing from Tim Pope’s unimpaired.vim:

nnoremap <silent> [b :bprevious<CR>
nnoremap <silent> ]b :bnext<CR>
nnoremap <silent> [B :bfirst<CR>
nnoremap <silent> ]B :blast<CR>

Windows and Tabs: Enhancing Your Workspace

Exploring windows and tabs revolutionized my workflow:

• :sp[lit] and :vsp[lit]: Splitting the screen is now second nature, allowing for multitasking efficiency.
• Open files in splits with :split {file} and :vsplit {file}, akin to finding direct paths to needed code.
• Switching windows with Ctrl-w w/h/j/k/l feels like instant navigation, focusing precisely where needed.
• Window management commands like :clo[se], :on[ly], and resizing with Ctrl-w =/_/| help tailor the workspace.

Organizing Work with Tabs:

• :tabe {file}: Opening files in tabs organizes work into distinct contexts.
• Tab navigation (:tabn, :tabp, gt, gT) is like flipping through a book, each tab a new chapter of work.
• Rearrange tabs to match workflow with :tabmove n, organizing work logically.

Insight: Mastering window and tab management has transformed Vim from a text editor to a comprehensive coding environment.

Advanced Navigation and Marks:

Exploring advanced navigation and marks for pinpoint movement:

• :jumps and Control-o/i act as a navigational history, retracing steps efficiently.
• Setting marks (m, backtick commands) pinpoints important code sections for quick returns.

Tip: Use marks to easily navigate to frequently visited or important code sections.

Macro Magic:

Macros (q) automate repetitive tasks, becoming a vital tool:

• Recording macros captures sequences for reuse with @a.
• Applying macros across lines or files simplifies complex tasks.
• Macros with variables (:let i += 1) unlock dynamic automation possibilities.

Note: Macros are indispensable in Vim, turning tedious edits into simple commands.

Pattern Matching and Search Literacy:

Pattern matching enhances search capabilities, turning complex searches into simple tasks:

• Case-insensitive searches (/\c) and “very magic” mode (\v) refine search capabilities.
• Literal searches (\V) pinpoint exact matches, simplifying regex searches.
• Reusing the last search pattern in substitutions streamlines text replacements.

Pro Tip: Becoming proficient in Vim’s search and replace commands is like mastering a secret language, enabling precise text manipulations.

Customizing .vimrc:

Personalizing .vimrc unlocks Vim’s full potential:

• Setting a “leader key” (let mapleader = ",") customizes shortcuts.
• Implementing autosave (autocmd InsertLeave,TextChanged * silent write) safeguards work.
• Auto-formatting (autocmd BufWritePre * :normal gg=G) ensures consistent code style.

Insight: Personalizing .vimrc enhances Vim, making everyday tasks more intuitive and efficient.

TLDR

“Practical Vim” covers a lot of useful functionality that’s easy to miss otherwise. These notes capture what I found most practical. Hope they’re useful for your own Vim setup.