/vim-basics

vim-basics

What is VIM?

vim is "Vi improved"

What is Vi?

-   First Full-screen text editor written for Unix
-   Designed to be small and simple

Vim has more Features than Vi

- Multi level undo/redo
- Extensible with plugins
- Can run in GUI
- Support for programming languages and file formats

    ## TO show Diff between Vim and Vi ##

    :h vi-differences

Vim Modes

Vim has 12 different editing modes, 6 of which are variants of the 6 basic modes.[34] The most important modes are:

 ## to list all modes info ##
 :h vim-modes

  1. Normal mode :–

    • used for editor commands. This is also the default mode, unless the insertmode option is specified.
        press ESC from other modes to enter normal mode
    • Generally used for reading a file
    • Accepts "invisible Commands"

  2. Visual mode :–

    • similar to normal mode, but used to highlight areas of text. Normal commands can be run on the highlighted area, for instance to move or edit a selection.
        Enter Visual mode with v from Normal mode.
    • Used for Applying commands on selection of text.
    • Similar to clicking amd dragging with a mouse to highlight text.
    • ESC to Normal mode.

  3. Insert mode :–

    • similar to editing in most modern editors. In this mode, buffers can be modified with the text inserted.
        Press i to enter insert mode
    • Used to edit text normally in this mode.
    • ESC to Normal mode.

  4. Command-line or Cmdline mode :–

    • supports a single line input at the bottom of the Vim window. Normal commands (beginning with :), and some other keys for specific actions (including pattern search and the filter command) activate this mode. On completion of the command, Vim returns to the previous mode.
        Press : to enter Command-line mode from normal mode
    • USed to modify settings, save or quit the file.
    • Perform search or replace pr help.
    • ESC to normal mode.

Example of usage:

  1. Open a file with vim vim fileName.extension

  2. Quit file

        Press : to enter Command-line mode.
    Press q to Quit

  3. To insert

        Press i to enter insert modes

  4. quit a file without saving ```Press :q!````

  5. Save a file

     :w  // saves the file
 :w newfileName // makes a copy of the file
 :wq //save and quit the file
 :zz // save if changed and quit

  6. Move around in vim

    • use arrow keys
    • use H J K L (left down up right)
    • Goto end of the line $
    • Beginning of the line 0
    • Forward a word w
    • Backward a word b
    • Bottom of the file G
    • Top go the file gg

  7. Line Numbers USeful for debugging scripts or errors

    • Enable line numbers :set number
    • Disable line numbers :set nonumber
    • Goto specific line :<linenumber></linenumber>

  8. Enable Mouse

    :set mouse=a

  9. Enter insert mode before cursor Press i

  10. Enter insert mode after cursor Press a

  11. insert new line below Press o

  12. Delete character x

  13. Delete five character 5x

  14. delete line dd

  15. delete two lines 2dd

  16. Delete from cursor to

    • End of line d$

Visual Mode

Press v to enter visual mode

  1. Cut/copy/paste