Vim, an acronym for “Vi IMproved,” is a highly powerful and versatile text editor that is beloved by developers, system administrators, and power users alike. Its prowess lies not just in its extensive range of commands but in its availability across numerous environments. Unlike many GUI-based editors that depend on a graphical interface, Vim thrives in scenarios where such luxuries are absent, such as when working directly on a remote server via SSH. This makes Vim not just a choice but a necessity in certain situations, elevating its status from a mere editor to an essential tool in a power user’s arsenal.

One of Vim’s many customizable features is the ability to display line numbers, a simple tweak that significantly enhances code navigation and editing. To enable line numbers, one must edit the .vimrc file, Vim’s configuration script. This process involves opening the .vimrc file in Vim (vim ~/.vimrc), entering insert mode (i), adding the set number command, and then saving and exiting with :wq.

Beyond this basic customization, Vim offers a plethora of commands that cater to every conceivable editing need. Here, we’ll explore some of the most essential Vim commands, accompanied by examples to illustrate their utility.

Navigating and Editing Efficiently

  • Saving and Exiting
    • :w: Save the current file. For example, after making changes to a file, simply type :w to save.
    • :q: Quit Vim. If you’ve made changes that you don’t wish to keep, :q! forces Vim to quit without saving.
  • Modifying Text
    • dd: Deletes the entire line where the cursor is located. If you’re on line 5 and want to remove it, just press dd.
    • yy: Yanks (copies) the current line. To copy line 5, position your cursor there and press yy.
    • p: Pastes the last yanked or deleted content. If you’ve copied line 5 and want to paste it below line 10, navigate there and press p.
  • Searching and Replacing
    • /pattern: Initiates a search. To find the word “function,” type /function and press Enter.
    • :%s/old/new/g: Replaces all occurrences of “old” with “new” in the file. To change all instances of “var” to “let,” you’d use :%s/var/let/g.
  • Undo and Redo
    • u: Undoes the last action. Accidentally deleted a line? Press u to bring it back.
    • Ctrl + r: Redoes the last undone action, restoring the last change if you’ve undone too much.

Moving Around

  • gg: Jumps to the first line of the document, making it easy to get back to the top.
  • G: Takes you to the last line, useful for quickly reaching the bottom of long files.
  • 0 and $: Move the cursor to the start or end of the current line, respectively, streamlining line edits.
  • ^: Positions the cursor at the first non-blank character of the line, skipping any leading whitespace.

Inserting Text

Vim offers several commands for entering text, each providing a different point of entry:

  • a (Append): Starts inserting text right after the current cursor position. If the cursor is on the letter “e” in “text,” a lets you start typing immediately after “e”.
  • A (Append to line): Jumps to the end of the current line and enters insert mode, ready for you to add text at the line’s end.
  • i (Insert): Begins text insertion just before the cursor. If you’re on “e” in “text,” i allows you to insert right before “e”.
  • I (Insert at line start): Moves the cursor to the first non-blank character of the line and enters insert mode, ideal for adding content at the line’s beginning.
  • o and O (Open line): o opens a new line below the current one, and O above, both immediately entering insert mode for quick text addition.

Selection and Visual Mode

  • v: Enters visual mode, allowing you to select text using cursor movement keys. This mode is perfect for highlighting sections you wish to copy, cut, or modify.

Vim’s command set is vast, but starting with these fundamental commands will set you on the path to further learning.

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