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History and Effective Use of Vim

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Re: History and Effective Use of Vim

#141
post #60
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I despise and hate with passion the Capslock key. On linux I always run setxkbmpap -option caps:escape. I wish the same could be done on Windows. I got used to it so much that I find myself from time to time writing catpital letters when I'm on Windows or foreign setup. My hate for the key came years before I thought about the possibility of remapping it. Similarly, I hate the F1, a key that when accidentally pressed…

You can do that on windows, in some way. I've got it setup like that (former caps lock key acts like control), but I don't remember exactly what the setting was.

It's a registry edit, but SharpKeys is a small GUI for editing that part of the registry: https://github.com/randyrants/sharpkeys

Re: History and Effective Use of Vim

#142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am right there with you. I did the same thing, and now when I jump into Vim from anywhere, it's so much easier. Though I really do like having the Capslock key remapped to escape.

I much prefer mapping caps lock to ctrl. That reach is much more difficult for me

Around the time I learned vim I also got myself into the habit of using the opposite hand for Ctrl, the same way you would for Shift. It has pretty much eliminated any need to stretch for a key chord.

Re: History and Effective Use of Vim

#143
post #136
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just a quick note, you can use Ctrl +[ rather than Escape. Saves your fingers from constantly having to reach for that corner.

Am I the only person who actually finds Esc easier than C-[ or Caps Lock? Maybe it's just heavy muscle memory at this point, but I've been using Esc for years and every time I try to use anything else it just feels clunky.

Esc is often a half height key and is placed in the Function key row. This is quite a stretch if you are touch typing and want to hit Esc while still keeping your index finger on the F key. But you have the same problem with Ctrl. It's sometimes placed under the left shift key, which is a really awkward pinky reach (I think Mac keyboards have the Command key in a slightly better place, but I haven't used a Mac keyboard extensively, so I'm not sure). For me, since I have a Japanese keyboard with a short space bar and an extra key on either side of it, I make the extra key on the left a Tab key, which I hit with my thumb. Then I make the Caps Lock a control key (to match the old place it used to be) and the Tab key becomes the Esc key. The nice thing about that is that it's usually oversized so easy to hit. It's also an easy reach.

But sometimes I hit the real Esc key out of habit :-)

Re: History and Effective Use of Vim

#144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

After a several month effort to learn vim bindings and use them full-time, I eventually ended up weaning myself back off because the plugins for the editors I actually use all seemed to come with considerable downsides. vscode-vim caused odd performance issues, and I encountered significant bugs with the undo stack (namely hitting 'u' would sometimes take out the last 10-15 changes instead of just one). IDEAvim would…

Reading about that undo bug gave me a knot in my tummy. Damn.

If it is any consolation, as a VSCodeVim maintainer, me too. We had some issues at times, a lot of them have been resolved, but that first impression is impossible to get back. Contributions have dwindled from people and I feel like it needs another kick to make it perfect.

Re: History and Effective Use of Vim

#145

After years of a love/hate relationship with Vim (I love what it does, but have configuring it), I had an epiphany: by sticking with the defaults, whether they are my preferred choices or not, I can instantly understand how to use Vim in any environment. Once you get used to biting the bullet and hitting escape instead of jj, or ctrl+c, it just works, everywhere. If you abandon the urge to pimp out your Vim with a bi…

I do exactly the same thing. It really relieves the stress of working with an unfamiliar environment, and you become that much more effective with stock vim!

Re: History and Effective Use of Vim

#146

I'm deep into vim and have recently seen some things that colleagues are doing with VS Code. I have to admit, I'm tempted. But I'm so used to vim + tmux now, it's hard to imagine working with something different.

The more I use VS Code, the more I want a way not to have to use the mouse anymore.

Re: History and Effective Use of Vim

#147
post #43

I rarely ever use actual vim, mostly when I'm in the terminal. But I have vim plugins for most IDEs I use (VS code, intellij, XCode). It makes editing so much faster. When I have to get by without it I feel as if someone put weights around my wrists. The reason I don't use Vim is because it's frankly not a smooth experience for most languages (unless you fiddle around a lot, and even then I found Ide+vim plug-in supe…

After a several month effort to learn vim bindings and use them full-time, I eventually ended up weaning myself back off because the plugins for the editors I actually use all seemed to come with considerable downsides. vscode-vim caused odd performance issues, and I encountered significant bugs with the undo stack (namely hitting 'u' would sometimes take out the last 10-15 changes instead of just one). IDEAvim would…

I just wanna give my 2c in that after some years using vim I've started using vscodevim and I just love it. Perhaps it helps that it happens to match my vim config pretty closely (surround, easymotion, + language plugins and stuff such as ctrl p that is native to vscode).

Re: History and Effective Use of Vim

#148

I'm deep into vim and have recently seen some things that colleagues are doing with VS Code. I have to admit, I'm tempted. But I'm so used to vim + tmux now, it's hard to imagine working with something different.

Do try vscodevim, I made the switch and I haven't looked back. Best of both worlds for me.

Re: History and Effective Use of Vim

#149

After years of a love/hate relationship with Vim (I love what it does, but have configuring it), I had an epiphany: by sticking with the defaults, whether they are my preferred choices or not, I can instantly understand how to use Vim in any environment. Once you get used to biting the bullet and hitting escape instead of jj, or ctrl+c, it just works, everywhere. If you abandon the urge to pimp out your Vim with a bi…

I would agree, but then I found this: https://vim-bootstrap.com/ and it is sooooo nice. I no longer have to think about configuring vim or managing plugins because it is done. Esp for golang.
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