However, just about all of the basic commands for opening, editing and saving documents are included as well as commands that enable you to find and replace text and work with multiple documents. This is not an exhaustive list because more advanced commands, such as how to use multiple buffers, are not included. Many of the commands can be made to repeat by adding a number to the command. The following is a list of frequently used commands and what they do. If you want a more advanced set of features on CentOS/Fedora, you'll need to install vim-enhanced, to do this, run the following command instead: sudo yum install -y vim-enhanced If you're using CentOS or Fedora, use yum to install Vim: sudo yum install vim If you're using Ubuntu or Debian use apt-get to install Vim, like so: sudo apt-get install vim If you already have Vim installed but want to update to the latest version, you may need to use additional Git commands which can be found here. Simply use the following commands: git clone There are a few ways to install Vim and the one you end up using will sometimes depend on which system you're using.Īccording to Vim themselves, install Vim via Git is the simplest and most efficient method. Keep in mind that to save your document, you'll need to go back to command mode since only text input is allowed in this mode. You can enter insert mode by pressing the i key. This mode allows you to enter text into your document. For example, :w saves your file and :q allows you to exit Vim. From command mode, you can also use last-line commands, which generally start with the use of a colon. This mode allows you to use Vim commands and move through your document. If you're in a different mode and want to go back to command mode, just hit the Escape key. This is the default mode that you'll be in once you open Vim. These modes will allow you to do just about anything you need, including creating your document, saving your document and doing advanced editing, including taking advantage of search and replace functions. There are some arguments as to how many modes that Vim has, but the modes you're most likely to use are command mode and insert mode. If you're interested in giving Vim a shot, the following is a basic explanation of Vim modes and a list of frequently used Vim commands, along with a definition of what they do. The editor allows you to edit text in multiple windows, which can be helpful to programmers and editors alike. This text editor is particularly well-suited for people who are programmers, coders, system administrators or individuals looking for a streamlined way to edit text. The image below shows an exampe of what a css file looks like when viewed using Vim. That said, many people who have started using it and become comfortable with it won't even consider another editor. Vim isn't for everyone, and it requires you to learn a variety of Vim editor commands to get the most out of it. The idea behind having a modal text editor is that it allows you to write and edit text, including code, without requiring your hands leave the keyboard. To open a file using Vim you can use the following command (simply replace filename.css with your actual file name). If you play video games that use the left-hand keys on the keyboard to move your character around, this concept is probably familiar to you. However, if you switch to command mode, the letters on your keyboard will allow you use Vim commands to move within the text. A modal editor is one that allows you to edit text in different modes, and in the case of Vim, the mode determines what the alphanumeric keys on your keyboard do and how Vim editor commands work.įor example, in insert mode, your keyboard behaves normally, so what you type in is what you see, just like with a standard text editor. While you may be familiar with the concept of a text editor, the modal part may throw you. While it was designed with Unix in mind, versions of it are available for most operating systems and Vim is also available for Android and iOS smartphones. Available both as a command line interface and as a standalone program with a GUI, Vim is a text editor that is a modal version of the vi editor created for Unix in the 1970s Vim stands for vi improved. Vim was made available in 1991 and is a free, open source software.
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