Vim

vim is a modal editor (improving on vi). It can run without graphics, is ubiquitous, powerful, and efficient but is an acquired skill.

Commands

Victoria's review: a minimal vim session experience:

  1. vim $filename → opens a file in vim. If that file doesn't exist or you opened it in the wrong filepath, you will see an empty blank vim that says [NEW] at the bottom
  2. i → puts you in insert mode so you can freely type and move your cursor around. Says – INSERT – in bottom left.
  3. esc → gets you out of insert mode

move around

  1. 0 puts your cursor to the beginning of the line (in command mode)
  2. $ puts your cursor to the end of the line (in command mode)
  3. Shift + i puts your cursor to the beginning of the line and opens insert mode
  4. Shift + a puts your cursor to the end of the line and opens insert mode
  5. o opens insert mode on a new line below your cursor
  6. up and down arrows move you up and down each line but to move between lines click g then up or down arrow
  7. u undo last change (in command mode)

close vim temporarily

exit