Short guide I wrote up for some friends

vimguide.md

Emil's short guide to vim

There are two modes in vim:

1. Command mode – you can't write stuff, keys are interpreted as commands.
2. Insert mode - it acts like a normal editor, you know you're in insert mode because it says "INSERT" at the bottom.

The most important ones

• a – enter insert mode from command mode
• ESCAPE – enter command mode from insert mode
• :w - save
• :wq – quit and save
• dd – delete the whole line
• / – search for something
• :e <filename> – open new file

The ones you will want, but don't need

• :split and :vsplit - split your screen in two
• CTRL-w <arrow> – change split pane, e.g. CTRL-w-RIGHT will go to one pane to the right.
• } and { – move cursor one paragraph up or down respectively

The more exotic ones

• vip – highlight the current paragraph
• vi{ – highlight everything within the { ... }
• dip – delete the current paragraph
• di{ – delete everything within the { ... }
• ciw – change the current word
• o – start writing a new line after the current line

See the logic with the vip, dip, ciw?

Disclaimer

These were the commands that I got from the top of my head, based on what I usually use. If you think there's something else, that a beginner absolutely has to know to be seduced by vim, fork and add!