Redirect the output of a Vim or external command into a scratch buffer

redir.md

Redirect the output of a Vim or external command into a scratch buffer

Usage (any shell)

Show full output of command :hi in scratch window:

:Redir hi

Show full output of command :!ls -al in scratch window:

:Redir !ls -al 

Additional usage (depends on non-standard shell features so YMMV)

Evaluate current line with node and show full output in scratch window:

" current line
console.log(Math.random());

" Ex command
:.Redir !node

" scratch window
0.03987581000754448

Evaluate visual selection + positional parameters with bash and show full output in scratch window:

" content of buffer
echo ${1}
echo ${2}

" Ex command
:%Redir !bash -s foo bar

" scratch window
foo
bar

---

My Vim-related gists.

redir.vim

function! Redir(cmd, rng, start, end)
	for win in range(1, winnr('$'))
		if getwinvar(win, 'scratch')
			execute win . 'windo close'
		endif
	endfor
	if a:cmd =~ '^!'
		let cmd = a:cmd =~' %'
			\ ? matchstr(substitute(a:cmd, ' %', ' ' . shellescape(escape(expand('%:p'), '\')), ''), '^!\zs.*')
			\ : matchstr(a:cmd, '^!\zs.*')
		if a:rng == 0
			let output = systemlist(cmd)
		else
			let joined_lines = join(getline(a:start, a:end), '\n')
			let cleaned_lines = substitute(shellescape(joined_lines), "'\\\\''", "\\\\'", 'g')
			let output = systemlist(cmd . " <<< $" . cleaned_lines)
		endif
	else
		redir => output
		execute a:cmd
		redir END
		let output = split(output, "\n")
	endif
	vnew
	let w:scratch = 1
	setlocal buftype=nofile bufhidden=wipe nobuflisted noswapfile
	call setline(1, output)
endfunction

" This command definition includes -bar, so that it is possible to "chain" Vim commands.
" Side effect: double quotes can't be used in external commands
command! -nargs=1 -complete=command -bar -range Redir silent call Redir(<q-args>, <range>, <line1>, <line2>)

" This command definition doesn't include -bar, so that it is possible to use double quotes in external commands.
" Side effect: Vim commands can't be "chained".
command! -nargs=1 -complete=command -range Redir silent call Redir(<q-args>, <range>, <line1>, <line2>)

You are very welcome, @Leenuus. Your gist seems almost plugin-ready.

Hope that I don't overengineer. 😂

@Leenuus @romainl is right!
That thing reserves a repo not a gist.
Plus it would be easier for folks to set it up, so make it a plugin.