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Vim (Vi IMproved)

vim (Vi IMproved) is a highly configurable, powerful, and widely used text editor available on Unix-like operating systems. It's an enhanced version of the traditional vi editor with additional features, making it a favorite among programmers, system administrators, and power users. vim offers efficient text editing capabilities, a wide range of plugins, and extensive customization options.

Basic Usage​

Open a terminal and type vim followed by the name of the file you want to edit.

vim filename

Modes:

  1. Normal Mode: Default mode for navigation and issuing commands.
  2. Insert Mode: Mode for inserting and editing text.
  3. Visual Mode: Mode for selecting and manipulating text.

Common Commands​

  1. Switching Modes:

    • Press i to enter Insert mode.
    • Press Esc to return to Normal mode.

  2. Saving and Exiting:

    • In Normal mode, type :w to save the changes.
    • To save and exit, type :wq.

  3. Exiting without Saving:

    • In Normal mode, type :q!.

  4. Navigating:

    • Use arrow keys to move the cursor.
    • h: Move left.
    • j: Move down.
    • k: Move up.
    • l: Move right.

  5. Deleting and Editing:

    • x: Delete the character under the cursor.
    • dd: Delete the current line.
    • yy: Copy (yank) the current line.
    • p: Paste the copied or deleted text.

  6. Search and Replace:

    • /search_term: Search for search_term.
    • n: Go to the next occurrence.
    • N: Go to the previous occurrence.
    • :%s/old_text/new_text/g: Replace old_text with new_text in the entire file.

Advanced Features​

  • Customization: vim is highly customizable. You can modify settings in your .vimrc configuration file.
  • Plugins: vim supports a wide range of plugins that enhance its functionality.
  • Multiple Tabs and Windows: You can work on multiple files simultaneously using tabs and split windows.
  • Syntax Highlighting: vim provides syntax highlighting for various programming languages.
  • Command-Line Integration: You can run shell commands from within vim using :!.

Use Cases​

  • Editing code and text files.
  • Writing and editing scripts.
  • Configuring system files.
  • Editing configuration files on remote servers.

Learning Curve​

Learning vim can be challenging due to its different modes and commands, but once you become proficient, it becomes a powerful and efficient tool for text editing. Many users find the investment in learning vim well worth the increased productivity and flexibility it offers.


✅ Resources​