Vim, a powerful and versatile text editor, offers a myriad of features and customization options to streamline your coding workflow. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through installing Vim, getting started with basic usage, learning with vimtutor, configuring Vim to suit your preferences, and transforming it into a full-fledged IDE to enhance your development experience.

Installing Vim

# dnf install vim

Learning with vimtutor

• Run vimtutor in your terminal to launch Vim’s built-in interactive tutorial.
• Follow the guided lessons to learn essential Vim commands and concepts.
• Practice navigating, editing, and saving files using Vim’s intuitive commands.

Getting Started with Vim

Launch Vim by typing vim and desired name for a file in your terminal. Learn the essentials of Vim’s modal editing.

• Insert mode: Press i to enter insert mode and start typing.
• Normal mode: Press Esc to return to normal mode for navigation and command execution.
• Command mode: Press : in normal mode to enter command mode for executing commands.
• Save and exit Vim by typing :wq or 😡 in command mode.

More details about Command Mode and Editing Mode

Command Mode: In command mode, Vim interprets keyboard input as commands for navigation, search, editing, and more. It’s the default mode when you launch Vim and allows you to execute various operations without altering the text in the buffer.

Examples:
Navigate to specific lines or positions in the file:
    To move to the beginning of the line: Press 0.
    To move to the end of the line: Press $.
    To move to a specific line number: Type :line_number and press Enter.
Search for text within the file:
    To search forward for a pattern: Type /pattern and press Enter.
    To search backward for a pattern: Type ?pattern and press Enter.
Execute editing commands and operations:
    To delete a line: Type dd.
    To copy a line: Type yy.
    To paste copied or deleted text: Press p.

Editing Mode: In editing mode, Vim allows you to insert and modify text directly within the buffer. You enter editing mode by pressing specific keys such as i, a, or o in command mode, and you exit editing mode by pressing Esc to return to command mode.

Examples:
Insert text at the cursor position:
    To insert text before the cursor: Press i.
    To append text after the cursor: Press a.
    To open a new line below the current line and enter insert mode: Press o.
Replace or overwrite text:
    To replace characters under the cursor: Press R to enter replace mode.
    To overwrite existing text with new input: Press R and start typing.
Exit editing mode and return to command mode:
    To save changes and exit Vim: Type :wq and press Enter.
    To exit Vim without saving changes: Type :q! and press Enter.

Understand the two primary modes of Vim—command mode and editing mode—is essential for efficient text editing and navigation. While command mode allows you to execute commands and operations, editing mode enables direct manipulation of text within the buffer.

Configuring Vim

• Customize Vim settings by creating or editing ~/.vimrc file.
• Add configurations for syntax highlighting, line numbers, tab settings, and more.
• Explore plugins and extensions to extend Vim’s functionality based on your requirements.

Conclusion

Vim is a versatile text editor that offers unparalleled efficiency and flexibility for developers. By following this guide, you’ll not only master the basics of Vim but also unlock its full potential as a powerful IDE. Whether you’re a beginner getting started with text editing or an experienced developer looking to enhance your workflow, Vim has something to offer for everyone. Start your journey with Vim and elevate your coding experience to new heights.