RTFM · Tools
vim survival and fluency
Editing on a server means vim eventually meets everyone. Survive the first hour honestly, then learn why its modal model repays the investment for decades.
Guaranteed exit paths
:q! # abandon changes, quit
:wq # save, quit
ZZ # synonym save-quit
Esc # return to normal mode from anywhereModal mental model
Normal mode interprets keystrokes as verb+noun commands rather than literal text. Insert mode (i/a/o) enters typing; Esc returns. Compositions become describable intentions rather than mouse marathons.
- Motion nouns: w word, b back-word, 0 line-start, $ line-end, gg doc-top, G doc-bottom.
- Verb prefixes: d delete, y yank, c change, gu lowercase, gU uppercase.
- Combinators compose: dw deletes word, d$ to end-of-line, ciw change inner word.
Practical editing patterns
/pattern<Enter> # search forward
:%s/old/new/gc # whole-file replace with confirmations
:r !date # insert command output
u / Ctrl-r # undo/redoIndispensable structural moves: visual select rows (V), then :sort; or '>' indent on selection. vim rewards thinking in structures bigger than characters.
Working config for sysadmin use
~/.vimrc:
set nocompatible
set number relativenumber
syntax on
set expandtab shiftwidth=4
set incsearch hlsearch
nnoremap <Space> :nohlsearch<CR>Prove it works: deliberate edit capability
open a remote config over SSH, perform targeted multi-spot changes, save confidently, exit deliberately; no consultation needed.
Registers, macros and :global
Three facilities turn vim from editor into a light automation engine; all available over SSH on a production box, no plugins.
- Registers: "ayy yanks the current line into register a; "ap pastes it. Uppercase "Ayy APPENDS to a instead of replacing; build a multi-site yank one line at a time. The unnamed register "" always holds the last yank/delete.
- Macros: qa ... q records everything typed into register a; @a replays it; 10@a replays ten times. Record one edit that works on one line, then let the machine repeat it on the rest.
- :global: :g/^#/d deletes every line starting with #; :g/error/normal @a runs your macro on every error line. One command, whole-file scope, zero plugins.
:%s/old/new/gc # confirm-each replace (from the survival kit)
:g/DEBUG/d # remove every DEBUG line
:2,20>/dev/null # no: instead ->
:2,20s/^/ / # indent lines 2-20 by two spaces
:vimdiff a.conf b.conf # or from shell: vim -d a.conf b.confvimdiff (or vim -d) splits two files with synced folding of differences; the fastest way to compare a changed config against its backup without leaving the terminal.
Marks, jumps and finding yourself again
- Marks: ma sets mark a at the cursor; `a jumps back exactly; 'a jumps to the line. Uppercase marks (mA) work across files in the same session.
- Jumps: Ctrl-o goes backwards through jump history, Ctrl-i forwards; the undo of navigation.
- In-file search pairs: * searches the word under the cursor; n/N cycle matches; % bounces between matching brackets.
- gf opens the filename under the cursor; handy for hopping between config includes.
These matter most in long sessions on remote machines: set a mark at the section you are editing, wander off to read definitions, Ctrl-o your way home. Muscles learn this in a week; the payoff lasts a career.
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