In this paragraph I propose to explain how to change a number of settings to make your first steps with Vim bearable.
To change the Vim configuration you have to edit a file that we call in this document vimrc
but that could be in reality vimrc
, .vimrc
,
_vimrc
or init.vim
depending of the Operating System that you are using (Linux, macOS, Windows) or the flavor of Vim
that you are using (gVim, Neovim, ..)
~/.vimrc
~/.vim/vimrc
alternatively (My Favorite)
~/.config/nvim/init.vim
alternatively (My Favorite)
Or if XDG_CONFIG_HOME
is defined
$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/nvim/init.vim
~\_vimrc
~\vimfiles\vimrc
alternatively (My Favorite)
~\AppData\Local\nvim\init.vim
Or if XDG_CONFIG_HOME
is defined
%XDG_CONFIG_HOME%\nvim\init.vim
This simple vimrc
makes Vim:
- Hide the Ex mode
- Show the key command buffer
- Give you 2 seconds to complete complex key command
- Use the system clipboard
- Truly multi buffer
" A set of default settings considered very reasonable by the Vim developpers.
set nocompatible
" Hide the Ex mode
map Q gq
sunmap Q
" Make the current key command buffer visible
" (a keystroke buffer at the bottom right of Vim screen)
set showcmd " display incomplete commands
" Give you two second to complete complex key command made of several key strokes
set timeoutlen=2000
" Make sure that by yank and paste operation use the system register (clipboard)
if has('unix')
set clipboard=unnamedplus
else
set clipboard=unnamed
endif
" Allow to switch between files without saving first:
set hidden
" Make past in visual mode not switching the content of the clipboard:
xnoremap p P