How do I include dictionary and spelling words in Vim's insert-mode autocomplete?
:set complete+=kspell
Vim's built-in completion ( / ) sources matches from buffers, included files, and tags by default.
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Searching...How do I keep the cursor line always centered on the screen while scrolling?
:set scrolloff=999
By default, Vim only scrolls the viewport when the cursor reaches the very top or bottom of the screen.
navigation #navigation #scrolling #config #cursor #scrolloff
How do I search for a pattern across all files in a project using Vim's built-in grep?
:vimgrep /pattern/ **/*
While external tools like grep or ripgrep are fast, Vim's built-in :vimgrep has a key advantage: it populates the quickfix list directly, so you can jump betwee
How do I find out which scripts or plugins are slowing down my Vim startup?
:profile
When Vim feels sluggish to start, the built-in :profile command lets you measure exactly how much time each script, function, or plugin takes to load.
How do I insert special characters like arrows, math symbols, or accented letters in Vim?
<C-k>
Vim has a built-in digraph system that lets you type special characters using short two-character codes.
How do I run the same command across all open buffers at once?
:bufdo
When you need to apply the same change to every file you have open in Vim, switching to each buffer manually is tedious and error-prone.
How do I center the screen on my cursor without leaving insert mode?
<C-o>zz
When you are typing in insert mode and the cursor drifts near the top or bottom of the screen, you normally have to press , then zz, then i or a to continue edi
How do I control exactly where a new split window appears in Vim?
:topleft split {file}
By default, Vim places horizontal splits below and vertical splits to the right (controlled by splitbelow and splitright).
How do I run a command without moving the cursor or changing the scroll position?
:let view=winsaveview() | {cmd} | call winrestview(view)
When writing Vimscript functions or mappings, commands like :substitute, gg, or :%normal will move the cursor and change the scroll position.
How do I set breakpoints and debug Vimscript functions interactively?
:breakadd func {funcname}
Vim has a built-in debugger for Vimscript that most users never discover.
How do I set a different statusline for a specific buffer or window?
:setlocal statusline=%f\ %m\ %y\ [%l/%L]
The :setlocal statusline command lets you override the global statusline for a specific window.
How do I run a Vim command in a restricted sandbox to prevent side effects?
:sandbox {cmd}
The :sandbox command modifier executes any Ex command in a restricted environment where potentially dangerous operations are blocked.
How do I ignore whitespace changes when using Vim's diff mode?
:set diffopt+=iwhite
When comparing files in Vim's diff mode, whitespace-only changes (extra spaces, changed indentation) can clutter the diff and hide meaningful edits.
How do I add more steps to an existing macro without re-recording it from scratch?
qQ...q
When you record a macro into register q with qq.
How do I swap two parts of a line using capture groups in a Vim substitution?
:s/\v(pattern1)(pattern2)/\2\1/
Vim's substitute command supports capture groups (also called backreferences), which let you rearrange matched portions of text.
How do I switch between visual mode and select mode in Vim?
v{motion}<C-g>
Vim has a lesser-known select mode that behaves like selection in typical GUI editors: any typed character replaces the selection.
How do I move all lines matching a pattern to the top of the file?
:g/pattern/m0
When working with large files, you sometimes need to reorganize content by pulling all lines matching a certain pattern to the top.
command-line #global #move #ex-commands #editing #command-line
How do I set up Vim to parse errors from my compiler or linter into the quickfix list?
:compiler gcc | :make
Vim ships with built-in compiler plugins that configure makeprg and errorformat for popular tools.
How do I move lines to a different position without using yank and paste?
:m +1
The :move command (abbreviated :m) relocates lines to a new position in the buffer without touching any registers.
How do I sort lines based on a specific column or pattern match rather than the whole line?
:%sort /[^,]*,/ n
Vim's :sort command accepts a pattern that controls which part of each line is used as the sort key.