How do I make Vim respond faster to idle events?
:set updatetime=250
The updatetime option controls how long Vim waits after you stop typing before triggering certain events (like swap file writes and CursorHold autocommands).
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How do I do math calculations without leaving insert mode?
<C-r>=
The expression register (=) lets you evaluate Vimscript expressions on the fly and insert the result directly into your text.
registers #editing #insert-mode #registers #productivity #math
How do I speed up macro execution and bulk operations by preventing screen redraws?
:set lazyredraw
When Vim runs a macro or an :argdo / :bufdo loop, it redraws the screen after every command by default.
How do I manually re-trigger filetype-based autocmds without reopening the file?
:doautocmd FileType
When you change a buffer's filetype mid-session — say with :set filetype=python — Vim updates the filetype option but does not automatically re-run the File
How do I change the filetype of the current buffer to get correct syntax highlighting and indent rules?
:setfiletype {filetype}
:setfiletype {filetype} sets the filetype option for the current buffer only if it has not already been set.
How do I jump to the first macro or #define definition of the word under the cursor?
[<C-d>
Vim's [ command jumps to the first definition of the macro or identifier under the cursor, searching from the beginning of the current file and through any file
How do I delete characters, words, and lines without leaving insert mode?
<C-h> / <C-w> / <C-u>
Vim provides three levels of deletion directly in insert mode, so you don't need to switch to normal mode for small corrections.
How do I exclude compiled files and dependency folders from Vim's file name completion?
:set wildignore+=*.pyc,*.o,node_modules/**,.git/**
wildignore is a comma-separated list of glob patterns that Vim skips when expanding file names.
How do I always maximize the current split window when I switch focus without using plugins?
:set winwidth=999 winheight=999
Setting winwidth=999 and winheight=999 tells Vim to try to make the active window at least 999 columns wide and 999 rows tall whenever it gains focus.
How do I move backward to the end of the previous word?
ge
The ge motion moves the cursor backward to the end of the previous word.
How do I enable smart case-sensitive searching in Vim?
:set ignorecase smartcase
How it works By setting both ignorecase and smartcase, Vim uses an intelligent case sensitivity rule for searches: If your search pattern is all lowercase, the
How do I visually select an entire code block to the matching closing brace?
V]}
Pressing V]} in normal mode enters visual line mode and immediately extends the selection to the next unmatched closing brace }.
visual-mode #visual-mode #navigation #text-objects #editing #motions
How do I make the = operator format code with an external tool like gofmt or black?
:set equalprg=gofmt
By default, Vim's = operator re-indents text using its internal rules.
config #config #editing #ex-commands #formatting #indentation
How do I control which sources Vim searches when triggering keyword completion with Ctrl-N?
set complete=.,w,b,u,t
The complete option controls which sources Vim scans when you press or for generic keyword completion.
How do I autocomplete macro-defined identifiers from header files while in insert mode?
<C-x><C-d>
in insert mode triggers defined identifier completion — it searches for identifiers that match the partial word before the cursor by scanning #define statemen
What are Vim's read-only special registers and how do I use them?
". / "% / ": / "# registers
Vim has four read-only special registers that automatically contain useful contextual information.
registers #registers #special-registers #workflow #productivity
How do I make half-page scrolling move through wrapped lines instead of jumping over them in Neovim?
set smoothscroll
By default, Neovim's half-page scroll commands (, , , ) count movement by text lines, not screen rows.
How do I undo all changes made within the last hour using time-based undo?
:earlier 1h
Vim's undo history is annotated with timestamps, allowing you to travel back to any point in time using :earlier and forward using :later.
How do I undo all changes made in the last N minutes using time-based undo?
:earlier {N}m
Vim's :earlier command lets you travel back through the undo history by wall-clock time rather than by the number of changes.
How do you show matching brackets in Vim?
set showmatch
Enable showmatch to briefly highlight the matching bracket when you type a closing bracket.