systemlist()
systemlist({cmd}) runs a shell command and returns the output as a list of strings, one per line — unlike system() which returns everything as a single string
:let @q = 'keystrokes'
You can assign a string directly to any register using :let, turning it into a macro instantly.
:silent! %normal @q
Combining :silent!, the % range, and :normal @q gives you a powerful pattern for applying a macro across an entire file while gracefully skipping lines that don
v:count1
The v:count1 variable holds the count typed before a command, defaulting to 1 if no count was given.
vim.keymap.set
vim.
:nnoremap <expr> {key} {expression}
The argument to any map command (:nmap, :inoremap, etc.
config #config #macros #insert-mode #normal-mode #ex-commands
:{range} normal @{reg}
The :normal command lets you execute Normal mode keystrokes over a range of lines.
:let @a .= "text"
Vim registers are just strings, and you can read and write them directly using the :let command.
v:register
When writing custom mappings or operator functions, v:register gives you the register name that the user prefixed the mapping with.
matchlist()
matchlist({str}, {pattern}) runs a regex match and returns a list of all captured groups, making it the idiomatic way to extract structured data from strings in
getchar()
getchar() blocks and waits for the user to press a key, returning its numeric character code.
:s/pattern/replacement/e
The e flag in Vim's :substitute command silently ignores the "E486: Pattern not found" error when the pattern does not match anything.
:let @a = substitute(@a, "old", "new", "g")
When a recorded macro has a typo or wrong command buried inside it, you don't have to re-record the entire thing.
:xmap
:vmap applies to both visual mode and select mode, which can silently break snippet plugins (like UltiSnips, LuaSnip) that use select mode to position the curso
:set debug=msg
When troubleshooting mappings or scripts that use :silent!, errors disappear without a trace.
:let @a = '...'
When a recorded macro contains a typo or needs a small tweak, you can modify it directly via the :let command rather than re-recording the entire sequence.
:[range]luado {lua-expr}
Neovim's :luado command runs a Lua expression on each line of a range, allowing you to transform text using the full power of Lua's string library.
:normal! {cmd}
When you use :normal {cmd} in a Vimscript function, macro, or Ex command, Vim expands any keys through the user's current mappings first.
:let @q = substitute(@q, "old", "new", "g")
Vim macros are stored as plain text in registers, which means you can inspect and modify them like any other string.
:let @a = execute('messages')
The execute() function (added in Vim 8.
