This blog post details the author's highly automated Vim setup, emphasizing speed and efficiency. Leveraging plugins like vim-plug for plugin management and a variety of others for features like fuzzy finding, Git integration, and syntax highlighting, the author creates a streamlined coding environment. The post focuses on specific configurations and keybindings for tasks such as file navigation, code completion, compiling, and debugging, showcasing a personalized workflow built around minimizing friction and maximizing productivity within Vim. The ultimate goal is to achieve a near-IDE experience using Vim's powerful extensibility.
Sharad Shardanand's 2020 blog post, "Automating the Vim Workplace," details his comprehensive approach to optimizing his Vim editing environment for maximum efficiency and customization. He outlines a meticulous configuration process, moving beyond basic Vim setup to create a truly personalized and powerful workflow.
The post begins by emphasizing the philosophy behind his approach: striving for a consistent and reproducible Vim experience across different machines. This is achieved primarily through leveraging a Git repository to manage his Vim configuration files, ensuring easy synchronization and version control. He uses a dedicated .vim directory within his home directory and explains the practice of symlinking this directory to the appropriate Vim configuration location based on the operating system being used.
A key element of his automation strategy is the use of a plugin manager, specifically vim-plug, to streamline the installation and updating of plugins. He describes the benefits of vim-plug, including its parallel installation capabilities and on-demand loading functionality, which contributes to a faster startup time for Vim. The post provides detailed examples of how to configure vim-plug within the init.vim file, showcasing how to define and manage various plugins based on file types and personal preferences.
Shardanand then delves into the specific plugins he employs to enhance his Vim workflow. These include plugins for syntax highlighting, file browsing, code completion, Git integration, and more. He explains the rationale behind choosing each plugin, illustrating how they contribute to a more productive and enjoyable editing experience. For example, he highlights the use of NERDTree for improved file navigation and ctrlp for fuzzy file finding within projects. The configuration details for each plugin are meticulously documented, providing readers with practical examples to replicate the setup.
Beyond plugin management, the post discusses other crucial aspects of his Vim configuration. He elaborates on customizing keybindings for specific commands and actions, streamlining common tasks and movements within the editor. He also explains how to configure color schemes and themes, enabling a personalized and visually appealing interface. Furthermore, he demonstrates how to set up auto-completion and linting capabilities within Vim, improving coding efficiency and reducing errors.
Finally, the post addresses the management of multiple Vim configurations tailored for different scenarios. He discusses using conditional logic within the init.vim file to activate specific plugins and settings based on the context, such as working on a specific project or operating system. This enables a highly adaptable and dynamic Vim environment.
In essence, Shardanand's post provides a comprehensive guide to creating a robust and personalized Vim setup. He emphasizes automation through Git, plugin management with vim-plug, and meticulous configuration of plugins, keybindings, and themes. The detailed explanations and practical examples offered make it a valuable resource for both novice and experienced Vim users looking to enhance their editing workflow.
Summary of Comments ( 25 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42990801
Hacker News users generally praised the author's approach to Vim automation, emphasizing the balance between leveraging Vim's powerful features and avoiding over-complication. Several commenters shared their own preferred plugins and workflows, highlighting tools like
fzf,vim-projectionist, andCtrlPfor file navigation, andluasnipandUltiSnipsfor snippets. Some appreciated the author's philosophy of learning Vim gradually and organically, rather than attempting to master everything at once. A few commenters discussed the trade-offs between using a highly configured Vim setup versus a more minimalist approach, and the potential drawbacks of relying too heavily on plugins. There was also a brief discussion about the relative merits of using language servers and other external tools within Vim.The Hacker News post titled "Automating the Vim Workplace (2020)" with the ID 42990801 has several comments discussing various aspects of Vim automation and related topics.
A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the trade-offs between automating everything within Vim and using external tools or shell scripts. Some commenters advocate for the power and efficiency of keeping actions within Vim, leveraging its built-in capabilities and plugins for tasks like project management and file manipulation. They argue this approach maintains focus and avoids context switching. One commenter specifically mentions using Vim for tasks like creating Github issues and managing TODO lists, emphasizing the benefit of a unified workflow. Another highlights the speed advantage of Vim's internal commands compared to external tools, particularly for smaller tasks. This speed is attributed to avoiding the overhead of launching external processes.
Conversely, other commenters argue for the flexibility and power of shell scripting and external tools. They point out that shell scripts can be more easily composed and reused, and they provide access to a wider range of functionalities. One commenter specifically suggests using
makefor complex project automation, citing its robust dependency management capabilities. This perspective suggests that while Vim excels at text editing, dedicated tools are better suited for broader automation tasks. Another comment emphasizes the importance of choosing the right tool for the job, advocating against forcing all tasks into the Vim environment.The discussion also touches on specific Vim plugins and tools. One commenter mentions using projectionist.vim for project management within Vim, while others discuss the benefits and drawbacks of different approaches for tasks like compiling code and running tests.
A few comments delve into more specific technical details, such as the use of Vim's built-in functions for file manipulation and the integration of Vim with external tools through plugins and scripts. One commenter mentions using Vim's
system()function for interacting with the shell, while another discusses the use of:!for executing external commands.Finally, some comments offer alternative perspectives on automation in general. One commenter suggests that excessive automation can hinder learning and understanding, while another emphasizes the importance of carefully considering the costs and benefits of automation before implementing it. This highlights a common thread in the discussion: finding the right balance between automation and manual control for optimal efficiency and productivity.