Vim: Modes

This is part 2 of a series of tutorial to Vim. You can read Part 1 here.

Multiplexing Keys

Vim does different things on pressing the same key based on the mode enabled. There are many modes in Vim's modal interface. We'll begin with just two because these two are the ones which you are going to use the most. I'll introduce other modes in later parts.

Normal Mode

In editors without modal interface, there are two sets of keys: the character keys which print characters on screen and control keys using which you give commands to the editor like <ctrl>+s, <pageup>, <ctrl>+<rightarrow>. In normal mode, character keys can be used to give control commands to Vim. This makes a variety of commands possible without having intricate key combination¹. By default Vim opens up in normal mode, that is why when you press :q, Vim interprets it as command rater than printing literal string ":q" on buffer.

Insert Mode

When switched to insert mode, Vim behaves like any other conventional text editor you might have used. You can use character keys to input text and arrow keys to move around. Use the insert mode to enter text and nothing else.

Lesson 3

Press i to switch to insert mode.
Press <Esc> to switch to normal mode.

Most of the magic in Vim happens in normal mode. Thus, unless you are actually entering text, be in normal mode. I can't stress this enough, actually I can, here's amendment to Lesson 3:

Normally, be in normal mode.

Vim will tell you which mode you are in at bottom left corner of screen.

Achievement Unlocked: Nano Level

Congratulations, just like that you have gained enough skills to replace Nano (well almost, you still need to know how to search, cut and paste, but that's quite simple after this). You can now write commit message in Vim, do inline changes on production server² or set crontab. Here's a quick summary of what we have learned till now:

hit vim to fire up Vim
- vim <filename> opens up the file to edit, if file doesn't exists, a new file is created.
hit i to switch to insert mode
In insert mode, Vim behaves like any other editor: use character keys to input text, arrow keys to move around.
hit <Esc> to return back to normal mode.
When not entering text, be in normal mode.
hit
- :q to quit
- :q! to quit, discarding changes
- :w to write file (save file)
  - writing file doesn't quit Vim, hit :q to quit after writing or :wq to write file and quit in one go.

Go on, give Vim a spin. You may feel using it very cumbersome, but I assure after going through next couple of parts your productivity will be at par, if not more, than your current editor. You are going through a paradigm shift, it is not going to be easy.

Click here for part 3

Footnotes:

: Emacs took the path of having complex key combinations. Other editors decided either not to have those commands or hid them somewhere deep in menu.

: This is never ever a good idea, do not do this. Use Vim for good, not stupid.