James Oliver wrote:
Hi,
[Using vim as an IDE]
Of course, there are many who use vi as an IDE and I think many use it
differently.
Does anyone know a good information source where I can see _how_
people are using vim as an IDE?
I know http://www.vim.org/tips/tip.php?tip_id=1119 "How to use Vim
like an IDE" and http://www.vim.org/tips/tip.php?tip_id=3 "use vim to
quickly compile java files".
(I see some of you writing you defined shortcuts, list errors, use
ctags,... - where can I get an overview or an introduction on how to
do all this?)
Thanks,
James
To know how to use Vim (as Vim or as anything else that it can be used as),
read the help. ;-)
OK, I know it's a tall order. The Vim help is unbelievably complete, but that
also means unbelievably bulky. (TANSTAAFL.) But there are several ways to use it.
- Cover-to-Cover (not very useful). Start by hitting F1. When you come to the
end of that file, you will see a list of other help files. Tackle them one
after the other. -- This method should work, in theory, but IMHO it is not the
best one for this purpose, among other reasons because it is too tedious.
- The Dictionary Game: start anywhere, and when a link (in gvim, something
displayed in dark green) looks interesting, follow it, either by
double-clicking it with the mouse or by hitting Ctrl-] with the cursor on it.
Repeat at will.
- Helptag "menu" completion: First, set menu completion mode:
:set wildmenu
That's once and for all. You can write it into your vimrc (see ":help vimrc").
Then, type ":help " (without the quotes) followed by part of a help topic
name, or by a Vim pattern (see ":help pattern-overview") which might match
something that interests you. Instead of completing your command with the
Enter key, hit the Tab key instead. The bottom status line (where you normally
see the file name -- if using split windows, the name of the file in the lower
split window) will become a menu of possible entries (if there are two or
more: if there is only one you will see it on the command-line). Select by
hitting the left and right arrow keys, then hit Enter to accept or Esc to cancel.
- Searching the whole text of all helpfiles:
:helpgrep <pattern>
where <pattern> is, again, a Vim pattern which defines what to search for: for
instance, \<word\> where \< and \> represent word boundaries. When Vim has
searched all the help for matches, it will show the first one (if any). Use
":cn[ext]", ":cp[revious]" (or ":cN[ext]), ":cfir[st]" (or ":cr[ewind]"),
":cla[st]" to navigate the list of matches, or ":cope[n]" to show all the
matching lines in a split window (see ":help quickfix"). (In all cases without
the quotes and brackets, and you can include or omit all or part of the text
in brackets).
Best regards,
Tony.
