Vimcasts

Spell checking

Using a spell checker is a good habit to get into. In this episode, I demonstrate how to use Vim’s built in spell checking feature.

Formatting text with par

‘Do one thing and do it well’ is the principle of the Unix toolkit. Editing text is a broad domain, and there are many related tasks with which it overlaps. Vim acknowledges this by enabling certain tasks to be outsourced to external programs which do that one thing, and do it well. This episode will demonstrate how the par program can be used for formatting text.

Hard wrapping text

It is sometimes preferable to format text with hard wrapped lines, for example when writing emails in plaintext. Vim can apply this style of formatting for you. This episode shows some of the options which allow you to customize Vim’s text formatting.

Soft wrapping text

Long lines of text can be wrapped if they don’t fit inside the window. By default, Vim will happily split in the middle of a word. This episode demonstrates how to use the ‘linebreak’ option to make Vim break lines without breaking words.

The file explorer

This episode demonstrates how Vim’s native file browser can be used to explore and manipulate the file system.

The :edit command

This episode focuses on the :edit command. I demonstrate how to open files whose location is relative to the current working directory, then I show how to create a mapping which makes it easier to open files in the same directory as the one in the active window.

Cleaning up with Vim

Do you have trouble cleaning up with your text editor? Does it cut through the toughest grease, grime and syntax errors? Are you burning your hands on too many hotkeys?

Try Vim – Extra whitening classic scourer. Vim gets the job done faster. Take short easy strokes for lemon fresh scripts. Fast, bold, Vim.

Modal editing: undo, redo and repeat

Vim’s modal editing paradigm – the newbie killer – brings tremendous efficiency if only you can learn to work with it, rather than against it. This episode demonstrates how the undo and repeat commands can benefit from spending short bursts of time in insert mode.

Using the changelist and jumplist

This episode introduces the changelist and jumplist, demonstrating a couple of situations where they are useful.

Creating the Vimcasts logo as ASCII art

Demonstrating miscellaneous tips and tricks gleaned whilst making an ASCII art version of the VimCasts.org logo. Learn how to duplicate lines, copy and paste with visual block mode, search and replace within a visual selection, and how to use macros.