Vim mode in VS Code

January 05 2023 [ vscode vim ]

I use the vim/vi editor in the Linux terminal. But Vim is not a single plain text editor. VS Code is widely used as an ID. Working with text is absolutely different in these 2 editors. To switch from one editor to another, it needs to rearrange the brain. To avoid such frustration, it’s better to use a special Vim extension in VS Code, to use the same normal/insert/visual modes and the same keys as in vim.

Vim emulation for Visual Studio Code

Add in VS Code Settings (JSON):

{
    "vim.easymotion": true,
    "vim.incsearch": true,
    "vim.useSystemClipboard": true,
    "vim.useCtrlKeys": true,
    "vim.hlsearch": true,
    "vim.insertModeKeyBindings": [
        {
            "before": ["j", "j"],
            "after": ["<Esc>"]
        }
    ],
    "vim.normalModeKeyBindingsNonRecursive": [
        {
            "before": ["<leader>", "d"],
            "after": ["d", "d"]
        },
        {
            "before": ["<C-n>"],
            "commands": [":nohl"]
        },
        {
            "before": ["K"],
            "commands": ["lineBreakInsert"],
            "silent": true
        },
        {
            "before": ["u"],
            "commands": ["undo"]
        },
        {
            "before": ["<C-r>"],
            "commands": ["redo"]
        }
    ],
    "vim.leader": "<space>",
    "vim.handleKeys": {
        "<C-a>": false,
        "<C-w>": false,
        "<C-o>": false,
        "<C-f>": false
    }
}

Features:

double jj to switch to normal mode from insert, as Esc.
leader key is space instead of default one
^n new file/tab
^a select all
^w close tab
^o open file
^f find via VS Code find interface
^s save

Vim mode in VS Code

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