cloudvoyant vim
Quick key reference for Vim/Neovim. Pass any natural-language query and get the relevant bindings. No query → 8-key spec workflow quick-ref.
Markdown output: soft-wrap prose, never hard-wrap — when writing markdown, write each paragraph as one continuous line; do not insert manual newlines to wrap prose at a fixed column width. Newlines still separate paragraphs, list items, headings, and code fences.
Step 0: Parse query
The raw query (filled by Claude Code / OpenCode slash commands): $ARGUMENTS. If this line is not filled in, read the query from the user's current message.
QUERY="$*" # everything after /vim
Step 1: Match query and print reference
No query — spec workflow quick-ref:
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
:e <path> |
Open file by path (Tab to complete) |
Ctrl-^ |
Toggle alternate (last) file |
gf |
Go to file under cursor |
Ctrl-w v |
Vertical split |
/<pattern> |
Search forward |
:%s/pat/rep/gc |
Search-replace with confirm |
:w |
Save |
:x |
Save and quit (only writes if changed) |
If query mentions how, why, explain, fundamentals, motion, motions, grammar, learn:
Motions & Fundamentals
Vim is a language: you compose operator + count + motion/text-object. Learn the pieces and you can express edits you've never memorized.
Modes: Normal (navigate/command — press Esc to return here), Insert (i a o), Visual (v char, V line, Ctrl-v block), Command-line (:).
Operators (verbs): d delete · c change (delete + insert) · y yank (copy) · >/< indent · = auto-indent · gu/gU lower/upper.
Motions (where the verb acts): w/b/e word fwd/back/end · 0/^/$ line start/first-nonblank/end · gg/G file top/bottom · }/{ paragraph · f<c>/t<c> to char · % matching bracket.
Text objects (act on a region around the cursor): iw/aw inner/a word · i"/a" inside/around quotes · ip/ap paragraph · it/at tag · i( i{ i[ inside brackets.
Counts multiply: 3w three words · 2dd delete 2 lines · d3w delete 3 words · c2j change this + 2 lines down.
Grammar examples:
| You want | You type | Read as |
|---|---|---|
| Delete a word | diw |
delete inner word |
| Change inside quotes | ci" |
change inside " |
| Delete to end of line | D (= d$) |
delete to $ |
| Yank a paragraph | yap |
yank a paragraph |
| Delete 3 lines | 3dd |
3 × delete-line |
| Indent a block | >i{ |
indent inside {} |
Dot & repeat: . repeats the last change · ;/, repeat last f/t forward/back. Compose small edits, then . your way through the rest.
Why it's fast: you never reach for the mouse or arrow keys — your edit is a sentence. caw ("change a word") is one thought, not three keystrokes you think about.
If query mentions opening files, navigating, netrw, explorer, fuzzy find:
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
:e <path> |
Open file (Tab-completes paths) |
:Ex |
Open netrw file explorer |
:Sex |
Open netrw in a horizontal split |
Ctrl-^ |
Toggle alternate (last) file |
gf |
Go to filename under cursor |
Ctrl-w gf |
Go to filename under cursor in new tab |
With Telescope/fzf-lua (neovim): <leader>ff (find files), <leader>fg (live grep) — key depends on config.
If query mentions search, find, replace, substitute, grep:
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
/<pattern> |
Search forward |
?<pattern> |
Search backward |
n / N |
Next / previous match |
* |
Search word under cursor |
:%s/pat/rep/g |
Replace all in file (no confirm) |
:%s/pat/rep/gc |
Replace all with confirm per match |
:s/pat/rep/g |
Replace in current line only |
Ctrl-r Ctrl-w |
Paste word under cursor into : command |
If query mentions split, window, pane, vertical, horizontal:
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
Ctrl-w v |
Vertical split |
Ctrl-w s |
Horizontal split |
Ctrl-w h/j/k/l |
Move to left/down/up/right split |
Ctrl-w = |
Equalise split sizes |
Ctrl-w _ |
Maximise current split height |
Ctrl-w | |
Maximise current split width |
:q |
Close current split |
If query mentions buffer, switch, tab, list buffers:
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
:ls |
List open buffers |
:b<N> |
Switch to buffer N |
:bn / :bp |
Next / previous buffer |
Ctrl-^ |
Toggle last buffer |
:bd |
Delete (close) current buffer |
:bufdo |
Run command on all open buffers |
If query is broad, unrecognised, or says all / everything / full:
Print all tables above in order.
Navigation hints (compact)
Terse drill for --vim consumers. Lead with navigation and selection — the goal is to move precisely and select by structure, then let one operator do the edit. Learn to move and select well and the edits fall out for free.
Navigate (move by meaning, not arrow-key by arrow-key):
w b e word fwd/back/end · 0 ^ $ line start/first-word/end · f<c> t<c> jump to/before char (;/, repeat) · { } paragraph · % matching bracket · gg G file top/bottom · Ctrl-d Ctrl-u half-page · /pat n N search & step · * word under cursor · gd def · Ctrl-o Ctrl-i jump back/forward. Prefer a motion over holding h j k l.
Select (Visual + text objects — select the thing, not char-by-char):
v char · V line · Ctrl-v block · then extend with any motion above. Best leverage is text objects: iw/aw word · i"/a" quotes · i( i{ i[ inside brackets · ip/ap paragraph · it/at tag. e.g. vi{ select inside braces · vap select a paragraph · viw select a word.
Then operate (verb + what you navigated/selected): d delete · c change · y yank · > < indent — compose them: ciw change word · di{ delete inside braces · yap yank paragraph · d$ to end of line · >ip indent paragraph. u undo · Ctrl-r redo · . repeat last change · p paste.
:w save · :x save+quit · Esc back to Normal.
Grammar: operator + count + motion/text-object. Master motions and text objects and you can express edits you never memorized — that's the drill.