📅 Daily Usage¶

The keybindings and workflows you'll reach for every single day.

⌨️ Key Bindings at a Glance¶

Leader key: <Space>

🗂️ File Operations¶

Key	Action
`<leader>w`	Save file
`<leader>q`	Quit
`<leader>x`	Save and quit
`<leader>ev`	Edit vimrc in new tab
`<leader>sv`	Reload vimrc

🔍 Finding Things¶

Key	Action	Think of it as...
`<C-p>`	Find files by name	"Ctrl+P"
`<leader>fg`	Grep across project	"Find Globally"
`<leader>fb`	Switch between open buffers	"Find Buffer"
`<leader>fh`	Recent files (history)	"Find History"
`<leader>fc`	Search all Vim commands	"Find Command"
`<leader>fl`	Search lines in current buffer	"Find Line"
`<leader>fm`	Jump to marks	"Find Mark"
`<leader>fs`	Insert snippet	"Find Snippet"

Inside fzf picker: - Ctrl+T → open in new tab - Ctrl+X → open in horizontal split - Ctrl+V → open in vertical split - Ctrl+/ → toggle preview

📁 File Explorer¶

Key	Action
`<leader>e`	Toggle NERDTree
`<leader>nf`	Reveal current file in tree

Inside NERDTree: | Key | Action | |-----|--------| | o | Open file / toggle folder | | t | Open in new tab | | s | Open in vertical split | | i | Open in horizontal split | | m | File menu (create, rename, delete, move) | | I | Toggle hidden files | | R | Refresh | | q | Close tree |

🧠 Code Intelligence (LSP)¶

Key	Action
`gd`	Go to definition
`gD`	Peek definition
`gr`	Find all references
`gi`	Go to implementation
`gt`	Go to type definition
`K`	Hover documentation
`<C-k>` (insert)	Signature help
`<leader>rn`	Rename symbol
`<leader>ca`	Code actions (quick fixes)
`<leader>cf`	Format document
`<leader>cs`	Document symbols (outline)
`<leader>cw`	Workspace symbols
`[d`	Previous diagnostic
`]d`	Next diagnostic

Completion¶

Key	Action
`<Tab>`	Next suggestion
`<S-Tab>`	Previous suggestion
`<CR>`	Accept suggestion

🪟 Windows & Buffers¶

Navigating Splits¶

Key	Action
`<C-h>`	Move to left split
`<C-j>`	Move to split below
`<C-k>`	Move to split above
`<C-l>`	Move to right split

Resizing Splits¶

Key	Action
`<C-Up>`	Increase height
`<C-Down>`	Decrease height
`<C-Left>`	Decrease width
`<C-Right>`	Increase width

Key	Action
`<Tab>`	Next buffer
`<S-Tab>`	Previous buffer
`<leader>bd`	Close buffer

✏️ Editing¶

Line Operations¶

Key	Action
`<A-j>`	Move line down
`<A-k>`	Move line up
`<A-j>` (visual)	Move selection down
`<A-k>` (visual)	Move selection up
`<leader>d`	Duplicate line
`<leader>a`	Select all

Indentation (visual mode)¶

Key	Action
`>`	Indent (keeps selection)
`<`	Outdent (keeps selection)

Commenting¶

Key	Action
`gcc`	Toggle comment on line
`gc` (visual)	Toggle comment on selection
`gcap`	Comment a paragraph
`gc3j`	Comment 3 lines down

Surround¶

Key	Action
`cs"'`	Change `"hello"` → `'hello'`
`ds"`	Delete `"hello"` → `hello`
`ysiw"`	Surround word: `hello` → `"hello"`
`yss)`	Surround line with `()`
`S"` (visual)	Surround selection with `"`

🔀 Git¶

Fugitive¶

Key	Action
`<leader>gs`	Git status (interactive)
`<leader>gc`	Git commit
`<leader>gp`	Git push
`<leader>gl`	Git log (last 20)
`<leader>gd`	Diff current file (split view)
`<leader>gb`	Git blame

GitGutter (hunk operations)¶

Key	Action
`]h`	Jump to next changed hunk
`[h`	Jump to previous changed hunk
`<leader>hp`	Preview hunk diff
`<leader>hs`	Stage hunk
`<leader>hu`	Undo hunk

🖥️ Terminal¶

Key	Action
`<leader>t`	Toggle floating terminal
`<F7>`	New terminal instance
`<F8>`	Next terminal
`<Esc>` (in terminal)	Return to normal mode

🏗️ Build & Run¶

Key	Action
`<leader>mk`	Run `make`
`<leader>mb`	Run `cmake --build build`
`<leader>mr`	Run `make run`

Errors populate the quickfix list: | Key | Action | |-----|--------| | :copen | Open quickfix window | | :cnext | Next error | | :cprev | Previous error |

Key	Action
`s{char}{char}`	EasyMotion: jump to any 2-char combo
`<leader>j`	EasyMotion: jump to line below
`<leader>k`	EasyMotion: jump to line above
`<C-o>`	Jump back (previous location)
`<C-i>`	Jump forward
`<leader>z`	Toggle fold under cursor

🔧 Utilities¶

Key	Action
`<leader>u`	Toggle undo tree
`<Esc><Esc>`	Clear search highlighting
`<C-\>`	Jump to tag in new tab (ctags)
`<leader>]`	Jump to tag in vertical split

📋 Typical Daily Workflow¶

Morning: Start a Feature¶

vim                           # Open Vim
<C-p>                         # Find the file to work on
<leader>gs                    # Check git status
gd                            # Navigate to function definition

Coding: Edit → Build → Fix¶

i                             # Enter insert mode, write code
<Esc>                         # Back to normal mode
<leader>w                     # Save
<leader>mk                    # Build
:cnext                        # Jump to first error
.                             # Fix, repeat

Refactoring: Rename Across Project¶

<leader>rn                    # Rename symbol (LSP handles all files)
<leader>fg                    # Grep to verify no stragglers

Debugging: Trace a Bug¶

gr                            # Find all references to suspect function
gd                            # Dive into definition
K                             # Read hover docs
<C-o>                         # Jump back
<leader>t                     # Open terminal, run debugger

End of Day: Commit¶

<leader>gs                    # Git status
s                             # Stage files (in fugitive window)
cc                            # Commit
<leader>gp                    # Push

💡 Pro Tips¶

Use <Tab> / <S-Tab> for buffer switching faster than :b name
<leader>fg then type ripgrep is instant even on huge codebases
]h and [h jump between git changes to review what you've done
<leader>hp preview a hunk before deciding to stage or undo it
gcc in normal, gc in visual commenting is always one keystroke away
gd then <C-o> peek at a definition and bounce back instantly

"The best workflow is the one you don't think about. It's muscle memory."