If you want to speed up and enhance your programming experience on VSCode, one of the best choices is integrating Vim, a powerful and feature-rich text editor. Vim allows you to boost significantly your productivity.

Installing Vim on VSCode

Open VSCode
Go to the Extensions section
Search for “Vim” and select vscodevim
Click Install

Once the extension is installed, we’re ready to start using Vim! However, before diving in, we need to configure a few settings to ensure the keyboard shortcuts work correctly on all operating systems.

Configuring Keyboard Shortcuts

For Windows:

To set up your keyboard shortcuts, check the GitHub pages:

useCtrlKeys
[handleKeys] (https://github.com/VSCodeVim/Vim?tab=readme-ov-file#vscodevim-settings)

You’ll find all the settings to customize Vim to your liking.

For Mac:

On macOS, the configuration is simpler. Open the terminal and enter one of the following commands based on your VSCode version:

//For VSCode:
defaults write com.microsoft.VSCode ApplePressAndHoldEnabled -bool false

//For VSCode Insider:
defaults write com.microsoft.VSCodeInsiders ApplePressAndHoldEnabled -bool false

//For VS Codium:
defaults write com.vscodium ApplePressAndHoldEnabled -bool false

//For VS Codium Exploration:
defaults write com.microsoft.VSCodeExploration ApplePressAndHoldEnabled -bool false

//To reset global defaults:
defaults delete -g ApplePressAndHoldEnabled

Vim Keyboard Shortcuts

Once everything is set up, it’s time to learn the most useful Vim shortcuts that will help you navigate code, write, and edit more efficiently.

Movement in the Document:

• h =  Move cursor left
• j =  Move cursor down
• k =  Move cursor up
• l =  Move cursor right

Text Insertion:

• i = Enter insert mode to the left of the cursor
• I = Enter insert mode at the beginning of the line
• a = Enter insert mode to the right of the cursor
• A = Enter insert mode at the end of the line

Text Modification:

• x = Delete the character to the right of the cursor (equivalent to “Delete”)
• r = Replace the character under the cursor with another (Replace mode)

Conclusion

With Vim on VSCode, you can make your coding experience much smoother and faster. Be sure to configure the keyboard shortcuts correctly to make everything even more efficient and intuitive. With these basics, you’re ready to start using Vim like a pro!

Happy coding! 🚀

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