Learn to use Vim, the powerful text editor that lives in your terminal and makes file editing lightning-fast.
Save
Complete lesson & earn 250 PX
Master the art of editing files directly from the command line with Vim - no mouse required!
EXERCISE
1Discover why developers choose command-line editors over graphical ones, and when Vim becomes your only option.
Save
Picture this: You're working on a remote with no graphical interface. You need to quickly fix a configuration file that's breaking your application. What do you do?
This is where Vim shines! Unlike graphical editors, Vim lives entirely in your terminal and comes pre-installed on virtually every system.
Real-world scenarios where Vim is essential: • Editing config files on remote servers • Quick fixes without leaving the command line • Working in environments with no GUI • Lightning-fast edits when you're already in terminal
Key Insight: Vim isn't just another text editor - it's often the only text editor available when you need it most!
EXERCISE
5Master Vim's powerful deletion commands that let you remove entire lines or blocks of code instantly.
In most editors, deleting a line means selecting it carefully. In Vim, it's just two keystrokes!
Deletion superpowers:
• dd - Delete entire current line
• 5dd - Delete 5 lines starting from current line
• 10dd - Delete 10 lines at once
Real-world magic: Imagine you have a config file with a 15-line section you don't need:
# Position cursor at first unwanted line
15dd # Boom! 15 lines gone instantly
Oops, made a mistake?
• u - Undo last change
• u again - Undo the change before that
• Keep pressing u to undo multiple changes
Pro Scenario: You're cleaning up a log file with 1000 lines of debug info you don't need. Instead of manually selecting and deleting, position your cursor and type 1000dd. Done in seconds!
Safety Net: Remember, u is your friend - you can always undo if you delete too much!
Save
EXERCISE
2Understand why Vim behaves differently from other editors and master its unique two-mode system.
Save
EXERCISE
3Learn the essential commands to open, edit, save, and close files in Vim without getting trapped!
Save
Here's what confuses most beginners: You open Vim, try to type, and... nothing happens! Welcome to Vim's unique personality.
Vim operates in two distinct modes:
Command Mode (Default): • You can't type text directly • You navigate, delete, search, and execute commands • Think of it as 'navigation and action mode'
Insert Mode: • Normal typing and text editing • Where you actually write content • Press 'i' to enter, 'Escape' to exit
Why this design? It makes you incredibly fast once you learn it. No reaching for your mouse, no complex key combinations - just pure keyboard efficiency.
Memory Trick: Command mode = Control the file, Insert mode = Input text
Let's break the 'trapped in Vim' curse! Here are the essential commands every beginner needs:
Opening a file:
vim filename.txt # Opens existing file
vim newfile.txt # Creates new file
The survival commands:
• i - Enter insert mode (start typing)
• Escape - Return to command mode
• :wq - Write (save) and quit
• :q! - Quit without saving (discard changes)
Your first Vim workflow:
vim filenamei to start editingEscape to exit insert mode:wq and press Enter to save and exitNever panic in Vim! You can always press Escape and type
:q!to exit safely.
EXERCISE
4Discover how to move around files with lightning speed using Vim's powerful navigation commands.
Save
Forget arrow keys - Vim has superpowers for moving around your files!
Lightning-fast line navigation:
• 0 - Jump to beginning of line
• $ - Jump to end of line
• A - Jump to end of line AND enter insert mode
Precision jumping:
• 12G - Jump directly to line 12
• G - Jump to last line of file
• gg - Jump to first line of file
Why is this faster? Imagine and getting an error 'Line 247'. Instead of scrolling forever, just type 247G and you're there instantly!
Real scenario: Your config file has 100 lines, error on line 67:
67G # Instantly jump to line 67
$ # Move to end of that line
A # Start editing at the end
Muscle Memory Tip: Practice these daily - they'll become second nature and make you incredibly efficient!
EXERCISE
7Discover how Vim automatically recognizes file types and makes your code beautiful and readable.
Save
Here's something amazing: Open a Python file in Vim, and it automatically knows it's Python. Open a YAML config file, and it highlights the syntax perfectly!
Vim's intelligence: • Automatically detects file types by extension • Applies appropriate syntax highlighting • Makes code structure instantly visible • Works with hundreds of programming languages
What you get for free:
# This YAML will be beautifully colored in Vim
apiVersion: v1
kind: Service
metadata:
name: my-service
spec:
ports:
- port: 80
Supported formats: • Programming languages (Python, Java, , etc.) • Config files (YAML, , XML, etc.) • Markup languages (HTML, Markdown, etc.) • And hundreds more!
Why this matters: Syntax highlighting isn't just pretty - it helps you spot errors, understand structure, and work faster. Vim gives you this power right in your terminal!
Fun fact: This syntax highlighting works even on remote where you have no graphical interface!
EXERCISE
6Learn to find and replace text across entire files with surgical precision using Vim's search powers.
Save
Need to find something in a 500-line file? Or replace all occurrences of '' with 'apache'? Vim makes it effortless!
Searching like a detective:
• /searchterm - Find 'searchterm' in the file
• n - Jump to next occurrence
• N - Jump to previous occurrence
Global search and replace:
:%s/oldtext/newtext/g
This replaces ALL occurrences of 'oldtext' with 'newtext' in the entire file!
Real-world example: You need to rename your app from 'myapp' to 'productionapp' in a config file:
:%s/myapp/productionapp/g
Instantly changes every single occurrence!
Breaking down the magic:
• : - Enter command mode
• % - Apply to entire file
• s - Substitute command
• /old/new/ - Replace 'old' with 'new'
• g - Global (all occurrences on each line)
Pro Tip: Always use /searchterm first to see what you're about to replace!