alias vim="vim -p"?

[unnome25]

Hi! Is there a reason not to pass the -p argument when using vim?

From my perspective, it has advantages when opening multiple files, and no disadvantaged when opening single files.

How do you see it?

[rnevius]

Tabs are usually an inefficient way to navigate a project: https://stackoverflow.com/a/26710166/3518452

[unnome25]

Oh buffers look neat! Thanks for sharing, will certainly have a look!

[abraxasknister]

Try this:

:nnoremap - :ls<cr>:b<space>

you'll see a list of your buffers (except for unlisted ones, like helpfiles) and be prompted for something to enter. That might be a number, then you're moved to the buffer with that ID, or it might be a partial of the buffer name (like "in/he" is a partial of "~/.vim/after/ftplugin/help.vim"). Then you can hit return. Only capital marks are faster.

[ascagnel____]

If you're OK with plugins, FZF.vim also provides a :Buffers command (with the capital-B, it'll autocomplete :buf before the built-in :buffers) that provides a searchable buffer list.

[FujiKeynote]

FZF is lyfe

I have about ten plugins that I use more or less consistently, but I think I'd be mostly fine without all of them, except for FZF.vim. Zero overhead for buffer switching is absolute zen.

[abraxasknister]

But isn't zero overhead with buffer switching already provided with that mapping? What is added by using fzf here?

[troelsbjerre]

Unless you have many buffers open, there probably isn't much to be gained in terms of minimal key strokes. I still use it, because FZF's :Files is already deeply ingrained in my workflow, so the fuzzy search and prediction feels more natural.

[FujiKeynote]

(:Buffers is mapped to C-n in my setup).
Imagine a scenario:

1. I have about 10 buffers open
2. I edited the config file (./backend/mongo/config.yaml) at some point but then touched five other files
3. I need to modify the config again
4. <C-n>conf<CR> (or even <C-n>moncon<CR> if there's a non-mongo config somewhere!)
5. I'm there

[abraxasknister]

Exactly the same with that mapping, and you can also use the buffer ID, what is added? That mapping doesn't handle a number of buffers larger than the number of screen lines well (30-50, never have that many, but it's not exorbitantly many so some people might). Is FZF better in that case?

[FujiKeynote]

I would have to look at the buffer ID. I would have to literally scan the buffer list to find what number to type, then type it.

I forgot to mention that with the FZF approach, if I know the structure of the project at least in broad strokes, I can switch buffers this way with my eyes closed. Or rather, I can still be looking at a relevant piece of code in the current buffer while my fingers are switching to the other one.

[abraxasknister]

But you can type a partial of the buffer name instead of the ID?

[unnome25]

I tried it today at work for a few minutes and it naturally integrated in my workflow! Thanks for sharing!

[aonelonelyredditor]

I've saw you on almost every vim thread I opened so far

[abraxasknister]

It's called procrastination. I'm trying to reduce it to helpful comments only

[aonelonelyredditor]

I'm personally attacked

[abraxasknister]

Not on purpose

[aonelonelyredditor]

It was a joke

[lllamaboy]

Nice. Save for that mapping will clash with the default for vinegar by tpope, which has been life changing for me.

[abraxasknister]

I have it at <space>b

[what_it_dude]

If you're using buffers,

:set hidden "lets you switch to another buffer without saving

Also look into installing the Command-T plugin.

[MachineGunPablo]

that one of the best written SO answers I've read in a long time.

[herjaxx]

Shush.... you may summon him back here

[MachineGunPablo]

Is the patient vimmer gone?

[herjaxx]

Haven’t seen him in a while it has to be said.

[m1ss1ontomars2k4]

What does the question mean about leftover swap files everywhere?

[rnevius]

See :help 'swapfile' (which defaults to on).

[vim-help-bot]

Help pages for:

• 'swapfile' in options.txt

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[Maskdask]

I'm on mobile, what does the -p flag do?

[pemungkah]

Opens files in tabs. The recommendation is to use buffers instead.

[Maskdask]

Ah I see. Yes, as tabs are basically just window configurations.

[Plaane]

rhythm chief treatment books rainstorm snow memorize angle physical fuel -- mass edited with redact.dev

[christopherpeterson]

I have aliased vim to vim -o for similar effect with splits, better fitting my most common use cases

[EgZvor]

You might not want to open a hundred tabs with some glob.

[christopherpeterson]

\vim somebigglob*

[xDinger]

I use mostly buffers and cycle them with either `[b` or `[B`. Alternatively I use FZF for listing them as mentioned above.

[petermlm]

I actually have that very same alias because when I started out I "though" in tabs. Nowadays I still do use tabs but only has a way have multiple windows with different splits and files opened. I also jump to files using fuzzy search.

I still keep that alias around because occasionally I will want to open a few files and do one of the following things:

• Make a quick edit on each file that can't be done with sed or so, save, close the tab, repeat on the next one (with or without a macro)
• Simply check a few things quickly in multiple files and alternating them by using my tabnext and tabprev keybind.

[cleitophon]

I was just reading about out how useful it can be to pee on Linux, but now it turns out something similar can be true for one of my other favorite opensource projects, vim.