Turn Vim into Powerful JavaScript Editor
After trying NetBeans, AptanaStudio, Emacs, KomodoEdit, and Jedit, I’ve finally settled on Vim (again) for my JavaScript/HTML/CSS editing needs. AptanaStudio is ok by default, but extending it wasn’t very fun. NetBeans simply doesn’t do what I need. KomodoEdit has no code re-indentation (code formatting) feature which is a big fail in my opinion. Jedit was just ugly, and the default feature set left a lot to be desired. There are tons of plugins for it, but I just didn’t have the time to try them all out.
Vim doesn’t have too many features related to editing JavaScript code out of the box. Indentation is horrendous, error-checking is non-existent, and it’s generally a pain in the arse. However, Vim is very extensible, and with a few cool plugins, you can turn it into a powerful JavaScript editor within a few minutes (plus the time you waste reading this post, of course). Here’s a list of plugins that transform Vim into one of the coolest JavaScript editors i’ve used.
Strangling PHP Scripts with Vim
Sometimes, you just get blank screens, or you’re curious to take a look at what your class method does. You can set up a server, and load a page, sure, but that’s too cumbersome. Even running your script through php in your terminal is tedious sometimes. You just don’t feel like it. Good news is, you’re one of the smart programmers using Vim. Good for you, because the following tips will help you strangle that script with a few extra lines in vimrc and your own code.
Ranger: Vim-Like CLI File Manager
If you like Vim, you’re gonna just love Ranger. It’s a file manager that works like Vim, feels like Vim, and smells like Vim. In one word: awesome.
Vim JavaScript Indentation
JavaScript indentation doesn’t seem to be an easy thing to implement. I don’t know why, but there are so many plugins that get it wrong. I’ve struggled with some of the quirks in such plugins, but I think I’ve finally found the one that works. I won’t bother you with details. Go check out Better JavaScript Indentation. Make sure you’ve removed other similar plugins before you use it.
Searching within Multiple Files in Vim
So, Vim is one of the most advanced programmers’ editors around. One of the features I was missing for a long time was the ability to list all TODO and FIXME lines in my code. Well, turns out you can do this pretty easily even without a special plugin.
Vimified: Vim-Centered Software Collection
I tend to spend most of my day in Vim. Well, most of my day is relative, as I certainly do engage in activities like eating, playing with kids, and sleep. Nuances aside, some of the Vim’s features like HJKL movement, and command mode have become second nature to me, so much so that I started looking for software that behaves more or less the same way in areas outside text editing. Here are some gems I’d like to share with you.
Mouse and Vim for the Lazy
Have you ever noticed that, when you have line numbers enabled in Vim, you can’t select just the code? You know, the numbers get selected as well. I was too lazy to fix that problem for a while now, and today I took a stab at it finally. Solution was deceivingly simple.
