vi_cheat_sheet.md

vi commands

insert mode vs. command mode

There are two modes in vi. When you start the program, it will begin in command mode.

common commands to switch between modes

cmd	description
i	insert mode right at cursor
I	insert mode at beginning of line
a	insert mode after cursor
A	insert mode at end of line
o	creates new line below cursor, begins input mode at beginning of line
O	creates new line above cursor, begins input mode at beginning of line
ESC	exits input mode, returns to command mode

how to quit vi

cmd	description
:q	quit without saving
:w	write changes without exiting
:wq, :x, ZZ	write changes and quit

common commands in command mode

cmd	description
arrow keys	move cursor around the file
h,j,k,l	move cursor left, down, up, right, respectively
nG	move to line n. ex: 12G moves to line 12 of file
G	without a number, G moves to end of file
0 (zero)	move to beginning of line
$	move to end of line
w, b	move forward or backward by word
{, }	move forward or backward by paragraph
/word	find the next occurence of word
?word	find the previous occurence of word
n	continue to the next occurence of the previous search
d	delete command. requires additional information
dw	deletes a word
dd	deletes the current line
d3G	deletes all text from current cursor to line 3

Note that in many cases, there are a number of commands that do the same thing.