Arrow keys in VIM?!

#shorts #twitch #typecraft

[tranquangthang]

after get used to hjkl I kinda want every app to use hjkl

[alexandersuvorov]

For all rookies out there: the HJKL reason is purely historical. When terminals were just teleprinters (teletype) there was no need for arrow keys because these were essentially remotely controlled typewriters. When Vi was invented most of terminals back then didn’t have arrows keys and hence HJKL as substitute. You can use arrow keys today, but that HJKL navigation proved to be very efficient for Text Editing similarly to WASD in gaming. Similarly to WASD just give HJKL sometime and you will awesome about it.

[ortani]

I do avoid to use hjkl nowadays. Long jump motions, F, f t, T / helps a lot

[neeyjaa]

arrow keys are usefull outside vim tho😔

[mvargasmoran]

This is great advice, you can do this with a 60% gamin keyboard also, so you can enjoy "both" worlds.

[martinlarsson]

I did this, then I learned colemak and hjkl doesn’t make sense anymore so now I use the arrow keys again but on a separate layer on the hjkl positions 😂

[lunchboxUFX]

I used to have a 75% keyboard but I recently made some changes to my dev tools - i wanted to give neovim (btw) a try and i wanted to try a HHKB layout keyboard (like Chris') Since my 75% is custom I just removed the arrow keys, and frankenstein'd a faux HHKB layout (I didn't have enough money for a new keyboard). Instead of HJKL I mapped my arrow keys to IJKL which preserves the shape of the original arrow cluster and I never had to move my right hand from home. So that transition was real easy - But since my key mappings for IJKL don't translate to other applications with VIM motions, I switched to HJKL, and that was a little tough but I eventually adjusted.. After two weeks I don't even think of it anymore. The crazy part is I made each of these changes just days before technical coding interviews, so I more or less forced myself to train my fingers or else I woulda looked real bad in those interviews

[JustDalton]

My keyboard caps easily come off. I wonder if there’s a 3D printed “super key” so you press all four arrows simultaneously…

[TheMaziqueen]

Instructions unclear. I mapped arrow keys to wasd in layer 2 on the arrowless keyboard and am still using arrow keys.

[ZombieJig]

My keyboard doesn't have arrow keys. Minimalist split keyboards forever.

[poutineausyropderable]

I swapped I and h, and the ijkl keys so that:
I
J K L

Insert is h

[wdnick]

I've tried using vim with hjkl, but for some reason my hand got tired after a long time of navigating through code with them, which does not happen when using arrows. So I've dropped idea of full hjkl conversion.

[ethanh]

What about other apps, like autocomplete in chrome. Ctrl n / p doesnt work

[ai.vangogh]

same with me, I unbind the arrow keys and just 1 day, I've already not used with arrow keys

[tomdringer]

Yep thats been the hardest part so far

[KeleronX]

i have arrows in IJKL on another layer (qmk) and i think is better, but I keep doing bad practices of holding arrows

[shumito]

the problem comes when you use another app that needs arrow keys

[TheyNay]

And how do you use hjkl but in COLEMAK (DH)?
Is it possible to remap the keys? Is it even possible to use Vim and all its shortcuts with Colemak?

[anatolykhalizev]

They don't have arrow keys for $300 keyboard - solid motivation

[dave]

But then how would you navigate the cursor in insert mode? 🤔