neovim cheatsheet

1. Custom Core Bindings

Keybind	Mode	Description
`jk` or `kj`	Insert	Escape to Normal mode
`;`	Normal, Visual	Map to `:` (Command line)
`:`	Normal, Visual	Map to `;` (Repeat last f/F/t/T motion)
`L`	Normal	Select to end of line (`vg_`)
`<C-u>`	Normal	Scroll page UP and center cursor (`zz`)
`<C-d>`	Normal	Scroll page DOWN and center cursor (`zz`)
`{`	Normal	Jump paragraph UP and center cursor
`}`	Normal	Jump paragraph DOWN and center cursor
`G`	Normal	Go to end of file and center cursor
`n` / `N`	Normal	Next/Prev search match (kept centered)
`gd` / `gr`	Normal	Go to definition / references (kept centered)
`<C-o>`	Normal	Jump back in jump list (kept centered)
`<leader>s`	Normal	Search and replace the word under the cursor
`<C-r>`	Visual	Replace all selected text (prompts for replacement)

Keybind	Action
`<leader>/`	Search (grep) text across all project files (uses `ripgrep`)
`<leader>sg`	Open live grep search dialog
`<leader>sw`	Grep search for the word under the cursor
`<leader>sR`	Resume the last search
`<leader><space>`	Find files by name (uses `fd` under the hood)
`<leader>ff`	Search/find files in project directory
`<leader>ss`	Search document symbols (variables, functions)
`<leader>ll`	Toggle `lsp_lines` (inline diagnostics)

3. File Explorer (`mini.files`)

Toggle current file: <leader>e
Toggle current working directory (cwd): <leader>E

Inside the mini.files pane:

l or <CR>: Open directory / File
h or -: Go up to parent directory
= : Synchronize changes (creates, renames, deletes files on disk)
<BS>: Reset view
g?: Show help
< / >: Trim left / right

4. Debugger (`nvim-dap`)

Keybind	Action
`<leader>dt`	Toggle breakpoint
`<leader>dc`	Continue execution
`<leader>di`	Step Into
`<leader>do`	Step Over
`<leader>du`	Step Out
`<leader>dr`	Open REPL
`<leader>dl`	Run Last debugging session
`<leader>db`	List all Breakpoints
`<leader>dq`	Terminate session and close UI
`<leader>de`	Set exception breakpoints (`all`)

5. Terminal Control (`toggleterm`)

Toggle default floating terminal: <C-\>

Keybind	Action
`<leader>tf`	Toggle Floating Terminal
`<leader>tv`	Toggle Vertical Terminal
`<leader>th`	Toggle Horizontal Terminal

6. Harpoon (Quick File Switching)

<leader>A – Add current file to Harpoon list
<leader>a – Open Harpoon quick menu

Keybind	Action
`<C-h>`	Jump to marked file 1
`<C-t>`	Jump to marked file 2
`<C-n>`	Jump to marked file 3
`<C-s>`	Jump to marked file 4

7. AI Assistant (`avante.nvim`)

Keybind	Action
`<leader>as`	Ask Avante (opens sidebar chat)
`<leader>ae`	Edit current file or selected block
`<leader>aa`	Apply generated code suggestions
`<leader>ar`	Refresh sidebar chat
`<leader>aq`	Close sidebar chat
`<leader>at`	Toggle Avante sidebar
`<Tab>`	Accept inline ghost text (Insert Mode)
`<S-Tab>`	Dismiss inline ghost text (Insert Mode)

8. Compiler Bindings

<C-b><C-o> – Open Compiler UI
<C-b><C-b> – Re-run/Redo compiler command
<C-b><C-t> – Toggle compiler results window
<leader>qj – Go to next item in Quickfix list
<leader>qk – Go to previous item in Quickfix list

9. Essential Vim Motions & Editing Tricks

Commenting

gcc – Comment/uncomment the current line.
gc (in Visual Mode) – Comment/uncomment the selected block of code.
gcap – Comment the entire paragraph.

Text Objects (The `action + inside/around + object` rule)

Operate on code blocks directly without manual selection:

ci" – Change inside double quotes (deletes content and enters Insert Mode).
da) – Delete around parenthesis (deletes contents and the parentheses).
yi{ – Yank (copy) inside curly braces.
caT – Change around HTML/XML tags.

Visual Block Mode (Multi-line editing)

Useful for inserting characters (like comment markers) across multiple lines:

Move cursor to the start.
Press <C-v> to enter Visual Block Mode.
Move down/up to select lines.
Press I (capital I) to enter insert mode at the front.
Type your edits (e.g., # or // ).
Press <Esc> to propagate changes across all lines.