plover-vim 0.12.0

(mostly) single stroke vim commands

Plover_vim

• This is an ambitious project that aims to make vim faster and more ergonomic for plover users
• A Python library to create custom dictionaries for generating (mostly) single stroke vim commands
  • e.g. ciw, gcip, ya}

Quick links

• See speedrun video (2:50 min).
• For interactive learning (highly recommended) see plover-vim-tutor.

Aims:

• highly extensible and customisable commands and translations
• (mostly) single chords for virtually every vim command combination
• Ability to do everything in insert mode (doesn't matter if you are in normal mode)

Motivation

• Slowness of changing between insert and normal mode
• slowness of fingerspelling everything
• Emily's modifiers
  • contains all control, alt, windows, etc. combined with every symbol possible
• Emily's symbols
  • symbols with full control over spacing, capitalization, and repetition
• User202729's python dictionary library
  • makes coding a python dictionary significantly easier
  • highly recommend you check this out if you want to create your own dictionaries from scratch

Prerequisites

• Download plover and find the executable
  • see this website for finding the location of plover depending on which platform you are using (Linux, Windows, etc.)

Installation

• Now run this command to install the library

<plover_executable> -s plover_plugins install plover_vim

Modules

• This repository shows you how you can import different modules from the plover_vim package to use
• This provides you with control over which modules to include for your plover + vim experience!

Summary

Module	# Strokes	Short Description	Examples
relative number	1	jump to different lines (1 to 100)	14j, 31k
easy motion	2	command letter, but another stroke required for jumping	fp st
Josiah modifier	1	Emily's modifiers but only left hand fingerspelling	ctrl-w ctrl-w (change vim window),
			ctrl-b w (tmux)
command letter 2	1	any command followed by any text object	ciw, gcip, yii,
		(characters same as Josiah's modifiers)	vif, dt(, zz, viwp
command letter	1	any command followed by any character	fu, T?, @q, gv
(deprecated)		(characters same as Emily's modifiers)
command object	1	any command followed by any text object	ciw, gcip, yi(
(deprecated)		(characters same as Emily's symbols)
emily modifier	1	Emily's modifiers but for vim	esc ctrl ^
(deprecated)

Relative-number

What is relative numbering in vim?

• relative numbering is a numbering system that allows you to move quickly between any line in the code
• I recommend checking out the help menu in vim to learn more with it:

:help relativenumber

• it is good stuff

How does this module improve vim?

• You can jump to different lines (up and down) in a single stroke
• this is achieved by stroking a number like usual in addition to another chord
  • '-7R' => down 7 times
  • '1-6B' => up 16 times
  • '1EUR7' => down 71 times
• note that "R" and "B" are the same keys as what you'd use in Qwerty for up and down
• By default, the values for relative numbers do not go past 99 lines at a time

Usage

• First, make sure to install plover_vim into plover
  • see Installation for more instructions
• It is recommended to remap top left S key as #
• For a simple configuration see templates/relative_number/customised.py.
• For my configuration see templates/Josiah/customised.py

Easy_motion

what is easy_motion in vim?

• easy motion is a plugin that enables "vim motions on speed!"
• Aims to optimise text navigation

How does this module improve vim?

• You can perform a search for a letter h as follows
  • <leader><leader>fhtk => H-FBLTDZ/T-BG
  • breaking it down:
    • H => h, using Josiah's modifier symbols for the left hand
    • -FB => <leader><leader>f
    • -LTDZ => unique ender for finders
    • T-BG => tk, this is the second stroke that takes you to the location

Unique Ender	Modifiers	Command	How To Memorize
-LTDZ	-EU	f	Forward Backwards

How does the double sided fingerspelling work?

• This plugin activates double sided fingerspelling after you stroke the starter, for a single stroke
• Here are some examples (see plover_vim/easy_motion/defaults.py for the full list):

letter	right hand	left hand
b	PW	-B
x	KP	-BGS
j	SKWR	-PBLG

Usage:

• put this line of code somewhere in your vimrc

let g:EasyMotion_keys = 'bdfgjklmnprstxz'

• copy templates/easy_motion/simple.py and add it to your dictionaries for a simple configuration
• copy templates/easy_motion/customised.py and add it to your dictionaries for a customisable configuration
• see note on Control(j)

Easy_motion (Advanced):

• You can use the left hand versions of the right hand vowels as follows:
• (Recommended by Abby)

Letter	Old Version	New Remapped
e	E	SK
i	EU	SKW
u	U	WR

• You can also use right hand fingerspelling
• This will require some time to memorize
• (ideas originate from realtime/realwrite and Magnum)

Letter	Map
a	-RB
c	-SZ
h	-FD
o	-GS
q	-LGTS
v	-FB
w	-FRP
y	-FPL

Usage (Advanced)

• Put this line of code somewhere in your vimrc
  • If you want to take advantage of the full alphabet

let g:EasyMotion_keys = 'abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz'

Josiah_modifier

how does this module work?

• This is basically Emily modifiers, but it supports extra functionality
• The main idea is to remap these right hand fingerspelling commands to the left hand versions:

Letter	Old Version	New Remapped
e	E	SK
i	EU	SKW
u	U	WR

• This leaves more space for commands using the E and U keys
• The number key is also used to create more space for more options (8 altogether)

Some ideas of what you can do with this extra space

• So you can prepend a command before an Emily modifier command:
  • ctrl-w ctrl-o = OULTZ
  • breaking it down:
    • OF = ctrl-o
    • U = ctrl-w
    • -LTZ = unique Emily modifier ender (ring finger on LT and pinky on Z)
• the table below shows default settings

Chord	Prefix Command	How To Memorize
#	control(j)
E	escape	EscapE
EU	control(j) control(w)	vim splIt or wIndow
#EU	control(r)	regIster
U	control(b)	tmUx
#E	control(x)	Ex command
NA	NA	(used in a normal Emily command)
#U	NA

Usage

• copy templates/Josiah_modifier/simple.py and add it to your dictionaries for a simple configuration
• copy templates/Josiah_modifier/customised.py and add it to your dictionaries for a customisable configuration
• see note on Control(j)

Command_letter_2

How does this module improve on command_letter and command_object?

• Basically it replaces the need for either of them using Josiah's modifiers as a base.
• It can perform a complex finder operation:
  • df) = KWR*UBLTDZ
  • breaking it down:
    • KWR* = ), using Josiah's / Emily's modifier for the left hand
    • U = f (because it is the right key for the right thumb)
    • B = c (B -> "blot", and hence delete)
    • -LTDZ = unique ender for finders (ring finger on LT and pinky on DZ)
• It can perform a miscellaneous operation:
  • [m = PHUTZ
  • Breaking it down:
    • PH = m, using Josiah's modifier for the left hand
    • U = [, idea from tpope's unimpaired
    • -TZ = unique ender for miscellaneous (ring finger on T and pinky on Z)
• It can perform a "command-object" operation:
  • caw = WUBTDZ
  • Breaking it down:
    • W = w, using Josiah's modifier for the left hand
    • U = a, U is more "outside" in position than E, so we use E = i cause it is more "inner" in position
    • B = c, "blot" hence delete
    • TDZ = unique ender for command object (ring finger on T, pinky on DZ)
• The table below shows default settings
  • "Customisable" commands can be filled in for personal useage

category	Unique Ender	Modifiers	Command	How To Memorise
finders	-LTDZ	-FPB	customisable
		-FP	customisable
		-FB	customisable
		-PB	customisable
		-F	v	Visualize
		-P	y	coPy
		-B	c	Blot
	U		f	the right key
	E		shift(F)	the left key
	EU		customisable
	#E		shift(T)	the left key with #
	#U		t	the right key with #
	#EU		customisable
	#		customisable
miscallaneous	-TZ	-FP	shift(at)	macros
		#-FP	q	record macros
		-FB	cs	blot Furround
		#-FB	ds	blot Furround
		-FPB	z	zeN
		-PB	gl	lioN
		#-PB	gL	lioN
		-F	g	the good Spot
		#-F	shift(S)	Furround
		-P	r	rePlace
		-B	apostrophe	go marBg
			customisable
		#-B	m	similar to mark
		#-P	repeat	rePeat
		-EFP	[	E is to the left of U
		-UFP	]	U is to the right of E
		#EU	"	register
command object	-LTSZ	-FPB	equal
		-FP	ys	coPy Furround
		-FB	customisable
		-PB	gc	commeNt
		-F	v	Fisualize
		-P	y	coPy
		-B	c	Blot
		""	gU
		#-FPB	v~
		#-FP	customisable
		#-FB	customisable
		#-PB	gb
		#-F	vp	visualize and paste!
		#-P	"	y
		#-B	customisable
		#	gu
	E		i	Inner
	EU		O
	U		a	Around
			""

Usage

• First, make sure to install plover_vim into plover
  • see Installation for more instructions
• copy templates/command_letter_2/simple.py and add it to your dictionaries for a simple configuration
• copy templates/command_letter_2/customised.py and add it to your dictionaries for a customisable configuration
• It is recommended to remap top left S key as #

Command-letter (deprecated)

How does this module improve vim?

• You can perform any command followed by a letter in a single stroke for example:
  • f) = KWR*FLTDZ
  • breaking it down:
    • KWR* = ), using emily's modifier symbols for the left hand
    • F = f
    • -LTDZ = unique ender for finders (ring finger on LT and pinky on DZ)
• The table below shows default settings
  • "Customisable" commands can be filled in for personal useage

category	Unique Ender	Modifiers	Command	How To Memorise
finders	-LTDZ	-FPB	customisable
		-FP	customisable
		-FB		(used in easymotion)
		-PB	shift(t)	Previous Backwards
		-F	f	Forwards
		-P	t	Previous
		-B	shift(f)	Backwards
			""	escaped commands
miscallaneous	-TZ	-FPB	q	liSeN
		-FP	shift(at)	macros
		-FB	customisable
		-PB	z	zeN
		-F	g	the good Spot
		-P	r	rePlace
		-B	m	marBg
			customisable

Usage

• copy templates/command_letter/simple.py and add it to your dictionaries for default configuration
• copy templates/command_letter/customised.py for a more customised experience
  • note that (shift(at)) is required to output @ because raw keyboard input is weird
  • See note on control(j)

command-object (deprecated)

How does this module improve vim?

• You can perform any command followed by a text "object" in a single stroke for example:
  • daw = STPRARLD
  • breaking it down:
    • STPR = unique starter
    • A = a
    • -RL = w, (see "objects" in command_object/defaults.py)
    • -D = d
  • yi( = STPROFPLZ
    • STPR = unique starter
    • O = i
    • -FPL = (, using emily's symbols for the right hand
    • -Z = y
• The table below shows the default mappings
  • "Customisable" commands can be filled in for personal useage
  • note: AO combinations can be combined with other modifiers

Unique starter	Modifiers	Command	How To Memorise	Plugin Requirements
STPR	-T	g c	commenTary	tpope/vim-commentary
	-D	d	Delete
	-S	y s	Surround	tpope/vim-surround
	-Z	y	xyZ
	-TD	customisable
	-DZ	d s	Delete Surround	tpope/vim-surround
	-SZ	v	viSualiZe
	-TS	customisable
	*T	g b	commenTary	numToStr/Comment.nvim
	*D	customisable
	*S	shift(s)	Surround	tpope/vim-surround
	*Z	customisable
	*TD	customisable
	*DZ	customisable
	*SZ	customisable
	*TS	customisable
		customisable
	A	a	around
	O	i
	AO	customisable
		""

Limitations

• some command + motion combinations must be stroked in two, for example:
  • ct=

Usage

• copy templates/command_object/simple.py and add it to your dictionaries for default configuration
• copy templates/command_object/customised.py for a more customised experience
  • note that (shift(s)) is required to output S because raw keyboard input is weird
  • See note on control(j)

Emily-modifier (deprecated)

How does this module improve upon the original?

• You can prepend an escape to the command
• Commands like ctrl^ no longer require shift to be pressed related issue

Usage

• copy templates/Emily_modifier/simple.py and add it to your dictionaries for a simple configuration
• copy templates/Emily_modifier/customised.py for a more customised experience
  • see note on control(j)

Control(J)

• Allows you to execute any (most) commands as if you are from normal mode
• Sample .vimrc config (thanks User202729)!

"do nothing in normal mode
nore <c-j> <nop> 
"escape insert mode, then return to insert mode afterwards
inore <c-j> <c-\><c-o>
"escape command mode
cnoremap <c-j> <esc>

if !has('nvim')
    " escape terminal mode, then return to terminal mode
    set termwinkey=<c-j>
else
    " escape terminal mode, does not return to terminal mode :<
    tnoremap <c-j> <C-\><C-n>
endif

Developers

• This section shows how you can have an editable version of this project
• Firstly, fork this repository (in GitHub), then clone it:

git clone https://github.com/your_user_name/plover_vim

• cd into this repo
• Then install for use!
  • Note that "plover" is the executable that you downloaded to make Plover work in the first place
  • See this [[https://plover.readthedocs.io/en/latest/cli_reference.html][website]] for the different locations depending on which platform you are using (Linux, Windows, etc)

cd plover_vim
plover -s plover_plugins install -e .