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mawww's experiment for a better code editor
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VIMTOKAK |
= image:{logo}[K,30,30,link="{website}"] Kakoune image:{travis-img}[link="{travis-url}"] :logo: https://rawgit.com/mawww/kakoune/master/doc/kakoune_logo.svg :website: http://kakoune.org :travis-img: https://travis-ci.org/mawww/kakoune.svg?branch=master :travis-url: https://travis-ci.org/mawww/kakoune :icons: font :toc: right TL;DR ----- {website} *Vim inspired* -- *Faster as in less keystrokes* -- *Multiple selections* -- *Orthogonal design* --------------------------------------------- git clone http://github.com/mawww/kakoune.git cd kakoune/src make ./kak --------------------------------------------- See http://github.com/mawww/golf for kakoune solutions to vimgolf challenges, regularly beating the best vim solution. See the link:doc/design.asciidoc[design document] for more information on Kakoune philosophy and design. :numbered: Introduction ------------ Kakoune is a code editor heavily inspired by Vim, as such most of its commands are similar to vi's ones, and it shares Vi's "keystrokes as a text editing language" model. Kakoune can operate in two modes, normal and insertion. In insertion mode, keys are directly inserted into the current buffer. In normal mode, keys are used to manipulate the current selection and to enter insertion mode. Kakoune has a strong focus on interactivity, most commands provide immediate and incremental results, while still being competitive (as in keystroke count) with Vim. Kakoune works on selections, which are oriented, inclusive range of characters, selections have an anchor and a cursor character. Most commands move both of them, except when extending selection where the anchor character stays fixed and the cursor one moves around. see http://vimeo.com/82711574 Join us on freenode IRC `#Kakoune` Features ~~~~~~~~ * Multiple selections as a central way of interacting * Powerful selection manipulation primitives - Select all regex matches in current selections - Keep selections containing/not containing a match for a given regex - Split current selections with a regex - Text objects (paragraph, sentence, nestable blocks) * Powerful text manipulation primitives - Align selections - Rotate selection contents - Case manipulation - Indentation - Piping each selection to external filter * Client-Server architecture - Multiple clients on the same editing session - Use tmux or your X11 window manager to manage windows * Simple interaction with external programs * Automatic contextual help * Automatic as you type completion * Macros * Hooks * Syntax Highlighting - Supports multiple languages in the same buffer - Highlight a buffer differently in different windows Screenshots ~~~~~~~~~~~ [[screenshot-i3]] .Kakoune in i3 image::doc/screenshot-i3.gif[Kakoune in i3] [[screenshot-tmux]] .Kakoune in tmux image::doc/screenshot-tmux.gif[Kakoune in tmux] Getting started --------------- Building ~~~~~~~~ Kakoune dependencies are: * A C++11 compliant compiler (GCC >= 4.8 or clang >= 3.4) * boost (>= 1.50) * ncurses with wide-characters support (>= 5.3, generally referred to as libncursesw) * asciidoc (for the `a2k` tool), to generate man pages To build, just type *make* in the src directory Kakoune can be built on Linux, MacOS, and Cygwin. Due to Kakoune relying heavily on being in a Unix-like environment, no native Windows version is planned. Installing ~~~~~~~~~~ In order to install kak on your system, rather than running it directly from its source directory, type *make install*, you can specify the `PREFIX` and `DESTDIR` if needed. [TIP] .Homebrew (OSX) ==== NOTE: The ncurses library that comes with OSX is not new enough to support some of the mouse based features of Kakoune (only tested on OSX 10.11.3, where the packaged ncurses library is version 5.4, whereas the latest version is 6.0). Currently, a fresh Kakoune install requires that you install ncurses 6.0. You can install ncurses 6.0 via Homebrew, ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- brew tap homebrew/dupes brew install homebrew/dupes/ncurses ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Then, to install, ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- brew install --HEAD https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mawww/kakoune/master/contrib/kakoune.rb ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To update kakoune, ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- brew reinstall --HEAD https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mawww/kakoune/master/contrib/kakoune.rb ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ==== [TIP] .Fedora 22/23/24/Rawhide ==== Use the https://copr.fedoraproject.org/coprs/jkonecny/kakoune/[copr] repository. --------------------------------- dnf copr enable jkonecny/kakoune dnf install kakoune --------------------------------- ==== [TIP] .Arch Linux ==== A PKGBUILD https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/kakoune-git[kakoune-git] to install Kakoune is available in the https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Arch_User_Repository[AUR]. -------------------------------- # For example build and install Kakoune via yaourt yaourt -Sy kakoune-git -------------------------------- ==== [TIP] .Gentoo ==== Kakoune is found in portage as https://packages.gentoo.org/packages/app-editors/kakoune[app-editors/kakoune] ==== [TIP] .Exherbo ==== -------------------------------- cave resolve -x repository/mawww cave resolve -x kakoune -------------------------------- ==== [TIP] .openSUSE ==== kakoune can be found in the https://build.opensuse.org/package/show/editors/kakoune[editors] devel project. Make sure to adjust the link below to point to the repository of your openSUSE version. -------------------------------- #Example for Tumbleweed: sudo zypper addrepo http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/editors/openSUSE_Factory/editors.repo sudo zypper refresh sudo zypper install kakoune -------------------------------- ==== [TIP] .Debian ==== There is a script in https://github.com/mawww/kakoune/blob/master/contrib/make_deb.bash[contrib/make_deb.bash] that can be used to generate a debian package for kakoune. You can then install the generated .deb package with the dpkg tool. -------------------------------- ./make_deb.bash -e "your_email" -f "your_username" sudo dpkg -i thePackageName.deb -------------------------------- ==== Running ~~~~~~~ Just running *kak* launch a new kak session with a client on local terminal. *kak* accepts some switches: * `-c <session>`: connect to given session, sessions are unix sockets `/tmp/kak-<session>` * `-e <commands>`: execute commands on startup * `-n`: ignore kakrc file * `-s <session>`: set the session name, by default it will be the pid of the initial kak process. * `-d`: run Kakoune in daemon mode, without user interface. This requires the session name to be specified with -s. In this mode, the Kakoune server will keep running even if there is no connected client, and will quit when receiving SIGTERM. * `-p <session>`: read stdin, and then send its content to the given session acting as a remote control. * `-f <keys>`: Work as a filter, read every file given on the command line and stdin if piped in, and apply given keys on each. * `-ui <userinterface>`: use given user interface, `<userinterface>` can be - `ncurses`: default terminal user interface - `dummy`: empty user interface not displaying anything - `json`: json-rpc based user interface that writes json on stdout and read keystrokes as json on stdin. * `-l`: list existing sessions, and check the dead ones * `-clear`: clear dead sessions socket files * `-ro`: prevent modifications to all buffers from being saved to disk At startup, if `-n` is not specified, Kakoune will try to source the file `../share/kak/kakrc` relative to the kak binary. This kak file will then try to recursively source any files in `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/kak/autoload` (with `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME` defaulting to `$HOME/.config`, and falling back to `../share/kak/autoload/` if that autoload directory does not exists), then `../share/kak/kakrc.local` if it exists, and finally `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/kak/kakrc`. That leads to the following behaviour: by default, with no user autoload directory, the system wide autoload directory is used, once the user wants control on autoloading, they can create an autoload directory and eventually symlink individual scripts, or the whole system wide autoload directory. They can as well add any new scripts not provided with Kakoune. Basic Interaction ----------------- Selections ~~~~~~~~~~ The main concept in Kakoune is the selection. A selection is an inclusive, directed range of character. A selection has two ends, the anchor and the cursor. There is always at least one selection, and a selection is always at least one character (in which case the anchor and cursor of the selections are on the same character). Normal Mode ~~~~~~~~~~~ In normal mode, keys are not inserted directly inside the buffer, but are editing commands. These commands provides ways to manipulate either the selections themselves, or the selected text. Insert Mode ~~~~~~~~~~~ When entering insert mode, keys are now directly inserted before each selections cursor. Some additional keys are recognised in insert mode: * `<esc>`: leave insert mode * `<backspace>`: delete characters before cursors * `<del>`: delete characters under cursors * `<left>, <right>, <up>, <down>`: move the cursors in given direction * `<home>`: move cursors to line begin * `<end>`: move cursors to end of line * `<c-n>`: select next completion candidate * `<c-p>`: select previous completion candidate * `<c-x>`: explicit insert completion query, followed by: - `f`: explicit file completion - `w`: explicit word completion - `l`: explicit line completion * `<c-o>`: disable automatic completion for this insert session * `<c-r>`: insert contents of the register given by next key * `<c-v>`: insert next keystroke directly into the buffer, without interpreting it. * `<c-u>`: commit changes up to now as a single undo group. * `<a-;>`: escape to normal mode for a single command Movement ~~~~~~~~ * `h`: select the character on the left of selection end * `j`: select the character below the selection end * `k`: select the character above the selection end * `l`: select the character on the right of selection end * `w`: select the word and following whitespaces on the right of selection end * `b`: select preceding whitespaces and the word on the left of selection end * `e`: select preceding whitespaces and the word on the right of selection end * `alt-[wbe]`: same as [wbe] but select WORD instead of word * `f`: select to the next occurence of given character * `t`: select until the next occurence of given character * `<alt-[ft]>`: same as [ft] but in the other direction * `m`: select to matching character * `M`: extend selection to matching character * `x`: select line on which selection end lies (or next line when end lies on an end-of-line) * `alt-x`: expand selections to contain full lines (including end-of-lines) * `alt-X`: trim selections to only contain full lines (not including last end-of-line) * `%`: select whole buffer * `alt-h`: select to line begin * `alt-l`: select to line end * `/`: search (select next match) * `alt-/`: search (select previous match) * `?`: search (extend to next match) * `alt-?`: search (extend to previous match) * `n`: select next match * `N`: add a new selection with next match * `alt-n`: select previous match * `alt-N`: add a new selection with previous match * `pageup`: scroll up * `pagedown`: scroll down * `'`: rotate selections (the main selection becomes the next one) * `;`: reduce selections to their cursor * `alt-;`: flip the selections direction * `alt-:`: ensure selections are in forward direction (cursor after anchor) A word is a sequence of alphanumeric characters or underscore, a WORD is a sequence of non whitespace characters. Appending ~~~~~~~~~ for most selection commands, using shift permits to extend current selection instead of replacing it. for example, `wWW` selects 3 consecutive words Using Counts ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Most selection commands also support counts, which are entered before the command itself. for example, `3W` selects 3 consecutive words and `3w` select the third word on the right of selection end. Changes ~~~~~~~ * `i`: enter insert mode before current selection * `a`: enter insert mode after current selection * `d`: yank and delete current selection * `c`: yank and delete current selection and enter insert mode * `.`: repeat last insert mode change (`i`, `a`, or `c`, including the inserted text) * `I`: enter insert mode at current selection begin line start * `A`: enter insert mode at current selection end line end * `o`: enter insert mode in a new line below current selection end * `O`: enter insert mode in a new line above current selection begin * `y`: yank selections * `p`: paste after current selection end * `P`: paste before current selection begin * `alt-p`: paste all after current selection end, and select each pasted string. * `alt-P`: paste all before current selection begin, and select each pasted string. * `R`: replace current selection with yanked text * `r`: replace each character with the next entered one * `alt-j`: join selected lines * `alt-J`: join selected lines and select spaces inserted in place of line breaks * `>`: indent selected lines * `alt->`: indent selected lines, including empty lines * `<`: deindent selected lines * `alt-<`: deindent selected lines, do not remove incomplete indent (3 leading spaces when indent is 4) * `|`: pipe each selections through the given external filter program and replace the selection with it's output. * `alt-|`: pipe each selections through the given external filter program and ignore its output * `!`: insert command output before selection * `a-!`: append command output after selection * `u`: undo last change * `a-u`: move backward in history * `U`: redo last change * `a-U`: move forward in history * `&`: align selection, align the cursor of selections by inserting spaces before the first character of the selection * `alt-&`: copy indent, copy the indentation of the main selection (or the count one if a count is given) to all other ones * ```: to lower case * `~`: to upper case * `alt-``: swap case * `@`: convert tabs to spaces in current selections, uses the buffer tabstop option or the count parameter for tabstop. * `alt-@`: convert spaces to tabs in current selections, uses the buffer tabstop option or the count parameter for tabstop. * `alt-'`: rotate selections content, if specified, the count groups selections, so `3<a-'>` rotate (1, 2, 3) and (3, 4, 6) independently. Goto Commands ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Commands beginning with g are used to goto certain position and or buffer: * `gh`: select to line begin * `gl`: select to line end * `gg`, `gk`: go to the first line * `gj`: go to the last line * `ge`: go to last char of last line * `gt`: go to the first displayed line * `gc`: go to the middle displayed line * `gb`: go to the last displayed line * `ga`: go to the previous (alternate) buffer * `gf`: open the file whose name is selected * `g.`: go to last buffer modification position If a count is given prior to hitting `g`, `g` will jump to the given line. Using `G` will extend the selection rather than jump. View commands ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Some commands, all beginning with v permit to manipulate the current view. * `vv` or `vc`: center the main selection in the window * `vt`: scroll to put the main selection on the top line of the window * `vb`: scroll to put the main selection on the bottom line of the window * `vh`: scroll the window count columns left * `vj`: scroll the window count line downward * `vk`: scroll the window count line upward * `vl`: scroll the window count columns right Using `V` will lock view mode until `<esc>` is hit Marks ~~~~~ Current selections position can be saved in a register and restored later on. By default, marks use the '^' register, but using the register can be set using `"<reg>` prefix. `Z` will save the current selections to the register. `z` will restore the selections from the register. `alt-z` will add the selections from the register to the existing ones. Jump list ~~~~~~~~~ Some commands, like the goto commands, buffer switch or search commands, push the previous selections to the client's jump list. It is possible to forward or backward in the jump list using: * `control-i`: Jump forward * `control-o`: Jump backward * `control-s`: save current selections Multi Selection ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kak was designed from the start to handle multiple selections. One way to get a multiselection is via the `s` key. For example, to change all occurrences of word 'roger' to word 'marcel' in a paragraph, here is what can be done: select the paragraph with enough `x`. press `s` and enter roger, then enter. Now paragraph selection was replaced with multiselection of each roger in the paragraph. Press `c` and marcel<esc> to replace rogers with marcels. A multiselection can also be obtained with `S`, which splits the current selection according to the regex entered. To split a comma separated list, use `S` then ', *' The regex syntax supported by Kakoune is the Perl one and is describe here <<Regex syntax>>. `s` and `S` share the search pattern with `/`, and hence entering an empty pattern uses the last one. As a convenience, `alt-s` allows you to split the current selections on line boundaries. To clear multiple selections, use `space`. To keep only the nth selection use `n` followed by `space`, in order to remove a selection, use `alt-space`. `alt-k` allows you to enter a regex and keep only the selections that contains a match for this regex. using `alt-K` you can keep the selections not containing a match. `C` copies the current selection to the next line (or lines if a count is given) `alt-C` does the same to previous lines. `$` allows you to enter a shell command and pipe each selections to it. Selections whose shell command returns 0 will be kept, other will be dropped. Object Selection ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Some keys allow you to select a text object: * `alt-a`: selects the whole object * `alt-i`: selects the inner object, that is the object excluding it's surrounder. for example, for a quoted string, this will not select the quote, and for a word this will not select trailing spaces. * `[`: selects to object start * `]`: selects to object end * `{`: extends selections to object start * `}`: extends selections to object end After this key, you need to enter a second key in order to specify which object you want. * `b`, `(` or `)`: select the enclosing parenthesis * `B`, `{` or `}`: select the enclosing {} block * `r`, `[` or `]`: select the enclosing [] block * `a`, `<` or `>`: select the enclosing <> block * `"` or `Q`: select the enclosing double quoted string * `'` or `q`: select the enclosing single quoted string * ``` or `g`: select the enclosing grave quoted string * `w`: select the whole word * `W`: select the whole WORD * `s`: select the sentence * `p`: select the paragraph * `␣`: select the whitespaces * `i`: select the current indentation block * `n`: select the number * `u`: select the argument * `:`: select user defined object, will prompt for open and close text. For nestable objects, a count can be used in order to specify which surrounding level to select. Commands -------- When pressing `:` in normal mode, Kakoune will open a prompt to enter a command. Commands are used for non editing tasks, such as opening a buffer, writing the current one, quitting, etc. A few keys are recognized by prompt mode to help editing a command: * `<ret>`: validate prompt * `<esc>`: abandon without * `<left> or <a-h>`: move cursor to previous character * `<right> or <a-l>`: move cursor to previous character * `<home>`: move cursor to first character * `<end>`: move cursor to passed last character * `<backspace> or <a-x>`: erase character before cursor * `<del> or <a-d>`: erase character under cursor * `<c-w>`: advance to next word begin * `<c-a-w>`: advance to next WORD begin * `<c-b>`: go back to previous word begin * `<c-a-b>`: go back to previous WORD begin * `<c-e>`: advance to next word end * `<c-a-e>`: advance to next word end * `<up> or <c-p>`: select previous entry in history * `<down> or <c-n>`: select next entry in history * `<tab>`: select next completion candidate * `<backtab>`: select previous completion candidate * `<c-r>`: insert then content of the register given by next key. * `<c-v>`: insert next keystroke without interpreting it * `<c-o>`: disable auto completion for this prompt Commands starting with horizontal whitespace (e.g. a space) will not be saved in the command history. Basic Commands ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Some commands take an exclamation mark (`!`), which can be used to force the execution of the command (i.e. to quit a modified buffer, the command `q!` has to be used). * `cd <directory>`: change the current directory to the one passed * `e[dit][!] <filename> [<line> [<column>]]`: open buffer on file, go to given line and column. If file is already opened, just switch to this file. use edit! to force reloading. * `w[rite] [<filename>]`: write buffer to <filename> or use it's name if filename is not given. * `w[rite]a[ll]`: write all buffers that are associated to a file. * `q[uit][!]`: exit Kakoune, use quit! to force quitting even if there is some unsaved buffers remaining. * `kill[!]`: terminate the current session, all the clients as well as the server, use kill! to ignore unsaved buffers * `w[a]q[!]`: write the current buffer (or all buffers when `waq` is used) and quit * `b[uffer] <name>`: switch to buffer <name> * `b[uffer]n[ext]`: switch to the next buffer * `b[uffer]p[rev]`: switch to the previous buffer * `d[el]b[uf][!] [<name>]`: delete the buffer <name> * `source <filename>`: execute commands in <filename> * `runtime <filename>`: execute commands in <filename>, <filename> is relative to kak executable path. * `colorscheme <name>`: load named colorscheme. * `nameclient <name>`: set current client name * `namebuf <name>`: set current buffer name * `namesession <name>`: set current session name * `echo [options] <text>`: show <text> in status line, with the following options: ** `-color` <face>: print the given text with <face>, most commonly `Error` or `Information` ** `-markup`: expand the markup strings in <text> ** `-debug`: print the given text to the `\*debug*` buffer * `nop`: does nothing, but as with every other commands, arguments may be evaluated. So nop can be used for example to execute a shell command while being sure that it's output will not be interpreted by kak. `:%sh{ echo echo tchou }` will echo tchou in Kakoune, whereas `:nop %sh{ echo echo tchou }` will not, but both will execute the shell command. Multiple commands ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Multiple commands can be separated either by new lines or by semicolons, as such a semicolon must be escaped with `\;` to be considered as a literal semicolon argument. String syntax ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When entering a command, parameters are separated by whitespace (shell like), if you want to give parameters with spaces, you should quote them. Kakoune support three string syntax: * `'strings'`: uninterpreted strings, you can use `\'` to escape the separator, every other char is itself. * `"strings"`: expanded strings, % strings (see <<Expansions>>) contained are expended. Use \% to escape a % inside them, and \\ to escape a slash. * `%{strings}`: these strings are very useful when entering commands - the `{` and `}` delimiters are configurable: you can use any non alphanumeric character. like `%[string]`, `%<string>`, `%(string)`, `%\~string~` or `%!string!`... - if the character following the % is one of {[(<, then the closing one is the matching }])> and the delimiters are not escapable but are nestable. for example `%{ roger {}; }` is a valid string, `%{ marcel \}` as well. Expansions ^^^^^^^^^^ A special kind of `%{strings}` can be used, with a type between `%` and the opening delimiter (which cannot be alphanumeric). These strings are expanded according to their type. For example `%opt{autoinfo}` is of type 'opt'. opt expansions are replaced by the value of the given option (here `autoinfo`). Supported types are: * `sh`: shell expansion, similar to posix shell $(...) construct, see <<Shell expansion>> for more details. * `reg`: register expansion, will be replaced by the content of the given register. * `opt`: option expansion, will be replaced with the value of the given option * `val`: value expansion, gives access to the environment variable available to the Shell expansion. The `kak_` prefix is not used there. * `arg`: argument expansion, gives access to the arguments of the current command, the content can be a number, or `@` for all arguments. for example you can display last search pattern with ------------- :echo %reg{/} ------------- Shell expansion ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The `%sh{...}` expansion replaces its content with the output of the shell commands in it. It is similar to the shell $(...) syntax and is evaluated only when needed. for example: `%sh{ ls }` is replaced with the output of the ls command. Some of Kakoune state is available through environment variables: * `kak_selection`: content of the main selection * `kak_selections`: content of the selection separated by colons, colons in the selection contents are escaped with a backslash. * `kak_selection_desc`: range of the main selection, represented as `anchor,cursor`; anchor and cursor are in this format: `line.column` * `kak_selections_desc`: range of the selecations separated by colons * `kak_bufname`: name of the current buffer * `kak_buffile`: full path of the file or same as `kak_bufname` when there's no associated file * `kak_buflist`: the current buffer list, each buffer separated by a colon * `kak_timestamp`: timestamp of the current buffer, the timestamp is an integer value which is incremented each time the buffer is modified. * `kak_runtime`: directory containing the kak binary * `kak_opt_<name>`: value of option <name> * `kak_reg_<r>`: value of register <r> * `kak_socket`: filename of session socket (/tmp/kak-<session>) * `kak_session`: name of the current session * `kak_client`: name of current client * `kak_cursor_line`: line of the end of the main selection * `kak_cursor_column`: column of the end of the main selection (in byte) * `kak_cursor_char_column`: column of the end of the main selection (in character) * `kak_cursor_byte_offset`: offset of the main selection from the beginning of the buffer (in byte). * `kak_window_width`: width of the current kakoune window * `kak_window_height`: height of the current kakoune window * `kak_hook_param`: filtering text passed to the currently executing hook * `kak_client_env_<name>`: value of the <name> variable in the client environment. Example: $kak_client_env_SHELL is the SHELL variable Note that in order to make only needed information available, Kakoune needs to find the environment variable reference in the shell script executed. Hence `%sh{ ./script.sh }` with `script.sh` referencing an environment variable will not work. For example you can print informations on the current file in the status line using: ------------------------------- :echo %sh{ ls -l $kak_bufname } ------------------------------- Markup strings ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ In certain context, kakoune can take a markup string, which is a string containing formatting informations. In these strings, syntax `{facename}` will enable the face _facename_ until another face gets activated (or the end of the string. Literal `{` shall be written `\{`, and literal `\` that precede a `{` shall be written `\\` Configuration & Autoloading --------------------------- Kakrc ~~~~~ If not launched with the `-n` switch, Kakoune will source the `../share/kak/kakrc` file relative to the `kak` binary, which will source additional files: If the `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/kak/autoload` directory exists, load every `*.kak` files in it, and load recursively any subdirectory. If it does not exists, falls back to the site wide autoload directory in `../share/kak/autoload/`. After that, if it exists, source the `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/kak/kakrc` file which should be used for user configuration. In order to continue autoloading site-wide files with a local autoload directory, just add a symbolic link to `../share/kak/autoload/` into your local autoload directory. Color Schemes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kakoune ships with some color schemes that are installed to `../share/kak/colors/`. If `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/kak/colors/` is present the builtin command `colorscheme` will offer completion for those color schemes. If a scheme is duplicated in userspace it will take precedence. Options ------- For user configuration, Kakoune supports options. Options are typed, their type can be * `int`: an integer number * `bool`: a boolean value, `yes/true` or `no/false` * `str`: a string, some freeform text * `coord`: a line,column pair (separated by comma) * `regex`: as a string but the `set` commands will complain if the entered text is not a valid regex. * `{int,str}-list`: a list, elements are separated by a colon (:) if an element needs to contain a colon, it can be escaped with a backslash. * `range-faces`: a list, elements are separated by a colon (:), of a buffer range (<begin line>.<begin column>,<end line>.<end column>) and a face (separated by `|`) * `enum(value1|value2|...)`: an enum, taking on of the given values * `flags(value1|value2|...)`: a set of flags, taking a combination of the given values joined by `|`. Options value can be changed using the `set` commands: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ :set [global,buffer,window] <option> <value> # buffer, window, or global scope ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Option values can be different by scope, an option can have a global value, a buffer value and a window value. The effective value of an option depends on the current context. If we have a window in the context (interactive edition for example), then the window value (if any) is used, if not we try the buffer value (if we have a buffer in the context), and if not we use the global value. That means that two windows on the same buffer can use different options (like different filetype, or different tabstop). However some options might end up ignored if their scope is not in the command context: Writing a file never uses the window options for example, so any options related to writing wont be taken into account if set in the window scope (`BOM` or `eolformat` for example). New options can be declared using the `:decl` command: --------------------------------------- :decl [-hidden] <type> <name> [<value>] --------------------------------------- the `-hidden` parameter makes the option invisible in completion, but still modifiable. Some options are built in Kakoune, and can be used to control it's behaviour: * `tabstop` _int_: width of a tab character. * `indentwidth` _int_: width (in spaces) used for indentation. 0 means a tab character. * `scrolloff` _coord_: number of lines,columns to keep visible around the cursor when scrolling. * `eolformat` _enum(lf|crlf)_: the format of end of lines when writing a buffer, this is autodetected on load. * `BOM` _enum(none|utf8)_: define if the file should be written with an unicode byte order mark. * `readonly` _bool_: prevent modifications from being saved to disk, all buffers if set to `true` in the `global` scope, or current buffer if set in the `buffer` scope. * `incsearch` _bool_: execute search as it is typed * `aligntab` _bool_: use tabs for alignment command * `autoinfo` _flags(command|onkey|normal)_: display automatic information box in the enabled contexts. * `autoshowcompl` _bool_: automatically display possible completions when editing a prompt. * `ignored_files` _regex_: filenames matching this regex wont be considered as candidates on filename completion (except if the text being completed already matches it). * `disabled_hooks` _regex_: hooks whose group matches this regex wont be executed. For example indentation hooks can be disabled with '.*-indent'. * `filetype` _str_: arbitrary string defining the type of the file filetype dependant actions should hook on this option changing for activation/deactivation. * `path` _str-list_: directories to search for gf command. * `completers` _str-list_: completion systems to use for insert mode completion. given completers are tried in order until one generate some completion candidates. Existing completers are: - `word=all` or `word=buffer` which complete using words in all buffers (`word=all`) or only the current one (`word=buffer`) - `filename` which tries to detect when a filename is being entered and provides completion based on local filesystem. - `option=<opt-name>` where <opt-name> is a _completions_ option, which is a `:` separated list of _<text>|<docstring>|<menu text>_ candidates, except for the first element which follows the _<line>.<column>[+<length>]@<timestamp>_ format to define where the completion apply in the buffer. * `static_words` _str-list_: list of words that are always added to completion candidates when completing words in insert mode. * `autoreload` _enum(yes|no|ask)_: auto reload the buffers when an external modification is detected. * `debug` _flags(hooks|shell|profile)_: dump various debug information in the `*debug*` buffer. * `modelinefmt` _string_: A format string used to generate the mode line, that string is first expanded as a command line would be (expanding `%...{...}` strings), then markup tags are applied (see <<Markup strings>>). * `ui_options`: colon separated list of key=value pairs that are forwarded to the user interface implementation. The NCurses UI support the following options: - `ncurses_set_title`: if `yes` or `true`, the terminal emulator title will be changed. - `ncurses_status_on_top`: if `yes`, or `true` the status line will be placed at the top of the terminal rather than at the bottom. - `ncurses_assistant`: specify the nice assistant you get in info boxes, can be 'clippy' (the default), 'cat' or 'none' - `ncurses_wheel_down_button` and `ncurses_wheel_up_button`: specify which button send for wheel down/up events. Faces ----- A Face refers how the specified text is displayed. A face has a foreground color, a background color, and some attributes. Faces can be defined and modified with the face command: ----------------------- :face <name> <facespec> ----------------------- Any place requiring a face can take either a face name defined with the `face` command or a direct face description (called _facespec_) with the following syntax: -------------------------------- fg_color[,bg_color][+attributes] -------------------------------- fg_color and bg_color can be: * A named color: `black, red, green, yellow, blue, magenta, cyan, white`. * `default`, which keeps the existing color * An rgb color: `rgb:RRGGBB`, with RRGGBB the hexadecimal value of the color. not specifying bg_color uses `default` attributes is a string of letters each defining an attributes: * `u`: Underline * `r`: Reverse * `b`: Bold * `B`: Blink * `d`: Dim * `i`: Italic * `e`: Exclusive, override previous faces instead of merging with them Using named faces instead of facespec permits to change the effective faces afterwards. There are some builtins faces used by internal Kakoune functionalities: * `Default`: default colors * `PrimarySelection`: main selection face for every selected character except the cursor * `SecondarySelection`: secondary selection face for every selected character except the cursor * `PrimaryCursor`: cursor of the primary selection * `SecondaryCursor`: cursor of the secondary selection * `LineNumbers`: face used by the number_lines highlighter * `LineNumberAbsolute`: face used to highlight the line number of the main selection * `MenuForeground`: face for the selected element in menus * `MenuBackground`: face for the not selected elements in menus * `Information`: face for the informations windows and information messages * `Error`: face of error messages * `StatusLine`: face used for the status line * `StatusCursor`: face used for the status line cursor * `Prompt`: face used prompt displayed on the status line * `MatchingChar`: face used by the show_matching highlighter * `Search`: face used to highlight search results * `BufferPadding`: face applied on the characters that follow the last line of a buffer Advanced topics --------------- Registers ~~~~~~~~~ Registers are named lists of text. They are used for various purposes, like storing the last yanked test, or the captured groups associated with the selections. Yanking and pasting uses the register `"`, however most commands using a register can have their default register overridden by using the `"` key followed by the register. For example `"sy` will yank (`y` command) in the `s` register. `"sp` will paste from the `s` register. While in insert mode or in a prompt, `ctrl-r` followed by a register name (one character) inserts it. For example, `ctrl-r` followed by " will insert the currently yanked text. `ctrl-r` followed by 2 will insert the second capture group from the last regex selection. Registers are lists, instead of simply text in order to interact well with multiselection. Each selection has its own captures or yank buffer. Special registers ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Some registers are not general purposes, they cannot be written to, but they contain some special data: * `%`: current buffer name * `.`: current selection contents * `#`: selection indices (first selection has 1, second has 2, ...) * `_`: null register, always empty Default registers ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Most commands using a register default to a specific one if not specified: * `"`: default yank, used by yanking and pasting commands like `y`, `p` and `R` * `/`: default search register, used by regex based commands like `s`, `*` or `/` * `@`: default macro register, used by `q` and `Q` * `^`: default mark register, used by `z` and `Z` * `|`: default shell command register, used by command that spawn a subshell such as `|`, `<a-|>`, `!` or `<a-!>` Macros ~~~~~~ Kakoune can record and replay a sequence of key presses. Macros are recorded with the `Q` key, and are stored by default in the `@` register. Another register can be chosen by with hitting `"<reg>` before the `Q` key. To replay a macro, use the `q` key. Search selection ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Using the `*` key, you can set the search pattern to the current selection. This tries to be intelligent. It will for example detect if the current selection begins and/or ends at word boundaries and set the search pattern accordingly. with `alt-*` you can set the search pattern to the current selection without Kakoune trying to be smart. Regex syntax ~~~~~~~~~~~~ The regex syntax supported by Kakoune is the Perl syntax currently provided by Boost : http://www.boost.org/doc/libs/release/libs/regex/doc/html/boost_regex/syntax/perl_syntax.html[Perl Regular Expression Syntax]. Exec and Eval ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ the `:exec` and `:eval` commands can be used for running Kakoune commands. `:exec` runs keys as if they were pressed, whereas `:eval` executes its given paremeters as if they were entered in the command prompt. By default, they do their execution in the context of the current client. These two commands also save the following registers, who are then restored when the commands have been executed: `/`, `"`, `|`, `^`, `@`. Some parameters provide a way to change the context of execution: * `-client <name>`: execute in the context of the client named <name> * `-try-client <name>`: execute in the context of the client named <name> if such client exists, or else in the current context. * `-draft`: execute in a copy of the context of the selected client modifications to the selections or input state will not affect the client. This permits to make some modification to the buffer without modifying the user's selection. * `-itersel` (requires `-draft`): execute once per selection, in a context with only the considered selection. This permits to avoid cases where the selections may get merged. * `-buffer <names>`: execute in the context of each buffers in the comma separated list <names>, '*' as a name can be used to iterate on all buffers. * `-no-hooks`: disable hook execution while executing the keys/commands * `-with-maps`: use user key mapping in `:exec` instead of built in keys. * `-save-regs <regs>`: regs is a string of registers to be restored after execution (overwrites the list of registers saved by default) The execution stops when the last key/command is reached, or an error is raised. Key parameters get concatenated, so the following commands are equivalent: ---------------------- :exec otest<space>1 :exec o test <space> 1 ---------------------- Insert mode completion ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kakoune can propose completions while inserting text, the `completers` option controls automatic completion, which kicks in when a certain idle timeout is reached (100 milliseconds). Insert mode completion can be explicitly triggered using *control-x*, followed, by: * *f* : filename completion * *w* : buffer word completion * *l* : buffer line completion Completion candidates can be selected using `ctrl-n` and `ctrl-p`. Escape to normal mode ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From insert mode, pressing `<a-;>` allows you to execute a single normal mode command. This provides a few advantages: * The selections are not modified: when leaving insert mode using `<esc>` the selections can change, for example when insert mode was entered with `a` the cursor will go back one char. Or if on an end of line the cursor will go back left (if possible). * The modes are nested: that means the normal mode can enter prompt (with `:`), or any other modes (using `:onkey` or `:menu` for example), and these modes will get back to the insert mode afterwards. This feature is tailored for scripting/macros, as it provides a more predictable behaviour than leaving insert mode with `<esc>`, executing normal mode command and entering back insert mode (with which binding ?) Highlighters ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Manipulation of the displayed text is done through highlighters, which can be added or removed with the command ----------------------------------------------------- :addhl <highlighter_name> <highlighter_parameters...> ----------------------------------------------------- and ---------------------- :rmhl <highlighter_id> ---------------------- `highlighter_id` is a name generated by the highlighter specified with `highlighter_name`, possibly dependent on the parameters. Use command completion on rmhl to see the existing highlighters id. general highlighters are: * `regex <ex> <capture_id>:<face>...`: highlight a regex, takes the regex as first parameter, followed by any number of face parameters. For example: `:addhl regex (\hTODO:)?[^\n] 0:cyan 1:yellow,red` will highlight C++ style comments in cyan, with an eventual 'TODO:' in yellow on red background. * `dynregex`: Similar to regex, but expand (like a command parameter would) the given expression before building a regex from the result. * `flag_lines <flag> <option_name>`: add a column in front of text, and display the given flag in it for everly line contained in the int-list option named <option_name>. * `show_matching`: highlight matching char of the character under the selections cursor using `MatchingChar` face. * `number_lines \<-relative> \<-hlcursor> \<-separator <separator text> >`: show line numbers. The -relative switch will show line numbers relative to the main cursor line, the -hlcursor switch will highlight the cursor line with a separate face. With the -separator switch one can specify a string to separate the line numbers column with the rest of the buffer, default is `|`. * `fill <face>`: fill using given face, mostly useful with <<regions-highlighters,Regions highlighters>> * `ranges <option_name>`: use the data in the range-faces option of the given name to highlight the buffer. Highlighting Groups ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ the `group` highlighter is a container for other highlighters. You can add a group to the current window using ------------------ addhl group <name> ------------------ and then the `-group` switch of `addhl` provides a mean to add highlighters inside this group. -------------------------------------- addhl -group <name> <type> <params>... -------------------------------------- groups can contain other groups, the `-group` switch can be used to define a path. ------------------------------------------------ addhl -group <name> group <subname> addhl -group <name>/<subname> <type> <params>... ------------------------------------------------ [[regions-highlighters]] Regions highlighters ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ A special highlighter provides a way to segment the buffer into regions, which are to be highlighted differently. A region is defined by 4 parameters: ------------------------------------ <name> <opening> <closing> <recurse> ------------------------------------ `name` is user defined, `opening`, `closing` and `recurse` are regexes. * `opening` defines the region start text * `closing` defines the region end text * `recurse` defines the text that matches recursively an end token into the region. `recurse` is useful for regions that can be nested, for example the `%sh{ ... }` construct in kakoune accept nested `{ ... }` so `%sh{ ... { ... } ... }` is valid. this region can be defined with: ------------------------ shell_expand %sh\{ \} \{ ------------------------ Regions are used in the `regions` highlighter which can take any number of regions. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- addhl regions <name> <region_name1> <opening1> <closing1> <recurse1> \ <region_name2> <opening2> <closing2> <recurse2>... ----------------------------------------------------------------------- defines multiple regions in which other highlighters can be added ------------------------------------- addhl -group <name>/<region_name> ... ------------------------------------- Regions are matched using the left-most rule: the left-most region opening starts a new region. when a region closes, the closest next opening start another region. That matches the rule governing most programming language parsing. `regions` also supports a `-default <default_region>` switch to define the default region, when no other region matches the current buffer range. Most programming languages can then be properly highlighted using a `regions` highlighter as root: ----------------------------------------------------------------- addhl regions -default code <lang> \ string <str_opening> <str_closing> <str_recurse> \ comment <comment_opening> <comment_closing> <comment_recurse> addhl -group <lang>/code ... addhl -group <lang>/string ... addhl -group <lang>/comment ... ----------------------------------------------------------------- Shared Highlighters ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Highlighters are often defined for a specific filetype, and it makes then sense to share the highlighters between all the windows on the same filetypes. A shared highlighter can be defined with the `:addhl` command ------------------------------ addhl -group /<group_name> ... ------------------------------ when the group switch values starts with a '/', it references a group in the shared highlighters, rather than the window highlighters. The common case would be to create a named shared group, and then fill it with highlighters: --------------------------- addhl -group / group <name> addhl -group /name regex ... --------------------------- It can then be referenced in a window using the `ref` highlighter. ---------------- addhl ref <name> ---------------- the `ref` can reference any named highlighter in the shared namespace. Hooks ~~~~~ Commands can be registered to be executed when certain events arise. To register a hook use the hook command. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- :hook [-group <group>] <scope> <hook_name> <filtering_regex> <commands> ----------------------------------------------------------------------- `<scope>` can be either global, buffer or window (or any of their prefixes). Scopes are hierarchical, meaning that a Window calling a hook will execute its own, the buffer ones and the global ones. `<command>` is a string containing the commands to execute when the hook is called. For example to automatically use line numbering with .cc files, use the following command: ----------------------------------------------------- :hook global WinCreate .*\.cc %{ addhl number_lines } ----------------------------------------------------- if `<group>` is given, make this hook part of the named group. groups are used for removing hooks with the `rmhooks` command ----------------------- rmhooks <scope> <group> ----------------------- will remove every hooks in `<scope>` that are part of the given group. existing hooks are: * `NormalIdle`: A certain duration has passed since last key was pressed in normal mode. * `NormalBegin`: Entering normal mode * `NormalEnd`: Leaving normal mode * `NormalKey`: A key is received in normal mode, the key is used for filtering * `InsertIdle`: A certain duration has passed since last key was pressed in insert mode. * `InsertBegin`: Entering insert mode * `InsertEnd`: Leaving insert mode * `InsertKey`: A key is received in insert mode, the key is used for filtering * `InsertChar`: A character is inserted in insert mode, the character is used for filtering * `InsertMove`: The cursor moved (without inserting) in insert mode, the key that triggered the move is used for filtering * `WinCreate`: A window was created, the filtering text is the buffer name * `WinClose`: A window was destroyed, the filtering text is the buffer name * `WinDisplay`: A window was bound a client, the filtering text is the buffer name * `WinResize`: A window resized, the filtering text is '<line>.<column>' * `WinSetOption`: An option was set in a window context, the filtering text is '<option_name>=<new_value>' * `BufSetOption`: An option was set in a buffer context, the filtering text is '<option_name>=<new_value>' * `BufNew`: A buffer for a new file has been created, filename is used for filtering * `BufOpen`: A buffer for an existing file has been created, filename is used for filtering * `BufCreate`: A buffer has been created, filename is used for filtering * `BufWritePre`: Executed just before a buffer is written, filename is used for filtering. * `BufWritePost`: Executed just after a buffer is written, filename is used for filtering. * `BufClose`: Executed when a buffer is deleted, while it is still valid. * `BufOpenFifo`: Executed when a buffer opens a fifo. * `BufReadFifo`: Executed after some data has been red from a fifo and inserted in the buffer. * `BufCloseFifo`: Executed when a fifo buffer closes its fifo file descriptor either because the buffer is being deleted, or because the writing end has been closed. * `RuntimeError`: an error was encountered while executing an user command the error message is used for filtering * `KakBegin`: Kakoune started, this is called just after reading the user configuration files * `KakEnd`: Kakoune is quitting. * `FocusIn`: On supported clients, triggered when the client gets focused. the filtering text is the client name. * `FocusOut`: On supported clients, triggered when the client gets unfocused. the filtering text is the client name. When not specified, the filtering text is an empty string. Key Mapping ~~~~~~~~~~~ You can redefine a key's meaning using the map command -------------------------------- :map <scope> <mode> <key> <keys> -------------------------------- with `scope` being one of `global`, `buffer` or `window` (or any prefix), mode being `insert`, `normal`, `prompt`, `menu` or `user` (or any prefix), `key` being a single key name and `keys` a list of keys. `user` mode allows for user mapping behind the `,` key. Keys will be executed in normal mode. Defining Commands ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ New commands can be defined using the `:def` command. ------------------------------ :def <command_name> <commands> ------------------------------ `<commands>` is a string containing the commands to execute. `def` can also takes some flags: * `-params <num>`: the command accept <num> parameters, with <num> either a number, or of the form <min>..<max>, with both <min> and <max> omittable. * `-file-completion`: try file completion on any parameter passed to this command * `-client-completion`: try client name completion on any parameter passed to this command * `-buffer-completion`: try buffer name completion on any parameter passed to this command * `-shell-completion`: following string is a shell command which takes parameters as positional params and output one completion candidate per line. * `-allow-override`: allow the new command to replace an existing one with the same name. * `-hidden`: do not show the command in command name completions * `-docstring`: define the documentation string for the command Using shell expansion permits to define complex commands or to access Kakoune state: ------------------------------------------------------ :def print_selection %{ echo %sh{ ${kak_selection} } } ------------------------------------------------------ Some helper commands can be used to define composite commands: * `prompt <prompt> <register> <command>`: Prompt the user for a string, when the user validates, store the result in given <register> and run <commmand>. the -init <str> switch allows setting initial content and -password allow not to show the entered text (and clears the register after command execution). * `onkey <register> <command>`: Wait for next key from user, writes it into given <register> and execute commands. * `menu <label1> <commands1> <label2> <commands2>...`: display a menu using labels, the selected label's commands are executed. `menu` can take a -auto-single argument, to automatically run commands when only one choice is provided. and a -select-cmds argument, in which case menu takes three argument per item, the last one being a command to execute when the item is selected (but not validated). * `info <text>`: display text in an information box, at can take a -anchor option, which accepts `left`, `right` and `cursor` as value, in order to specify where the info box should be anchored relative to the main selection. * `try <commands> catch <on_error_commands>`: prevent an error in <commands> from aborting the whole commands execution, execute <on_error_commands> instead. If nothing is to be done on error, the catch part can be ommitted. * `reg <name> <content>`: set register <name> to <content> * `select <anchor_line>.<anchor_column>,<cursor_line>.<cursor_column>:...`: replace the current selections with the one described in the argument * `debug {info,buffers,options,memory,shared-strings}`: print some debug information in the `*debug*` buffer Note that these commands are available in interactive command mode, but are not that useful in this context. Aliases ~~~~~~~ With `:alias` commands can be given additional names. Aliases are scoped, so that an alias can refer to one command for a buffer, and to another for another buffer. -------------------------------- :alias <scope> <alias> <command> -------------------------------- with `<scope>` being `global`, `buffer` or `window`, will define `<alias>` as an alias for `<command>` ------------------------------------- :unalias <scope> <alias> [<expected>] ------------------------------------- will remove the given alias in the given scope. If `<expected>` is specified the alias will only be removed if its current value is `<expected>`. FIFO Buffer ~~~~~~~~~~~ the `:edit` command can take a `-fifo` parameter: --------------------------------------------- :edit -fifo <filename> [-scroll] <buffername> --------------------------------------------- In this case, a buffer named `<buffername>` is created which reads its content from fifo `<filename>`. When the fifo is written to, the buffer is automatically updated. if the `-scroll` switch is specified, the initial cursor position will be made such as the window displaying the buffer will scroll as new data is read. This is very useful for running some commands asynchronously while displaying their result in a buffer. See `rc/make.kak` and `rc/grep.kak` for examples. When the buffer is deleted, the fifo will be closed, so any program writing to it will receive `SIGPIPE`. This is usefull as it permits to stop the writing program when the buffer is deleted. Menus ~~~~~ When a menu is displayed, you can use `j`, `<ctrl-n>` or `<tab>` to select the next entry, and `k`, `<ctrl-p>` or `<shift-tab>` to select the previous one. Using the `/` key, you can enter some regex in order to restrict available choices to the matching ones.