Mastering VIM

Overview

It may not be true that most humans only use 10% of their brains, but it's definitely true that most programmers who use vi or Vim only use about one tenth of the power of those editors. This tutorial explores some of the lesser-known but amazingly useful features of Vim.

Topics covered include:

• basic and advanced navigation
• smart search modes
• text and filename autocompletion
• extended regex syntax
• understanding and using the numerous input modes
• handy configuration options
• using registers and register persistence
• the text folding mechanism
• building your own editing commands
• active highlighting techniques
• maps, abbreviations, macros, and other short-cuts
• calling other tools from Vim
• safeguarding and recovering your work

This class is taught by Damian Conway, a well-known speaker and lecturer (see his official biography or his Wikipedia page). Damian already lectured at SIB several times, and consistently received amazing feedback about his courses.

Audience

Anyone who uses (or would like to use) the Vim text editor.

Prerequisites

Knowledge / competencies

Attendees should have used–or at least struggled valiantly against–the basic features of Vim. If you can get in (and out!) of insert mode, move the cursor around, copy and paste a line of text, or maybe do a simple search, then this class is for you.

Technical

You do not need to bring anything for this course.

Application

The registration fee for academics is 100 CHF, or 300 CHF otherwise. This includes printed course material. For members of the EPFL, the cost is 70 CHF (as EPFL participates in the cost of the course).

Deadline for registration and free-of-charge cancellation is set to 23 April 2018; participants who cancel after this date will not be reimbursed. Please note that participation to SIB courses is subject to this and other general conditions, available at general conditions.

You will be informed by email of your registration confirmation.

Venue and Time

EPFL campus in Lausanne.

The course will start at 9:00 and end around 17:00. Precise information will be provided to the participants in due time.

Additional information

This course is co-organized by the SIB and the EPFL.

Coordination: Frédéric Schütz, SIB training group

You are welcome to register to the SIB courses mailing list to be informed of all future courses and workshops, as well as all important deadlines using the form here.

For more information, please contact training@sib.swiss.