created February 3, 2006 · complexity intermediate · author Matt Zyzik · version 6.0
I use Vim for all text editing, even software development. At one point I stopped using IDEs. One major reason is that Vim can do all the major things I need from IDEs (tabs, file trees, greping, syntax highlighting, indentation, completion, "quickfix"ing, etc).
Still Vim needs plugins to do some IDE-like things that aren't built in.
One thing you might want is the vtreeexplorer script#184 plugin, which allows you to have a "file list" in a vertically split window. Another thing worth considering is the minibufexpl script#159 plugin, which will allow for tabs of all your files (works really well).
See function Kwbd in Deleting a buffer without changing your window layout which allows you to delete a buffer without actually closing the window. Also, below, I have a new, more complicated version of it. The below script will actually create a scratch buffer if there are no listed buffers left. The script, in addition, takes care of a small annoyance. Before, if you 1) open vim, 2) :e a file, 3) :bd, 4) :e the same file, then there will be two buffers listed (that file and a [no name] buffer). The following script ensures this doesn't happen.
Everything in this tutorial assumes the user does "set hidden".
Using this Kwbd function (:call Kwbd(1)) will make Vim behave like an IDE, or maybe even better.
"here is a more exotic version of my original Kwbd script
"delete the buffer; keep windows; create a scratch buffer if no buffers left
function Kwbd(kwbdStage)
if(a:kwbdStage == 1)
if(!buflisted(winbufnr(0)))
bd!
return
endif
let g:kwbdBufNum = bufnr("%")
let g:kwbdWinNum = winnr()
windo call Kwbd(2)
execute "normal " . g:kwbdWinNum . ""
let g:buflistedLeft = 0
let g:bufFinalJump = 0
let l:nBufs = bufnr("$")
let l:i = 1
while(l:i <= l:nBufs)
if(l:i != g:kwbdBufNum)
if(buflisted(l:i))
let g:buflistedLeft = g:buflistedLeft + 1
else
if(bufexists(l:i) && !strlen(bufname(l:i)) && !g:bufFinalJump)
let g:bufFinalJump = l:i
endif
endif
endif
let l:i = l:i + 1
endwhile
if(!g:buflistedLeft)
if(g:bufFinalJump)
windo if(buflisted(winbufnr(0))) | execute "b! " . g:bufFinalJump | endif
else
enew
let l:newBuf = bufnr("%")
windo if(buflisted(winbufnr(0))) | execute "b! " . l:newBuf | endif
endif
execute "normal " . g:kwbdWinNum . ""
endif
if(buflisted(g:kwbdBufNum) || g:kwbdBufNum == bufnr("%"))
execute "bd! " . g:kwbdBufNum
endif
if(!g:buflistedLeft)
set buflisted
set bufhidden=delete
set buftype=nofile
setlocal noswapfile
normal athis is the scratch buffer
endif
else
if(bufnr("%") == g:kwbdBufNum)
let prevbufvar = bufnr("#")
if(prevbufvar > 0 && buflisted(prevbufvar) && prevbufvar != g:kwbdBufNum)
b #
else
bn
endif
endif
endif
endfunction
Comments
For debugger integration, try http://clewn.sourceforge.net/
For when you're stuck with Visual Studio: see ViEmu at http://www.ngedit.com/viemu.html