dot nvim

My personal Neovim configuration, aimed at satisfying my usage needs while keeping it as lightweight as possible.

It summarizes the keymaps and usage habits that have been most suitable for me personally over the years.

requirements

• neovim (version >= 0.13)
• nerd fonts (recommended)
• tree-sitter (recommended)
• kitty (version >= 0.21, or any emulator supports XTVERSION escape codes)
• fd (optional)
• rg (optional)
• xclip (optional)
• language servers (optional)

updates

• :TSUpdate Update installed tree-sitter parsers
• :packupdate Review plugin updates; :write applies them and :quit discards them
• :restart Restart after applying updates
• $ brew upgrade neovim Update neovim by your package manager

usage

$ git clone https://github.com/etherswangel/dot_nvim.git ~/.config/nvim
$ nvim

Plugins use native vim.pack and load eagerly. lua/plugins.lua discovers Lua configuration files directly under lua/plugins/ in alphabetical order. Every configuration module returns a list of specs. lua/plugin_loader.lua accepts native src, name and version fields, a local dir instead of src, and optional init, setup and build callbacks. The dependencies field lists plugin names that must run first; missing dependencies and cycles are rejected. init runs before plugin scripts load; setup runs eagerly after all runtime paths are available; build runs after managed installation or updates. nvim-pack-lock.json records exact revisions and should stay in version control. Plugin updates rebuild Treesitter parsers and register Molten's remote plugins when those plugins change. Parser installation does not run on ordinary startup. The local dev/multiplexer.nvim and dev/sessions.nvim checkouts are loaded directly from runtimepath.

Nested launches with $NVIM load Flatten and open files in a parent tab. Launches with $MULTIPLEXER load only the local multiplexer. Normal launches load the full collection. $NVIM takes precedence when both variables are present.

sessions

Session management lives in the small local dev/sessions.nvim module. :SaveSession writes .cache/session.vim in the current working directory using native :mksession!. Hidden unmodified listed buffers are removed first; hidden modified buffers remain and produce a warning. Saving is manual.

An empty normal launch restores the startup directory's session after plugin setup. Explicit file arguments, stdin content, another displayed buffer, or an already loaded session prevent restoration. Existing Mini Sessions session files remain compatible.

startup profiling

:StartupTime averages 20 launches. :StartupTime --tries 1 runs a single launch; :StartupTime --input-file /path/to/startup.log displays an existing native log. The profiler arguments configured in lua/plugins/ui.lua clear $NVIM and $MULTIPLEXER before each child's configuration loads, so profiling measures the full editor with the same Neovim executable.

For repeatable terminal measurements with two warmup launches and retained logs:

python3 scripts/benchmark.py vim-pack . --output /tmp/nvim-startup-comparison \
  --scenarios empty sample.lua sample.py sample.md session

Run the same command with another label and a saved configuration directory to compare configurations at identical plugin revisions. Each scenario records 20 measured launches, a summary, and raw logs. Installation and builds should finish before profiling. The harness uses temporary fixtures and isolates cache/state, but uses your installed plugin and provider data. It requires a Unix PTY.

Results from this migration are in benchmarks/startup.md. Startup timings end at the first screen update and do not measure asynchronous LSP or Copilot readiness.

validation

nvim --headless -u NONE -i NONE -l tests/sessions.lua
nvim --headless -u NONE -i NONE -l tests/pack.lua

The package test installs and updates two temporary local Git fixtures; it does not fetch or update your real plugins. It also checks directory discovery, symlinked specs and dependency ordering.

To check the full installed configuration, run from a directory without a saved session:

nvim --headless -i NONE -c 'luafile /absolute/path/to/nvim/tests/startup.lua'

This checks package activation, cursorword underlines after colorscheme reloads, shell Treesitter highlighting and plugin commands. It uses installed plugins and parsers.

keymaps

basic

mode	keymap	usage
n	u	undo
n	U	redo
{ i, t }	jj	normal mode
n	<Esc>	clear highlights
n	*	search current word
n	<Space>	select current word and expand
v	y	yank
v	Y	yank to system clipboard (need xclip for X11)
v	<	shift left
v	>	shift right

navigate

mode	keymap	usage
n	L	next buffer
n	H	previous buffer
n	<Tab>	next tab
n	<S-Tab>	previous tab
n	,0	go to last tab
n	,{1-9}	go to nth tab
n	[i	go to indent scope top
n	]i	go to indent scope bottom

window

mode	keymap	usage
n	,w	close tab
n	,e	close window
n	,[	move tab forward
n	,]	move tab backward
n	st	new empty tab
n	ss	current file in new tab
n	sj	split down
n	sl	split right
{ n, t }	<Ctrl-{ h, j, k, l }>	to window
n	s{ H, J, K, L }	move window
n	<Arrows>	resize window

move

mode	keymap	usage
n	<Alt-{ j, k }>	move page
n	<Ctrl-u>	move cursor up 10 lines
n	<Ctrl-d>	move cursor down 10 lines
i	<Alt-{ h, j, k, l }>	move cursor
i	<Ctrl-a>	first char in line
i	<Ctrl-e>	last char in line
v	{J, K}	move current line

fzf-lua

mode	keymap	usage
n	;;	resume
n	;a	fzf builtin
n	;f	find files
{ n, v }	;g	grep in workspace
n	;b	buffers
n	;e	open oil
n	;E	open oil in float

lsp

mode	keymap	usage
n	,cc	switch source header (c/c++)
{ n, v }	,ca	code actions
n	,rn	rename symbol
n	,s	document symbols
n	,S	workspace symbols
{ n, v }	,f	format document
n	,d	show current diagnostic
n	,D	diagnostics
n	[d	previous diagnostic
n	]d	next diagnostic
n	gd	go to definition
n	gi	go to implementation
n	gr	go to references
n	K	hover
i	<Ctrl-k>	signature help

git

mode	keymap	usage
n	[h	previous hunk
n	]h	next hunk
n	,hb	current line blame
n	,hB	blame line
n	,hd	diff
n	,hD	diff HEAD
n	,hp	preview hunk