If you have not set git's default text editor, it will probably default to Vi/Vim, which is a text editor that can be used directly from the command-line interface. You navigate it only using your keyboard and there are no graphical buttons. When you first use Vim it can be a challenge to even just exit it again. For the purpose of this Git workshop you mostly need to use Vim to type single-line commit messages. To achieve this you will need to know only the handful of keys that we have listed for you here:
Vim has a mode for inserting text and several modes for editing text. For us, only two modes will be important:
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Command mode is the default mode of Vim. It provides a library of keyboard-based commands to edit text. Pressing the escape key switches back to this mode.
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Insert mode allows for the insertion of text. This is the functionality most users associate with text editors. Pressing the i key in command mode switches to insert mode.
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Navigate the cursor through the arrow keys on your keyboard. This is possible in any mode.
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Exiting Vim is possible from Command mode (ESC key) by typing
:xto save and exit or:q!to force exit without saving. Press enter to submit your command.
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Type
vimtutorinto your terminal for more commands. -
Learn using Vim through this game: https://vim-adventures.com/.