Vim Beginners Cheat Sheet

Vim Basics

Starting Vim

Open a file:

Bash

vim hello.c

vim hello.c

If the file doesn’t exist, Vim creates it when you save.

The Three Modes

Students struggle because Vim is mode-based.

Mode	Purpose
Normal	Navigation and commands
Insert	Typing text
Command	Saving, quitting, searching

When Vim starts, it is in Normal Mode.

Entering Insert Mode

Press

Bash

Now type normally.

Leave insert mode with

Bash

Esc

Esc

Tell students:

If you ever get lost, press Esc several times.

Saving

Command Mode commands always begin with a colon.

Save:

Bash

:w

:w

Quit

Bash

:q

:q

Save and Quit

Bash

:wq

:wq

Bash

ZZ

ZZ

Quit Without Saving

Bash

:q!

:q!

Cursor Movement

Instead of arrow keys, Vim traditionally uses

Bash

h   left
j   down
k   up
l   right

h   left
j   down
k   up
l   right

Although the arrow keys work, learning these is worthwhile.

Moving Around

Beginning of line

Bash

End of line

Bash

Beginning of file

Bash

gg

gg

End of file

Bash

Next word

Bash

Previous word

Bash

Delete

Delete one character

Bash

Delete one word

Bash

dw

dw

Delete one line

Bash

dd

dd

Delete five lines

Bash

5dd

5dd

Undo / Redo

Undo

Bash

Redo

Bash

Ctrl-r

Ctrl-r

Copy and Paste

Copy one line

Bash

yy

yy

Copy five lines

Bash

5yy

5yy

Paste below

Bash

Paste above

Bash

Searching

Bash

/main

/main

Next match

Bash

Previous match

Bash

Replace

Replace one character

Bash

Example

Bash

rx

rx

changes the current character into x.

Join Lines

Bash

Indentation

Indent

Bash

>>

>>

Unindent

Bash

<<

<<

Visual Selection

Character mode

Bash

Line mode

Bash

Block mode

Bash

Ctrl-v

Ctrl-v

Delete selected text

Bash

Copy selected text

Bash

Paste

Bash

Repeat a Command

The period repeats the last editing command.

Bash

Example

Bash

dd
.
.
.

dd
.
.
.

Deletes four consecutive lines.

Multiple Files

Next buffer

Bash

:n

:n

Previous buffer

Bash

:prev

:prev

Open another file

Bash

:e filename.c

:e filename.c

Helpful Settings

Turn on line numbers

Bash

:set number

:set number

Relative numbers

Bash

:set relativenumber

:set relativenumber

Syntax highlighting

Bash

:syntax on

:syntax on

Help

Bash

:help

:help

Help on a command

Bash

:help dd

:help dd

Quit help

Bash

:q

:q

Daily Workflow

Bash

vim hello.c

i
    write code

Esc
:w

i
    more editing

Esc
:wq

vim hello.c

i
    write code

Esc
:w

i
    more editing

Esc
:wq

Commands Students Should Memorize

Command	Meaning
i	Insert mode
Esc	Return to Normal mode
:w	Save
:q	Quit
:wq	Save and quit
:q!	Quit without saving
h j k l	Move cursor
gg	Beginning of file
G	End of file
w	Next word
dd	Delete line
yy	Copy line
p	Paste
u	Undo
Ctrl-r	Redo
/text	Search
n	Next search result
x	Delete character
.	Repeat last command

Recommended First Lab (15 minutes)

Have students create a file named hello.c and perform these tasks:

Open hello.c in Vim.
Enter Insert mode and type a simple “Hello, World!” C program.
Save the file (:w).
Move to the top of the file (gg).
Copy the #include line (yy) and paste it below (p).
Delete the duplicate line (dd).
Search for main (/main).
Undo the deletion (u), then redo it (Ctrl-r).
Save and quit (:wq).

This sequence reinforces the core commands students will use throughout the semester without introducing advanced features too early. Once they’re comfortable with these basics, you can add topics like split windows, multiple buffers, macros, and plugins in later lessons.