[vim/vim] Please add hotkeys list to title page (Issue #14058)
tyler-suard-parker
It would go a long way to making vim more user-friendly if the commands were on the front page. For example, right now when vim opens it shows how to quit, but it would be nice to include the following:
i: Insert mode
A: Append mode
esc: Exit a mode
: :command mode
0: go to beginning of a line
$: go to the end of a line
:w : save changes to file
Etc.
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tyler-suard-parker
Related: PR #14059
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Christian Brabandt
I am not sure. Keep in mind, the intro screen is not meant as a tutorial for users, but merely should show them where to find help (and in case you were thrown into it and have no idea what this black thing is, how to exit it). Adding more lines to it, will probably make it harder to find the right line, and we must ensure it fits into a default terminal size of 80x20 without looking too crowded.
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Aliaksei Budavei
New and occasional users may brush up on their Vim skills by
following the instructions of vimtutor.
The :intro page already points in its direction:
https://github.com/vim/vim/blob/c86bff1771ed9c340f8f4433ae5530fd6de97980/src/version.c#L1427
Maybe, the "Getting started:" lines:
should be moved closer to the top of doc/help.txt so that
eager users would able to spot them sooner.
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tyler-suard-parker
@chrisbra @zzzyxwvut I understand, I used Nano for years, despite Vim being the vastly superior editor, because Nano has the hotkeys right there on the screen, which makes it way easier to use. I know we can't do that with Vim, but just having some of the essential commands right there on the main screen would go a long way to making Vim more user-friendly for beginners and more popular. Also, it is not clear that on-line help will show what the keystrokes are, or how to use Vim. When I read on-line help, I think of talking to a tech support representative, who might tell me that Vim is working but would not tell me how to use it.
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Gary Johnson
> @chrisbra @zzzyxwvut I understand, I used Nano for years, despite Vim being the
> vastly superior editor, because Nano has the hotkeys right there on the screen,
> which makes it way easier to use. I know we can't do that with Vim, but just
> having some of the essential commands right there on the main screen would go a
> long way to making Vim more user-friendly for beginners and more popular. Also,
> it is not clear that on-line help will show what the keystrokes are, or how to
> use Vim. When I read on-line help, I think of talking to a tech support
> representative, who might tell me that Vim is working but would not tell me how
> to use it.
some change to the buffer, then it's gone. At that point, the user
is not going to remember a long list of commands, but they may
remember a very short list telling them how to exit and how to find
help. I think that showing them more information than is already
there would actually be _less_ helpful.
Vim's built-in help _does_ show what the important keystrokes are as
well as directing the user to more topics. It is probably the best
help system you will find in any editor. In fact, if a new user
learns only one thing from the intro screen, it should be to type
":help". That will show them how to quit.
If you think that there should be an easier way for the user to find
the list of commands you suggested, putting them in an easy-to-
discover place under :help would be better than on the intro screen.
Regards,
Gary
vim-dev ML
> @chrisbra @zzzyxwvut I understand, I used Nano for years, despite Vim being the
> vastly superior editor, because Nano has the hotkeys right there on the screen,
> which makes it way easier to use. I know we can't do that with Vim, but just
> long way to making Vim more user-friendly for beginners and more popular. Also,
> it is not clear that on-line help will show what the keystrokes are, or how to
> use Vim. When I read on-line help, I think of talking to a tech support
> representative, who might tell me that Vim is working but would not tell me how
> to use it.
Except that that intro screen is there only until the user makes
some change to the buffer, then it's gone. At that point, the user
is not going to remember a long list of commands, but they may
remember a very short list telling them how to exit and how to find
help. I think that showing them more information than is already
there would actually be _less_ helpful.
Vim's built-in help _does_ show what the important keystrokes are as
well as directing the user to more topics. It is probably the best
help system you will find in any editor. In fact, if a new user
learns only one thing from the intro screen, it should be to type
":help". That will show them how to quit.
If you think that there should be an easier way for the user to find
the list of commands you suggested, putting them in an easy-to-
discover place under :help would be better than on the intro screen.
Regards,
Gary
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Tyler
@vim-ml Thanks for the feedback. Totally get the concern about clutter. How about we add just one line to the intro: "Hit :help basics for key commands"? Keeps it clean and nudges newbies gently towards the goldmine of info in :help.
Nano's got its shortcuts upfront, and it's a hit for ease of use. We're not Nano, but that one line could make Vim feel a bit more welcoming without sacrificing our minimalist vibe. Plus, it directly addresses the "how do I even start?" question in a super succinct way.
Thoughts?
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Christian Brabandt
the type :help<Enter> or <F1> for on-line help is not enough?
Also, I am pretty sure, one could create a plugin for nano like help banner using popup windows or similar. But that probably belongs to its own plugin.
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Christian Brabandt
Closed #14058 as not planned.
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Christian Brabandt
let's not do it then.
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