Bash vi mode configuration to default to command mode

bashvi-mode

Is it possible to configure bash vi mode so that initially it is in command mode instead on insert mode? I find that I have to press Esc far too much. It seems that there is possibility to specify this in zsh, but I have not found a way to do this in bash/readline.

Best Answer

I don't think it is possible using the standard GNU Readline Library.

However, you may be able to use xdotool for a simple hack to achieve the same effect. Appending a command to your .bashrc that simulates an Escape keypress would ensure that your term opened in command mode:

xdotool key Escape

You might want to use a slight delay, with the --delay switch, to prevent it from munging your prompt...

Note this is likely to introduce more frustration than you expect: terminals are designed to accept input; breaking that (albeit only slightly) may not prove such a good idea...

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Bash – Change cursor shape (or color) to indicate vi mode in bash

add these two lines to ~/.inputrc :

set vi-ins-mode-string \1\e[5 q\2
set vi-cmd-mode-string \1\e[2 q\2

Bash – Make Bash’s vi-mode default to “normal” Vi mode (not “insert”), and place cursor at start of line, mimicking KornShell

It seems that there is no adequate way to insert an Esc in the command line.

While in vi-insert most alpha/numeric keys are used. Esc is quite far away, and any chord (like Alt-j (which works)) seem more complex than desired. So, there is a way to make two keys convert to a configurable string.

The workaround works by using the idea from This answer

Just add this to .inputrc:

 set editing-mode vi
 set vi-ins-mode-string \1\e[6 q\2
 set vi-cmd-mode-string \1\e[2 q\2

 set keymap emacs
 "\ee": vi-editing-mode
 "jk": "\eejk"
 "kj": "\eejk"

 set keymap vi-insert
 "\ee": emacs-editing-mode
 "jk": vi-movement-mode
 "kj": vi-movement-mode

 set keymap vi-command
 "\ee": emacs-editing-mode

By that, no matter where you start either emacs or vi, pressing both jk will place you in vi-command mode at the start of the line.

Additionally, it allows you to switch to emacs mode with Esc-e.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Bash – Change cursor shape (or color) to indicate vi mode in bash

Bash – Make Bash’s vi-mode default to “normal” Vi mode (not “insert”), and place cursor at start of line, mimicking KornShell

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