How to use vim (key-bindings) with Visual Studio Code vim extension

vim visual-studio-code vim-plugin

55,282

Solution 1

Add the following to settings.json (open the Command Pallete and search for "User Settings"):

"vim.insertModeKeyBindings": [
     {
         "before": ["j", "j"],
         "after": ["<esc>"]
     }
]

That should do it.

Solution 2

If you running on Linux and have used setxkbmap to remap Esc to Caps-Lock and have problems, I suggest the following workaround Fix for Esc remapping.

The solution is to add the following to your User Settings

"keyboard.dispatch": "keyCode"

You should save and restart after that

Solution 3

From this issue, I learned that you can use something like

{ "key": "j j", "command": "extension.vim_esc", "when": "editorTextFocus" },

But it does come with a problem of not being able to use j for movement.

PS. I know this is not a complete answer but something to get going.

55,282

ganjan

Updated on February 20, 2020

Comments

ganjan about 4 years
I just started using Visual Studio Code and think it's really great. Also installed the vim extension, but I'm struggling with mapping esc to a another key.

Normally I have this:
```
:imap jj <Esc>
```
And I can see that VS Code has a keybindings.json file. I tried this:
```
[{
    "key": "jj",
    "command": "vim.Esc",
    "when": "editorTextFocus"
}]
```
Also there is a settings.json file, so I tried:
```
{
  "vim.keyboardLayout": "en-US (QWERTY)",
    "vim.insertModeKeyBindings": {
        "j": "vim.Esc"
    }
}
```
Also did not work. So does anyone know how to use the a vim extension with VS Code where I can map jj to Esc or something else to Esc perhaps?
- sudo bangbang almost 8 years
  
  Are you using github.com/VSCodeVim/Vim ?
- ganjan almost 8 years
  
  yes, I'm using github.com/VSCodeVim/Vim @sudobangbang
- Gerry over 2 years
  
  yikes why would you ever want to do that...
- Jarmos over 2 years
  
  @Gerry why not? I think it comes down to personal preferences, isn't it? I use Neovim like 7 out of 10 times a day. But there are a few moments when I would like use VSCode instead. And during those few moments, I would like to stay within my favoured Neovim-like navigation environment. I don't see why it could be an issue.
ganjan almost 8 years

This almost works, but when I type j the application freeze waiting for second key.. Have to make sure it only happen when I'm in vim insert mode...
jarandaf about 6 years

With current version of VSCodeVim, it works with <Esc> instead of <esc>.
sjt003 about 6 years

can you add another key after "<Esc>" ? like this "after": ["<Esc>", "l"]?
gwintrob almost 4 years

This has worked for a long time for me, but I'm starting to see weird behavior (see here). The first j seems to stay in insert mode and then the second j moves back a character and sometimes deletes the line. Any idea what might cause this?
Isaac Pak almost 4 years

@gwintrob All of the sudden I get this mess too. Did the vim extension auto update or is this a vscode problem? I remapped to other double letters (ie. "x", "x") and still get the same behavior.
Isaac Pak almost 4 years

Nevermind. I got the fix from your github issue. link kudos!
Shadoath over 3 years

@st003 Yes, I have mine set to run "after": ["<Esc>", ":", "w", "<Enter>"]