A comprehensive vim training plugin featuring game-based exercises to improve your vim skills through structured practice and challenges. It was created on top of the fork of vim-be-good plugin
- 25+ Different Games across 8 categories
- Progressive difficulty system (noob → easy → medium → hard → nightmare → tpope)
- Comprehensive vim motion coverage from basic navigation to advanced text objects
I'm actively working on this plugin in my free time. If you have any suggestions about new game(s) to be added, feel free to open a new Issue.
- Neovim 0.8.0+
{
'szymonwilczek/vim-be-better',
config = function()
-- Optional: Enable logging for debugging
vim.g.vim_be_better_log_file = 1
end
}Plug 'szymonwilczek/vim-be-better'use 'szymonwilczek/vim-be-better'- Open Neovim in an empty buffer
- Run
:VimBeBetterto open the game menu - Select a category and difficulty level (using 'x' - not 'dd' like in original plugin)
- Complete the challenges to improve your vim skills
Master vim's movement commands and navigation techniques.
Practice using f, F, t, T motions to quickly navigate to specific characters.
Challenge: Find the character marked with '^'
Text: The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
^
Use: f, F, t, T motions
Learn efficient word-based navigation with w, b, e, ge.
Challenge: Navigate to specific word boundaries
function validateEmail(email) { return email.includes('@'); }
^ ^
Target positions marked with ^
Master bracket matching with % and related motions.
Challenge: Jump between matching brackets
if (condition && (nested || check)) {
^ ^ ^ ^
Navigate efficiently between all bracket pairs
Practice precise text selection using visual mode operations.
Challenge: Select specific text ranges
const userConfig = { name: 'John', age: 25 };
^^^^^^^^^^^ Select this exact range
Use: Visual mode + motions
Learn to manipulate text efficiently using vim's text objects.
Practice fundamental text objects like iw, aw, is, ip.
Challenge: Delete inner word
function processData(input) {
^^^^^^^^^^^
Use: diw to delete 'processData'
Master block operations and complex text object combinations.
Challenge: Change content inside braces across multiple lines
const config = {
api: { url: 'test', timeout: 5000 },
db: { host: 'localhost', port: 3306 }
};
Use: ci{ and related commands
Master vim's powerful search and replace capabilities.
Learn fundamental substitution patterns with :s command.
Challenge: Replace all occurrences of 'var' with 'let'
var userName = 'john';
var userAge = 25;
Expected: let userName = 'john';
Practice advanced regular expressions in vim substitutions.
Challenge: Extract email domains
Email: john.doe@example.com
Expected: example.com
Use: Advanced regex patterns
Master global search and replace across multiple lines and patterns.
Challenge: Convert snake_case to camelCase
user_name → userName
user_email → userEmail
Use: Global substitution commands
Learn vim's formatting and indentation commands.
Practice indentation commands like >>, <<, =.
Challenge: Fix indentation
function test() {
local x = 1
return x
end
Expected:
function test() {
local x = 1
return x
end
Master case conversion with ~, gu, gU, g~.
Challenge: Convert to uppercase
hello world → HELLO WORLD
Use: gUiw or similar commands
Practice line joining with J and gJ.
Challenge: Join lines appropriately
const message = 'Hello' +
'World';
Expected: const message = 'Hello' + 'World';
Practice numeric operations and calculations in vim.
Master number increment/decrement with <C-a> and <C-x>.
Challenge: Increment all numbers by 1
version = 1.2.3
Expected: version = 2.3.4
Use: <C-a> on each number
Learn to work with number sequences and patterns.
Challenge: Create sequence
1
2
3
Expected: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Use: Various vim techniques
Master vim's most powerful features.
Learn to record and execute macros for repetitive tasks.
Challenge: Add quotes to each word
apple
banana
cherry
Expected:
"apple"
"banana"
"cherry"
Solution: qa I" <Esc> A" <Esc> j q, then @a for repetition
Master the . command for efficient repetition.
Challenge: Replace all 'x' with correct letters
vim xs awesome
practxce makes perfect
Expected:
vim is awesome
practice makes perfect
Use: Replace first 'x', then navigate and use '.' to repeat
Practice code folding techniques with zf, zo, zc.
Challenge: Fold function definitions
function longFunction() {
// many lines of code
return result;
}
Use: zf motions to create folds
Learn efficient code commenting techniques.
Challenge: Toggle comments on selected lines
function test() {
console.log('debug');
return true;
}
Use: gcc for line comments, gc with motions
Combine multiple vim skills in complex scenarios.
Complete editing tasks as quickly as possible with time limits.
Challenge: Add semicolons to 3 lines (Target: 8 seconds)
let x = 1
let y = 2
let z = 3
Expected:
let x = 1;
let y = 2;
let z = 3;
Scoring: 🥇 Gold ≤8s, 🥈 Silver ≤10.4s, 🥉 Bronze ≤12s
Apply real-world refactoring techniques quickly and accurately.
Challenge: Extract magic number (Target: 12 seconds)
function validateAge(age) {
return age >= 18;
}
Expected:
const MIN_AGE = 18;
function validateAge(age) {
return age >= MIN_AGE;
}
Complete tasks with minimum keystrokes - like golf, lower score wins.
Challenge: Add semicolon (Par: 2 keystrokes)
console.log('hello')
Expected:
console.log('hello');
Optimal Solution: A; (2 keystrokes)
Scoring: 🏆 Hole-in-one (2), 🥇 Eagle (<2), 🥈 Birdie (2), 🥉 Par (≤5)
Traditional vim training games with modern enhancements.
Practice word navigation and manipulation.
Master basic directional movement.
Learn relative line jumping with numbers.
Quick character location and case manipulation.
Practice "change inside" operations with various delimiters.
A vim-controlled snake game for fun practice.
- noob: Basic operations with hints and guidance
- easy: Simple challenges with some assistance
- medium: Intermediate complexity without hints
- hard: Advanced challenges requiring efficiency
- nightmare: Expert-level operations
- tpope: Master-level challenges (named after Tim Pope)
:VimBeBetter- Open the main game menu
-- Enable logging for debugging
vim.g.vim_be_better_log_file = 1
-- Custom difficulty preferences (optional)
vim.g.vim_be_better_default_difficulty = "easy"We welcome contributions! Here's how to get started:
- Fork the repository
- Create a feature branch:
git checkout -b feature-name - Make your changes
- Add tests if applicable
- Submit a pull request
# Clone your fork
git clone https://github.com/szymonwilczek/vim-be-better.git
cd vim-be-better
# For local development, add to your neovim config:
# ~/.config/nvim/init.lua
vim.opt.rtp:prepend('/path/to/vim-be-better')
# or add it directly to your plugin configuration by appending the pathTo add a new game, create a new file in the appropriate category directory:
lua/vim-be-better/games/[category]/[game-name].lua- Follow the existing game structure and patterns
- Update
lua/vim-be-better/types.luato include your game
If you encounter any issues:
- Enable logging:
vim.g.vim_be_better_log_file = 1 - Reproduce the issue
- Check the log file:
:echo stdpath("data") . "/vim-be-better.log" - Create an issue with the log contents