Key Remapping

Key Remapping

VimCode supports user-defined key mappings in both Vim and VSCode modes. User keymaps are checked before built-in keys, so they can override defaults.

Discovering command names

Before remapping, you need to know the command name for the action you want to bind. There are two ways:

1. :Keybindings — opens a reference showing all keybindings with their command names on the right (e.g. gd → :def, F12 → :def, Ctrl+P → :fuzzy)
2. Command palette (F1 or Ctrl-Shift-P) → search "Open Keybinding Reference"

Adding mappings

From the command line

:map n <C-/> :Comment          " Map Ctrl-/ to toggle comments in normal mode
:map v <C-/> :Comment          " Same for visual mode
:map n <leader>f :Lformat      " Map leader-f to format
:map n gcc :Comment {count}    " Map gcc to comment N lines

From the keymaps editor

1. Run :Keymaps (or F1 → "Open Keyboard Shortcuts")
2. A scratch buffer opens — one mapping per line
3. Add your mappings in the format mode keys :command
4. Save with :w to validate and persist to settings.json

Directly in settings.json

Edit ~/.config/vimcode/settings.json:

{
    "keymaps": [
        "n <C-/> :Comment",
        "v <C-/> :Comment",
        "n gcc :Comment {count}",
        "n <leader>f :Lformat"
    ]
}

Format

mode keys :command

Part	Description	Examples
mode	n (normal), v (visual), i (insert), c (command)	n, v
keys	Single char, modifier combo, or multi-key sequence	J, <C-/>, <A-c>, gcc, gc
command	Ex command prefixed with :	:Comment, :Lformat, :def

Key notation

Notation	Meaning
<C-x>	Ctrl+x
<A-x>	Alt+x
<C-S-x>	Ctrl+Shift+x
<leader>x	Leader key (default: Space) + x
<F5>	Function key F5

Special: {count} substitution

Use {count} in the command to substitute the numeric count prefix:

n gcc :Comment {count}

Typing 3gcc runs :Comment 3 (comments 3 lines).

Multi-key sequences

Multi-key sequences like gcc or gc are supported. Intermediate keys are buffered until an exact match is found or a fallthrough occurs.

"keymaps": [
    "n gc :Comment",
    "n gcc :Comment {count}"
]

Removing mappings

:unmap n <C-/>       " Remove the Ctrl-/ mapping in normal mode

Or delete the line from the keymaps editor (:Keymaps) and save.

Listing current mappings

:map                 " List all user-defined mappings

VSCode mode keymaps

In VSCode mode, use mode n for all keymaps (since the editor is always in a single state). Use modifier keys (<C-x>, <A-x>, <F5>) to avoid intercepting normal typing.

Remapping workflow in VSCode mode:

1. Press F1 → type "keybinding" → select "Open Keybinding Reference" to see all bindings with command names
2. Press F1 → type "keyboard" → select "Open Keyboard Shortcuts" to open the keymaps editor
3. Add a line like n <C-H> :hover or n <F7> :def, then save

Configurable panel keys

These keybindings are configured in settings.json under "panel_keys" rather than the keymaps system:

Field	Default	Action
toggle_sidebar	<C-b>	Toggle sidebar visibility
focus_explorer	<A-e>	Focus explorer
focus_search	<A-f>	Focus search panel
fuzzy_finder	<C-p>	Open fuzzy file finder
live_grep	<C-g>	Open live grep modal
open_terminal	<C-t>	Toggle terminal panel
add_cursor	<A-d>	Add cursor at next occurrence
select_all_matches	<C-S-l>	Select all occurrences
split_editor_right	<C-\>	Split editor right
split_editor_down	—	Split editor down

Configurable explorer keys

Under "explorer_keys" in settings.json:

Field	Default	Action
new_file	a	New file prompt
new_folder	A	New folder prompt
delete	D	Delete prompt
rename	r	Rename prompt
move_file	M	Move file prompt

Configurable completion keys

Under "completion_keys" in settings.json:

Field	Default	Action
trigger	<C-Space>	Manually trigger completion popup
accept	Tab	Accept highlighted completion item

Only specify keys you want to change — unspecified keys keep their defaults.

Available commands for remapping

Run :Keybindings for the full list. Here are some commonly remapped commands:

Command	Default key (Vim)	Default key (VSCode)	Action
:def	gd	F12	Go to definition
:refs	gr	Shift+F12	Find references
:hover	K	—	Show hover info
:LspImpl	<leader>gi	—	Go to implementation
:LspTypedef	gy	—	Go to type definition
:Lformat	<leader>gf	Shift+Alt+F	Format document
:Rename	<leader>rn	F2	Rename symbol
:Comment	gcc / gc	Ctrl+/	Toggle comment
:fuzzy	Ctrl+P	Ctrl+P	Fuzzy file finder
:sidebar	Ctrl+B	Ctrl+B	Toggle sidebar
:palette	Ctrl+Shift+P	F1 / Ctrl+Shift+P	Command palette
:nextdiag	]d	—	Next diagnostic
:prevdiag	[d	—	Previous diagnostic
:nexthunk	]c	—	Next git hunk
:prevhunk	[c	—	Previous git hunk