I have used Vim for a couple years I think, maybe more now and learned enough to write my own vimrc file from scratch, understanding all the parts I'm adding, what they do and why and sync it via version control etc etc.
I use it on every server I administer/whenever I use the terminal.
I've added many of the plugins mentioned here, they're great.
But I just can't get around the visual layout and moving throughout a project/codebase. Maybe it's my brain, but I highly value visual representation of the open files I'm working on.
Something like Sublime Text with the open tabs visible is just key for me. I can replicate the sidebar with NERDTree which is OK (still a bit annoying navigating it but whatever) but how can I do the same regarding tabs. Alright buffers, you know what I mean. I want to see a visual representation of the files I've got open, not through CtrlP or a key combo, but on screen like in Sublime Text.
Can it be done?
For the most basic command that will probably work immediately, just start up vim with multiple files like so:
vim -p file1 file2
But vim tabs may not behave the way you would expect them to coming from other programs. You might prefer to just list all the buffers within one window instead. There are many plugins dealing with buffer management on the vim wiki and elsewhere. Here are two I found with a Google search that look at a glance like they might work [0], [1] (haven't tried, just looked at the page briefly)
I will take a look at these. I think that because I've got lightline installed I'll have to either integrate one of these or just go for one on it's own or something.
I really liked bufftabline when I used it. It was lightweight and did exactly what I wanted it to do, give me an immediate visual representation of the buffers I had open in a familiar tab-like format.
Eventually I moved towards an even lighter weight setup. Take at look at this video is you're interested in anything like that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA2WjJbmmoM
I really only need this as a crutch to get over the way I previously used graphical text editors. I know some people say go cold turkey and I have for a loooooong time but I need this representation.
I'm not sure it's even a 'bad' thing to do, seems quite handy to see what buffers are open without having to write a command. Plus I have a huge amount of screen real estate so I think this might work well.
Thanks.
Pl
But I think that most people who use vim everyday just started with the most basic vim during several months and then they added one plugin, then two, then three.
But plugins are not mandatory in vim, and you don't need to remember all the shorcuts either,
I use vim a lot and I use my mouse for a lot of things in vim, and I don't know how to go 15th line below at the third word of the line because I use the mouse.
Anyways I do agree with you on one thing, this articles convey the idea that vim requires plugins and magic to be usable, which in my opinion is a disservice. People get on the bandwagon and install 50 plugins and then complain that vim is unusable when sshing into a server because it doesn't have the plugins they use.
I see this article as a 'more advanced knowledged required', aka the folks who are past the point of slowly building up a workflow (your example).
I've been hunting for a good way to visualize git stuff within vim, and this article introduced me to a neat plugin that I will try out right now!