Arch Linux

mikezackles

Member

Registered: 2007-09-23

Posts: 41

vranger - open text files in ranger using a single vim instance

I've been using this for a while personally, and I find it really handy.  I finally got around to setting up a project for it, so I thought I'd post here just in case anyone else finds it useful.  Note that I tried setting up ranger to launch from vim, but startup was too slow for me.

Yes, this is an ugly hack, and it might be more appropriate to implement as a ranger plugin   Please let me know if you know of an easier way to accomplish the same effect.

source

aur

PieterGen

Member

From: Groningen, NL, EU

Registered: 2012-01-18

Posts: 59

Re: vranger - open text files in ranger using a single vim instance

Hi Mike, could you shed some light on the WHY please?

mikezackles

Member

Registered: 2007-09-23

Posts: 41

Re: vranger - open text files in ranger using a single vim instance

Sure, PieterGen.  Sorry if that wasn't clear.

This allows you to use ranger as the file manager for a project without losing any vim state, just like you'd use a vim plugin like NERD Tree.  So for example you can yank and paste without copying to the X clipboard or switch between open buffers without leaving vim.  You only pay the startup costs for both ranger and vim once, so moving around your project is imho very fast.

firecat53

Member

From: Lake Stevens, WA, USA

Registered: 2007-05-14

Posts: 1,542

Website

Re: vranger - open text files in ranger using a single vim instance

This is very cool for me. Even works inside an existing tmux session without any conflicts. Opening new files from ranger adds them to your buffer list in vim, making it very easy to roam around your project directory and/or filesystem. Only one keybinding to remember (and it's preconfigured!): <leader>q. Nice work!

Scott

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Github

mikezackles

Member

Registered: 2007-09-23

Posts: 41

Re: vranger - open text files in ranger using a single vim instance

Thanks Scott!

angelic_sedition

Member

Registered: 2014-01-20

Posts: 124

Website

Re: vranger - open text files in ranger using a single vim instance

Is this what you used to use and found slow? This looks pretty interesting; I'll try it out..

mikezackles

Member

Registered: 2007-09-23

Posts: 41

Re: vranger - open text files in ranger using a single vim instance

Is this what you used to use and found slow?

That may not be it exactly, but it was more or less the same approach.  I was using vranger, switched to that, and ended up switching back.  I think I ran into some other issues, but unfortunately I can't remember exactly what they were, and they may have been fixed by now.

I tried out the exact function you linked on my system, and I still get a noticable lag.  It isn't terrible, but it is definitely noticable.  ymmv

firecat53

Member

From: Lake Stevens, WA, USA

Registered: 2007-05-14

Posts: 1,542

Website

Re: vranger - open text files in ranger using a single vim instance

Is this what you used to use and found slow? This looks pretty interesting; I'll try it out..

That vim function works fine for me (minimal lag), but I prefer starting with the file manager open, then being able to drop out of vim to look around/add more files if necessary. Vranger seems to fit my workflow better...and I didn't even know it

Scott

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Github

whilealive

Member

Registered: 2012-09-04

Posts: 17

Re: vranger - open text files in ranger using a single vim instance

Why not use vim's own file manager? I usually start vim without any argument, then hit :E. In addition, g:netrw_browse_split=3 opens files in new tabs, so netrw stays open in my first tab.

angelic_sedition

Member

Registered: 2014-01-20

Posts: 124

Website

Re: vranger - open text files in ranger using a single vim instance

Why not use vim's own file manager? I usually start vim without any argument, then hit :E. In addition, g:netrw_browse_split=3 opens files in new tabs, so netrw stays open in my first tab.

Well I hardly ever use a file manager in vim, but to be fair, ranger has a lot more functionality than netrw. If you already use ranger, why use netrw, NERDTree, vimfiler, etc. when they don't offer anything more (they don't for me at least; I know some people love NERDTree; it's certainly very colourful).

whilealive

Member

Registered: 2012-09-04

Posts: 17

Re: vranger - open text files in ranger using a single vim instance

Well I hardly ever use a file manager in vim, but to be fair, ranger has a lot more functionality than netrw. If you already use ranger, why use netrw, NERDTree, vimfiler, etc. when they don't offer anything more (they don't for me at least; I know some people love NERDTree; it's certainly very colourful).

I find netrw's functionality quite impressing and absolutely sufficient for basic file handling. Of course, it is by far not as user friendly as ranger or these vim plugins. However, I very much like the approach to combine ranger and vim. Much nicer than using separate plugins like NERDTree and such.