helix

Overview

Helix is a post-modern modal text editor featuring selection-first editing, multiple selections, and tree-sitter integration. It uses the selection → action model inspired by Kakoune.

Core Concepts

Modes: Normal (navigation/editing), Insert (typing), Select/extend (making selections)
Selection-first: Select text first, then act on it (delete, yank, change)
Multiple selections: Edit multiple locations simultaneously
Tree-sitter: Syntax-aware navigation and textobjects

Quick Reference

Essential Commands

# config.toml example
theme = "onedark"

[editor] line-number = "relative" mouse = false auto-format = true

[keys.normal] C-s = ":w" # Save file g = { a = "code_action" } # Minor mode: ga triggers code action


### Keybindings

| Mode   | Key       | Action                    |
| ------ | --------- | ------------------------- |
| Normal | `i`       | Insert before selection   |
| Normal | `v`       | Enter select mode         |
| Normal | `:`       | Command mode              |
| Normal | `Space`   | Space mode (pickers, LSP) |
| Normal | `d`       | Delete selection          |
| Normal | `y`       | Yank (copy) selection     |
| Normal | `p`/`P`   | Paste after/before        |
| Normal | `u`/`U`   | Undo/Redo                 |
| Normal | `/`       | Search forward            |
| Normal | `n`/`N`   | Next/Previous match       |
| Normal | `gd`      | Go to definition          |
| Normal | `]d`/`[d` | Next/Previous diagnostic  |

### Space Mode (LSP & Pickers)

Accessed via `Space` in normal mode:

| Key | Action                       |
| --- | ---------------------------- |
| `f` | File picker (workspace root) |
| `b` | Buffer picker                |
| `s` | Document symbol picker       |
| `d` | Document diagnostics         |
| `a` | Code action                  |
| `r` | Rename symbol                |
| `k` | Hover (documentation)        |
| `/` | Global search                |

## Configuration

### File Locations

- **Linux/Mac**: `~/.config/helix/config.toml`
- **Windows**: `%AppData%\helix\config.toml`
- **Project-local**: `.helix/config.toml` (merged with global)

### Language Configuration

Create `languages.toml` in config directory:

```toml
[[language]]
name = "rust"
language-servers = [{ name = "rust-analyzer", except-features = ["format"] }, "taplo"]

[language-server.rust-analyzer]
command = "rust-analyzer"

Common Tasks

Remapping Keys

[keys.normal]
jk = "normal_mode"  # Escape insert mode with jk
C-s = ":w"          # Save with Ctrl+S

[keys.insert.j]
k = "normal_mode"   # Minor mode: jk exits insert

Textobjects (Tree-sitter)

ma / mi - Select around/inside textobject
]f / [f - Next/previous function
]d / [d - Next/previous diagnostic

Shell Integration

| - Pipe selection through command
! - Insert command output before selection
:pipe - Typable command for piping

About this skill