Question 1

How do I set up substitute.nvim for basic text replacements?

Accepted Answer

Install with a package manager like Lazy.nvim, then manually map keys such as 's' to require('substitute').operator in Neovim's config. The README provides example mappings for operator, line, and visual modes.

Question 2

Substitute.nvim vs vim-subversive: which should I use in Neovim?

Accepted Answer

Substitute.nvim is a Lua rewrite aiming for better maintainability and efficiency, while vim-subversive is VimScript-based. Choose substitute.nvim for modern Neovim setups with Lua preferences, but vim-subversive if you need Vim compatibility or prefer stable VimScript plugins.

Question 3

Can substitute.nvim work with yanky.nvim for better yank management?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it integrates seamlessly by setting on_substitute to require('yanky.integration').substitute() in the configuration. This enables swapping yanked content during substitutions, as detailed in the integration section.

Question 4

What modifiers are available and how do I apply them during substitution?

Accepted Answer

Modifiers include linewise, reindent, trim, and join. Use them by passing a modifiers table in the operator call, e.g., { modifiers = {'trim', 'reindent'} }, or dynamically with a function based on context like motion type.

Question 5

How do I exchange two words quickly with substitute.nvim?

Accepted Answer

Map a key like 'sx' to require('substitute.exchange').operator, then use sxiw on the first word, move to the second, and use sxiw again or dot-repeat. The exchange is dot-repeatable and supports different motions.

Question 6

Is substitute.nvim good for large files or performance-intensive editing?

Accepted Answer

Its Lua implementation aims for efficiency, but complex range substitutions or frequent exchanges might impact performance in very large buffers. Benchmarking is advised for heavy use cases compared to native Neovim commands.

Question 7

How to cancel an exchange operation if I change my mind?

Accepted Answer

By default, press Esc to cancel, or map a key to require('substitute.exchange').cancel. Configure use_esc_to_cancel in settings if needed, as described in the exchange configuration section.

substitute.nvim

What is substitute.nvim?

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