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add key concepts to usage.md (#11485)
| -rw-r--r-- | book/src/usage.md | 24 |
1 files changed, 24 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/book/src/usage.md b/book/src/usage.md index 859cb670..a22a1849 100644 --- a/book/src/usage.md +++ b/book/src/usage.md @@ -7,3 +7,27 @@ can be accessed via the command `hx --tutor` or `:tutor`. > 💡 Currently, not all functionality is fully documented, please refer to the > [key mappings](./keymap.md) list. +## Modes + +Helix is a modal editor, meaning it has different modes for different tasks. The main modes are: + +* [Normal mode](./keymap.md#normal-mode): For navigation and editing commands. This is the default mode. +* [Insert mode](./keymap.md#insert-mode): For typing text directly into the document. Access by typing `i` in normal mode. +* [Select/extend mode](./keymap.md#select--extend-mode): For making selections and performing operations on them. Access by typing `v` in normal mode. + +## Buffers + +Buffers are in-memory representations of files. You can have multiple buffers open at once. Use [pickers](./pickers.md) or commands like `:buffer-next` and `:buffer-previous` to open buffers or switch between them. + +## Selection-first editing + +Inspired by [Kakoune](http://kakoune.org/), Helix follows the `selection → action` model. This means that whatever you are going to act on (a word, a paragraph, a line, etc.) is selected first and the action itself (delete, change, yank, etc.) comes second. A cursor is simply a single width selection. + +## Multiple selections + +Also inspired by Kakoune, multiple selections are a core mode of interaction in Helix. For example, the standard way of replacing multiple instance of a word is to first select all instances (so there is one selection per instance) and then use the change action (`c`) to edit them all at the same time. + +## Motions + +Motions are commands that move the cursor or modify selections. They're used for navigation and text manipulation. Examples include `w` to move to the next word, or `f` to find a character. See the [Movement](./keymap.md#movement) section of the keymap for more motions. + |