Vim mode j k for escape, keybinding context, <leader>

[calebmeyer]

I put this in my keybindings:

[
    {
        "context": "Editor",
        "bindings": {
            "j k": "vim::NormalBefore",
            "k j": "vim::NormalBefore"
        }
    }
]

and now jk works for going to normal mode... but I can no longer type a j in the editor in insert mode. I think it's very possible I'm "holding it wrong" so to speak, but I'd love some guidance here. Ultimately, here's what I'd like to happen:

• Pressing j in insert mode inserts a literal j into the editor.
• Pressing any other key, or waiting say 250ms makes that j permanent.
• Pressing k instead, within the timeout, erases the j in the editor and puts me in normal mode.

Other, related vim mode questions:

• Is there a context for defining keybindings specific to one (or more) modes? E.g. I like to do g / for comment selected/current line in visual/normal

Answered below by mikayla-maki:

you can add an && vim_mode == normal to the 'context' to only fire in normal mode

• Is there any way I could use a leader? I think spacemacs finest contribution was mnemonic leader based keybindings, like space f s for Files: Save

Edit: I found #176 which is asking for much the same thing. Sorry if this request is in the wrong spot.

[mikayla-maki]

Hi Caleb, I think you can add an && vim_mode == normal to the 'context' field and it should only fire in normal mode :)

Our vim mode documentation does need a lot of work, thanks for highlighting the problem :)

[danielo515]

But the point is to fire it in insert mode, and still allow to type j and k separately. This is a common combo for many people that doesn't have the esc key in a nice position.

[ckipp01]

I think in this case @danielo515 you can just use insert instead. For example I have a similiar setup with jj.

[
  {
    "context": "Editor && vim_mode == insert",
    "bindings": {
      "j j": "vim::NormalBefore"
    }
  }
]

Which seems to behave the way I'd expect.

[OlegGulevskyy]

Amazing, didn't know about "vim_mode == normal" combo, exactly what I needed!
Thanks!

[prestonButton]

This still did not work for me. I am still unable to type "j" in insert mode when I have that keybinding set. Did anyone manage to fix this problem?

Also, I prefer to map my caps lock key to vim::NormalBefore but I cannot figure out how to select caps lock in the keymap.json file. I tried "capslock" and "caps_lock" but neither of those worked.

[danielkvores]

I have the same issue, I can't type j either.

[charlesetc]

I have the same issue of wanting to type two characters (yw in my case) in insert move and moving to normal mode. Now I can't type "y" at all! Any ideas? Thank you!

[barath007183]

Hey guys this issue still persists. Has anybody found any solutions yet ?

[fminkowski]

This works for me:

  {
    "context": "Editor && vim_mode == insert && !menu",
    "bindings": {
      "j k": ["vim::SwitchMode", "Normal"]
    }
  }

[mrnugget]

Yup, this should work now after #4189

[olafurpg]

This works great! I was missing this feature when I last tried Zed. I Googled jk zed vim and this page is now the first result :)

[nmsobri]

This works for me:

  {
    "context": "Editor && vim_mode == insert && !menu",
    "bindings": {
      "j k": ["vim::SwitchMode", "Normal"]
    }
  }

but this introduce another problem, when you are in insert mode, and you want to type literal j, u need to wait for 1 seconds.
is there a way to configure vim timeout delay? i believe its default to 1000ms which is too long

[seanderue]

I second the want to configure that delay

[mrnugget]

Adding it to the docs: #11150

[TrevorHinesley]

@mrnugget here's an example where, apparently due to the autosuggestion list being visible, it disables the jk binding until that menu is closed. Is there any way to have this work even in this scenario?

test.mov

[mrnugget]

Have you tried removing the !menu from the keybinding context?

{
    "context": "Editor && vim_mode == insert",
    "bindings": {
      "j k": ["vim::SwitchMode", "Normal"]
    }
}

[itsmejoeyb]

Removing !menu kind of works. It will exit insert mode but the menu stays open and hjkl won't move your cursor unless you click away from the menu to close it.

[Or-Gold]

@itsmejoeyb this issue is not recent - the correct binding is now in the docs and works in autocomplete aswell

{
    "context": "vim_mode == insert",
    "bindings": {
      "j k": "vim::NormalBefore"
    }
},

[mapsgeek]

the menu stays open, is there a way to combine exiting the mode and close the menu at the same time?