Skip to content

helix_keybindings.md

Latest commit

 

History

History
101 lines (74 loc) · 3.77 KB

helix_keybindings.md

File metadata and controls

101 lines (74 loc) · 3.77 KB

Helix Keybindings Configuration for Yazelix

This guide covers recommended Helix keybindings that enhance your editing experience when using Yazelix.

Basic Yazelix Integration

The default workspace bindings live in Zellij: Ctrl+y toggles focus between the managed editor and sidebar, and Alt+y toggles the sidebar open or closed.

Yazelix-managed Helix sessions now ship the Alt+r reveal binding by default through the managed Helix config surface. If you want to start from an existing personal Helix config.toml, run yzx import helix to copy it into ~/.config/yazelix/user_configs/helix/config.toml.

This assumes yzx is on your editor PATH.

Additional Recommended Keybindings

If you want additional Helix-local keybindings beyond the built-in reveal binding, add them to ~/.config/yazelix/user_configs/helix/config.toml:

[keys.normal]
# Navigation and movement
"{" = "goto_prev_paragraph"
"}" = "goto_next_paragraph"
g.e = "goto_file_end"
ret = ["move_line_down", "goto_first_nonwhitespace"]
A-ret = ["move_line_up", "goto_first_nonwhitespace"]

# Selection and editing
X = "extend_line_up"
C-k = [
  "extend_to_line_bounds",
  "delete_selection",
  "move_line_up",
  "paste_before",
]
C-j = ["extend_to_line_bounds", "delete_selection", "paste_after"]

# System integration
C-r = [":config-reload", ":reload"]
A-r = ":sh yzx reveal \"%{buffer_name}\""

# Git integration
A-g.b = ":sh git blame -L %{cursor_line},+1 %{buffer_name}"
A-g.s = ":sh git status --porcelain"
A-g.l = ":sh git log --oneline -10 %{buffer_name}"

# Utility shortcuts (backspace prefix)
backspace.d = ":yank-diagnostic"
backspace.h = ":toggle-option file-picker.hidden"
backspace.i = ":toggle-option file-picker.git-ignore"
backspace.l = ":o ~/.config/helix/languages.toml"
backspace.c = ":config-open"

Keybinding Categories

Navigation and Movement

  • { / }: Navigate between paragraphs
  • g.e: Go to end of file
  • ret: Move line down and go to first non-whitespace
  • A-ret: Move line up and go to first non-whitespace

Selection and Editing

  • X: Extend selection line up
  • C-k: Cut current line and paste above
  • C-j: Cut current line and paste below

System Integration

  • C-r: Reload configuration and current file
  • A-r: Reveal the current file in the managed Yazi sidebar

Git Integration

  • A-g.b: Show git blame for current line
  • A-g.s: Show git status (porcelain format)
  • A-g.l: Show recent git log for current file

Utility Shortcuts (backspace prefix)

  • backspace.d: Yank diagnostic messages
  • backspace.h: Toggle hidden files in file picker
  • backspace.i: Toggle git-ignore filtering in file picker
  • backspace.l: Open Helix languages.toml
  • backspace.c: Open main Helix configuration

Usage Tips

  1. Git Integration: The git keybindings help you stay in context while coding. A-g.b is particularly useful for understanding code history.

  2. File Picker Toggles: Use backspace.h and backspace.i to quickly adjust what files are visible when using Helix's file picker.

  3. Yazelix Integration: Alt+r is a good fit for yzx reveal because Yazelix forwards it into the editor when the managed editor is focused, while the same key behaves like Ctrl+y outside the editor.

Customization

Feel free to modify these keybindings to match your workflow. The key principles are:

  • Prefer editor-local bindings that do not conflict with Zellij workspace shortcuts
  • Use backspace. for utility functions that don't interfere with normal editing
  • Keep git operations grouped under A-g.

For more Helix configuration options, see the Helix documentation.

Complete Keybindings Reference

For a complete list of all Yazelix keybindings across all tools, see keybindings.md.