Neovim Configuration

Modern Neovim setup with NvChad, LSP, and custom keybindings

Neovim Configuration

Config-Sway includes a modern Neovim setup based on NvChad v2.5, providing a powerful IDE-like experience with LSP support, syntax highlighting, and efficient keybindings.

Configuration Structure

~/.config/nvim/
├── init.lua                 # Main entry point
├── lua/
│   ├── autocmds.lua         # Auto-commands
│   ├── chadrc.lua           # NvChad configuration
│   ├── mappings.lua         # Custom keybindings
│   ├── options.lua          # Editor options
│   ├── configs/
│   │   ├── conform.lua      # Code formatting
│   │   ├── lazy.lua         # Plugin manager config
│   │   └── lspconfig.lua    # LSP setup
│   └── plugins/
│       └── init.lua         # Plugin definitions

NvChad Framework

What is NvChad?

NvChad is a Neovim configuration framework that provides:

• Pre-configured LSP (Language Server Protocol)
• Modern UI with custom statusline
• File explorer (NvimTree)
• Fuzzy finder (Telescope)
• Git integration
• Syntax highlighting (Treesitter)

Initialization

~/.config/nvim/init.lua

vim.g.base46_cache = vim.fn.stdpath "data" .. "/base46/"
vim.g.mapleader = " "

-- Bootstrap lazy.nvim plugin manager
local lazypath = vim.fn.stdpath "data" .. "/lazy/lazy.nvim"

if not vim.uv.fs_stat(lazypath) then
  local repo = "https://github.com/folke/lazy.nvim.git"
  vim.fn.system { "git", "clone", "--filter=blob:none", repo, "--branch=stable", lazypath }
end

vim.opt.rtp:prepend(lazypath)

Leader key: Set to Space

Plugin Management

require("lazy").setup({
  { "nvzone/volt" , lazy = true },
  { "nvzone/menu" , lazy = true },
  {
    "NvChad/NvChad",
    lazy = false,
    branch = "v2.5",
    import = "nvchad.plugins",
  },
  { import = "plugins" },
}, lazy_config)

• Lazy loading improves startup time
• NvChad v2.5 provides base functionality
• Custom plugins loaded from lua/plugins/

Core Configuration

Editor Options

~/.config/nvim/init.lua

vim.opt.number = true
vim.opt.relativenumber = true

• Line numbers: Absolute line numbers displayed
• Relative numbers: Distance from current line (useful for motions like 5j)

With relative numbers, you can quickly jump 7 lines down with 7j or delete 3 lines up with d3k.

Additional Options

~/.config/nvim/lua/options.lua

require "nvchad.options"

-- Add custom options here
-- local o = vim.o
-- o.cursorlineopt = 'both'  -- Enable cursorline

This file extends NvChad’s default options. Uncomment lines to enable features.

Keybindings

Exit Mode Bindings (ZX)

Universal Exit: zx

~/.config/nvim/init.lua

vim.keymap.set('i', 'zx', '<Esc>', { noremap = true, desc = "Salir del modo inserción" })
vim.keymap.set('v', 'zx', '<Esc>', { noremap = true, desc = "Salir del modo visual" })
vim.keymap.set('c', 'zx', '<C-c>', { noremap = true, desc = "Cancelar comando" })
vim.keymap.set('t', 'zx', '<C-\\><C-n>', { noremap = true, desc = "Salir del modo terminal" })

Usage: Press zx in any mode to return to Normal mode.

Mode	zx Effect
Insert	Exit to Normal mode
Visual	Exit to Normal mode
Command	Cancel command
Terminal	Exit to Normal mode

This creates a consistent escape mechanism across all modes, as an alternative to Esc or Ctrl+C.

Window Navigation

Split Navigation

~/.config/nvim/init.lua

vim.keymap.set('n', '<C-h>', '<C-w>h', { desc = "Mover al panel izquierdo" })
vim.keymap.set('n', '<C-l>', '<C-w>l', { desc = "Mover al panel derecho" })

• Ctrl + H - Move to left split
• Ctrl + L - Move to right split

NvChad provides Ctrl+J and Ctrl+K for vertical navigation by default.

NvChad Default Keybindings

~/.config/nvim/lua/mappings.lua

require "nvchad.mappings"

local map = vim.keymap.set

map("n", ";", ":", { desc = "CMD enter command mode" })
map("i", "jk", "<ESC>")

Custom Additions

• ; in Normal mode - Enter command mode (alternative to :)
• jk in Insert mode - Quick exit to Normal mode

Common NvChad Mappings

Key	Mode	Action
Space + e	Normal	Toggle NvimTree file explorer
Space + ff	Normal	Find files (Telescope)
Space + fw	Normal	Find word in files (live grep)
Space + fb	Normal	Find buffers
Space + fh	Normal	Find help tags
Space + th	Normal	Change theme
Space + ch	Normal	NvChad cheatsheet
Ctrl + n	Normal	Toggle file explorer
Tab	Normal	Next buffer
Shift + Tab	Normal	Previous buffer
Space + x	Normal	Close buffer

Menu Integration

Context Menus

~/.config/nvim/init.lua

vim.keymap.set("n", "<C-t>", function()
  require("menu").open("default")
end, {})

vim.keymap.set({ "n", "v" }, "<RightMouse>", function()
  require('menu.utils').delete_old_menus()
  vim.cmd.exec '"normal! \\<RightMouse>"'
  
  local buf = vim.api.nvim_win_get_buf(vim.fn.getmousepos().winid)
  local options = vim.bo[buf].ft == "NvimTree" and "nvimtree" or "default"
  
  require("menu").open(options, { mouse = true })
end, {})

• Ctrl + T - Open default context menu
• Right Click - Context-sensitive menu (NvimTree vs. editor)

LSP Configuration

Language Server Setup

~/.config/nvim/lua/configs/lspconfig.lua

-- Configure language servers here
-- Example: lua_ls, pyright, tsserver, etc.

NvChad automatically configures common language servers. Install them with Mason:

Open Mason: :Mason

Install servers:

:MasonInstall lua-language-server
:MasonInstall pyright
:MasonInstall typescript-language-server

LSP Keybindings

Once LSP is active in a buffer:

Key	Action
gd	Go to definition
gr	Go to references
K	Hover documentation
Space + ca	Code actions
Space + rn	Rename symbol
[d	Previous diagnostic
]d	Next diagnostic
Space + q	Show diagnostics list

Code Formatting

Conform.nvim

~/.config/nvim/lua/configs/conform.lua

-- Configure formatters here
-- Example: prettier, black, stylua, etc.

Format on save or manually:

Manual format: Space + fm

Auto-format on save:

autocmd BufWritePre * lua vim.lsp.buf.format()

File Explorer (NvimTree)

Opening NvimTree

• Ctrl + N - Toggle file explorer
• Space + e - Focus file explorer

NvimTree Navigation

Key	Action
Enter	Open file or folder
o	Open file
a	Create new file/folder
d	Delete file/folder
r	Rename
x	Cut
c	Copy
p	Paste
R	Refresh
H	Toggle hidden files
?	Show help

Fuzzy Finding (Telescope)

Search Commands

:Telescope find_files     " Find files by name
:Telescope live_grep      " Search text in files
:Telescope buffers        " List open buffers
:Telescope help_tags      " Search help documentation
:Telescope oldfiles       " Recently opened files
:Telescope git_status     " Git changed files

Quick Keybindings

• Space + ff - Find files
• Space + fw - Find word (live grep)
• Space + fb - Find buffers
• Space + fh - Find help
• Space + fo - Find old files
• Space + fz - Find in current buffer

Telescope Navigation

Key	Action
Ctrl + J/K	Move up/down in results
Ctrl + U/D	Scroll preview up/down
Enter	Open file
Ctrl + X	Open in horizontal split
Ctrl + V	Open in vertical split
Ctrl + T	Open in new tab
Esc	Close Telescope

Syntax Highlighting (Treesitter)

NvChad includes Treesitter for advanced syntax highlighting and code understanding.

Installing Parsers

:TSInstall lua
:TSInstall python
:TSInstall javascript
:TSInstall bash

Install all maintained parsers:

:TSInstall all

Treesitter Features

• Syntax highlighting - Context-aware colors
• Code folding - Fold functions, classes, blocks
• Incremental selection - Expand selection based on syntax tree
• Indentation - Smart auto-indent

Customization

Adding Custom Plugins

Edit ~/.config/nvim/lua/plugins/init.lua:

return {
  -- Example: Add GitHub Copilot
  {
    "github/copilot.vim",
    lazy = false,
  },
  
  -- Example: Add better commenting
  {
    "numToStr/Comment.nvim",
    config = function()
      require("Comment").setup()
    end,
  },
}

Restart Neovim to install new plugins.

Changing Theme

NvChad includes multiple themes:

List themes:

:Telescope themes

Or use keybinding: Space + th

Set default theme:

Edit ~/.config/nvim/lua/chadrc.lua:

local M = {}

M.ui = {
  theme = "catppuccin",  -- or "onedark", "gruvbox", etc.
}

return M

Custom Auto-commands

Edit ~/.config/nvim/lua/autocmds.lua:

-- Auto-save on focus lost
vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("FocusLost", {
  pattern = "*",
  command = "silent! wa",
})

-- Highlight yanked text
vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("TextYankPost", {
  pattern = "*",
  callback = function()
    vim.highlight.on_yank({ higroup = "IncSearch", timeout = 200 })
  end,
})

-- Remove trailing whitespace on save
vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("BufWritePre", {
  pattern = "*",
  command = "%s/\\s\\+$//e",
})

Useful Commands

NvChad Commands

:NvChadUpdate       " Update NvChad
:NvChadSnapshotCreate " Create config snapshot
:NvChadSnapshotDelete " Delete snapshot
:NvChadSnapshotRestore " Restore from snapshot

Plugin Management

:Lazy               " Open plugin manager
:Lazy sync          " Install/update/clean plugins
:Lazy clean         " Remove unused plugins
:Lazy update        " Update all plugins

Mason (LSP/Tools)

:Mason              " Open Mason UI
:MasonInstall <name> " Install tool
:MasonUninstall <name> " Remove tool
:MasonUpdate        " Update all tools

Troubleshooting

Neovim slow to start

Profile startup time:

nvim --startuptime startup.log

Optimize plugin loading:

• Ensure plugins are set to lazy = true where possible
• Use event, ft, or cmd triggers for lazy loading

Example:

{
  "plugin-name",
  lazy = true,
  event = "BufRead",  -- Load when reading a buffer
}

LSP not working

Check if LSP is attached:

:LspInfo

Install language server:

:Mason

Restart LSP:

:LspRestart

Check logs:

:LspLog

Treesitter highlighting broken

Update parsers:

:TSUpdate

Reinstall specific parser:

:TSInstall! python

Check health:

:checkhealth nvim-treesitter

Plugins not loading

Sync plugins:

:Lazy sync

Clear cache:

rm -rf ~/.local/share/nvim
rm -rf ~/.cache/nvim

Then restart Neovim.

Neovim Tips

Learning Vim motions

Built-in tutor:

nvim +Tutor

Practice with:

• vimtutor - Interactive tutorial
• Vim Adventures - Game-based learning
• OpenVim - Interactive tutorial

Useful motions

• ciw - Change inner word
• di" - Delete inside quotes
• va{ - Select around curly braces
• gg=G - Auto-indent entire file
• :%s/old/new/g - Replace all occurrences
• . - Repeat last change
• * - Search for word under cursor
• <C-o> - Jump to previous location
• <C-i> - Jump to next location

Macro recording

1. Press q + letter (e.g., qa for register ‘a’)
2. Perform actions
3. Press q to stop recording
4. Play macro with @a
5. Repeat with @@

Example: Record qa, type :s/foo/bar<CR>, press q, then @a to replay.

Related Configuration

Kitty Terminal

Terminal emulator where Neovim runs

Sway Keybindings

Window manager shortcuts

Additional Resources

• NvChad Documentation - Official NvChad docs
• Neovim Documentation - Neovim reference
• Lua Guide for Neovim - Learn Lua config
• Awesome Neovim - Plugin directory

Press Space + ch in Neovim to open the NvChad cheatsheet with all keybindings.