# [`readline-vim`][]
 
 Upgrade [Readline][] from [`vi`][] to [Vim][].
 

 [`readline-vim`][] is a Python program that generates [Readline][] macros that
 provide [Vim][] [motions][], [operators][] and [text objects][] (that are
 useful on a single line).

 
 [`readline-vim`]: https://git.rcrnstn.net/rcrnstn/readline-vim

 [Python]: https://www.python.org

 [Readline]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Readline
 [`vi`]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/vi
 [Vim]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vim
 [motions]: https://vimhelp.org/motion.txt.html
 [operators]: https://vimhelp.org/motion.txt.html#operator
 [text objects]: https://vimhelp.org/motion.txt.html#text-objects

 ## Background
 
 [Readline][] is a library that provides line-editing for interactive
 command-line programs. It is used in a great many places, including shells such
 as [Bash][] (where it originated) and [REPL][]s such as [Python][] or
 [Octave][]. Using [`rlwrap`][], Readline can even be used with programs that
 doesn't have built in support for it, such as Matlab (as in `lrwrap -a matlab
 -nodesktop -nosplash`). These factors make it fairly ubiquitous.
 
 Readline can be configured with an `inputrc` file, usually placed at
 `~/.inputrc`.
 
 Readline uses [Emacs][]-like key bindings by default. If you're a Vim fan
 though, you probably use its `vi` mode, activated by `set editing-mode vi` in
 the configuration or through some mechanism in the containing program, such as
 Bash's `set -o vi`.
 
 If you *are* a Vim fan though, this has the potential of landing you in a sort
 of [uncanny valley][] since (Readline's) `vi` (mode) does not include the many
 improvements contained in Vim that you have come to rely on, mainly [text
 objects][].
 

 ## Usage
 
 Clone the repository
 
 ```sh
 git clone https://git.rcrnstn.net/rcrnstn/readline-vim
 cd readline-vim
 ```
 
 and append the output to your `~/.inputrc`
 
 ```sh
 ./readline-vim >> ~/.inputrc
 ```
 

 ## Similar projects
 
 -   [`bash-surround`](https://github.com/liloman/bash-surround)
 
     Defines the macros manually and therefore "only" provides 234 of them,
     missing some functionality.
 
     The instructions are Bash centric, although it uses general Readline
     macros.
 
 -   [Athame](https://github.com/ardagnir/athame)
 
     Patches Readline to route keystrokes through an actual Vim process. Also
     provides patches for [Zsh][]. This means that whatever your local Vim
     supports, Athame supports (including plugins)!
 
     Can be a little unreliable if your local Vim has a ton of plugins,
     especially if they interact with the terminal in non-obvious ways.
 
 -   [`readline-vim`](https://github.com/thlorenz/readline-vim)
 
     Exclusive to [Node.js][] [`readline`][Node.js `readline`] and only defines
     `vi` bindings, not Vim.
 
 [Node.js]: https://nodejs.org
 [Node.js `readline`]: https://nodejs.org/api/readline.html#readline_readline
 [Zsh]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zsh
 

 ## License
 
 Licensed under the [ISC License][], see the [`LICENSE`](LICENSE) file.
 
 [ISC License]: https://choosealicense.com/licenses/isc/