Caesar James LEE's Neovim Configurations

A modern, cyberpunk-themed Neovim configuration built for full-stack development, competitive programming, and daily editing.

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Note

You need to install Neovim v.0.11+ to use

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Table of Contents

1. Requirements
2. Installation
3. Key Mappings
4. Plugins
5. LSP Servers & Tools
6. Checking Health

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Requirements

Mandatory

tool	purpose	Microsoft Windows	Apple macOS	Linux
Neovim v.0.11+	text editor	winget install Neovim.Neovim	brew install neovim	sudo apt install neovim
Git	version control	winget install Git.Git	brew install git	sudo apt install git
Node.js 18+	LSP servers, formatters, DAP	winget install OpenJs.NodeJS	brew install node	sudo apt install nodejs npm
Python 3	LSP, formatters, providers	winget install Python.Python3	brew install python	sudo apt install python3 python3-pip
a nerd font	icons	nerdfonts.com	brew install --cask font-jetbrains-mono-nerd-font	sudo apt install fonts-jetbrains-mono

Note

for nerd font, you can select a font what you like if you don't like jetbrains mono nerd font

Strongly Recommended

tool	purpose	Microsoft Windows	Apple macOS	Linux
ripgrep	fast text search (<leader>ft)	winget install BurntSushi.ripgrep.MSVC	brew install ripgrep	sudo apt install ripgrep
fd	file finder, Snacks pickers & projects	winget install sharkdp.fd	brew install fd	sudo apt install fd-find
lazygit	TUI git client (<leader>gL)	winget install JessseDuffield.lazygit	brew install lazygit	sudo apt install lazygit
PowerShell 7	better shell on Microsoft Windows	winget install Microsoft.PowerShell	-	-

Optional (LSP)

tool	purpose	Microsoft Windows	Apple macOS	Linux
GCC/G++	C/C++ compiler	MinGW	brew install gcc	sudo apt install build-essential
CMake	C++ project manager	winget install Kitware.CMake	brew install cmake	sudo apt install cmake
Java JDK	Java JDK	winget install EclipseAdoptium.Temurin.21.JDK	brew install temurin	sudo apt install openjdk-21-jdk
Maven	Java project manager	winget install Apache.Maven	brew install maven	sudo apt install maven
Gradle	Java project manager	winget install Gradle.Gradle	brew install gradle	sudo apt install gradle
black	Python formatter	pip install black	pip install black	pip install black
isort	Python import sorter	pip install isort	pip install isort	pip install isort
Rust	Rust	winget install Rustlang.Rustup	brew install rust	curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh
Go	Go	winget install GoLang.Go	brew install go	sudo apt install golang
shfmt	Shell formatter	shfmt	brew install shfmt	sudo apt install shfmt
sql-formatter	SQL formatter	npm install -g sql-formatter	npm install -g sql-formatter	npm install -g sql-formatter
MikTex/Tex Live	LaTeX compiler	MikTex	brew install mactex	sudo apt install texlive-full
latexindent	LaTeX formatter	MiKTeX includes it	brew install basictex	sudo apt install texlive-extra-utils
Docker	dockerfile LSP	docker	brew install --cask docker	sudo apt install docker.io

Note

you can install some/all of these optional tools, if you haven't developed using a language you can google if your developed language isn't appear in the above table

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Installation

Apple macOS/Linux

mv ~/.config/nvim ~/.config/nvim.bak #backup existing config
git clone https://github.com/CaesarLi-WantToBeAFreeMan/neovim-config ~/.config/nvim #clone this repo
nvim #open Neovim, and lazy.nvim installs all plugins automatically

Microsoft Windows

rename %LOCALAPPDATA%\nvim to %LOCALAPPDATA%\nvim.bak #backup existing config
git clone https://github.com/CaesarLi-WantToBeAFreeMan/neovim-config %LOCALAPPDATA%\nvim #clone this repo
nvim #open Neovim, and lazy.nvim installs all plugins automatically

Inside Neovim

:MasonUpdate "install LSP servers, formatters, DAP adapters via Mason
:Mason "you can install your favorite LSP/formatter/DAP/Linter
:q "you know, the most asked question: how to quit vim, lol

Note

if you wanna use cmd instead of PowerShell on Microsoft Windows please google alternative commands or ask an AI agent to convert PowerShell commands to cmd

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Key Mappings

Note

my leader key is \\ (backslash), you can change it in init.lua mode: n: normal, i: insert, v: visual, c: command, t: terminal

Text Editing

key	mode	description
<Tab>	n	insert a tab
<Space>	n	insert a space
<Del>	n	delete previous character
<BS>	n	delete current character
<C-n>	n	insert a new line below
<C-p>	n	insert a new line above
<leader><leader>	i/c	insert a backslash \
<leader>d	n	delete without polluting yank register
<leader>D	n	delete to end of line without yank
<leader>j	n/v	move line/selection down
<leader>k	n/v	move line/selection up

Clipboard & Yank

key	mode	description
y	n/v	yank (tracked in history)
p	n/v	put after cursor
P	n/v	put before cursor
gp	n/v	gput after cursor
gP	n/v	gput before cursor
<A-p>	n	cycle yank history forward (after paste)
<A-n>	n	cycle yank history backward (after paste)

Scroll & Navigation

key	mode	description
<C-d>	n	scroll down half page, cursor to top
<C-u>	n	scroll up half page, cursor to top
<C-f>	n	scroll down full page, cursor to top
<C-b>	n	scroll up full page, cursor to top
<C-e>	n	scroll down one line, cursor to top
<C-y>	n	scroll up one line, cursor to top
<C-o>	n	jump backward, cursor to top
<C-i>	n	jump forward, cursor to top

Search

key	mode	description
<Esc>	n	clear search highlight
*	n	highlight word under cursor without jumping
/	v	search within visual selection only

Windows & Splits

key	mode	description
<C-h>	n	go to left window
<C-j>	n	go to lower window
<C-k>	n	go to upper window
<C-l>	n	go to right window
<A-h>	n	increase window width (+2 cols)
<A-j>	n	decrease window height (-2 rows)
<A-k>	n	increase window height (+2 rows)
<A-l>	n	decrease window width (-2 cols)
<leader>w=	n	equalize all split sizes
<leader>wx	n	swap current split with next

Tabs

key	mode	description
]t	n	next tab
[t	n	previous tab
<leader>tn	n	new tab
<leader>tx	n	close current tab
<leader>tX	n	close all other tabs

Buffers

key	mode	description
]b	n	next buffer
[b	n	previous buffer
<leader>bn	n	new empty buffer
<leader>bx	n	close current buffer
<leader>bX	n	close all other buffers
<leader>bd	n	safe delete buffer (Snacks)
<leader>br	n	rename / move current file

Toggles

key	mode	description
<leader>tw	n/i	toggle line wrap
<leader>tl	n/i	toggle line numbers
<leader>tL	n/i	toggle relative line numbers
<leader>ts	n/i	toggle spell checker
<leader>td	n/i	toggle inline diagnostics
<leader>th	n	toggle LSP inlay hints (when LSP attached)
<leader>tf	n	toggle format on save
<leader>tz	n	toggle zen mode
<leader>tZ	n	toggle zoom mode
<leader>tt	n	toggle terminal

Find/Picker

key	mode	description
<leader>ff	n	find files
<leader>ft	n	find text in session (live grep)
<leader>fT	n	find text in open buffers
<leader>fl	n	find lines in current buffer
<leader>fb	n	find open buffers
<leader>fr	n	find registers
<leader>fm	n	find marks
<leader>fj	n	find jumps
<leader>fk	n	find keymaps
<leader>fh	n	find help tags
<leader>fH	n	find highlight groups
<leader>fi	n	find icons
<leader>fc	n	find commands
<leader>fa	n	find autocommands
<leader>fp	n	find plugins (Lazy)
<leader>fq	n	find quickfix items
<leader>fL	n	find location list items
<leader>fR	n	resume last find
<leader>fC	n	find colorschemes
<leader>fd	n	find buffer diagnostics
<leader>fD	n	find workspace diagnostics
<leader>fs	n	find sessions/projects
<leader>fn	n	find Neovim config files

History

key	mode	description
<leader>hc	n	command history
<leader>hn	n	notification history
<leader>hs	n	search history
<leader>hu	n	undo history

Git

key	mode	description
<leader>gb	n	git branches
<leader>gl	n	git log
<leader>gs	n	git status
<leader>gB	n/v	git browse (open in browser)
<leader>gL	n	open lazygit
]r	n/t	jump to next word reference
[r	n/t	jump to previous word reference

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LSP

key	mode	description
gd	n	go to definition
gD	n	go to declaration
gi	n	go to implementation
gr	n	find all references
gt	n	go to type definition
gc	n	go to incoming calls
gC	n	go to outgoing calls
gs	n	find document symbols
gS	n	find workspace symbols
K	n	hover documentation
gK	n	signature help
<C-s>	i	signature help
<leader>lr	n	rename symbol
<leader>la	n/v	code action (pretty UI)
<leader>ll	n	LSP server info
<leader>lf	n	format current file

Diagnostics

key	mode	description
]d	n	next diagnostic
[d	n	previous diagnostic
]e	n	next error
[e	n	previous error
]w	n	next warning
[w	n	previous warning
]h	n	next hint
[h	n	previous hint
]i	n	next info
[i	n	previous info
<leader>dn	n	dismiss all notifications

Trouble (Diagnostics Panel)

key	mode	description
<F2>	n	toggle LSP symbols panel
<S-F2>	n	toggle LSP definitions/references panel
<C-F2>	n	toggle buffer diagnostics panel

Inside Trouble panel:

key	description
<CR>	jump to item and close panel
h	open in horizontal split
v	open in vertical split
o / O	open/open fold recursively
c / C	close/close fold recursively
x / X	toggle/toggle fold recursively

Debugger (DAP)

key	mode	description
<F9>	n	start/continue debugging
<S-F9>	n	stop debugger
<C-F9>	n	run to cursor
<F10>	n	step over
<F11>	n	step into
<S-F11>	n	step out
<leader>db	n	toggle breakpoint
<leader>dB	n	set conditional breakpoint
<leader>dl	n	set log point
<leader>dL	n	re-run last debug session
<leader>dx	n	clear all breakpoints
<leader>du	n	toggle debug UI panels
<leader>de	n/v	evaluate expression
<leader>df	n	float a debug panel
<leader>dr	n	open debug REPL
<leader>dp	n	pause execution

Code Runner

key	mode	description
<F5>	n	smart run (single file/project)
<S-F5>	n	run current file only (ignore project context)

Project Priority

1. CMake/QT
2. MFC
3. Maven/Spring Boot
4. Gradle/Spring Boot
5. plain Java
6. Django/Python
7. Vite
8. Node/npm
9. static HTML
10. Cargo
11. Go module
12. single file

File Explorer (Neo-tree)

key	mode	description
<F1>	n	toggle file system explorer
<S-F1>	n	toggle git status explorer
<C-F1>	n	toggle buffer list explorer

Inside Neo-tree:

key	description
<Space> / x / za	toggle node
<CR> / o / zo	open file / expand folder
O / zO	open node recursively
X / zA	toggle node recursively
c / zc	close node
C / zC	close node recursively
h	open in horizontal split
v	open in vertical split
t	open in new tab
w	open with window picker
p	toggle file preview
r	rename filename
R	rename extension
a	add file/folder
A	add folder
m	move node
d / <BS> / <Del>	delete node
<C-x>	cut to clipboard
<C-y>	copy to clipboard
<C-p>	paste from clipboard
<C-c>	clear clipboard
<C-r>	refresh tree
/	fuzzy find nodes
#	fuzzy sort
u	navigate up one directory
s	set as root directory
[g / ]g	jump to prev/next git change
=	toggle full width / normal width
<leader>h	toggle hidden files
?	show help
q / <Esc>	close Neo-tree

Surround (mini.surround)

key	description
sa{motion}{char}	add surrounding
sd{char}	delete surrounding
sc{char}{char}	change surrounding
sf{char}	find surrounding (right)
sF{char}	find surrounding (left)
sh{char}	highlight surrounding

[!HELP] saiw{: hello world -> { hello world } sa3e]: hi hello world -> [hi hello world] sd": "hello world" -> hello world

Text Objects (mini.ai)

[!INFO] these work with v, d, c, y + a/i:

object	around	inside
function	af	if
class	ac	ic
block/condition/loop	ab	ib
tag (HTML/JSX)	at	it
parameter	ap	ip
comment	a/	i/
digit sequence	ad	id

Increment/Decrement (dial.nvim)

key	mode	description
<C-a>	n	increment value under cursor
<C-x>	n	decrement value under cursor
g<C-a>	n	sequential increment
g<C-x>	n	sequential decrement
<C-a>	v	increment selection
<C-x>	v	decrement selection

Treesitter

key	mode	description
<CR>	n	start/expand treesitter selection
<S-CR>	n	shrink treesitter selection
<BS>	n	expand selection to scope
]f	n	jump to next function start
[f	n	jump to previous function start
]c	n	jump to next class start
[c	n	jump to previous class start
[x	n	jump to context (current scope header)
]x	n	jump back from context

Markdown

key	mode	description
<leader>v	n	toggle inline markdown render
<leader>V	n	toggle browser markdown preview

Date Structure and Algorithms (DSA) / Competitive Programming

LeetCode

key	description
<F3>	open LeetCode home
<S-F3>	test current problem
<C-F3>	submit current problem
<A-F3>	close LeetCode
<leader>lp	problem list
<leader>lc	console
<leader>li	problem info
<leader>lt	open tabs
<leader>lL	change language

CompetiTest (Codeforces, USACO, AtCoder and so on)

key	description
<leader>ca	add test case
<leader>ce	edit test case
<leader>cd	delete test case
<leader>cr	compile, run and test
<leader>cR	run without recompiling
<leader>cs	show test UI
<leader>cp	receive problem
<leader>cc	receive contest

Note

you need to install competitive companion extension in your browser to receive problems / contests

Performance Profiling (perfanno.nvim)

key	description
<leader>pf	annotate file with perf data
<leader>pF	annotate function
<leader>ps	annotate selection
<leader>ph	show hottest symbols
<leader>pl	show hottest lines
<leader>pc	show hottest callers
<leader>pt	toggle annotations
<leader>pe	pick perf event

Search & Replace

key	mode	description
<leader>sr	n/v	search & replace (current filetype)
<leader>sR	n/v	search & replace (all files)
<leader>sw	n	search & replace word under cursor

Command Line

key	mode	description
<C-j>	c	next command history entry
<C-k>	c	previous command history entry
%%	c	expand to current file's directory

Other

key	mode	description
<A-w>	i	fast-wrap: wrap next word in autopair
<leader>nn	n	open Neovim news
<leader>fo	n	find TODOs
]o	n	jump to next TODO
[o	n	jump to previous TODO

Plugins

Plugin Manager

plugin	description
lazy.nvim	modern plugin manager for Neovim

UI & Theme

plugin	description
navarasu/onedark.nvim	colorscheme: "deep" dark variant with cyberpunk highlight overrides
nvim-lualine/lualine.nvim	status line with git diff counts, LSP diagnostic counts, cursor position, and live clock
akinsho/bufferline.nvim	buffer tab bar sorted by most recently used
folke/snacks.nvim	all-in-one plugin: dashboard, picker, terminal, notifier, indent guides, word highlighter, zen mode, lazygit, and more
folke/trouble.nvim	pretty diagnostics, symbols, and LSP reference panels
rachartier/tiny-inline-diagnostic.nvim	inline LSP diagnostics displayed beside the problematic code
nvim-tree/nvim-web-devicons	file type icons used throughout the UI

File Management

plugin	description
nvim-neo-tree/neo-tree.nvim	file explorer, buffer browser, and git status browser with full keybinding customization

Editor Enhancements

plugin	description
MagicDuck/grug-far.nvim	search & replace across multiple files with live preview
windwp/nvim-autopairs	auto-close brackets, quotes, and tags using treesitter context
windwp/nvim-ts-autotag	auto-close and auto-rename HTML/XML/JSX/Vue tags
echasnovski/mini.surround	add, delete, and change surrounding characters/tags
echasnovski/mini.ai	extended text objects: functions, classes, blocks, tags, parameters, comments
echasnovski/mini.comment	gcc toggle line comment, gbc block comment, context-aware in Vue/HTML
JoosepAlviste/nvim-ts-context-commentstring	provide correct comment syntax for embedded languages
monaqa/dial.nvim	enhanced <C-a>/<C-x> to cycle booleans, access modifiers, dates, semver
gbprod/yanky.nvim	yank ring with history — cycle through previous yanks after pasting
folke/todo-comments.nvim	highlight TODO, FIXME, BUG, HACK, NOTE, PERF, TEST with sign column icons
rachartier/tiny-code-action.nvim	prettier code action picker using Telescope
RRethy/vim-illuminate	auto-highlights other occurrences of the word under cursor

Syntax & Treesitter

plugin	description
nvim-treesitter/nvim-treesitter	syntax parsing for highlighting, indentation, folding, and text objects
nvim-treesitter/nvim-treesitter-textobjects	treesitter-based text objects and motions
nvim-treesitter/nvim-treesitter-context	shows current function/class/scope header pinned at top of window

LSP & Completion

plugin	description
williamboman/mason.nvim	install and manage LSP servers, formatters, linters, and DAP adapters
williamboman/mason-lspconfig.nvim	Bridge Mason and nvim-lspconfig for automatic server enabling
neovim/nvim-lspconfig	default configurations for all LSP servers
b0o/SchemaStore.nvim	JSON/YAML schema catalog for auto schema detection in jsonls and yamlls
hrsh7th/nvim-cmp	completion engine
hrsh7th/cmp-nvim-lsp	LSP completion source
hrsh7th/cmp-buffer	buffer words completion source
hrsh7th/cmp-path	file path completion source
hrsh7th/cmp-cmdline	command line completion source
hrsh7th/cmp-nvim-lsp-signature-help	function signature as completion source
L3MON4D3/LuaSnip	snippet engine
rafamadriz/friendly-snippets	VSCode-style snippet collection for many languages
onsails/lspkind.nvim	LSP kind icons in completion menu
roginfarrer/cmp-css-variables	complete CSS custom properties (--var-name)
folke/lazydev.nvim	improved Lua LSP for Neovim config development
luckasRanarison/tailwind-tools.nvim	Tailwind CSS class color swatches and sorting

Formatting

plugin	description
stevearc/conform.nvim	format on save with per-filetype formatter configuration

Debugging (DAP)

plugin	description
mfussenegger/nvim-dap	Debug Adapter Protocol client: core debugger
rcarriga/nvim-dap-ui	visual debugger UI: variables, call stack, breakpoints, watches, REPL, console
theHamsta/nvim-dap-virtual-text	show variable values inline next to the code as you step through
nvim-neotest/nvim-nio	async I/O library required by nvim-dap-ui

Colorization

plugin	description
Nvchad/nvim-colorizer.lua	show color swatches behind hex codes, rgb(), hsl(), and Tailwind class names

Git

plugin	description
lewis6991/gitsigns.nvim	git diff signs in the sign column, hunk navigation and staging

markdown

plugin	description
MeanderingProgrammer/render-markdown.nvim	render headings, code blocks, checkboxes, and tables inline in the buffer
iamcco/markdown-preview.nvim	live-reloading markdown preview in a browser

DSA & Competitive Programming

plugin	description
kawre/leetcode.nvim	LeetCode client: fetch problems, test, and submit directly from Neovim
xeluxee/competitest.nvim	test runner for competitive programming (Codeforces, USACO, AtCoder, etc.)
t-troebst/perfanno.nvim	visualize perf profiling output as inline hotspot annotations

LSP Servers & Tools

LSP Servers

server	languages
clangd	C, C++
jdtls	Java (with Lombok)
pyright	Python
lua_ls	Lua
html	HTML
cssls	CSS, SCSS, LESS
tailwindcss	Tailwind CSS
emmet_ls	HTML/CSS Emmet snippets
ts_ls	JavaScript, TypeScript
vtsls	TypeScript enhanced (Vue integration)
volar	Vue 3
eslint	JavaScript/TypeScript linting & auto-fix
jsonls	JSON, JSONC
yamlls	YAML
lemminx	XML, pom.xml (Maven XSD)
taplo	TOML
dockerls	Dockerfile
docker_compose_language_service	docker-compose.yml
marksman	Markdown
texlab	LaTeX
bashls	Bash, Shell
vimls	Vimscript

Formatters

formatter	languages
clang-format	C, C++, Java
prettier	HTML, CSS, SCSS, JS, TS, Vue, JSON, YAML, Markdown, XML
stylua	Lua
black	Python
isort	Python (imports)
sql-formatter	SQL
shfmt	Shell scripts
taplo	TOML
latexindent	LaTeX

DAP Adapters (Debuggers)

adapter	languages
codelldb	C, C++
java-debug-adapter	Java
java-test	Java (JUnit)
js-debug-adapter	JavaScript, TypeScript, React, Vue, HTML/CSS

Checking Health

:checkhealth "full health check
:checkhealth snacks "snacks-specific
:checkhealth mason "Mason & tool availability
:ConformInfo "formatter status