In my VI editor...?

Question

I know many will say to not mess with it if I don't know what I'm doing.
I'd like to set a macro in VI so that while in command mode, if I type something, say "gcc", it will run the following command:

!gcc % && a.out

Not that it is too horribly time consuming to type that or just !! to repeat that each time... I was just wanting to learn what my possibilities were. Is it something that needs to go in my .exrc file? Thanks.

Answer 1

Just open up the .exrc file or create your own file and use the map command. Here is an example of how to setup your macro:

map !gcc % && a.out^M

Good luck.

Answer 2

i love VI! it's the best editor, really! I don't use any other IDE.

i would recommend to write a Makefile:

all:
gcc *.c && ./a.out

(replace the with a tabulator, and NOT with spaces!)

now just type :make in vi.

The advantage of a makefile is that vi now lists the errors during compilation. with :cl you can list errors, with :cn vi jumps to the next error, and you can immediately edit the line.

Answer 3

I haven't used VI editor since 1994 but it is nice to see the name again.