Which key works best as Vim leader?

Question

5

Options
Considered

68

User
Recs.

Sep 9, 2023

Last
Updated

Here’s the Deal

5 Options Considered

Which key works best as Vim leader	Price	Based On	Default Desktop Environment
88 <Space>	-	-	-
-- , (comma)	-	-	-
-- \ (Backslash)	-	Ubuntu	BackSlash Shell
-- ^H (Backspace)	-	-	-
-- ; (semicolon)	-	-	-

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score 34 · Answer 1

<Space>

Top Pro

Easily reachable with both hands

In most keyboard layouts it is the biggest key and is reachable with both hands easily. See More

Top Con

There are better uses for <space>

It is better to use space for EasyMotion. This is an important key that's rarely used. See More

cux's Experience

I had space for a long time as leader but there are better keys See More

Top Pro

No need to move your hands away from home row

Top Con

Space feels clumsy once you use it in combos, as a single hit key it's great

Use space for stuff you use all the time (eg FZF), once you try combos it feels super odd. I guess the thumb is just a different animal than the other fingers... See More

Top Pro

By default, <Space> does the same thing as lowercase `L`

Top Con

Space is commonly used to toggle folds

For those who use folds a lot, a common mapping is: nnoremap <space> za Not a problem if you don't share your editing session with anyone else of course. See More

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score 12 · Answer 2

, (comma)

Top Con

Remapping comma or semicolon may limit the f and t commands

You'll lose the default behavior of repeating the f and t commands: ; (semicolon) repeats f, F, t or T command. ,(comma) repeats f, F, t or T command in opposite direction. See More

Top Con

Not on the homerow

Top Con

It is hard to reach

Hitting with bottom row with middle finger is not easy - especially when you have thin fingers. See More

See All

score 1 · Answer 3

\ (Backslash)

Top Con

Too far way from everything

How do you want to hit buttersmooth and fast combos with that key? See More

Top Pro

This is the default value

Kamil Renczewski's Experience

The default, why to remap? See More

Specs

Based On:Ubuntu

Default Desktop Environment:BackSlash Shell

Init-System:Systemd

Release Schedule:Almost Annual

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cux's Experience

If you leave leader on \ you will miss out everything good about vim See More

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score 2 · Answer 4

^H (Backspace)

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score 4 · Answer 5

; (semicolon)

Top Pro

Pairs well with hjkl and easymotion moves

With easymotion binds, it's one of the fastest ways to move through a document, e.g.: ;l => easymotion-wl ;h => easymotion-bl ;j => easymotion-j ;k => easymotion-k This isn't fast with space as leader. See More

Top Con

Shadows important movement

Repeating last "f" or "t" is a useful movement. See More

cux's Experience

Tried \ and space before but ; is the best. If you use clever-f (press just another f to go through all finds instead of ;) which I do then ; as leader no downsides. Space is tempting but it's somehow clumsy as leader. I use leader just as one tap to go to FZF. See More

Top Pro

Somehow significant faster than space

I had space for a year before I switched and space works well for one hit keys but using it as a starter for a combo doesn't feel fluid See More

Top Con

Remapping comma or semicolon may limit the f and t commands

You'll lose the default behavior of repeating the f and t commands: ; (semicolon) repeats f, F, t or T command. ,(comma) repeats f, F, t or T command in opposite direction. See More

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Which key works best as Vim leader?

5 Options Considered

<Space>

My Recommendation for <Space>

My Recommendation for <Space>

Easily reachable with both hands

There are better uses for <space>

No need to move your hands away from home row

Space feels clumsy once you use it in combos, as a single hit key it's great

By default, <Space> does the same thing as lowercase `L`

Space is commonly used to toggle folds

, (comma)

My Recommendation for , (comma)

My Recommendation for , (comma)

Remapping comma or semicolon may limit the f and t commands

Not on the homerow

It is hard to reach

\ (Backslash)

My Recommendation for \ (Backslash)

My Recommendation for \ (Backslash)

Too far way from everything

This is the default value

^H (Backspace)

My Recommendation for ^H (Backspace)

My Recommendation for ^H (Backspace)

; (semicolon)

My Recommendation for ; (semicolon)

My Recommendation for ; (semicolon)

Pairs well with hjkl and easymotion moves

Shadows important movement

Somehow significant faster than space

Remapping comma or semicolon may limit the f and t commands

Located on the homerow

Space can be then used for major or often used things like FZF

When using clever-f you don't need ; anymore for f movement

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