[FEATURE]: VIM Keyboard Layout

[IvanProg00]

Feature hasn't been suggested before.

• I have verified this feature I'm about to request hasn't been suggested before.

Describe the enhancement you want to request

I would like to have the option to use the VIM keyboard layout to write the message. It’s really useful when working with long prompts. And this functionality already have the popular projects Claude Code and Gemini Cli.

[github-actions]

This issue might be a duplicate of existing issues. Please check:

• [FEATURE]: vim motions in input box #1764: [FEATURE]: vim motions in input box
• [FEATURE]: better navigation of output, alternative vim mode and non-blocking agent persmission requests #4092: [FEATURE]: better navigation of output, alternative vim mode and non-blocking agent permission requests
• [FEATURE]: Built-in Vim mode instead of relying on external editors #6537: [FEATURE]: Built-in Vim mode instead of relying on external editors
• Add vim normal/visual mode for copying text of llm's response  #9952: Add vim normal/visual mode for copying text of llm's response
• [FEATURE]: Text selection and navigation inside input with keyboard #3370: [FEATURE]: Text selection and navigation inside input with keyboard

Feel free to ignore if none of these address your specific case.

Also, for keybind-related issues, please check our pinned keybinds documentation: #4997

[ikusteu]

Why not just use the command palette and open in editor. I do:

• start writing a prompt in the default box
• if I see the prompt will be longer and I'd like to use my default editor (nvim), I do (open command palette) -> start typing editor and open the prompt in default editor

There's also a keybinding for editor command, I just never got used to it.

[Stewart86]

did you just blindly check I have verified this feature I'm about to request hasn't been suggested before.?

[mekedron]

@ikusteu yeah, actually editor command works, but unfortunately it doesn't update the edited prompt to the opencode's tui text input field

[ikusteu]

@mekedron that's weird. It works for me...my setup: Mac, Ghostty, NeoVim (default editor), OpenCode, TMUX

Note: I'm not part of the dev team, just giving my two cents (and the tmux thing is probably irrelevant, but adds additional complexity that could possibly break this -- and it doesn't).

My understanding is it should work like this (and that's what I've observed in my setup):

• there's a TUI session (and a prompt)
• when you select editor and open the prompt in the editor, it's exported as <timestamp>.md file and stored in a central location..something like /private/var/folders/..../.md` (on Mac)
• you edit that file in the editor and when you save and exit (:wq) the TUI pulls the .md file and fills the prompt

So yeah...take this and debug or ask your favourite LLM for help

[mekedron]

@ikusteu ah, you're right! I've just checked with Vim and it works fine. Last time I tried with Zed (rust-based GUI code editor), and it didn't work, but when I switched my EDITOR=vim it worked alright! Thanks!