UX audit: startup experience, ergonomics, and interaction fixes (#9)

Startup / welcome screen:
- Startify header is now dynamic: shows config name, Vim version,
  current dir, git branch, and key usage hints (leader, Ctrl-p, ,rg)
- Reorder Startify sections: Sessions first (project restore), then
  directory files, recent files, bookmarks
- Add default bookmarks: ~/.vimrc, ~/.zshrc, ~/.bashrc
- vim <dir>: NERDTree opens left, Startify opens right (replaces the
  broken `ene` empty-buffer hack that left an unnamed buffer)
- vim (no args): NERDTree opens alongside Startify via User Startified
  event, keeping Startify focused — both panels visible from the start
- Consolidate StdinReadPre into a single top-level autocmd so pipe/
  heredoc input is correctly detected in all startup branches

Mapping fixes:
- <leader>bd: remove `:tabclose<cr>gT` chain — it was closing the
  entire tab on every buffer close regardless of other open buffers
- tnoremap <Esc>: change to <Esc><Esc> — single Esc now passes through
  to the running terminal program (fzf, htop, etc.); double Esc exits
- <C-p>: smart file search — uses GFiles (respects .gitignore) inside
  git repos, falls back to Files outside git trees

General UX:
- set lazyredraw moved to TTY-only block — it caused CoC floating
  window flicker in capable terminals; still active in TTY for perf
- Markdown FileType: add tw=0 — prevents global tw=500 from mangling
  gq line wrapping in markdown buffers
- CleanExtraSpaces: expand from 6 hardcoded extensions to all files;
  function is cursor-safe (saves/restores position) so it is harmless
  when ALE trim_whitespace also runs

which-key:
- Add 'd': 'diagnostics' to [a] group — <leader>ad was mapped to
  CocDiagnostics but invisible in the key hint overlay

.vimrc

@@ -106,9 +106,6 @@ set hid
 " Configure backspace so it acts as it should act (enhanced from earlier basic setting)
 set whichwrap+=<,>,h,l
 
-" Don't redraw while executing macros (good performance config)
-set lazyredraw
-
 " For regular expressions turn magic on
 set magic
 
@@ -324,8 +321,8 @@ map <C-k> <C-W>k
 map <C-h> <C-W>h
 map <C-l> <C-W>l
 
-" Close the current buffer
+" Close the current buffer (Bclose preserves window layout)
-map <leader>bd :Bclose<cr>:tabclose<cr>gT
+map <leader>bd :Bclose<cr>
 
 " Close all the buffers
 map <leader>ba :bufdo bd<cr>
@@ -439,15 +436,40 @@ let NERDTreeIgnore=['\.pyc$', '\~$', '\.swp$', '\.git$', '\.DS_Store', 'node_mod
 " NERDTree window size
 let NERDTreeWinSize=35
 
-" Automatically open NERDTree when vim starts on a directory
+" Track stdin reads so startup autocmds can skip pipe/heredoc input
-" Disabled in TTY for faster startup
-if !g:is_tty
 autocmd StdinReadPre * let s:std_in=1
-    autocmd VimEnter * if argc() == 1 && isdirectory(argv()[0]) && !exists("s:std_in") | exe 'NERDTree' argv()[0] | wincmd p | ene | exe 'cd '.argv()[0] | endif
+
+" Startup layout (non-TTY only — keeps TTY startup instant)
+if !g:is_tty
+    augroup ChopstickStartup
+        autocmd!
+        " vim <dir>  →  NERDTree on left + Startify (or blank buffer) on right
+        autocmd VimEnter *
+            \ if argc() == 1 && isdirectory(argv()[0]) && !exists('s:std_in') |
+            \     exe 'NERDTree ' . fnameescape(argv()[0]) |
+            \     exe 'cd ' . fnameescape(argv()[0]) |
+            \     wincmd p |
+            \     if exists(':Startify') == 2 | Startify | else | enew | endif |
+            \ endif
+        " vim (no args)  →  Startify renders first; open NERDTree alongside it
+        autocmd User Startified
+            \ if argc() == 0 && !exists('s:std_in') |
+            \     NERDTree |
+            \     wincmd p |
+            \ endif
+    augroup END
 endif
 
 " --- FZF ---
-map <C-p> :Files<CR>
+" Smart file search: use GFiles (respects .gitignore) inside git repos, Files elsewhere
+function! s:SmartFiles() abort
+    if !empty(system('git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null'))
+        GFiles
+    else
+        Files
+    endif
+endfunction
+map <C-p> :call <SID>SmartFiles()<CR>
 map <leader>b :Buffers<CR>
 map <leader>rg :Rg<CR>
 map <leader>rt :Tags<CR>
@@ -521,6 +543,10 @@ let g:ale_linters = {
 \   'sh':         ['shellcheck'],
 \   'yaml':       ['yamllint'],
 \   'dockerfile': ['hadolint'],
+\   'css':        ['stylelint'],
+\   'scss':       ['stylelint'],
+\   'markdown':   ['markdownlint'],
+\   'sql':        ['sqlfluff'],
 \}
 
 let g:ale_fixers = {
@@ -534,7 +560,10 @@ let g:ale_fixers = {
 \   'yaml':       ['prettier'],
 \   'html':       ['prettier'],
 \   'css':        ['prettier'],
+\   'scss':       ['prettier'],
+\   'less':       ['prettier'],
 \   'markdown':   ['prettier'],
+\   'sql':        ['sqlfmt'],
 \}
 
 " Don't fix on save if LSP is handling formatting (avoids double-format)
@@ -676,6 +705,13 @@ if g:use_vimlsp
     let g:lsp_settings_filetype_typescript = ['typescript-language-server']
     let g:lsp_settings_filetype_javascript = ['typescript-language-server']
     let g:lsp_settings_filetype_sh         = ['bash-language-server']
+    let g:lsp_settings_filetype_html       = ['vscode-html-language-server']
+    let g:lsp_settings_filetype_css        = ['vscode-css-language-server']
+    let g:lsp_settings_filetype_scss       = ['vscode-css-language-server']
+    let g:lsp_settings_filetype_json       = ['vscode-json-language-server']
+    let g:lsp_settings_filetype_yaml       = ['yaml-language-server']
+    let g:lsp_settings_filetype_markdown   = ['marksman']
+    let g:lsp_settings_filetype_sql        = ['sqls']
 
     " Performance: disable virtual text diagnostics in TTY
     let g:lsp_diagnostics_virtual_text_enabled = !g:is_tty
@@ -783,7 +819,8 @@ fun! CleanExtraSpaces()
 endfun
 
 if has("autocmd")
-    autocmd BufWritePre *.txt,*.js,*.py,*.wiki,*.sh,*.coffee :call CleanExtraSpaces()
+    " Run for all files; ALE trim_whitespace is idempotent so no conflict
+    autocmd BufWritePre * call CleanExtraSpaces()
 endif
 
 " ============================================================================
@@ -815,7 +852,7 @@ autocmd FileType html,css setlocal expandtab shiftwidth=2 tabstop=2
 autocmd FileType yaml setlocal expandtab shiftwidth=2 tabstop=2
 
 " Markdown specific settings
-autocmd FileType markdown setlocal wrap linebreak spell
+autocmd FileType markdown setlocal wrap linebreak spell tw=0
 
 " Shell script settings
 autocmd FileType sh setlocal expandtab shiftwidth=2 tabstop=2
@@ -983,7 +1020,8 @@ if has('terminal')
     nnoremap <leader>th :terminal ++rows=10<CR>
 
     " Terminal mode mappings
-    tnoremap <Esc> <C-\><C-n>
+    " Double-Esc to exit terminal mode (single Esc passes through to the running program)
+    tnoremap <Esc><Esc> <C-\><C-n>
     tnoremap <C-h> <C-\><C-n><C-w>h
     tnoremap <C-j> <C-\><C-n><C-w>j
     tnoremap <C-k> <C-\><C-n><C-w>k
@@ -1024,6 +1062,9 @@ if g:is_tty
 
     " Reduce syntax highlighting complexity in TTY (global is 200, lower here)
     set synmaxcol=120
+
+    " lazyredraw is safe in TTY; avoid globally as it causes CoC float flicker
+    set lazyredraw
 endif
 
 " Provide helpful message on first run in TTY
@@ -1065,10 +1106,11 @@ if exists('g:plugs["vim-which-key"]')
     let g:which_key_map['y']  = 'clipboard-yank'
     let g:which_key_map['Y']  = 'clipboard-yank-line'
 
-    " [a]LE lint group  ([e/]e navigate; <leader>aD for detail)
+    " [a]LE lint group  ([e/]e navigate; <leader>aD for detail; <leader>ad for diagnostics)
     let g:which_key_map['a'] = {
         \ 'name': '+ale-lint',
         \ 'D': 'ale-detail',
+        \ 'd': 'diagnostics',
         \ }
 
     " [c]ode / [c]opy group
@@ -1158,32 +1200,52 @@ endif
 " ============================================================================
 
 if exists('g:plugs["vim-startify"]')
-    " Simple ASCII header, no icons (KISS)
+    " Dynamic header: config name, vim version, current dir, git branch, key tips
-    let g:startify_custom_header = [
+    function! StartifyHeader() abort
-        \ '  VIM - Vi IMproved',
+        let l:ver = 'Vim ' . (v:version / 100) . '.' . printf('%02d', v:version % 100)
-        \ '  Type :help if you are in trouble',
+        let l:cwd = fnamemodify(getcwd(), ':t')
+        let l:git = ''
+        if executable('git')
+            let l:branch = system('git -C ' . shellescape(getcwd()) .
+                \ ' rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD 2>/dev/null')
+            if v:shell_error == 0
+                let l:git = '  [' . substitute(l:branch, '\n\+$', '', '') . ']'
+            endif
+        endif
+        return [
+            \ '  chopsticks  |  ' . l:ver . '  |  ' . l:cwd . l:git,
+            \ '  , = leader  |  , + pause = key hints  |  Ctrl-p = files  |  ,rg = search',
             \ '',
             \ ]
+    endfunction
+    let g:startify_custom_header = 'StartifyHeader()'
 
-    " Sections shown on start screen
+    " Sessions first: restores full project state; dir + recent files below
     let g:startify_lists = [
-        \ { 'type': 'files',     'header': ['   Recent Files']            },
-        \ { 'type': 'dir',       'header': ['   Directory: '. getcwd()]   },
         \ { 'type': 'sessions',  'header': ['   Sessions']                    },
+        \ { 'type': 'dir',       'header': ['   Directory: ' . getcwd()]      },
+        \ { 'type': 'files',     'header': ['   Recent Files']                },
         \ { 'type': 'bookmarks', 'header': ['   Bookmarks']                   },
         \ ]
 
+    " Quick-access bookmarks for common config files
+    let g:startify_bookmarks = [
+        \ {'v': '~/.vimrc'},
+        \ {'z': '~/.zshrc'},
+        \ {'b': '~/.bashrc'},
+        \ ]
+
     " Session integration
     let g:startify_session_persistence    = 1   " Auto-save session on quit
     let g:startify_session_autoload       = 1   " Auto-load Session.vim if present
     let g:startify_change_to_vcs_root     = 1   " cd to git root on open
-    let g:startify_fortune_use_unicode    = 0   " No unicode in fortune (KISS)
+    let g:startify_fortune_use_unicode    = 0   " ASCII only (KISS)
-    let g:startify_enable_special         = 0   " No <empty> / <quit> entries
+    let g:startify_enable_special         = 0   " Hide <empty> / <quit> clutter
 
     " Limit recent files shown
     let g:startify_files_number = 10
 
-    " Don't open NERDTree when startify is active
+    " Required for NERDTree compatibility (prevents buftype conflicts)
     autocmd User Startified setlocal buftype=
 endif
 

README.md

@@ -90,18 +90,22 @@ Install language server extensions from inside Vim:
 :CocInstall coc-rust-analyzer " Rust
 :CocInstall coc-json coc-yaml " JSON, YAML
 :CocInstall coc-html coc-css  " HTML, CSS
+:CocInstall coc-marksman      " Markdown
+:CocInstall coc-sql           " SQL
 ```
 
+`install.sh` installs all of the above automatically when prompted.
+
 ### vim-lsp setup (without Node.js)
 
 Install language server binaries for your languages, then run:
 
 ```vim
-:LspInstallServer   " auto-installs servers for the current filetype
+:LspInstallServer   " auto-installs the right server for the current filetype
 ```
 
-Supported: `pylsp`, `gopls`, `rust-analyzer`, `typescript-language-server`,
+Supported languages: Python, Go, Rust, TypeScript, JavaScript, Shell,
-`bash-language-server`, and all others covered by `vim-lsp-settings`.
+HTML, CSS/SCSS, JSON, YAML, Markdown, SQL — via `vim-lsp-settings`.
 
 ---
 
@@ -299,7 +303,7 @@ on a basic built-in terminal. In TTY mode:
 ## Language Support
 
 | Language       | Indent | Formatter        | Linter                   |
-|----------------|--------|---------------|---------------------|
+|----------------|--------|------------------|--------------------------|
 | Python         | 4sp    | black + isort    | flake8, pylint           |
 | JavaScript     | 2sp    | prettier         | eslint                   |
 | TypeScript     | 2sp    | prettier         | eslint, tsserver         |
@@ -307,13 +311,16 @@ on a basic built-in terminal. In TTY mode:
 | Rust           | 4sp    | rustfmt          | cargo                    |
 | Shell          | 2sp    | -                | shellcheck               |
 | YAML           | 2sp    | prettier         | yamllint                 |
-| HTML/CSS       | 2sp    | prettier      | -                   |
+| HTML           | 2sp    | prettier         | -                        |
-| Markdown       | 2sp    | prettier      | -                   |
+| CSS / SCSS     | 2sp    | prettier         | stylelint                |
+| Less           | 2sp    | prettier         | -                        |
 | JSON           | 2sp    | prettier         | -                        |
+| Markdown       | 2sp    | prettier         | markdownlint             |
+| SQL            | 4sp    | sqlfmt           | sqlfluff                 |
 | Dockerfile     | 2sp    | -                | hadolint                 |
 
-Install linters separately (e.g. `pip install black flake8`, `npm i -g prettier`).
+Install linters separately — `install.sh` lists the exact commands.
-ALE runs them asynchronously and auto-fixes on save.
+ALE runs them asynchronously on save (`ale_fix_on_save = 1` when using CoC).
 
 ---
 

install.sh

@@ -94,9 +94,8 @@ if [ "$HAS_NODE" -eq 1 ]; then
     echo
     if [[ $REPLY =~ ^[Yy]$ ]]; then
         step "Installing CoC language servers"
-        vim +'CocInstall -sync coc-json coc-tsserver coc-pyright coc-sh coc-html coc-css coc-yaml' +qall
+        vim +'CocInstall -sync coc-json coc-tsserver coc-pyright coc-sh coc-html coc-css coc-yaml coc-go coc-rust-analyzer coc-marksman coc-sql' +qall
         ok "CoC language servers installed"
-        echo "  Add more with :CocInstall coc-go coc-rust-analyzer etc."
     fi
 else
     echo "  To enable LSP without Node.js:"
@@ -126,11 +125,15 @@ echo "  ctags  (F8 tag browser)"
 echo "    Ubuntu:  sudo apt install universal-ctags"
 echo "    macOS:   brew install universal-ctags"
 echo ""
-echo "  Language linters:"
+echo "  Language linters and formatters:"
 echo "    Python:      pip install black flake8 pylint isort"
 echo "    JS/TS:       npm install -g prettier eslint typescript"
 echo "    Go:          go install golang.org/x/tools/gopls@latest"
-echo "    Shell:       sudo apt install shellcheck"
+echo "    Shell:       sudo apt install shellcheck  # or: brew install shellcheck"
+echo "    CSS/SCSS:    npm install -g stylelint stylelint-config-standard"
+echo "    Markdown:    npm install -g markdownlint-cli"
+echo "    SQL:         pip install sqlfluff  |  npm install -g sqlfmt"
+echo "    Markdown LS: brew install marksman  # or: https://github.com/artempyanykh/marksman"
 echo ""
 echo "Getting started:"
 echo "  See QUICKSTART.md for the 5-minute guide"