chopsticks
Vim for engineers. 29 plugins, 19ms startup, works over SSH.
---
```bash
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/m1ngsama/chopsticks/main/get.sh | bash
```
---
## Why
You SSH into a server. You need to edit code. You want LSP, fuzzy find, git integration, format-on-save — not a 20-minute setup.
chopsticks gives you a production-ready Vim config in one command. Pure VimScript — no Node.js for the core. Degrades gracefully on TTY. Works the same on your MacBook and your headless Arch box.
**19ms startup** with 29 plugins, LSP, linting, and a hand-built statusline. Faster than most people's empty vimrc.
## What's in the box
| Feature | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| **LSP** | completion, go-to-def, hover, rename, code actions — pure VimScript ([vim-lsp](https://github.com/prabirshrestha/vim-lsp)) |
| **Lint + format** | [ALE](https://github.com/dense-analysis/ale) runs black, prettier, gofmt, rustfmt on save |
| **Fuzzy find** | files, buffers, grep, tags, marks, commands — [FZF](https://github.com/junegunn/fzf.vim) |
| **Git** | status, diff, blame, push, pull, conflict markers — [fugitive](https://github.com/tpope/vim-fugitive) + [gitgutter](https://github.com/airblade/vim-gitgutter) |
| **Zen mode** | `,zen` — [Goyo](https://github.com/junegunn/goyo.vim) + [Limelight](https://github.com/junegunn/limelight.vim) |
| **Run file** | `,cr` — auto-detects Python, Go, Rust, JS, C, Shell, and more |
| **TTY-aware** | degrades gracefully on SSH, console, slow links — never breaks |
| **19ms startup** | lazy-loaded plugins, deferred LSP init, zero redundant work |
## Install
```bash
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/m1ngsama/chopsticks/main/get.sh | bash
```
Or manually:
```bash
git clone https://github.com/m1ngsama/chopsticks.git ~/.vim
cd ~/.vim && ./install.sh
```
Supports macOS (brew), Debian/Ubuntu (apt), Arch (pacman), Fedora (dnf).
First launch installs plugins automatically (30-60s). Restart vim when done.
## Keys
Leader: `,` — press `,?` for the full cheat sheet inside vim.
```
Ctrl+p fuzzy find file gd go to definition
,rg ripgrep project K hover docs
,gs git status ,cr run current file
,zen zen mode ,f format
,w save ,q quit
jk exit insert mode ,? cheat sheet
```
All keybindings
### Files
`Ctrl+p` find | `,b` buffers | `,rg` grep | `,rG` grep word | `,fh` recent | `,e` browser | `,,` last file
### Code
`gd` def | `gy` type | `gi` impl | `gr` refs | `K` docs | `[g` `]g` diagnostics | `,rn` rename | `,ca` action | `,o` outline | `,cr` run
### Edit
`s`+2ch jump | `gc` comment | `cs"'` surround | `Alt+j/k` move line | `,u` undo tree | `,y` clipboard | `,*` replace word
### Git
`,gs` status | `,gd` diff | `,gb` blame | `,gc` commit | `,gp` push | `]x` `[x` conflict
### Windows
`Ctrl+hjkl` navigate (+ tmux) | `,z` maximize | `,h` `,l` buffers | `,tv` terminal | `Esc Esc` exit terminal
### Writing
`,zen` zen mode | `,mp` markdown preview | `,mt` table of contents
## LSP
```vim
:LspInstallServer " auto-detects filetype
:LspStatus " check what's running
```
pylsp, gopls, rust-analyzer, clangd, marksman, sqls — no Node.js. JS/TS servers need Node.
ALE and vim-lsp coexist cleanly (`ale_disable_lsp=1`). ALE handles linting + formatting. vim-lsp handles everything else.
## Architecture
```
~/.vim/
├── .vimrc thin loader (12 lines)
├── modules/
│ ├── env.vim TTY detection, truecolor
│ ├── plugins.vim vim-plug + 29 plugins
│ ├── core.vim settings, keymaps, performance
│ ├── ui.vim solarized, statusline, startify
│ ├── editing.vim easymotion, yank highlight
│ ├── navigation.vim fzf, netrw, windows, terminal
│ ├── lsp.vim vim-lsp, asyncomplete
│ ├── lint.vim ale, format-on-save
│ ├── git.vim fugitive, gitgutter
│ ├── writing.vim markdown, previm, zen mode
│ ├── languages.vim vim-go, filetype settings
│ └── tools.vim cheat sheet, run file, helpers
└── tutor/
└── chopsticks.tutor
```
Each module is self-contained. Comment out one line in `.vimrc` to disable it. Add your own with `call s:load('mine')`.
## Learn
```vim
:ChopsticksLearn " interactive tutorial — 10 lessons
,? " cheat sheet (every binding)
```
## Performance
| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Startup time | **19ms** (29 plugins loaded) |
| Lazy-loaded | 8 plugins (on command or filetype) |
| Built-in plugins skipped | 10 (gzip, tar, zip, vimball, etc.) |
| Runtime lint delay | 200ms (no thrashing during edits) |
| Large file threshold | 10MB (auto-disables syntax + undo) |
| TTY large file | 500KB (syntax disabled) |
Measured with `vim --startuptime`. We benchmark every change.
## Troubleshooting
| Problem | Fix |
|---------|-----|
| Plugins not loading | `:PlugInstall` then `:PlugUpdate` |
| LSP not starting | `:LspInstallServer` for current filetype |
| Colors wrong | `export COLORTERM=truecolor` in shell rc |
| `Ctrl+s` freezes | `stty -ixon` in shell rc |
| Everything slow | Large file? Auto-disabled >10MB |
More in the [wiki](https://github.com/m1ngsama/chopsticks/wiki).
## Contributing
See [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md). The two rules that matter: no Node.js dependencies, and don't regress startup time.
## License
[MIT](LICENSE)