What is fzf?
fzf is a general-purpose command-line fuzzy finder written in Go. fzf is a fuzzy finder for your terminal, it is a command line application that filters each line from given input with a query that the user types. When the query changes, the results update in realtime.
Vim
Since I spend a lot of my time in Vim trying to find a file either by name or by some code inside a certain file. Streamlining that process is very important.
Every context switch you have to make adds overhead and the possibility of losing focus of what you are trying to find. Therefore it should be as easy as possible, e.g: press a key, type query, press enter to go to matching file.
Finding files wasn’t too much of an issue here. There is a long list of Vim plugins that offer file searching using fuzzy matching or MRU algorithms. Two examples of this are CtrlP and Command-T. I used to be a fan of CtrlP which always managed to do the job.
fzf.vim
fzf has a small builtin Vim interface that already works, but it comes without any existing functionality. The author of fzf also wrote this fzf.vim plugin. It is a small wrapper that provides common functionality. This includes listing files, buffers, tags, git logs and much more!
Fuzzy searching in directories
Coming from CtrlP the first thing I needed was a replacement for fuzzy-finding files. The solution was to use the :Files command provided by fzf.vim. This lists files using your $FZF_DEFAULT_COMMAND environment variable. It opens the currently highlighted file on enter/return
The problem is that when you return a new file in current buffer it changes :Files directory. I am not sure about the background so maybe :cd or :lcdbut I don't like it.
I would like to use some "IDE-like" feature: it finds the project root —if it has .git, .svn, etc, and yet act on current directory if it's not under a project.
function! s:find_git_root()
return system('git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2> /dev/null')[:-2]
endfunction
command! ProjectFiles execute 'Files' s:find_git_root()
So this solves our issue. Since I am familiar with <C-p> keybing, I would like to use this binding:
map <C-p> :ProjectFiles<CR>
Vim is again "the most efficient" editor in a developer's toolbox.
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Top comments (4)
It doesn't change current working directory for me (here's a demo)? It did for you?
PS. Great post though! Have you checked out the other cool things fzf.vim can do?
Actually I figured out long before that the problem is not
:Files, it is my other conf in myvimrc:I should update this old (cross) post accordingly :)
Thanks for your comment. I look at your post and it is so awesome. I almost use them all as well.
Btw. which tool do you use to record your screen?
Hi, Serhat. Awesome post indeed. I had the same problem as you. I used "set autochdir" because of Nerdtree (to always open the nerdtree window to the right directory), however, when I look for any file using fzf it only looks for the current directory (not the root path if I open a file in a subfolder). How did you solve it? Thanks in advance!
Hi Paulo. Thanks a lot. My ideal solution suggestion would be don't use
autochdirat all. I don't use it anymore. Icdinto project root then make the search, edit etc.However if you like to use it though, there are 3 solutions for it:
1 - Using above solution of mine. Add them in your
.vimrc2 - Using
:Gfilescommand offzf.vimplugin3 - Add 'dbakker/vim-projectroot' plugin and map necessary command like below. My mapping is "Ctrl+P" but you can modify according to your favorites.
Tell me these fixes solve your issue.