helix

Overview

Helix is a post-modern modal text editor featuring selection-first editing, multiple selections, and tree-sitter integration. It uses the selection → action model inspired by Kakoune.

Core Concepts

• Modes: Normal (navigation/editing), Insert (typing), Select/extend (making selections)
• Selection-first: Select text first, then act on it (delete, yank, change)
• Multiple selections: Edit multiple locations simultaneously
• Tree-sitter: Syntax-aware navigation and textobjects

Quick Reference

Essential Commands

# config.toml example
theme = "onedark"

[editor]
line-number = "relative"
mouse = false
auto-format = true

[keys.normal]
C-s = ":w"  # Save file
g = { a = "code_action" }  # Minor mode: ga triggers code action

Keybindings

Mode	Key	Action
Normal	i	Insert before selection
Normal	v	Enter select mode
Normal	:	Command mode
Normal	Space	Space mode (pickers, LSP)
Normal	d	Delete selection
Normal	y	Yank (copy) selection
Normal	p/P	Paste after/before
Normal	u/U	Undo/Redo
Normal	/	Search forward
Normal	n/N	Next/Previous match
Normal	gd	Go to definition
Normal	]d/[d	Next/Previous diagnostic

Space Mode (LSP & Pickers)

Accessed via Space in normal mode:

Key	Action
f	File picker (workspace root)
b	Buffer picker
s	Document symbol picker
d	Document diagnostics
a	Code action
r	Rename symbol
k	Hover (documentation)
/	Global search

Configuration

File Locations

• Linux/Mac: ~/.config/helix/config.toml
• Windows: %AppData%\helix\config.toml
• Project-local: .helix/config.toml (merged with global)

Language Configuration

Create languages.toml in config directory:

[[language]]
name = "rust"
language-servers = [{ name = "rust-analyzer", except-features = ["format"] }, "taplo"]

[language-server.rust-analyzer]
command = "rust-analyzer"

Common Tasks

Remapping Keys

[keys.normal]
jk = "normal_mode"  # Escape insert mode with jk
C-s = ":w"          # Save with Ctrl+S

[keys.insert.j]
k = "normal_mode"   # Minor mode: jk exits insert

Textobjects (Tree-sitter)

• ma / mi - Select around/inside textobject
• ]f / [f - Next/previous function
• ]d / [d - Next/previous diagnostic

Shell Integration

• | - Pipe selection through command
• ! - Insert command output before selection
• :pipe - Typable command for piping

See Also

• references/keymap.md - Complete keybinding reference
• references/configuration.md - Detailed configuration options
• references/languages.md - Language server setup
• references/themes.md - Creating custom themes