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Editor Mastery Challenge

Purpose: Move from "I can open Vim" to "I can actually use it for work"
Time Required: 60-90 minutes
Output: One log of editing drills plus one real config or code edit

Required Setup​

  • Vim installed or a daily editor with Vim emulation enabled
  • One sample file for drills
  • One real text file or config file you are willing to edit

Stage 1: Mandatory Basics​

Complete vimtutor or equivalent beginner tutorial. Do not skip this step.

Stage 2: Repetition Drills​

On a sample file, repeat these until smooth:

  1. Search for a word and jump between matches
  2. Change one word with cw
  3. Delete one word with dw
  4. Delete one line with dd
  5. Undo and redo
  6. Save and quit

Stage 3: Replace and Refactor​

Practice one global change:

:%s/old/new/g

Then explain:

  • why % matters
  • why g matters

Stage 4: Real Edit​

Make one genuine edit in:

  • a shell config file
  • a README
  • a small source file

The edit must include search, navigation, change, and save.

Completion Standard​

  • vimtutor complete
  • Search, change, save, and quit feel reliable
  • One real file edited successfully
  • At least one awkward sequence repeated until it improved