Is it possible to configure bash vi mode so that initially it is in command mode instead on insert mode? I find that I have to press Esc far too much. It seems that there is possibility to specify this in zsh, but I have not found a way to do this in bash/readline.
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I don't think it is possible using the standard GNU Readline Library.
However, you may be able to use xdotool for a simple hack to achieve the same effect. Appending a command to your .bashrc that simulates an Escape keypress would ensure that your term opened in command mode:
xdotool key EscapeYou might want to use a slight delay, with the --delay switch, to prevent it from munging your prompt...
Note this is likely to introduce more frustration than you expect: terminals are designed to accept input; breaking that (albeit only slightly) may not prove such a good idea...
jasonwryan
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I take it back, this doesn't work with the cursor movement. It works, but with the funny behavior, if you take those out: PS1="$PS1 ^[
Change your PS1 prompt:
PS1="test $ \[^[[s^[^[[u\]"
Where ^[ is a literal escape (Ctrl+V Esc).
The escape on its own in the middle changes to command mode, the ^[[s and ^[[u escapes store and restore the cursor position; without that, I found there was some funny behavior.
Kevin
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try set +o vi
set -o vi will take into editing mode again.
Nikhil Mulley
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That doesn't work: it turns vi mode off... – jasonwryan Dec 01 '11 at 08:41
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yeah I tried. Right. I can think of this -- using vim, change the cmap (reference :help mode-switching in vim) for `Esc` key. Default equivalent mapping for `Esc` is `Ctrl + ]` – Nikhil Mulley Dec 01 '11 at 08:55