Nvim documentation: develop
main help file
*develop.txt* Nvim
NVIM REFERENCE MANUAL
Development of Nvim *development* *dev*
This reference describes design constraints and guidelines, for developing
Nvim applications or Nvim itself.
Architecture and internal concepts are covered in src/nvim/README.md
Nvim is free and open source. Everybody is encouraged to contribute.
https://github.com/neovim/neovim/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md
Type |gO| to see the table of contents.
==============================================================================
Design goals *design-goals*
Most important things come first (roughly). Some items conflict; this is
intentional. A balance must be found.
NVIM IS... IMPROVED *design-improved*
The Neo bits of Nvim should make it a better Vim, without becoming a
completely different editor.
- In matters of taste, prefer Vim/Unix tradition. If there is no relevant
Vim/Unix tradition, consider the "common case".
- A feature that people do not know about is a useless feature. Don't add
obscure features, or at least add hints in documentation that they exist.
- There is no limit to the features that can be added. Selecting new features
is based on (1) what users ask for, (2) how much effort it takes to
implement and (3) someone actually implementing it.
- Backwards compatibility is a feature. The RPC API in particular should
never break.
NVIM IS... WELL DOCUMENTED *design-documented*
- A feature that isn't documented is a useless feature. A patch for a new
feature must include the documentation.
- Documentation should be comprehensive and understandable. Use examples.
- Don't make the text unnecessarily long. Less documentation means that an
item is easier to find.
NVIM IS... HIGH SPEED AND SMALL IN SIZE *design-speed-size*
Keep Nvim small and fast.
- Computers are becoming faster and bigger each year. Vim can grow too, but
no faster than computers are growing. Keep Vim usable on older systems.
- Many users start Vim from a shell very often. Startup time must be short.
- Commands must work efficiently. The time they consume must be as small as
possible. Useful commands may take longer.
- Don't forget that some people use Vim over a slow connection. Minimize the
communication overhead.
- Vim is a component among other components. Don't turn it into a massive
application, but have it work well together with other programs.
NVIM IS... MAINTAINABLE *design-maintain*
- The source code should not become a mess. It should be reliable code.
- Use comments in a useful way! Quoting the function name and argument names
is NOT useful. Do explain what they are for.
- Porting to another platform should be made easy, without having to change
too much platform-independent code.
- Use the object-oriented spirit: Put data and code together. Minimize the
knowledge spread to other parts of the code.
NVIM IS... NOT *design-not*
Nvim is not an operating system; instead it should be composed with other
tools or hosted as a component. Marvim once said: "Unlike Emacs, Nvim does not
include the kitchen sink... but it's good for plumbing."
==============================================================================
Developer guidelines *dev-guidelines*
PROVIDERS *dev-provider*
A primary goal of Nvim is to allow extension of the editor without special
knowledge in the core. Some core functions are delegated to "providers"
implemented as external scripts.
Examples:
1. In the Vim source code, clipboard logic accounts for more than 1k lines of
C source code (ui.c), to perform two tasks that are now accomplished with
shell commands such as xclip or pbcopy/pbpaste.
2. Python scripting support: Vim has three files dedicated to embedding the
Python interpreter: if_python.c, if_python3.c and if_py_both.h. Together
these files sum about 9.5k lines of C source code. In contrast, Nvim Python
scripting is performed by an external host process implemented in ~2k lines
of Python.
The provider framework invokes VimL from C. It is composed of two functions
in eval.c:
- eval_call_provider(name, method, arguments, discard): calls
provider#{name}#Call with the method and arguments. If discard is true, any
value returned by the provider will be discarded and and empty value be
returned.
- eval_has_provider(name): Checks the `g:loaded_{name}_provider` variable
which must be set to 2 by the provider script to indicate that it is
"enabled and working". Called by |has()| to check if features are available.
For example, the Python provider is implemented by the
"autoload/provider/python.vim" script, which sets `g:loaded_python_provider`
to 2 only if a valid external Python host is found. Then `has("python")`
reflects whether Python support is working.
*provider-reload*
Sometimes a GUI or other application may want to force a provider to
"reload". To reload a provider, undefine its "loaded" flag, then use
|:runtime| to reload it:
:unlet g:loaded_clipboard_provider
:runtime autoload/provider/clipboard.vim
DOCUMENTATION *dev-doc*
- Do not prefix help tags with "nvim-". Use |vim_diff.txt| to document
differences from Vim; no other distinction is necessary.
- If a Vim feature is removed, delete its help section and move its tag to
|vim_diff.txt|.
- Move deprecated features to |deprecated.txt|.
- Use consistent language.
- "terminal" in a help tag always means "the embedded terminal emulator", not
"the user host terminal".
- Use "tui-" to prefix help tags related to the host terminal, and "TUI"
in prose if possible.
- Docstrings: do not start parameter descriptions with "The" or "A" unless it
is critical to avoid ambiguity.
GOOD:
/// @param dirname Path fragment before `pend`
BAD:
/// @param dirname The path fragment before `pend`
C docstrings
Nvim API documentation lives in the source code, as docstrings (Doxygen
comments) on the function definitions. The |api| :help is generated
from the docstrings defined in src/nvim/api/*.c.
Docstring format:
- Lines start with `///`
- Special tokens start with `@` followed by the token name:
`@note`, `@param`, `@returns`
- Limited markdown is supported.
- List-items start with `-` (useful to nest or "indent")
- Use `<pre>` for code samples.
Example: the help for |nvim_open_win()| is generated from a docstring defined
in src/nvim/api/vim.c like this:
/// Opens a new window.
/// ...
///
/// Example (Lua): window-relative float
/// <pre>
/// vim.api.nvim_open_win(0, false,
/// {relative='win', row=3, col=3, width=12, height=3})
/// </pre>
///
/// @param buffer Buffer to display
/// @param enter Enter the window
/// @param config Map defining the window configuration. Keys:
/// - relative: Sets the window layout, relative to:
/// - "editor" The global editor grid.
/// - "win" Window given by the `win` field.
/// - "cursor" Cursor position in current window.
/// ...
/// @param[out] err Error details, if any
///
/// @return Window handle, or 0 on error
Lua docstrings
*dev-lua-doc*
Lua documentation lives in the source code, as docstrings on the function
definitions. The |lua-vim| :help is generated from the docstrings.
Docstring format:
- Lines in the main description start with `---`
- Special tokens start with `[email protected]` followed by the token name:
`[email protected]`, `[email protected]`, `[email protected]`
- Limited markdown is supported.
- List-items start with `-` (useful to nest or "indent")
- Use `<pre>` for code samples.
Example: the help for |vim.paste()| is generated from a docstring decorating
vim.paste in src/nvim/lua/vim.lua like this:
--- Paste handler, invoked by |nvim_paste()| when a conforming UI
--- (such as the |TUI|) pastes text into the editor.
---
--- Example: To remove ANSI color codes when pasting:
--- <pre>
--- vim.paste = (function()
--- local overridden = vim.paste
--- ...
--- end)()
--- </pre>
---
[email protected] |paste|
---
[email protected] lines ...
[email protected] phase ...
[email protected] false if client should cancel the paste.
LUA *dev-lua*
- Keep the core Lua modules |lua-stdlib| simple. Avoid elaborate OOP or
pseudo-OOP designs. Plugin authors just want functions to call, they don't
want to learn a big, fancy inheritance hierarchy. So we should avoid complex
objects: tables are usually better.
API *dev-api*
Use this template to name new API functions:
nvim_{thing}_{action}_{arbitrary-qualifiers}
If the function acts on an object then {thing} is the name of that object
(e.g. "buf" or "win"). If the function operates in a "global" context then
{thing} is usually omitted (but consider "namespacing" your global operations
with a {thing} that groups functions under a common concept).
Use existing common {action} names if possible:
add Append to, or insert into, a collection
del Delete a thing (or group of things)
exec Execute code
get Get a thing (or group of things by query)
list Get all things
set Set a thing (or group of things)
Use consistent names for {thing} in all API functions. E.g. a buffer is called
"buf" everywhere, not "buffer" in some places and "buf" in others.
Example:
`nvim_get_current_line` acts on the global editor state; the common
{action} "get" is used but {thing} is omitted.
Example:
`nvim_buf_add_highlight` acts on a `Buffer` object (the first parameter)
and uses the common {action} "add".
Example:
`nvim_list_bufs` operates in a global context (first parameter is not
a Buffer). The common {action} "list" indicates that it lists all bufs
(plural) in the global context.
Use this template to name new API events:
nvim_{thing}_{event}_event
Example:
`nvim_buf_changedtick_event`
API-CLIENT *dev-api-client*
*api-client*
API clients wrap the Nvim |API| to provide idiomatic "SDKs" for their
respective platforms (see |jargon|). You can build a new API client for your
favorite platform or programming language.
List of API clients:
https://github.com/neovim/neovim/wiki/Related-projects#api-clients
*pynvim*
The Python client is the reference implementation for API clients.
https://github.com/neovim/pynvim
Standard Features
- API clients exist to hide msgpack-rpc details. The wrappers can be
automatically generated by reading the |api-metadata| from Nvim. |api-mapping|
- Clients should call |nvim_set_client_info()| after connecting, so users and
plugins can detect the client by handling the |ChanInfo| event. This avoids
the need for special variables or other client hints.
- Clients should handle |nvim_error_event| notifications, which will be sent
if an async request to nvim was rejected or caused an error.
Package Naming
API client packages should NOT be named something ambiguous like "neovim" or
"python-client". Use "nvim" as a prefix/suffix to some other identifier
following ecosystem conventions.
For example, Python packages tend to have "py" in the name, so "pynvim" is
a good name: it's idiomatic and unambiguous. If the package is named "neovim",
it confuses users, and complicates documentation and discussions.
Examples of API-client package names:
GOOD: nvim-racket
GOOD: pynvim
BAD: python-client
BAD: neovim
API client implementation guidelines
- Separate the transport layer from the rest of the library. |rpc-connecting|
- Use a MessagePack library that implements at least version 5 of the
MessagePack spec, which supports the BIN and EXT types used by Nvim.
- Use a single-threaded event loop library/pattern.
- Use a fiber/coroutine library for the language being used for implementing
a client. These greatly simplify concurrency and allow the library to
expose a blocking API on top of a non-blocking event loop without the
complexity that comes with preemptive multitasking.
- Don't assume anything about the order of responses to RPC requests.
- Clients should expect requests, which must be handled immediately because
Nvim is blocked while waiting for the client response.
- Clients should expect notifications, but these can be handled "ASAP" (rather
than immediately) because they won't block Nvim.
- For C/C++ projects, consider libmpack instead of the msgpack.org library.
https://github.com/libmpack/libmpack/
libmpack is small (no dependencies, can inline into your C/C++ project) and
efficient (no allocations). It also implements msgpack-RPC, the protocol
required by Nvim.
https://github.com/msgpack-rpc/msgpack-rpc
EXTERNAL UI *dev-ui*
External UIs should be aware of the |api-contract|. In particular, future
versions of Nvim may add new items to existing events. The API is strongly
backwards-compatible, but clients must not break if new (optional) fields are
added to existing events.
Standard Features
External UIs are expected to implement these common features:
- Call |nvim_set_client_info()| after connecting, so users and plugins can
detect the UI by handling the |ChanInfo| event. This avoids the need for
special variables and UI-specific config files (gvimrc, macvimrc, …).
- Cursor style (shape, color) should conform to the 'guicursor' properties
delivered with the mode_info_set UI event.
- Send the ALT/META ("Option" on macOS) key as a |<M-| chord.
- Send the "super" key (Windows key, Apple key) as a |<D-| chord.
- Avoid mappings that conflict with the Nvim keymap-space; GUIs have many new
chords (<C-,> <C-Enter> <C-S-x> <D-x>) and patterns ("shift shift") that do
not potentially conflict with Nvim defaults, plugins, etc.
- Consider the "option_set" |ui-global| event as a hint for other GUI
behaviors. Various UI-related options ('guifont', 'ambiwidth', …) are
published in this event. See also "mouse_on", "mouse_off".
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