Editor Enhancement Plugins

These plugins enhance the core editing experience without adding LSP complexity. They make common operations faster and add new motion vocabulary.

LazyVim Bundled

LazyVim bundles: flash.nvim (🟢), which-key.nvim (🟢), grug-far.nvim (🟢), mini.pairs (🟢), ts-comments.nvim (🟢), mini.ai (🟢). NOT bundled: vim-surround/nvim-surround (⚪), dial.nvim (⚪), yanky.nvim (⚪).

1. nvim-autopairs — Smart Bracket Completion (⚪ Manual install)

Automatically closes brackets, quotes, and other pairs as you type:

lua/plugins/editor.lua
{
  "windwp/nvim-autopairs",
  event = "InsertEnter",
  dependencies = { "hrsh7th/nvim-cmp" },
  config = function()
    local autopairs = require("nvim-autopairs")
    local cmp_autopairs = require("nvim-autopairs.completion.cmp")
    local cmp = require("cmp")

    autopairs.setup({
      check_ts = true,          -- use treesitter to check pairs
      ts_config = {
        lua = { "string" },     -- don't add pairs inside lua strings
        javascript = { "template_string" },
      },
      disable_filetype = { "TelescopePrompt", "spectre_panel" },
      fast_wrap = {
        map = "&lt;M-e&gt;",          -- Alt+e to wrap selection in pair
        chars = { "{", "[", "(", '"', "'" },
        pattern = string.gsub([[ [%'%"%)%>%]%)%}%,] ]], "%s+", ""),
        end_key = "$",
        keys = "qwertyuiopzxcvbnmasdfghjkl",
        check_comma = true,
        highlight = "Search",
        highlight_grey = "Comment",
      },
    })

    -- Integrate with nvim-cmp: add ( after function completion
    cmp.event:on("confirm_done", cmp_autopairs.on_confirm_done())
  end,
},

Key Behaviors

Typed	Result	Cursor
(	()	inside
"	""	inside
{<CR>	{<CR>}<CR>	indented inside
<BS> inside ()	removes both	—
<M-e> on word	wraps in pair	—

2. nvim-surround — Add/Change/Delete Surroundings (⚪ Manual install)

The best surround plugin. Works on any delimiter, quotes, function calls, HTML tags, and custom pairs:

{
  "kylechui/nvim-surround",
  version = "*",
  event = "VeryLazy",
  opts = {
    keymaps = {
      insert          = "&lt;C-g&gt;s",    -- in insert mode
      insert_line     = "&lt;C-g&gt;S",
      normal          = "ys",        -- ys{motion}{char}
      normal_cur      = "yss",       -- yss{char} for current line
      normal_line     = "yS",
      normal_cur_line = "ySS",
      visual          = "S",         -- S{char} in visual mode
      visual_line     = "gS",
      delete          = "ds",        -- ds{char}
      change          = "cs",        -- cs{old}{new}
      change_line     = "cS",
    },
  },
},

Usage Examples

# Add surroundings:
ysw"           → surround word with double quotes: word → "word"
ys3w(          → surround 3 words with parens
ysiw[          → surround inner word with brackets
yss{           → surround current line with braces
ysiw&lt;em&gt;       → surround inner word in HTML tag: &lt;em&gt;word</em>

# Change surroundings:
cs"'           → change " to ': "hello" → 'hello'
cs({           → change ( to {: (args) → {args}
cs"&lt;strong&gt;    → change quote to HTML tag

# Delete surroundings:
ds"            → delete surrounding quotes: "hello" → hello
ds(            → delete surrounding parens: (args) → args
dst            → delete surrounding HTML tag: &lt;p&gt;text</p> → text

# Visual mode:
viw S"         → select inner word, surround with "
V S&lt;div&gt;       → select line, surround with div tag

3. Comment.nvim — Toggle Comments (⚪ Manual install)

{
  "numToStr/Comment.nvim",
  keys = {
    { "gcc", mode = "n", desc = "Comment line" },
    { "gbc", mode = "n", desc = "Block comment line" },
    { "gc",  mode = "v", desc = "Comment selection" },
    { "gb",  mode = "v", desc = "Block comment selection" },
  },
  opts = {
    padding = true,
    sticky = true,
    ignore = "^$",    -- ignore blank lines
    mappings = {
      basic = true,
      extra = true,
    },
    pre_hook = function(ctx)
      -- Use treesitter-context-commentstring if available
      local ok, tsc = pcall(require, "ts_context_commentstring.integrations.comment_nvim")
      if ok then return tsc.create_pre_hook()(ctx) end
    end,
  },
},

-- Context-aware comments for embedded languages (JSX, PHP+HTML, etc.)
{
  "JoosepAlviste/nvim-ts-context-commentstring",
  lazy = true,
  opts = { enable_autocmd = false },
},

Usage

n:  gcc         → toggle comment on current line
n:  gc3j        → comment current + 3 lines down
n:  gco         → add comment on line below
n:  gcO         → add comment on line above
n:  gcA         → add comment at end of line
v:  gc          → toggle comment on selection
v:  gb          → block comment on selection

Context-Aware Comments

With ts_context_commentstring, comments use the correct syntax for mixed files:

<!-- In &lt;template&gt; section of Vue: uses HTML comment -->
&lt;div&gt;content</div>

// In &lt;script&gt; section: uses JS comment
const x = 1

4. Flash.nvim — Fast Cursor Jumping (🟢 LazyVim included)

Flash replaces traditional f/t/s motions with a visual label-based jump system:

{
  "folke/flash.nvim",
  event = "VeryLazy",
  opts = {
    labels = "asdfghjklqwertyuiopzxcvbnm",
    search = {
      mode = "fuzzy",
      incremental = true,
    },
    jump = {
      jumplist = true,
      pos = "start",
      history = false,
      register = false,
      nohlsearch = false,
      autojump = false,
    },
    label = {
      uppercase = false,
      exclude = "",
      current = true,
      after = true,
      before = false,
      style = "overlay",
      reuse = "lowercase",
      distance = true,
      min_pattern_length = 0,
      rainbow = { enabled = false, shade = 5 },
    },
    highlight = {
      backdrop = true,
      matches = true,
      priority = 5000,
      groups = {
        match = "FlashMatch",
        current = "FlashCurrent",
        backdrop = "FlashBackdrop",
        label = "FlashLabel",
      },
    },
    modes = {
      -- enhanced f/t/F/T
      char = {
        enabled = true,
        autohide = true,
        jump_labels = true,
        multi_line = true,
        label = { exclude = "hjkliardc" },
        char_actions = function(motion)
          return {
            [";"] = "next",
            [","] = "prev",
            [motion:lower()] = "next",
            [motion:upper()] = "prev",
          }
        end,
        search = { wrap = false },
        highlight = { backdrop = false },
        jump = { register = false },
      },
      treesitter = {
        labels = "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz",
        jump = { pos = "range" },
        search = { incremental = false },
        label = { before = true, after = true, style = "inline" },
        highlight = { backdrop = false, matches = false },
      },
    },
  },
  keys = {
    { "s",     mode = { "n", "x", "o" }, function() require("flash").jump() end, desc = "Flash jump" },
    { "S",     mode = { "n", "x", "o" }, function() require("flash").treesitter() end, desc = "Flash treesitter" },
    { "r",     mode = "o",               function() require("flash").remote() end, desc = "Remote Flash" },
    { "R",     mode = { "o", "x" },      function() require("flash").treesitter_search() end, desc = "Treesitter search" },
    { "&lt;c-s&gt;", mode = { "c" },           function() require("flash").toggle() end, desc = "Toggle flash search" },
  },
},

How Flash Works (🟢 LazyVim included)

Type: s         → activates flash jump mode
Type: fun       → highlights all "fun" matches with labels (a, b, c...)
Type: c         → jump to the match labelled 'c'

Type: S         → treesitter jump
                → labels entire syntax nodes (functions, classes, blocks)

Operator mode:
dS              → delete + treesitter select → pick a node to delete
ySiw)           → surround inner word after jumping

5. mini.nvim — 40+ Micro Plugins in One (🟢 LazyVim included)

mini.nvim is a collection of small, focused plugins. Use only the modules you need:

{
  "echasnovski/mini.nvim",
  version = false,
  config = function()
    -- mini.ai: better text objects (extends i/a with more targets)
    require("mini.ai").setup({
      n_lines = 500,
      custom_textobjects = {
        -- whole buffer
        B = function()
          local from = { line = 1, col = 1 }
          local to = {
            line = vim.fn.line("$"),
            col = math.max(vim.fn.getline("$"):len(), 1),
          }
          return { from = from, to = to }
        end,
      },
    })

    -- mini.move: move lines/selections with Alt+hjkl
    require("mini.move").setup({
      mappings = {
        left  = "&lt;M-h&gt;",
        right = "&lt;M-l&gt;",
        down  = "&lt;M-j&gt;",
        up    = "&lt;M-k&gt;",
        line_left  = "&lt;M-h&gt;",
        line_right = "&lt;M-l&gt;",
        line_down  = "&lt;M-j&gt;",
        line_up    = "&lt;M-k&gt;",
      },
    })

    -- mini.pairs: alternative to nvim-autopairs (lighter)
    -- require("mini.pairs").setup()

    -- mini.splitjoin: split/join arguments (gS to split, gJ to join)
    require("mini.splitjoin").setup({
      mappings = { toggle = "gs" },
    })

    -- mini.bufremove: safer buffer deletion that keeps window open
    require("mini.bufremove").setup()
    vim.keymap.set("n", "&lt;leader&gt;bd", function()
      require("mini.bufremove").delete(0, false)
    end, { desc = "Delete buffer" })

    -- mini.hipatterns: highlight patterns (TODO, FIXME, hex colors)
    local hipatterns = require("mini.hipatterns")
    hipatterns.setup({
      highlighters = {
        fixme     = { pattern = "%f[%w]()FIXME()%f[%W]", group = "MiniHipatternsFixme" },
        hack      = { pattern = "%f[%w]()HACK()%f[%W]",  group = "MiniHipatternsHack" },
        todo      = { pattern = "%f[%w]()TODO()%f[%W]",  group = "MiniHipatternsTodo" },
        note      = { pattern = "%f[%w]()NOTE()%f[%W]",  group = "MiniHipatternsNote" },
        -- highlight hex colors inline
        hex_color = hipatterns.gen_highlighter.hex_color(),
      },
    })

    -- mini.indentscope: animated indent scope indicator
    require("mini.indentscope").setup({
      symbol = "│",
      options = { try_as_border = true },
      draw = { animation = require("mini.indentscope").gen_animation.none() },
    })
  end,
},

mini.nvim Module Reference (🟢 LazyVim included)

Module	Purpose	Alternative
mini.ai	Extended text objects	treesitter-textobjects
mini.move	Move lines/selections	—
mini.pairs	Auto-pairs	nvim-autopairs
mini.surround	Surround	nvim-surround
mini.comment	Toggle comments	Comment.nvim
mini.bufremove	Safe buffer delete	—
mini.splitjoin	Split/join args	splitjoin.vim
mini.hipatterns	Pattern highlights	todo-comments
mini.indentscope	Animated indent	indent-blankline
mini.sessions	Session management	auto-session
mini.starter	Dashboard	alpha-nvim
mini.files	File manager	oil.nvim
mini.diff	Inline diff	gitsigns
mini.statusline	Status line	lualine
mini.tabline	Buffer tabs	bufferline
mini.map	Code minimap	—
mini.clue	Key hints	which-key

6. Todo-comments.nvim — Highlight TODOs (🟢 LazyVim included)

{
  "folke/todo-comments.nvim",
  dependencies = { "nvim-lua/plenary.nvim" },
  event = { "BufReadPost", "BufNewFile" },
  keys = {
    { "]t",          function() require("todo-comments").jump_next() end, desc = "Next TODO" },
    { "[t",          function() require("todo-comments").jump_prev() end, desc = "Prev TODO" },
    { "&lt;leader&gt;ft",  "&lt;cmd&gt;TodoTelescope&lt;cr&gt;", desc = "Find TODOs" },
    { "&lt;leader&gt;fT",  "&lt;cmd&gt;TodoTrouble&lt;cr&gt;",   desc = "TODO list (Trouble)" },
  },
  opts = {
    signs = true,
    sign_priority = 8,
    keywords = {
      FIX  = { icon = " ", color = "error",   alt = { "FIXME", "BUG", "FIXIT", "ISSUE" } },
      TODO = { icon = " ", color = "info" },
      HACK = { icon = " ", color = "warning" },
      WARN = { icon = " ", color = "warning", alt = { "WARNING", "XXX" } },
      PERF = { icon = "󰅒 ", color = "hint",    alt = { "OPTIM", "PERFORMANCE", "OPTIMIZE" } },
      NOTE = { icon = "󰋽 ", color = "hint",    alt = { "INFO" } },
      TEST = { icon = "⏲ ", color = "test",    alt = { "TESTING", "PASSED", "FAILED" } },
    },
    highlight = {
      multiline = true,
      multiline_pattern = "^.",
      multiline_context = 10,
      before = "",
      keyword = "wide",
      after = "fg",
      pattern = [[.*<(KEYWORDS)\s*:]],
      comments_only = true,
    },
  },
},

Usage in code:

-- TODO: implement this feature
-- FIXME: this breaks when x is nil
-- HACK: workaround for upstream issue #123
-- NOTE: this is intentional behavior
-- PERF: consider caching this result

In LazyVim

LazyVim Context

LazyVim automates the setup for most of the popular plugins discussed here. By leveraging lazy.nvim, it provides a deeply integrated out-of-the-box experience where core plugins (like Telescope, Neo-tree, and Lualine) are pre-configured with sensible defaults and keymaps, while others can be easily enabled via :LazyExtras.

Aspect	Vanilla Neovim	LazyVim
Plugin Installation	Manual via lazy.nvim or packer	Pre-bundled or enabled via :LazyExtras
Keymaps	Manually defined	Unified mappings under <leader>
Configuration	Manual setup() calls	Auto-configured, override via opts

1. nvim-autopairs — Smart Bracket Completion (⚪ Manual install)​

Key Behaviors​

2. nvim-surround — Add/Change/Delete Surroundings (⚪ Manual install)​

Usage Examples​

3. Comment.nvim — Toggle Comments (⚪ Manual install)​

Usage​

Context-Aware Comments​

4. Flash.nvim — Fast Cursor Jumping (🟢 LazyVim included)​

How Flash Works (🟢 LazyVim included)​

5. mini.nvim — 40+ Micro Plugins in One (🟢 LazyVim included)​

mini.nvim Module Reference (🟢 LazyVim included)​

6. Todo-comments.nvim — Highlight TODOs (🟢 LazyVim included)​

In LazyVim​

Related LazyVim Docs​

What's Next​