Productivity and Utility Plugins

These plugins address everyday productivity needs — note-taking, refactoring helpers, undo visualization, multi-cursor operations, and other utilities that make daily editing smoother.

1. obsidian.nvim — Zettelkasten Note-Taking

Obsidian.nvim turns Neovim into a first-class Obsidian-compatible note editor with wiki links, completions, templates, and search:

lua/plugins/productivity.lua

return {
  {
    "epwalsh/obsidian.nvim",
    version = "*",
    ft = "markdown",
    dependencies = { "nvim-lua/plenary.nvim" },
    opts = {
      workspaces = {
        {
          name = "personal",
          path = "~/notes/personal",
        },
        {
          name = "work",
          path = "~/notes/work",
        },
      },

      daily_notes = {
        folder = "journal/daily",
        date_format = "%Y-%m-%d",
        alias_format = "%B %-d, %Y",
        default_tags = { "daily-notes" },
        template = "templates/daily.md",
      },

      completion = {
        nvim_cmp = true,
        min_chars = 2,
      },

      mappings = {
        ["gf"] = {
          action = function()
            return require("obsidian").util.gf_passthrough()
          end,
          opts = { noremap = false, expr = true, buffer = true },
        },
        ["<cr>"] = {
          action = function()
            return require("obsidian").util.smart_action()
          end,
          opts = { buffer = true, expr = true },
        },
        ["<C-Space>"] = {
          action = function()
            return require("obsidian").util.toggle_checkbox()
          end,
          opts = { buffer = true },
        },
      },

      new_notes_location = "notes_subdir",
      wiki_link_func = "use_alias_only",
      preferred_link_style = "wiki",
      disable_frontmatter = false,

      note_frontmatter_func = function(note)
        local out = { id = note.id, aliases = note.aliases, tags = note.tags }
        if note.metadata ~= nil and not vim.tbl_isempty(note.metadata) then
          for k, v in pairs(note.metadata) do
            out[k] = v
          end
        end
        return out
      end,

      templates = {
        folder = "templates",
        date_format = "%Y-%m-%d",
        time_format = "%H:%M",
        substitutions = {},
      },

      note_id_func = function(title)
        local suffix = ""
        if title ~= nil then
          suffix = title:gsub(" ", "-"):gsub("[^A-Za-z0-9-]", ""):lower()
        else
          for _ = 1, 4 do suffix = suffix .. string.char(math.random(65, 90)) end
        end
        return tostring(os.time()) .. "-" .. suffix
      end,

      ui = {
        enable = true,
        update_debounce = 200,
        max_file_length = 5000,
        checkboxes = {
          [" "] = { char = "󰄱", hl_group = "ObsidianTodo" },
          ["x"] = { char = "", hl_group = "ObsidianDone" },
          [">"] = { char = "", hl_group = "ObsidianRightArrow" },
          ["~"] = { char = "󰰱", hl_group = "ObsidianTilde" },
          ["!"] = { char = "", hl_group = "ObsidianImportant" },
        },
        bullets = { char = "•", hl_group = "ObsidianBullet" },
        external_link_icon = { char = "", hl_group = "ObsidianExtLinkIcon" },
        reference_text = { hl_group = "ObsidianRefText" },
        highlight_text = { hl_group = "ObsidianHighlightText" },
        tags = { hl_group = "ObsidianTag" },
        block_ids = { hl_group = "ObsidianBlockID" },
        hl_groups = {
          ObsidianTodo      = { bold = true, fg = "#f78c6c" },
          ObsidianDone      = { bold = true, fg = "#89ddff" },
          ObsidianRightArrow = { bold = true, fg = "#f78c6c" },
          ObsidianTilde     = { bold = true, fg = "#ff5370" },
          ObsidianImportant = { bold = true, fg = "#d73128" },
          ObsidianBullet    = { bold = true, fg = "#89ddff" },
          ObsidianRefText   = { underline = true, fg = "#c792ea" },
          ObsidianExtLinkIcon = { fg = "#c792ea" },
          ObsidianTag       = { italic = true, fg = "#89ddff" },
          ObsidianBlockID   = { italic = true, fg = "#89ddff" },
          ObsidianHighlightText = { bg = "#75662e" },
        },
      },
    },
    keys = {
      { "<leader>on",  "<cmd>ObsidianNew<cr>",          desc = "New Obsidian note" },
      { "<leader>oo",  "<cmd>ObsidianOpen<cr>",         desc = "Open in Obsidian app" },
      { "<leader>of",  "<cmd>ObsidianSearch<cr>",       desc = "Search notes" },
      { "<leader>oq",  "<cmd>ObsidianQuickSwitch<cr>",  desc = "Quick switch note" },
      { "<leader>od",  "<cmd>ObsidianDailies<cr>",      desc = "Daily notes" },
      { "<leader>ot",  "<cmd>ObsidianTemplate<cr>",     desc = "Insert template" },
      { "<leader>ol",  "<cmd>ObsidianLinks<cr>",        desc = "Show links" },
      { "<leader>ob",  "<cmd>ObsidianBacklinks<cr>",    desc = "Show backlinks" },
      { "<leader>oL",  "<cmd>ObsidianLinkNew<cr>",      desc = "Link to new note" },
      { "<leader>op",  "<cmd>ObsidianPasteImg<cr>",     desc = "Paste image" },
      { "<leader>ox",  "<cmd>ObsidianExtractNote<cr>",  mode = "v", desc = "Extract to new note" },
    },
  },
}

---

2. inc-rename.nvim — Live Preview Rename

Shows a preview of renamed symbols as you type (before confirming):

{
  "smjonas/inc-rename.nvim",
  cmd = "IncRename",
  config = function()
    require("inc_rename").setup({
      input_buffer_type = "dressing",   -- use dressing.nvim for input
      preview_empty_name = false,
      show_message = true,
      save_in_cmdline_history = true,
      post_hook = nil,
    })
    vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>lR", function()
      return ":IncRename " .. vim.fn.expand("<cword>")
    end, { expr = true, desc = "Rename (inc-rename)" })
  end,
},

---

3. undotree — Visual Undo History

Visualize Neovim's branching undo tree:

{
  "mbbill/undotree",
  cmd = "UndotreeToggle",
  keys = {
    { "<leader>uu", "<cmd>UndotreeToggle<cr>", desc = "Toggle undo tree" },
  },
  init = function()
    vim.g.undotree_WindowLayout     = 2       -- layout: 1-4
    vim.g.undotree_SplitWidth       = 35
    vim.g.undotree_DiffpanelHeight  = 10
    vim.g.undotree_SetFocusWhenToggle = 1
    vim.g.undotree_ShortIndicators  = 0
    vim.g.undotree_HelpLine         = 1
    vim.g.undotree_DiffAutoOpen     = 1
    vim.g.undotree_TreeNodeShape    = "*"
    vim.g.undotree_TreeVertShape    = "|"
    vim.g.undotree_TreeSplitShape   = "/"
    vim.g.undotree_TreeReturnShape  = "\\"
    vim.g.undotree_RelativeTimestamp = 1
  end,
},

---

4. nvim-treesitter-context — Sticky Function Header

Shows the function/class context at the top of the screen when scrolled inside a long function:

{
  "nvim-treesitter/nvim-treesitter-context",
  event = { "BufReadPost", "BufNewFile" },
  opts = {
    enable = true,
    max_lines = 3,             -- max sticky context lines
    min_window_height = 0,
    line_numbers = true,
    multiline_threshold = 20,
    trim_scope = "outer",
    mode = "cursor",           -- cursor | topline
    separator = nil,
    zindex = 20,
    on_attach = nil,
  },
  keys = {
    { "<leader>uc", "<cmd>TSContextToggle<cr>", desc = "Toggle treesitter context" },
    { "[C", function() require("treesitter-context").go_to_context() end, desc = "Go to context" },
  },
},

---

5. persistence.nvim — Lightweight Session Management

{
  "folke/persistence.nvim",
  event = "BufReadPre",
  opts = {
    dir = vim.fn.expand(vim.fn.stdpath("state") .. "/sessions/"),
    options = { "buffers", "curdir", "tabpages", "winsize", "help", "globals", "skiprtp" },
    pre_save = nil,
    save_empty = false,
  },
  keys = {
    { "<leader>qs", function() require("persistence").load() end,                desc = "Restore session" },
    { "<leader>qS", function() require("persistence").select() end,              desc = "Select session" },
    { "<leader>ql", function() require("persistence").load({ last = true }) end, desc = "Restore last session" },
    { "<leader>qd", function() require("persistence").stop() end,               desc = "Don't save session" },
  },
},

---

6. vim-visual-multi — Multiple Cursors

The most stable multi-cursor plugin for Neovim:

{
  "mg979/vim-visual-multi",
  event = { "BufReadPost", "BufNewFile" },
  init = function()
    vim.g.VM_maps = {
      ["Find Under"]          = "<C-n>",       -- select word, add cursor
      ["Find Subword Under"]  = "<C-n>",
      ["Select All"]          = "<C-A>",
      ["Add Cursor Down"]     = "<C-Down>",
      ["Add Cursor Up"]       = "<C-Up>",
      ["Undo"]                = "u",
      ["Redo"]                = "<C-r>",
    }
    vim.g.VM_theme = "ocean"
    vim.g.VM_highlight_matches = "underline"
    vim.g.VM_show_warnings = 0
    vim.g.VM_silent_exit = 1
  end,
},

Multi-cursor Usage

<C-n>        → select word under cursor, add cursor to each next match
<C-n> ...    → keep pressing to add more
<C-A>        → select ALL occurrences at once

In multi-cursor mode:
n / N        → go to next/prev match
q            → skip this match
Q            → remove cursor from this match
c            → change all occurrences

---

7. neogen — Auto-generate Documentation Comments

{
  "danymat/neogen",
  dependencies = { "nvim-treesitter/nvim-treesitter" },
  cmd = "Neogen",
  keys = {
    { "<leader>cn", function() require("neogen").generate() end, desc = "Generate docstring" },
  },
  opts = {
    snippet_engine = "luasnip",
    enabled = true,
    languages = {
      lua = { template = { annotation_convention = "emmylua" } },
      python = { template = { annotation_convention = "google_docstrings" } },
      javascript = { template = { annotation_convention = "jsdoc" } },
      typescript = { template = { annotation_convention = "tsdoc" } },
      php = { template = { annotation_convention = "phpdoc" } },
    },
  },
},

Cursor on a function/class → :Neogen or <leader>cn
→ auto-generates:
  Python: Google-style docstring with Args: Returns: sections
  JS/TS:  JSDoc /** @param */ block
  PHP:    PHPDoc /** @param @return */ block
  Lua:    EmmyLua ---@param ---@return annotations

---

8. vim-illuminate Alternatives: Highlight Word Plugins

-- mini.cursorword: highlight word under cursor everywhere
{
  "echasnovski/mini.cursorword",
  version = false,
  event = { "BufReadPost", "BufNewFile" },
  opts = { delay = 100 },
},

---

Plugin Quick Reference

Plugin	Purpose	Key trigger
obsidian.nvim	Zettelkasten notes	<leader>o prefix
inc-rename	Live symbol rename	<leader>lR
undotree	Visual undo history	<leader>uu
treesitter-context	Sticky context header	auto-on
persistence.nvim	Session save/restore	<leader>qs
vim-visual-multi	Multi-cursor	<C-n>
neogen	Docstring generation	<leader>cn
todo-comments	TODO highlighting	]t / [t
spectre	Project-wide find/replace	<leader>sr
twilight.nvim	Focus mode (dim inactive code)	<leader>tw
zen-mode.nvim	Distraction-free writing	<leader>zz

---

Zen Mode + Twilight — Focus Mode

{
  "folke/zen-mode.nvim",
  cmd = "ZenMode",
  keys = { { "<leader>zz", "<cmd>ZenMode<cr>", desc = "Zen mode" } },
  opts = {
    window = {
      backdrop = 0.95,
      width = 100,
      height = 1,
      options = {},
    },
    plugins = {
      options = { enabled = true, ruler = false, showcmd = false, laststatus = 0 },
      twilight = { enabled = true },
      gitsigns = { enabled = false },
      tmux = { enabled = false },
    },
  },
},
{
  "folke/twilight.nvim",
  cmd = { "Twilight", "TwilightEnable", "TwilightDisable" },
  keys = { { "<leader>tw", "<cmd>Twilight<cr>", desc = "Toggle twilight" } },
  opts = {
    dimming = { alpha = 0.25, color = { "Normal", "#ffffff" }, term_bg = "#000000", inactive = false },
    context = 10,
    treesitter = true,
    expand = { "function", "method", "table", "if_statement" },
    exclude = {},
  },
},

Back to Start

• Popular Plugins Overview
• Module 01: Introduction