Neovim 0.12 Configuration

A minimal yet essential Neovim configuration built for modern development workflows. This setup prioritizes keyboard-centric navigation, LSP-native features, and a clean, distraction-free editing experience.

Philosophy

• Minimal but Essential: Only plugins that directly enhance productivity
• Modern Neovim 0.12: Leverages native LSP (vim.lsp.config/vim.lsp.enable) instead of lspconfig wrappers
• Keyboard-First: Tmux-style keybindings, no mouse dependency
• Transparent UI: All colorschemes use terminal background
• Performance: Lazy loading, disabled unnecessary built-ins, optimized for fast startup

Architecture

Core Structure

~/.config/nvim/
├── init.lua                 # Entry point: sets leader keys, loads config
├── lua/
│   ├── config/
│   │   ├── lazy.lua        # Plugin manager bootstrap
│   │   ├── options.lua     # Editor settings (folding, UI, behavior)
│   │   ├── keymaps.lua     # Global keybindings
│   │   └── autocmds.lua    # Auto-commands (highlight yank, restore cursor, etc.)
│   └── plugins/
│       ├── lsp-lang.lua    # LSP configuration (Java, Go, Rust, TS, Lua)
│       ├── treesitter.lua  # Syntax highlighting
│       ├── completion.lua  # Blink.cmp for autocompletion
│       ├── formatting.lua  # Conform.nvim for code formatting
│       ├── snacks.lua      # Picker, dashboard, git, terminal
│       ├── coding.lua      # Comments, surround, gitsigns
│       ├── explorer.lua    # Oil.nvim file explorer
│       ├── colorscheme.lua # 6 colorschemes with transparency
│       ├── lualine.lua     # Statusline
│       └── ...
├── KEYBINDINGS.md          # Comprehensive keybinding reference
└── README.md               # This file

Plugin Manager: Lazy.nvim

• Auto-bootstrap: Clones itself on first run
• Lazy loading: Plugins load on events (BufReadPost, InsertEnter, etc.)
• Performance optimizations: Disables unused built-ins (netrw, gzip, tutor, etc.)
• Spec-based: All plugins in lua/plugins/*.lua are auto-imported

Core Components

1. LSP & Debug (lsp-lang.lua, debug.lua)

Modern Neovim 0.12 native LSP + nvim-dap debugging:

• Java, Go, Rust, TypeScript, Lua support
• Auto-install via Mason
• Format on save with Conform.nvim
• Debug with F-keys (F5/F9/F10/F11/F12)
• UI panels for variables, call stack, console

See LSP.md for complete setup and usage.

2. Treesitter (treesitter.lua)

Configuration:

• lazy=false, priority=1000 to load before LSP (fixes first-file highlighting)
• 21 languages pre-configured (Java, Go, Rust, TS, Lua, etc.)
• auto_install=false to avoid bloat (manual parser installation)
• Textobjects for smart selections (vaf, vif, vac, vic)
• Incremental selection with <C-space>

Why Treesitter First:

• Prevents race condition where first opened file has no syntax highlighting
• LSP loads at priority 900 (after treesitter)

3. Completion (completion.lua)

Blink.cmp:

• Modern, fast completion engine
• Sources: LSP → Path → Buffer → Snippets
• Auto-brackets for functions/methods
• Signature help while typing
• Keybindings: <CR> to accept, <C-y> alternative, <Tab>/<S-Tab> to navigate

Why Blink over nvim-cmp:

• Faster performance
• Better LSP integration
• Simpler configuration

4. Formatting (formatting.lua)

Conform.nvim:

• Format on save with 500ms timeout
• LSP fallback if no formatter configured
• Per-language formatters:
  • Lua: stylua
  • Java: google-java-format
  • JS/TS/React: prettier
  • Go/Rust: LSP formatting

Integration:

• gq operator uses Conform (e.g., gqap formats paragraph)
• :Format command for manual formatting
• <leader>f keybinding (unified across LSP and Conform)

5. File Explorer (explorer.lua)

Oil.nvim:

• Edit directories like buffers (Vim-native workflow)
• - opens parent directory
• <leader>-- opens floating window
• <C-h>/<C-l> disabled to allow window navigation
• <C-r> to refresh

Why Oil over Neo-tree:

• Vim-like editing (delete files with dd, rename with cw)
• No tree UI complexity
• Minimal and fast

6. Snacks.nvim (snacks.lua)

All-in-one QoL plugin:

• Picker: Fuzzy finder (files, grep, buffers, git, LSP symbols)
• Dashboard: Startup screen with quick actions
• Git: Lazygit integration, blame line
• Terminal: Toggle terminal with <C-/>
• Notifier: Notification system
• Zoxide: Project navigation (<leader>fp)

Key Keybindings:

• <leader>ff - Find files
• <leader>fg - Grep
• <leader>fb - Buffers
• <leader>fp - Projects (zoxide)
• <leader>gg - Lazygit
• <C-/> - Toggle terminal

7. Colorschemes (colorscheme.lua)

6 Colorschemes (all with transparent=true):

1. onedark (default)
2. tokyonight
3. catppuccin
4. nightfox
5. kanagawa
6. rose-pine

Switch: <leader>sC opens colorscheme picker

8. Coding Enhancements (coding.lua)

• Comment.nvim: gcc to comment line, gc in visual mode
• nvim-surround: ys, cs, ds for surroundings
• gitsigns: Git hunks in sign column, stage/reset hunks
• todo-comments: Highlight TODO/FIXME/NOTE, jump with ]t/[t

9. Options (options.lua)

Key Settings:

• Folding: LSP-based (foldmethod=expr, foldexpr=vim.lsp.foldexpr())
• No swap files: swapfile=false, backup=false, writebackup=false
• Persistent undo: undofile=true, undolevels=10000
• Line numbers: Relative + absolute
• Scroll offset: scrolloff=4 (keep 4 lines visible)
• Global statusline: Single statusline for all windows
• Smooth scrolling: For wrapped lines
• Clipboard: Syncs with system (except over SSH)

10. Keymaps (keymaps.lua)

Window Management (Tmux-style):

• <leader>w| - Split vertical
• <leader>w- - Split horizontal
• <leader>wx - Close window
• <leader>wr - Resize mode (hjkl to resize, smart edge detection)
• <C-h/j/k/l> - Navigate windows

Buffer Navigation:

• <S-h>/<S-l> - Previous/next buffer
• <leader>bb - Switch to alternate buffer
• <leader>bd - Delete buffer

Editing:

• <A-j>/<A-k> - Move lines up/down
• J/K in visual mode - Move selection up/down
• </> in visual mode - Indent (stays in visual mode)
• Visual paste (p) - Doesn't yank deleted text

Quickfix/Location List:

• [q/]q - Navigate quickfix
• <leader>xq - Close quickfix
• <leader>xl - Close location list

Other:

• <Esc> - Clear search highlight
• <C-s> - Save file (works in insert/normal/visual)
• n/N - Next/prev search (centered and unfolded)

See KEYBINDINGS.md for complete reference.

11. Autocmds (autocmds.lua)

• Highlight on yank: Brief highlight when yanking text
• Restore cursor position: Jump to last edit location on file open
• Auto-resize windows: Equal splits on terminal resize
• Close with q: For help, qf, man, etc.
• Wrap and spell: For text files (markdown, gitcommit)
• Auto-create directories: When saving to non-existent path
• JSON conceallevel fix: Disable concealing in JSON files

Language Support

LSP & Debugging: Java, Go, Rust, TypeScript, Lua

Quick Start:

• LSP keybindings: gd (definition), K (hover), gra (actions), grn (rename)
• Debug keybindings: F5 (start), F9 (breakpoint), F10/F11/F12 (step)
• Format: <leader>f

See LSP.md for detailed configuration and troubleshooting.

Debugging & Troubleshooting

Check Health

:checkhealth                    " All plugins
:checkhealth nvim-treesitter    " Treesitter
:checkhealth lsp                " LSP

View Logs

:messages          " All messages
:Lazy log          " Plugin manager logs
:LspLog            " LSP logs
:LspInfo           " Attached LSP clients
:ConformInfo       " Available formatters

Treesitter

:Inspect           " Show treesitter info under cursor
:InspectTree       " Show syntax tree
:EditQuery         " Edit treesitter queries

Common Issues

First file has no syntax highlighting:

• Fixed by setting treesitter lazy=false with priority=1000

Java imports not folding:

• Requires LSP to compute folds first
• Uses vim.lsp.foldexpr wrapper to detect when folds are ready
• Only runs once per buffer via vim.b[bufnr].imports_folded flag

Multi-module Maven project errors:

• Ensure root detection finds parent pom (.git → mvnw → gradlew)
• Clear workspace cache: rm -rf ~/.local/share/jdtls-workspace/
• Restart Neovim

LSP not attaching:

• Check :LspInfo for client status
• Verify Mason installed tools: :Mason
• Check root detection: :lua print(vim.lsp.get_clients()[1].config.root_dir)

Installation

1. Backup existing config:

   mv ~/.config/nvim ~/.config/nvim.bak

2. Clone this config (via chezmoi or directly):

   # Via chezmoi
   chezmoi init git@github.com:craftyprash/mysetup.git
   chezmoi apply
   
   # Or directly
   git clone <repo> ~/.config/nvim

3. Install Neovim 0.12+:

   # macOS
   brew install neovim
   
   # Arch Linux
   sudo pacman -S neovim

4. Install dependencies:

   • Nerd Font: For icons (e.g., JetBrainsMono Nerd Font)
   • ripgrep: For grep picker (brew install ripgrep)
   • fd: For file picker (brew install fd)
   • lazygit: For git UI (brew install lazygit)
   • zoxide: For project navigation (brew install zoxide)

5. Launch Neovim:

   nvim

   • Lazy.nvim auto-installs on first run
   • Mason auto-installs LSP servers and formatters
   • Treesitter parsers install manually: :TSInstall <language>

Customization

Add a Language

1. Add LSP config in lsp-lang.lua:

   vim.lsp.config("pyright", {
     settings = { python = { analysis = { typeCheckingMode = "basic" } } }
   })
   vim.lsp.enable({ "pyright", ... })

2. Add formatter in formatting.lua:

   formatters_by_ft = {
     python = { "black" },
   }

3. Install tools via Mason:

   ensure_installed = { "pyright", "black", ... }

Change Colorscheme

Edit colorscheme.lua:

config = function()
  require("onedark").setup({ transparent = true })
  vim.cmd("colorscheme onedark")  -- Change this line
end

Modify Keybindings

Edit keymaps.lua:

map("n", "<leader>ff", function() Snacks.picker.files() end, { desc = "Find Files" })

Performance

• Startup time: ~50-80ms (measured with nvim --startuptime)
• Lazy loading: Most plugins load on events, not at startup
• Disabled built-ins: netrw, gzip, tutor, etc.
• Treesitter: No auto-install to avoid bloat
• LSP: Native Neovim 0.12 implementation (no lspconfig overhead)

Credits

• Neovim: Modern Vim-based editor
• Lazy.nvim: Fast plugin manager by @folke
• Snacks.nvim: QoL plugin collection by @folke
• Blink.cmp: Fast completion engine by @saghen
• nvim-jdtls: Java LSP integration by @mfussenegger
• Oil.nvim: File explorer by @stevearc
• Conform.nvim: Formatter by @stevearc

License

MIT