Vi style keybindings in iex

[sbdchd]

In ipython, irb, and thepython REPL, Vi style keybindings can be enabled via the .inputrc file.

However, this doesn't work with iex.

Environment

• Elixir version (elixir -v): 1.2.4
• Operating system: OSX 10.10.5

[parkerl]

I'm not sure this is the right place for this issue but I have had good luck with rlwrap and vi bindings on OS X. I have this alias alias iex='rlwrap -m ''\'' -a dummy iex. Sorry I don't have access to all my dotfiles right now, can't remember how I have vi bindings enabled.

[josevalim]

It is not possible because we are tied to Erlang's bindings and it is not high priority to do so. :)

[parkerl]

@sbdchd .inputrc is picked up by rlwrap. Using the alias above you can set vi mode and it works well for me in iex.

#.inputrc
set editing-mode vi

[arcseldon]

You lose auto-completion, but rlwrap does work as others have pointed out. More info here:

https://elixirforum.com/t/iex-vi-command-line-editing/3365

https://gist.github.com/jfreeze/8894279

You cannot have vi bindings through rlwrap AND command completion at the same time.
The author of rlwrap explains the reason here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/9210931/is-there-a-way-of-running-rlwrap-with-tab-completion-disabled