buffmark

Why [▮▮▮▯][buff][mark]

I like keeping things minimal, using built-ins instead of large plugins. (netrw user spoted here)

Neovim already has bookmarks (global marks) for jumping between files, but they are stored in shada, a shared data file on disk. That means marks are global and persistent across sessions, which is not ideal when you just want quick, temporary pins.

You could use Harpoon which is larger, persistent, and feature-rich. If that suits you, go for it. This script is a few lines of Lua that keep bookmarks only in memory, simple and local, and gone when you quit.

It is not meant to grow or be configurable beyond its four-bookmark limit.
It remains light, simple, and quietly useful.

[▮▮▮▯][buff][mark][buff][▮▮▮▯][mark][▮▮▮▯][mark][buff][▮▮▮▯][buff][mark][buff][▮▮▮▯][mark][▮▮▮▯][mark][buff]

Installation

lazy.nvim:

return {
    "navahas/buffmark",
    config = function()
        -- config here --
    end,
}

builtin (nvim 0.12+ nightly):

vim.pack.add({
    { src = "https://github.com/navahas/buffmark" },
})

vim.cmd.packadd('buffmark')

-- config here --

Or just copy lua/buffmark.lua to your ~/.config/nvim/lua/ directory, adding respective require.

Configuration

local buffmark = require('buffmark')

-- Setup with key to toggle (open/close) the bookmark list
buffmark.setup({
    toggle_key = "<leader>l"
})

-- Set your other keymaps at wish
vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>a", buffmark.add, { desc = "Bookmark add" })
vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>bc", buffmark.clear, { desc = "Bookmark clear" })
-- Set jump keymaps
vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>1", function() buffmark.jump(1) end, { desc = "Bookmark 1" })
vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>2", function() buffmark.jump(2) end, { desc = "Bookmark 2" })
vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>3", function() buffmark.jump(3) end, { desc = "Bookmark 3" })
vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>4", function() buffmark.jump(4) end, { desc = "Bookmark 4" })
-- Another handy option could be
-- vim.keymap.set("n", "<C-h>", function() buffmark.jump(1) end, { desc = "Bookmark 1" })
-- vim.keymap.set("n", "<C-j>", function() buffmark.jump(2) end, { desc = "Bookmark 2" })
-- vim.keymap.set("n", "<C-k>", function() buffmark.jump(3) end, { desc = "Bookmark 3" })
-- vim.keymap.set("n", "<C-l>", function() buffmark.jump(4) end, { desc = "Bookmark 4" })

Usage

• buffmark.add() — add current buffer
• buffmark.jump(i) — jump to slot i (1–4)
• buffmark.list() — toggle popup
• buffmark.remove(i) — remove slot i
• buffmark.clear() — clear all

In the popup: 1-4 or <CR> jump · r replace · dd delete · q or toggle key to close

Contributions

Contributions that simplify or refine the existing logic are welcome. If you want to tweak it much further or extend it, fork or copy it.

If you have a minimal idea that fits the same spirit, open an issue. I would love to hear it and might add it, or encourage you to do so. I am also open to keeping dedicated branches for ideas that some might enjoy but do not fit my use case.

Ideas not pursued (but you might want to try):

• Quickfix integration

Add bookmarks to a quickfix list for batch navigation

• Editable mark list

Allow editing the popup buffer like Harpoon does. This is trickier since buffmarks are in-memory, not file-backed. You would need to generate a temp file, let the user edit it, then parse and rebuild the bookmark list (or hook into buffer close to call buffmark.clear() and re-add in the new order)

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That's all folks. Stay light. Stay focused.