##Bufstop

If you find yourself frequently switching back and forth between files, and looking for a faster way to do it, well, your journey has come to an end. Welcome to the Bufstop !

Bufstop is a plugin for faster buffer switching, built for efficiency and less keystrokes. It provides no less than 6 ways to display and switch buffers.

Here are some screenshots and a short demo.

##Elegant and fast

The :Bufstop command opens a new window at the bottom of the screen containing the list of current buffers, ordered by most recently used.Each buffer has an associated hotkey displayed besides it. When pressed, the correspoding buffer is loaded, with the focus remaining in the Bufstop window. This way you can quickly preview buffers with only 1 keystroke !

The Bufstop window is easily dismissed with the <Esc> key.

There is also a :BufstopFast command which opens the Bufstop window in the same way, but spares you the effort of pressing the <Esc> key : the window closes automatically after you select a buffer.

Tip: If you're using the recommended mappings (see below), ,b2 will always take you to the previously opened file (aka alternate buffer)

##Minimal mode

Don't like a pottentially huge file list popping on the screen? Use the :BufstopMode command. Buffers will be displayed in the command line, in the same order: by most recently used.

In this mode, you can only press numbers. Pressing 3 will take you to the 3rd recently used buffer. However here's the catch: because the 3rd buffer will now be first in the hierarchy, it's place will be taken by another buffer.
So pressing 33333.... will cycle between the last 3 buffers.
Similarly, 4444 will cycle the last 4 buffers, and so on.

Pressing <Esc> will dismiss the mode. There is a :BufstopModeFast alternative, which dismisses the mode once you select a buffer.

Tip: The first buffer labeled with 1 will always be the current file.

##On the statusline

The :BufstopStatusline command works the same way as :BufstopMode, but displays the buffers on the statusline. As before, there is a fast alternative, :BufstopStatuslineFast that will close the mode once you select something.

Tip: No worries, your old statusline is restored once you exit the mode.

##Extreme speed

The previous methods are cool, but they still require a mapping to bring up the buffer list (typically <leader>b).
Looking for a faster way? Use the :BufstopSpeedToggle command.

It creates the following mappings: <leader>2 opens the previous buffer, <leader>3 to open the 3rd recently used buffer, and so on.

Using :BufstopSpeedToggle again will clear out these mappings.

Tip: Pressing ,5,5,5... will cycle the last 5 buffers.

##Ultimate

The previous speed method requires 2 keys to open any arbitrary buffer. Too much? Put this in your vimrc:

let g:BufstopSpeedKeys = ["<F1>", "<F2>", "<F3>", "<F4>", "<F5>", "<F6>"]
let g:BufstopLeader = ""
let g:BufstopAutoSpeedToggle = 1

Yes, you guessed it. 1 key to open arbitrary buffers !

Once again, pressing <F4><F4><F4>... will cycle between the last 4 buffer.

Tip: Already had something mapped to <Fx>? Use :BufstopSpeedToggle to switch off these mapping. Bufstop will attempt to restore your old mapping (given that you didn't use noremap).

##Is there...a faster way?

Perhaps, using brain-wired electrodes, so that you wouldn't have to type anything. Seriously now, got other ideas on how to switch buffers? Open up an issue.

##Bonus

As a bonus, this plugin provides navigation history for each window.

Use the :BufstopBack and :BufstopForward to navigate this history.

##Recommended mappings

Hopefully we're not crazy to type in those long command names. You can use the below mappings or create your own:

map <leader>b :Bufstop<CR>             " get a visual on the buffers
map <leader>a :BufstopModeFast<CR>     " a command for quick switching
map <C-tab>   :BufstopBack<CR>
map <S-tab>   :BufstopForward<CR>
let g:BufstopAutoSpeedToggle = 1       " now I can press ,3,3,3 to cycle the last 3 buffers

##Don't like this plugin?

At least put this in your vimrc:

:map <leader>b :ls<CR>:b

It will display the buffer list and promt you for a number. Simple, but primitive, especially when you're dealing with a lot of files.

In addition to this plugin, you can use a fuzzy finder like CtrlP, which requires you to type parts of the file name.

##Reference documentation

###Commands:

• :Bufstop

Invokes the Bufstop window. Inside it, each buffer will have an associated hotkey that can be used to open the buffer.

• :BufstopFast

Same as :Bufstop, but the window is closed after you select a buffer.
In addition, the following key mappings are present in the Bufstop window:

d          wipe the selected buffer.
<CR>       Open the selected buffer.
<Esc>      Dismiss the Bufstop window
k,j        Move up/down to select a buffer.

• :BufstopMode

Display the most recently used buffers in the command line and enter Bufstop mode. In this mode you can press only a number coresponding to a buffer, or the <Esc> key which exists the mode. The number of displayed files can be configured using the g:BufstopModeNumFiles option.

• :BufstopModeFast

Same as :BufstopMode but exists the mode once a buffer is selected.

• :BufstopStatusline

Same as :BufstopMode but displays the list in the statusline. The old statusline is restored once the mode is dismissed.

• :BufstopStatuslineFast

Same as :BufstopStatusline but exists the mode once a buffer is selected.

• :BufstopSpeedToggle

Toggle speed mappings. The defaults are <leader>2 to go to the 2nd recently used buffer, <leader>3 to go to the 3rd, an so on. These can be configured using the g:BufstopSpeedKeys and g:BufstopLeader options.

• :BufstopBack

Opens the previous buffer in the navigation history for the current window.

• :BufstopForward

Opens the next buffer in the navigation history for the current window.

####Config

• g:BufstopSpeedKeys

Keys used to create speed mappings. The g:BufstopLeader will be appended to each key to create the mappig. Default: ["1", "2", "3", "4", "5", "6"]

• g:BufstopLeader

The key that is appended to the speed mappings. Default: "<leader>"

• g:BufstopModeNumFiles

The number of files to be displayed in the bufstop mode. Default is 8.

• g:BufstopAutoSpeedToggle

Mount the speed mappings automatically when loading the plugin. Default is 0.

• g:BufstopSplit

Location of Bufstop split in the buffer or window. Default is "botright".

"topleft"    : window horizontal up
"botright"   : window horizontal down
"leftabove"  : buffer horizontal up
"rightbelow" : buffer horizontal down