Nvim

Neovim

LazyVim + Claude Code workflow for non-Cursor open source coding

nvim dotfiles

Philosophy

Code manually in nvim (left pane) with subtle AI assistance, while Claude Code handles big refactors in a separate tmux pane (right). Robot edits files → nvim auto-reloads → review changes instantly.

┌─────────────────┬─────────────────┐
│ nvim (manual)   │ Claude Code     │
│ - Ghost text AI │ - Big refactors │
│ - Hot reload    │ - File edits    │
│ - Diffview      │ - Commits       │
└─────────────────┴─────────────────┘

Why not Cursor?

• Nvim muscle memory preserved
• Complete control over AI integration
• No vendor lock-in
• tmux + ssh workflow stays intact
• Works on remote servers seamlessly
• OSC52 clipboard works over SSH

Hot Reload System

The killer feature. When Claude Code edits files, nvim reloads them automatically.

Files:

• lua/custom/directory-watcher.lua - Native fs_event monitoring
• lua/custom/hotreload.lua - Smart buffer reload logic
• lua/custom/git-diff-hotreload.lua - Diffview auto-refresh

How it works:

1. Claude Code edits a file in right pane
2. Directory watcher detects change (200ms debounce)
3. Nvim reloads visible buffers (only if unmodified)
4. Statusline shows green ⟳ for 5 seconds
5. Notification: "📝 File reloaded (Claude Code edit)"

Safety:

• Never reloads modified buffers (won't lose unsaved work)
• Skips special buffers (neo-tree, diffview, terminals)
• Ignores .git/, node_modules/, swap files

Lazygit Integration

Critical to the workflow. Lazygit is the bridge between reviewing Claude's changes and committing them.

Access from anywhere:

• <leader>gg — Open lazygit in floating tmux popup (snacks.nvim)
• Works from any nvim buffer, any tmux pane
• Full-screen TUI for staging, committing, branching

Why lazygit matters:

• Claude Code makes changes → you review in diffview → stage/commit in lazygit
• Interactive staging: pick exactly which hunks to commit
• Amend commits, rebase, cherry-pick - all without leaving the terminal
• Visual branch management
• Integrates with delta for beautiful diffs

Flow:

1. Claude edits files
2. <leader>gd to review in diffview
3. <leader>gg to open lazygit
4. Stage changes (space), write commit message, commit (c-c)
5. Back to coding

Diffview Integration

Review all robot changes with one keystroke.

Key	Action
<leader>gd	Open diffview (review all changes)
<leader>gh	File history
<leader>gc	Close diffview
]c / [c	Jump between changes
Tab	Cycle through files

Auto-refresh: When Claude Code commits, diffview refreshes automatically.

Three-Layer AI System

1. Copilot — Inline ghost text for line-level suggestions
   • Tab to accept, ]s/[s to cycle
   • No popup menus, old school ghost text
2. Avante — Claude Sonnet 4 chat in sidebar
   • <leader>aa — Ask about code
   • <leader>ae — Edit/refactor selection
3. Claude Code — Full agent in tmux pane
   • Hot reload integration
   • Diffview for reviewing changes

Copilot Keybindings

Key	Action
Tab	Accept full suggestion
]s / [s	Cycle through suggestions
C-Right	Accept one word
C-l	Accept one line
C-]	Dismiss

Inline Git Diff

Plugin: mini.diff - shows deleted lines inline

Key	Action
gh	Apply hunk
gH	Reset hunk
[h / ]h	Navigate hunks
<leader>go	Toggle diff overlay

Statusline

File: lua/plugins/minimal-statusline.lua

Symbol	Color	Meaning
●	Red	Unsaved changes
⟳	Green	Just reloaded by Claude Code (5 sec)
AI	Gray	Copilot attached
Δ	Blue	Diffview open

Also shows: file path (last 2 dirs + filename), line count, diagnostics, LSP icons.

Yank With Context

Share code with Claude Code including file path:

• <leader>yr → Yank with relative path
• <leader>ya → Yank with absolute path

Output: src/file.ts:42-55 with fenced code block

Essential Plugins

Navigation

Oil.nvim — Filesystem as a buffer

-        Open parent directory
<CR>     Open file/directory
g.       Toggle hidden files

Harpoon — Quick access to marked files

<leader>ha    Add file to harpoon
<leader>hh    Toggle harpoon menu
<leader>h1-4  Jump to file 1-4

vim-tmux-navigator — Seamless pane navigation

Ctrl-h/j/k/l    Move between nvim splits AND tmux panes

Git

Lazygit — Full git TUI (see above)

<leader>gg    Open lazygit popup

Gitsigns — Change indicators in sign column

Git-conflict — Visual merge conflict handling

co    Choose ours
ct    Choose theirs
cb    Choose both
[x/]x Jump between conflicts

Editing

nvim-surround — Surround text objects

ysiw"    Wrap word in quotes
cs"'     Change " to '
ds"      Delete surrounding quotes

Focus

Zen-mode — Distraction-free writing

Twilight — Dim inactive code blocks

Training Mode

Hardtime — Vim motion coaching:

• Blocks hjkl spam after 1 press
• Arrow keys disabled
• Hints for better motions

CLI Aliases

v     # Just nvim
n     # nvim . (open with oil.nvim)
vs    # Fuzzy find files with bat preview
vg    # Grep contents, fuzzy find, open file
o     # Obsidian vault fuzzy finder
r     # Recent files across ALL ~/code projects

The Complete Flow

1. Write code in nvim (left pane)
2. Claude Code refactors in right pane
3. Files auto-reload, statusline shows ⟳
4. <leader>gd — review changes in diffview
5. <leader>gg — open lazygit, stage & commit
6. Back to coding

No context switching. No mouse. No leaving the terminal.

LazyVim Quick Reference

Mental model: Windows are viewports (where you look), buffers are files in memory (what you're editing).

Windows & Splits

Key	Action	Notes
<leader>-	Split below	Stack two views
	Split right	Vertical split
<leader>wd	Close current split	Keeps buffers alive
<leader>wm	Zoom/maximize split	tmux-zoom vibe, toggle back
Ctrl + arrows	Resize split	Fast pane resizing
Ctrl-w x	Swap windows	When you like buffers but hate layout
Ctrl-w o	Close all other windows	Keep only current view

Buffers

Key	Action	Notes
Shift-h / Shift-l	Prev/next buffer	Two-file ping-pong
<leader>bb	Toggle other buffer	Flip between last two
<leader>,	Buffer picker	When you have too many open
<leader>bo	Delete other buffers	Clear mental clutter
<leader>bD	Delete buffer AND window	Gone from everywhere
<leader>bp / <leader>bP	Pin buffer / nuke non-pinned	Keep active files sacred
<leader>bl / <leader>br	Delete buffers left/right	Brutal tabline cleanup

Fast Navigation

Key	Action	Notes
<leader><space>	Find files	Open file without knowing path
<leader>fr	Recent files	"I was just there" time machine
<leader>/	Grep project	Find text across repo
<leader>sB	Grep open buffers only	Search files you already have open
<leader>ss	Jump to symbol in file	Go to function/section instantly
<leader>sk	Search your keymaps	Meta: look up bindings

See Also

• Dotfiles
• CLI
• VPS
• SSH