Epic: Vim as an explicit IDE preference

[loujaybee]

We currently have access to workspaces via SSH, however adding Vim would make it a first-class citizen as part of the Gitpod experience. Alongside this we should consider what we can do to ensure things like dotfiles are also setup, and that workspaces potentially already load with vim + other similar tools such as tmux. This would support experiments such as #6707 where vim configuration can be presented to the user as part of onboarding.

Relates to:

• Add tmux and neovim chunks and use them in the full image workspace-images#825
• Change default directory when SSH to workspace #9377
• Epic: Improved support for user-defined shells (e.g. fish / zsh, etc) #10105
• SSH as the default editor #17928

[gtsiolis]

@loujaybee I haven't researched this in depth about this yet, but here are some early designs on what I had in mind for #7713 (comment). Cc @josepjaume

Editors 🅰️	Editors 🅱️	Workspace Start

[josepjaume]

I love this @gtsiolis! I would personally go for the first option for consistency with the rest of the IDE options :). Can't wait to be able to use this!

[fcsonline]

The first option looks great! And when the workspace starts, the user would be able to choose an application to open the ssh links instead Vscode.

[loujaybee]

@fcsonline - what application(s) are you opening for your local terminal, currently? Do you open just one, or multiple applications (like your terminal) on desktop? Having this option certainly removes some friction for command-line users, but I'm also curious about what other desktop applications you're configuring outside of the IDE / editor itself.

[fcsonline]

Right now none, but this would let me to associate a script to open a Terminal and enter to the Gitpod automatically. It would awesome.

[axonasif]

Right now none, but this would let me to associate a script to open a Terminal and enter to the Gitpod automatically. It would awesome.

That indeed would be very awesome!
I'm just thinking, in order for such a thing to work, gitpod will need to use a trigger a custom URL scheme registered on the users local machine to pass the ball to the user for deciding what to do 🤔

[axonasif]

@loujaybee: alongside this we should consider what we can do to ensure things like dotfiles are also setup.

I think this is very relevant for ensuring a seamless experience as with VSCODE: #7592
You definitely don't want to wait for your (neo)vim setup or anything else to be finalized before your workspace can start.

While #8716 could be an alternative for this case, so users could just mount their pre-built .config/X, .cache/X and etc. dirs across workspace.

[fcsonline]

Right now none, but this would let me to associate a script to open a Terminal and enter to the Gitpod automatically. It would awesome.

That indeed would be very awesome! I'm just thinking, in order for such a thing to work, gitpod will need to use a trigger a custom URL scheme registered on the users local machine to pass the ball to the user for deciding what to do 🤔

Exactly. With a custom schema, we would be able to assign an application/script to do whatever. I would great!

[david-bakin]

As an emacs user I feel discriminated against. 😭

[axonasif]

Wanted to share a (unofficial) dotfiles based solution for this in case someone finds it useful for now.

gitpod_ssh_flow.compressed.mp4

• https://github.com/axonasif/dotsh

[stale]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had recent activity. It will be closed if no further activity occurs. Thank you for your contributions.

[sigmaSd]

Not stale

[henit-chobisa]

Gitpod-NVIM from Your Menubar ✌️

Building upon @axonasif's awesome dotsh config! 🧡

• [FEAT] Vim support gitpod-samples/Gitpod-Raycast-Extension#52

demo.vim.gitpod2.mov

[PabloScolpino]

Hi!

It would complement this feature to have the generated SSH command include the list of port forwards defined in the .gitpod.yml file. Not sure if this was considered, but since the default is going to be the SSH connection string dialog, and nothing else is going to be launched in the user's workstation, port translation would need to be addressed.

[axonasif]

Hi @PabloScolpino, I think you're looking for https://www.gitpod.io/blog/local-app
If you keep the local-companion-app program running in the background, it will take care of port forwarding for you.

Also, shameless plug: A wrapper around SSH for port forwarding: https://github.com/axonasif/gssh

[loujaybee]

Not entirely resolving this issue, but definitely related:

https://www.gitpod.io/changelog/code-in-the-terminal-without-leaving-your-browser!

Drop any feedback here: #17724

[jwpjrdev]

@loujaybee came here to say that!