REPLica.vim

* Enjoy Jupyter through Vim! *

Introduction

Replica allows REPL shells such as IPython or Julia inside Vim in a seamless way.

It supports the following key features:

1. Send lines, files and code-cells to a REPL,
2. Highlight code-cells.

I wrote vim-replica because I always had problems with vim-slime under Windows and vim-REPL crashes too often when using the toggle function and I discovered jupyter-vim too late.

If you like this plugin you may also want to take a look at vim-outline.

Requirements

Replica is entirely written in Vim9script, hence you need at least Vim 9.0 compiled with python3 support.

You also need jupyter console and the kernels of the languages you would like to use.

That is pretty much all.

Usage

Commands

:ReplicaConsoleToggle - un-hide and hide the REPL.

:ReplicaConsoleRestart - restart the REPL.

:ReplicaConsoleShutoff - wipeout the buffer associated to the REPL.

:[range]ReplicaSendLines - send the lines in [range] to the REPL.

:ReplicaSendCell - send the current code-cell.

:ReplicaSendFile [{file}] - send {file} to the REPL. If no file is given, send the content of the current buffer.

:ReplicaRemoveCells - remove all the cells from the current buffer.

Mappings

By setting g:replica_use_default_mapping = true you will get the following mappings.

# Default mappings
nmap <F2> <Plug>ReplicaConsoleToggle<cr>

nmap <F9> <Plug>ReplicaSendLines<cr>
xmap <F9> <Plug>ReplicaSendLines<cr>

nmap <F5> <Plug>ReplicaSendFile<cr>

nmap <c-enter> <Plug>ReplicaSendCell<cr>j

Warning

Both the above commands and mappings work if they are run from a buffer whose filetype is supported.

Basic Configuration

# Default values
g:replica_display_range = false
g:replica_enable_highlight = true
g:replica_console_position = "L"
g:replica_console_height = &lines
g:replica_console_width = floor(&columns/2)
g:replica_kernels = {python: "python3",
                   julia: "julia-1.8"}
g:replica_cells_delimiters = { python: "# %%",
                             julia: "# %%"}
g:replica_jupyter_console_options = {
                    python: "",
                    julia: ""}

Adding new languages

At the moment Replica support python and julia but adding new languages should not be too difficult.

Say that you want to add foo language to Replica. You proceed in two steps:

1. Add a new key-value pair to the g:replica_kernels, g:replica_names, g:replica_jupyter_console_options, g:replica_cells_delimiters and g:replica_run_commands dictionaries. Take a look at :h replica.txt to understand how to set them.
2. Duplicate any existing file in vim-replica/ftplugin/ file and rename it as foo.vim. Note that foo must be a recognized vim filetype.

Done!
Your new language is now added to vim-replica! If you add a new language consider to issue a PR.

Note

You could also use the global ftplugin folder instead of the plugin vim-replica/ftplugin folder but that has not been tested yet.

Troubleshooting

Q: The REPL does not even start!

A: Ok, let's start with some basic checks:

1. run :echo has('python3'). The answer should be 1.
2. if you are using Windows, make sure that Python and Vim are both 32- or 64 bit.

Next, be sure that in the current virtual environment:

1. jupyter console is installed,
2. some ipython jupyter kernel (e.g. pyhon3) is installed,
3. vim is launched from this virtual environment.

Q: When I open the REPL the layout is horrible!

A: Set a desired value of g:replica_console_height and g:replica_console_width in your vimrc.
The units are number of lines and number of columns, respectively.

Q. Vim slow down a lot with this st"pid plugin!

A: You can try to set g:replica_alt_highlight = true in your vimrc.
Or, if still slow, you can try to disable the cells highlighting by setting g:replica_enable_highlight to false.

Q. I am using matplotlib and the figures are not interactive.

A: This is more a matplotlib setting than a replica problem. :) You should change the matplotlib backend. For example, you could use the magic %matplotlib qt to use the qt backend. See matplotlib docs for more info.

Q. Is it possible to embed figures in the console?

A: I am not a fan of inline figures, so I haven't tested but I will try to give you an answer anyway. In general, you cannot display pictures in terminal emulators, but there are some that allows you to do that (I think kitty is one but there should be others out there). Hence, to display inline figures I think that you need (but I may be wrong) the following:

1. A terminal emulator that support images display,
2. A library that allows inline figures.

Again, I prefer floating, interactive figure, but it you succeed in displaying inline figures while using Replica, out of curiosity, please let us know. :)

Q. When I call :ReplicaConsoleToggle the console window won't close.

A: Replica commands work if executed from a buffer with a supported filetype.
That is, if you have an IPYTHON console displayed in a window and you call :ReplicaConsoleToggle from a text filetype buffer, then nothing will happen. This because if you have a Python and a Julia console open and you are editing a .txt file, then which console should close? Python? Julia? Both? At the moment, you can close the window where the console is running with standard Vim commands such as <c-w>q, :close, :$close, etc. Such a behavior may change if there is a sufficiently large amount of users who wants that. :)

Q. Is it possible to copy from the REPL to a buffer?

A: Yes! If you <c-w>N in your REPL, then it becomes an ordinary buffer.
There you can yank everything you want.
To re-enable the REPL press i with the cursor located on the REPL window.

Q. How do I know which kernel is running on a given console?

A: Go on the open console, hit <c-w> and type :echo b:kernel_name.

Q. Is it possible to automatically change the REPL folder when I change

Vim folder?

A: Yes, but you need to define your own function, something like the following:

def ChangeTerminalDir()
    for ii in term_list()
        if bufname(ii) == "JULIA"
           term_sendkeys(ii, $'cd {getcwd()}\n")
        else
           term_sendkeys(ii, $'cd {getcwd()}\n')
        endif
    endfor
enddef

augroup DIRCHANGE
    au!
    autocmd DirChanged global ChangeTerminalDir()
augroup END

Note

The above function is an example and it has its own limitations. For example, it does not work the other way around, i.e. if you change folder from a terminal buffer then the Vim current folder won't change.

Contributing

Contributions are more than welcome!
In the source code there are TODO items. Feel free to address any of them or propose your own change.

Help

This README is a good start to get some insights on Replica, but you can find more info in :h replica.txt.

License

BSD3-Clause.