What is the intended use case for the s command in normal mode?
I've been looking at it for some time, inadvertently pressing s, but can't find any use case that would make sense for me.
I don't think there's a more specific use mode than to delete the character under the cursor and enter insert mode. By using a number modifier you can delete several characters before entering insert mode. E.g. if you want to change foobar into fubar, then I would set to cursor to f, and press 3sfu. Of course, you don't need to use s, you could also do e.g. ctbu. I guess you can always get away without using s. That being said, I use s very often.
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1I use it to avoid "delete something then enter insert" separately. It's nice to be able to hit v for highlight, then 4e to highlight 4 words, then hit s and start typing. – user859 Mar 29 '17 at 10:43
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1I don't use
sthat way because I don't like moving too often that far up the keyboard for editing stuff. I would usecfor that. That being said, I was wondering if there's some other intended use case. It just fells against the vim way I got used to. – Dumitru Mar 29 '17 at 11:12 -
1@Dumitru Can you touch type numbers? Cause that's the only reason I see to "don't like moving too ofthen that far up the keyboard". – user1685095 Mar 30 '17 at 21:32
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@user1685095, Yeah, I can. What do you mean with the only reason? The inability or the ability? – Dumitru Mar 30 '17 at 21:50
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s is short for cl which is mentioned in help s:
["x]s Delete [count] characters [into register x] and start
insert (s stands for Substitute). Synonym for "cl"
(not linewise).
I've mapped s to my own command and haven't missed the default 'substitute' so far.
