Keybindings
Vim commands, conventional chords, and the leader palette — all first-class.
Noteside is keyboard-first: drive it with full vim, or with the conventional chords you already know. The chords are always on, so they work even with vim enabled. Every command below comes from one table, so the three ways to reach it — ex-command, chord, and leader key — never drift apart.
Three places to search
These are easy to mix up:
⌘P— find files & content across the notebook (fuzzy)⌘⇧F— search note contents (grep, with a preview pane)⌘F— find in the current note (toggles the in-note search bar)
See Search for the difference.
Conventional chords
Don't use vim? Turn it off (set vim = off in your ~/.notesiderc, or the settings
panel) and these are all you need. They stay available with vim on, too.
| Chord | Command |
|---|---|
⌘P | Find files & content |
⌘⇧P | Command palette (searchable) |
⌘⇧F | Search note contents (grep) |
⌘F | Find in the current note (toggle) |
F3 / ⇧F3 | Next / previous search match |
⌘N | New note |
⌘S | Save note |
⌘W | Close note |
⌘⇧T | Reopen closed note |
⌘J / ⌘K | Next / previous note |
⌘O | Switch notebook |
⌥↵ | Open URL under cursor |
⌘B | Toggle the sidebar |
⌘E | Toggle inline live-preview |
⌘= / ⌘- | Editor font larger / smaller |
⌘0 | Editor font reset |
⌘⇧= / ⌘⇧- | Interface larger / smaller |
⌘, | Settings panel |
⌘/ | Keyboard cheatsheet |
⌘ is Cmd on macOS, Ctrl elsewhere. Forgot one? ⌘/ opens the cheatsheet — which also
edits them (see Editing shortcuts below). Or remap with
bind <chord> <command> in ~/.notesiderc — see Configuration.
Vim commands
Standard vim throughout. On top of that, these ex-commands and motions are wired to the app:
| Command | Does |
|---|---|
:w :q :wq | Save · close note · save & close (:x too) |
:find (:files) | Fuzzy file & content finder |
:grep | Search note contents |
gx / :follow | Open the URL under the cursor in the browser |
:new / :rm | New note · delete note (asks to confirm) |
:dup · :rename | Duplicate · rename the current note |
:reveal | Reveal the note's file in the OS file manager |
:notebook (:nb) | Switch, open, or create a notebook |
:preview | Toggle inline live-preview |
:theme | Theme picker (also vim's :colorscheme/:colo) |
:nav | Toggle the sidebar |
:commands | Open the searchable command palette |
:settings :config | Settings panel · edit ~/.notesiderc |
:help | Keyboard cheatsheet |
:set … | CodeMirror-vim options (e.g. :set hlsearch) |
Insert-escape (e.g. jj) and your own nmap/imap/vmap mappings live in
~/.notesiderc and apply on :w.
Right-click a note
A right-click on a note in the sidebar opens a native menu — Open, Reveal in Finder/Explorer, Duplicate, Rename…, and Delete — the same actions as the commands above. Delete and Rename open a small confirmation / input dialog.
The <Space> leader palette
Tap <Space> in normal mode to open a which-key menu, then a single key:
| Key | Command |
|---|---|
<Space> f | Find files & content |
<Space> g | Search note contents |
<Space> n | New note |
<Space> q | Close note |
<Space> d | Delete note |
<Space> o | Switch notebook |
<Space> b | Toggle the sidebar |
<Space> p | Toggle live-preview |
<Space> t | Theme picker |
<Space> , | Settings |
<Space> c | Edit ~/.notesiderc |
Discovering commands
Three surfaces help you find your way:
⌘⇧P— command palette. A searchable list of every command (also:commands).<Space>— which-key menu. In vim normal mode, shows the leader keys above as you start typing.⌘/— cheatsheet. A searchable list of every chord and command — type to filter it down.
Editing shortcuts
The ⌘/ cheatsheet doubles as a live keymap editor — no config file needed. Open it
(or Settings → Keys → Edit keys). It leads with a search box: type to filter the
list (by command name or :ex-command), then ↑/↓ to pick a command and:
- Enter — record a new chord (press the keys; a clash is flagged inline, with Replace / Cancel). While recording, Backspace unbinds the command instead.
- ⟲ on the selected row resets that command to its default; Reset all keys (footer) restores every default.
Changes apply instantly and persist to ~/.notesiderc as bind lines, so the file and
the editor never drift.