EzMode

EzMode is a plugin for Visual Studio Code that brings the power of modal editing, without the steep learning curve. Edit faster than ever, with or without a mouse.

One reason modal editing is so fast is that it reduces hand movement, such as reaching for arrow keys after typing. EzMode takes this further: when your right hand is on the mouse, you can still perform all essential editing actions without moving your left hand. This allows some really fast editing:

Features

• Built for modern IDEs
• Tiny core, powerful actions
• Fully customizable modes and keybindings
• No Ctrl or Alt needed
• Git mode and diff navigation
• Built-in tutorial and cheat sheet

What is modal editing?

It adds modes to your keyboard. In type mode, the c key types the letter c, but in EzMode it copies, and in git mode it commits.

Keyboard layout

View on Keyboard Layout Editor

All motion keys are on the right, so your right hand moves the cursor, whether on the keyboard or the mouse.

Common actions like copy/paste/undo/save are on the keys everyone already knows.

Getting Started

1. Install the extension
2. Open the tutorial in VS Code by clicking the mode indicator in the bottom-right corner.

Customization

The full keymap is defined in base.ezmoderc, which you can override with your own .ezmoderc file.

Key mappings use this format:

map {mode} {key} {actions}

mode

The mode in which the key mapping is active. Built-in modes include ez, type, select, and git, but you can define your own as well.

key

The character that has to be "typed" to trigger the action. Naturally, uppercase means holding shift.

Ctrl/Alt shortcuts are not characters and are not handled by EzMode.

Special key values:

• default: The default key mapping, which will be triggered by any key that does not have a mapping for the given mode.
• space: The spacebar
• enter: The enter key
• lt / gt: The < or > key
• entermode: Triggered when entering the mode
• exitmode: Triggered when exiting the mode

actions

A string of one or more actions with no separators.

You can map an action to the parent keymap by typing its key, or you can use base actions enclosed in angle brackets:

• <vscode SomeCommandId>: Invoke a VSCode command.
• <mode somemode>: Switch to a different mode
• <write Hello world!>: Insert a string into the editor
• <popup Hello world!>: Show a notification
• <native>: Insert the key into the editor
• <ofmode somemode>: Let another mode handle the same key
• <set varname value>: Set a custom variable to a value
• <nothing>: Do nothing

Variables

In actions that take a text argument, you can use variables enclosed in ${}, for example: <write Hello, ${filename}!>.

• Custom variables: set in your config using set varname value
• Built-in variables: mode, key, caretindex, line, column, selection, clipboard, filename, projectname
• Escape sequences: space, tab, nl (newline), doubleslash (for //)

Examples

Map C (Shift + c) in ez mode to select all (A) and copy (c):

map ez C Ac

Create a mode that types every character twice:

map doubletype default <native><native>
map ez X <mode doubletype>

More practical examples can be found in the .ezmoderc template

Comparison with other modal editors

Compared to Vim or Kakoune, EzMode focuses on adding customizable modes without changing the editor's fundamental behavior. It doesn't change how copy/paste works, and it doesn't use a block cursor, only changing the cursor color to indicate mode.

EzMode avoids Ctrl and Alt entirely for ergonomics and simplicity. This makes it easier to learn and configure while preserving your existing editor shortcuts.

EzMode also uses the more intuitive ijkl layout for arrow-key movement instead of hjkl. It also uses object-verb style like Kakoune, rather than Vim's verb-object style. A few common examples: