Switching between files in Vim without fuzzy-finding everything

Source: Dev.to

Fast Navigation in Vim/Neovim

Most of the time, fuzzy‑finding isn’t what you need. You already know which file you want — you were just there. The real problem is getting back to it quickly.
Below is a progression from the fastest built‑ins to a full fuzzy picker, ordered by how much setup each requires.

1. “ – Toggle the file you were just in

Best for: jumping between exactly two files (e.g., auth.go ↔ auth_test.go).

• Switches to the alternate file, i.e. the last buffer you had open.
• No filename to type, no fuzzy search, no menu – just one keystroke back where you were.
• Example: you jump to a test file with gd, read the implementation, then press “ to land back in the original file, cursor exactly where you left it.

Limitation: only remembers one previous file. Opening a third buffer discards the older entry. For two‑file back‑and‑forth it’s unbeatable; for broader navigation you’ll need something else.

2. Global marks – mA, 'A – Pin files you return to constantly

Best for: 2‑3 files you keep revisiting during a session (e.g., config, main_handler, test).

" Set a global mark (uppercase = global, persists across files)
mA

" Jump to it from anywhere
'A

• Uppercase marks (mA … mZ) are global: they remember both the file and the line number.
• Press 'A from any buffer to jump directly to that exact line.
• Example: while working on a feature you frequently need routes.go. Press mR once on the relevant line; later 'R gets you there instantly.

Persistence: global marks survive Vim sessions (saved in ~/.viminfo or ~/.local/share/nvim/shada/main.shada). Stale marks can accumulate, so clean them occasionally:

:delmarks A-Z

3. / – Retrace your navigation history

Best for: walking back through a chain of jumps (e.g., gd → gd → search).

   " jump back (older position in jump list)
   " jump forward (newer position)

• Vim maintains a jump list – a history of every position you jumped to via gd, gg, /pattern, 'mark, etc.
• “ steps backward through that list, crossing file boundaries (like a browser back button).
• “ moves forward again.

Tip: use :jumps to view the full list and see where you’ll land.

Caveat: the jump list records positions, not intent. If you’ve been jumping a lot, “ may step through many intermediate stops before reaching the desired spot.

4. Built‑in buffer commands – :b, ]b / [b, :ls

Best for: quick switching when you know part of a filename.

:ls                " list all open buffers with numbers and names
:b partial         " switch to buffer by partial filename match
:b 3               " switch to buffer number 3
]b                 " next buffer (requires vim‑unimpaired or a mapping)
[b                 " previous buffer

• :b tab‑completes buffer names, so :b auth jumps to auth.go without typing the full name.
• :ls gives a quick overview when you’re unsure which buffers are open.
• ]b / [b are handy for cycling through a small set of buffers sequentially (you can map them yourself if you don’t have vim‑unimpaired).

Note: :b partial matches against the full path, not just the filename, so two files with similar paths may cause ambiguous completions. Use :ls first to check buffer numbers if needed.

5. MRU buffer picker – wildmode=lastused + wildcharm

Best for: a no‑plugin “most‑recently‑used” buffer selector.

" In your vimrc/init.vim
set wildmenu
set wildmode=lastused
set wildcharm=

" Optional mapping
nnoremap b :b 

• wildmode=lastused reorders buffer completions so the most recently used buffers appear first.
• wildcharm= tells Vim which key triggers wildmenu expansion inside mappings (Tab doesn’t work in mappings by default).
• Press b and the wildmenu shows the last file you edited; hit “ again for the one before that.

Compatibility: lastused is available in Vim 9.1+ and modern Neovim. Older Vim versions lack it – check :help 'wildmode' for availability.

6. Harpoon (Neovim only) – Persistent, project‑aware slots

Best for: a curated list of 4‑6 files you work with throughout the day, surviving restarts.

" Add current file to Harpoon list
:lua require('harpoon.mark').add_file()

" Open the Harpoon quick‑menu
:lua require('harpoon.ui').toggle_quick_menu()

" Jump directly to slot 1‑4
1  2  3  4

• Global marks give you 26 slots tied to specific line numbers, but Harpoon provides a small, numbered list that stays the same across sessions.
• The list is project‑aware (scoped to the Git root), so each project gets its own set of slots.
• Example workflow: at the start of the day, add handler.go, service.go, service_test.go, and schema.sql to Harpoon. Throughout the day, 1‑4 jump to those files instantly, regardless of how many other buffers you open.

Requirements: Neovim with Lua configuration. Harpoon does not work in Vim.

Summary Table

Pick the method that matches your workflow: start with the built‑ins (“ , marks, jump list), then graduate to MRU completion, and finally to a dedicated plugin like Harpoon when you need a stable, cross‑session shortlist of files. Happy navigating!

Fuzzy Search Over the Pinned Files – Telescope Integration

:Telescope buffers — fuzzy search over all open buffers

:Telescope buffers

Recommended binding

nnoremap fb Telescope buffers

The Telescope buffer picker shows all open buffers with their numbers and modification state ([+] for unsaved changes).

• Filter in real time – type any substring.
• Delete a buffer – press “ while the picker is open (removes the buffer from the list without leaving the picker). This is handy for trimming stale buffers during a long session.

Example
You’ve been working for three hours and have 15 buffers open. You need to get back to a migration file but can’t remember the exact name. Type migr in the picker and it narrows immediately to the one you want.

Vim (non‑Neovim) alternative

If you’re on vanilla Vim, fzf.vim’s :Buffers command provides essentially the same picker. Neither requires you to know buffer numbers—just type enough of the name and pick.

Workflow tips

These techniques stack:

• “ – switch to the last file.
• 'A / 'B – jump to pinned files you visit constantly.
• “ – retrace after diving into definitions.
• b – quick MRU‑ordered list when you have a few buffers open.
• :Telescope buffers – search across many buffers.

The sweet spot for most people is “ + global marks + wildmode=lastused — zero plugins, huge improvement over the default behavior.

Further reading: Full explanations are available on vimtricks.wiki.

Question: What file‑switching workflow are you currently using that still feels clunky?