vim basics (insert, command, save, quit) in Linux CLI - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

💻 Command Output

intermediate

What is the output after saving and quitting in Vim?

You open a file in Vim, enter insert mode, type Hello World, then save and quit. What will be the content of the file?

Linux CLI

vim example.txt
# In Vim:
# Press i
# Type Hello World
# Press Esc
# Type :wq
# Press Enter

A The file is empty

B The file contains the text: Hello World

C The file contains the text: :wq

D The file contains the text: iHello World

💡 Hint

Remember that typing i enters insert mode and :wq saves and quits.

Typing i enters insert mode where you can type text. Pressing Esc exits insert mode. The command :wq writes (saves) the file and quits Vim. So the file will contain exactly what you typed: Hello World.

💻 Command Output

intermediate

What happens if you quit Vim without saving?

You open a file in Vim, enter insert mode, type some text, then try to quit with :q. What will Vim do?

Linux CLI

vim example.txt
# In Vim:
# Press i
# Type Some text
# Press Esc
# Type :q
# Press Enter

A Vim will show a warning and not quit

B Vim will save changes and quit

C Vim will quit and discard changes

D Vim will enter insert mode again

💡 Hint

Think about what Vim does when you try to quit with unsaved changes.

If you try to quit with :q but have unsaved changes, Vim warns you and refuses to quit to prevent data loss. You must use :q! to quit without saving or :wq to save and quit.

📝 Syntax

advanced

Which Vim command saves the file without quitting?

You want to save your changes in Vim but keep editing. Which command do you use?

A :w

B :q

C :wq

D :x

💡 Hint

Think about the command that writes changes but does not exit.

The :w command writes (saves) the file but keeps Vim open. :q quits, :wq saves and quits, :x saves and quits if changes were made.

💻 Command Output

advanced

What is the effect of pressing in Vim?

You are in insert mode typing text in Vim. What happens when you press the key?

A You quit Vim

B You save the file

C You exit insert mode and return to normal mode

D You enter visual mode

💡 Hint

Think about how to stop typing text and use commands.

Pressing exits insert mode and returns you to normal mode where you can run commands like saving or quitting.

🚀 Application

expert

How to save a file with a new name and quit Vim?

You opened a file in Vim but want to save your changes to a new file named newfile.txt and then quit. Which command do you use?

A :w newfile.txt

B :wq newfile.txt

C :saveas newfile.txt

D :w newfile.txt | :q

💡 Hint

Think about how to write to a new file and then quit in two steps.

The command :w newfile.txt writes the current buffer to newfile.txt but does not quit. The command :q quits Vim. Combining them with | runs both commands in sequence.

Practice

1. What key do you press to switch from insert mode to command mode in Vim?

easy

A. Enter

B. Ctrl+C

C. Esc

D. Tab

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Vim modes

   Vim has two main modes: insert mode for typing and command mode for commands.

2. Step 2: Identify the key to switch modes

   Pressing Esc exits insert mode and returns to command mode.

3. Final Answer:

   Esc -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Esc switches to command mode [OK]

Hint: Press Esc to leave insert mode quickly [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Pressing Enter instead of Esc
• Using Ctrl+C which interrupts
• Pressing Tab expecting mode change

2. Which of the following is the correct command to save changes in Vim without quitting?

easy

A. :x

B. :q

C. :wq

D. :w

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Vim save commands

   In Vim, :w writes (saves) the file without quitting.

2. Step 2: Differentiate from quit commands

   :q quits, :wq saves and quits, :x also saves and quits but is less common.

3. Final Answer:

   :w -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   :w saves without quitting [OK]

Hint: Use :w to save, :q to quit [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using :q to save
• Confusing :wq with just save
• Using :x without knowing it quits

3. You open a file in Vim, press i to insert text, type "Hello", then press Esc and enter :wq. What happens?

medium

A. The text "Hello" is saved and Vim quits

B. The text "Hello" is discarded and Vim quits

C. Vim saves but stays open

D. Vim quits without saving

Solution

1. Step 1: Insert and exit insert mode

   Pressing i enters insert mode, typing "Hello" adds text, pressing Esc returns to command mode.

2. Step 2: Use :wq command

   :wq saves the file and quits Vim.

3. Final Answer:

   The text "Hello" is saved and Vim quits -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   :wq saves and quits [OK]

Hint: Use :wq to save and exit Vim [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting to press Esc before :wq
• Using :q without saving
• Expecting :wq to only save

4. You typed text in Vim but accidentally typed :q and Vim shows an error "No write since last change". What should you do to quit without saving?

medium

A. :wq

B. :q!

C. :w

D. :exit

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the error message

   "No write since last change" means Vim won't quit because changes are unsaved.

2. Step 2: Use force quit command

   Typing :q! forces Vim to quit without saving changes.

3. Final Answer:

   :q! -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   :q! quits without saving [OK]

Hint: Use :q! to quit without saving changes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using :q which fails
• Trying :w to save then quit
• Typing :exit which is invalid

5. You want to quickly add the line "# TODO" at the start of a file in Vim, save, and quit. Which sequence of keys and commands is correct?

hard

A. Press I, type "# TODO", press Esc, then :wq

B. Press o, type "# TODO", press Esc, then :q

C. Press a, type "# TODO", press Esc, then :w

D. Press i, type "# TODO", press Esc, then :wq

Solution

1. Step 1: Insert text at start of line

   Pressing I (capital i) enters insert mode at the start of the current line.

2. Step 2: Type text, exit insert mode, save and quit

   Type "# TODO", press Esc to exit insert mode, then :wq to save and quit.

3. Final Answer:

   Press I, type "# TODO", Esc, then :wq -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   I inserts at line start, :wq saves and quits [OK]

Hint: Use I to insert at line start, then :wq to save and quit [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using i inserts before cursor, not line start
• Using o inserts new line below
• Using :q quits without saving