Neovim Habits Layer

Before the plugins arrive, the editor already has manners. This layer is where Neovim learns how to sit, look around, clean up, and not panic.

Settings

lua/settings.lua is full of small sensory choices:

Setting area	Intent
Buffers	Hidden buffers stay alive, so switching files is cheap.
Splits	New windows open right and below, matching reading direction.
Search	Smartcase and live substitution previews make search safer.
UI	Relative numbers, cursorline, whitespace markers, and high scrolloff keep location obvious.
State	Backups, swap, and undo live under Neovim data paths.
Diagnostics	Virtual text, signs, and sorted diagnostics keep errors visible without owning the screen.
Providers	Unused Perl and Ruby providers are disabled to reduce startup noise.

The config also disables netrw because file management is handed to Oil.

lua/keymappings.lua edits Vim muscle memory without turning the keyboard into a puzzle box.

Useful patterns include:

Key idea	Why it exists
`Y` yanks to end of line	Makes `Y` behave like `D` and `C`.
`Q` disabled	Avoids accidental Ex mode.
`n` and `N` recenter	Search results land in the middle of the room.
`Esc` clears search	The screen calms down quickly.
Terminal window navigation	Terminal buffers behave like normal splits.
Visual `J` and `K` move blocks	Rearranging code stays tactile.

Command abbreviations fix common capitalized saves like :W and :Q.

lua/autocommands.lua is the caretaker:

Autocmd	Why it exists
Yank highlight	Confirms that a yank happened.
Disable diagnostics in `node_modules`	Avoids screaming inside vendored dependency forests.
Filetype fixes	Teaches Neovim about Fortran, R Markdown, notebooks, shell variants, Salt, and more.
Markdown wrap	Writing notes feels like prose, not log output.
`q` and `Esc` close utility buffers	Help, quickfix, and test panels leave politely.
Python write hook	Runs import cleanup helpers when available.

These habits are not flashy. They are the floorboards. You notice them mostly when they are missing.