Moving from Helix to Runyte

Runyte uses Helix’s selection-first model. Many motions carry over; search, macros, and some selection commands differ.

Start with familiar editing

Use h/j/k/l to move, w/b/e for word motions, and v to enter Select mode. d deletes a selection, c changes it, and i enters Insert mode. Press Esc to return to Normal mode. Commands apply to multiple selections.

Run :tutorial for an interactive introduction. Space ? opens contextual help; starting a command prefix displays its next keys.

Search selects all matches

Runyte’s s searches for a case-insensitive literal, while / accepts a regular expression. Both select every match in the search region. If a selection spans two or more characters, the search stays within the selected regions; otherwise it searches the buffer.

To rename text everywhere:

1. Press s, type old_name, and press Enter.
2. Press c and type new_name.
3. Press Esc.

Literal search treats punctuation as text; foo( needs no escaping.

Press n or N after a search to reduce the selection to the next or previous match. * selects occurrences of the current word or selection as a case-sensitive literal.

? is not reverse search in Runyte. In a Markdown buffer it switches between source and a formatted page.

Macros live under Space m

q and Q are unbound in ordinary editable buffers. Use Space m m to start recording the default macro, repeat those keys to stop, and use Space m r to replay. Space m l lists recorded macros. Named recordings and replay use Space m M and Space m R, followed by a register.

Check selection and paste behavior

Yanking with y collapses each selection to a caret on the last copied character. p at a caret pastes after it; with text still selected, p replaces that selection. P pastes before the selection without replacing it.

Split selections into carets at line ends with Space s e, or at line starts with Space s b. These produce carets rather than one selected range per line. Selection filtering uses Space s k to keep regex matches and Space s r to remove them.

Add terminals and persistent projects

Ctrl-w t opens a terminal in the active pane. Ctrl-w h/j/k/l moves between panes even while typing into a terminal; Ctrl-\ leaves terminal input and i resumes it. Space n opens the Navigator from editor modes, and Ctrl-w n also works in Terminal Insert.

Start with runyte -a to keep your workspace running after :detach. See persistent terminal workspaces and using coding agents for complete examples.

The user guide documents the current defaults. The detailed Helix keymap comparison records implemented commands, deviations, and unsupported behavior.