Files
neovim/runtime/tutor/tutor.tutor
Nathan Zeng dbdd73e846 refactor(tutor): use inline comments instead of json file #39714
Problem: Expected text for interactive marks is in a separate json file
from the tutor file. When the tutor file is updated, line numbers
(potentially many) have to be updated in the json file. This is a
burden for maintenance and automatic testing.

Solution: Put the expected text inline in the tutor file, marked
with `[[]]`. Parse and remove the comments before opening the tutor
file so extmarks can be applied.
2026-05-13 07:31:17 -04:00

231 lines
5.9 KiB
Plaintext

# CREATING A VIM TUTORIAL WITH VIM-TUTOR-MODE
This tutorial will guide you through the steps required to create a tutorial
file for vim-tutor-mode. It is also meant as a demo of vim-tutor-mode
capabilities.
Table of contents:
- [Setting up](*setting-up*)
- [vim-tutor-mode's markup](*markup*)
- [emphasis](*emphasis*)
- [headers](*headers*)
- [links](*links*)
- [codeblocks](*codeblocks*)
- [Interactive elements](*interactive*)
- [expect](*expect*)
## SETTING UP *setting-up*
Create a new .tutor file (we will be practicing on this very file, so you don't
need to do this now):
~~~ cmd
:e new-tutorial.tutor
~~~
## VIM-TUTOR-MODE's MARKDOWN *markup*
vim-tutor-mode uses a subset of markdown's syntax to format the tutorials. The
subset supported should be enough for most tutorials and the maintainers will
try to keep it as small as possible (if regular markdown allows for several
ways to do the same thing, tutor markdown will only provide the one the
maintainers think is easier to handle).
### Emphasis *emphasis*
For emphasized text (italics), as in normal markdown, you use \*. E.g.:
\*text\*
is displayed like
*text*
Note: The underscores variant is not supported.
For strong emphasis (bold), you use \*\*. E.g.:
\*\*this\*\*
is displayed like
**this**
1. Format the line below so it becomes a lesson description:
This is text with important information [[This is text with **important information**]]
This is text with **important information** [[This is text with **important information**]]
Note: Some words (e.g., NOTE, IMPORTANT, tip, ATTENTION, etc.) will also be
highlighted. You don't need to mark them specially.
2. Turn the line below into a TODO item:
Document '&variable' [[TODO: Document '&variable']]
TODO: Document '&variable' [[TODO: Document '&variable']]
### Headers *headers*
3. Practice fixing the lines below:
This is a level 1 header [[# This is a level 1 header]]
# This is a level 1 header [[# This is a level 1 header]]
This is a level 3 header [[### This is a level 3 header]]
### This is a level 3 header [[### This is a level 3 header]]
This is a header with a label [[# This is a header with a label {*label*}]]
# This is a header with a label {*label*} [[# This is a header with a label {*label*}]]
4. Now, create a 4th level section here, and add a label like in the previous
exercise:
ATTENTION We will use this label later, so remember it.
### Links *links*
It is good practice to include links in your tutorials to reference materials,
like vim's own help or external documents. You can also link to other parts of
the document.
Links have the syntax
\[label\]\(target\)
#### Help links
If the target of a link matches a help topic, opening it will open it.
5. Fix the following line:
A link to help for the 'breakindent' option [[A link to help for the ['breakindent']('breakindent') option]]
A link to help for the ['breakindent']('breakindent') option [[A link to help for the ['breakindent']('breakindent') option]]
#### Anchor links
A link can also lead to a place in the file itself. Anchors are written
\*anchor\*
and are hidden by default. Links to them look like
\[label\]\(\*anchor\*\)
6. Add the appropriate link:
A link to the Links section [[A link to the [Links](*links*) section]]
A link to the [Links](*links*) section [[A link to the [Links](*links*) section]]
7. Now, create a link to the section you created on exercise 4
above.
# Tutorial links
You can also have links to other tutorials. For this, you'll write the anchor in the format
@tutor:TUTORIAL
7. Create a link to this tutorial:
A link to the vim-tutor-mode tutorial [[A link to [the vim-tutor-mode tutorial](@tutor:tutor)]]
A link to [the vim-tutor-mode tutorial](@tutor:tutor) [[A link to [the vim-tutor-mode tutorial](@tutor:tutor)]]
### Codeblocks *codeblocks*
vim-tutor-mode tutorials can include viml sections
~~~ cmd
echom "hello"
~~~
is displayed as
~~~ cmd
echom "hello"
~~~
8. Copy the viml section below
[[~~~ viml]]
[[echom 'the value of &number is'.string(&number)]]
[[~~~]]
~~~ viml [[~~~ viml]]
echom 'the value of &number is'.string(&number) [[echom 'the value of &number is'.string(&number)]]
~~~ [[~~~]]
You can inline viml code using "\`" and "\`{vim}":
\`call myFunction()\`{vim}
is displayed as
`call myFunction()`{vim}
[normal](Normal-mode) commands can also be embedded in tutorials.
~~~ normal
ftdaW
~~~
is displayed as
~~~ normal
ftdaW
~~~
Note: you can also write `norm` or `normal`.
9. Copy the normal section below
[[~~~ normal]]
[[d2w]]
[[~~~]]
~~~ normal [[~~~ normal]]
d2w [[d2w]]
~~~ [[~~~]]
You can also inline normal commands by using "\`" and "\`{normal}":
\`gq\`{normal} is very useful.
is displayed:
`gq`{normal} is very useful.
10. Complete the line as shown
d [[`d2w`{normal}]]
`d2w`{normal} [[`d2w`{normal}]]
Commands to run in the system shell can be highlighted by indenting a line
starting with "$".
~~~ sh
$ vim --version
~~~
## INTERACTIVE ELEMENTS *interactive*
As visible in this very document, vim-tutor-mode includes some interactive
elements to provide feedback to the user about their progress. If the text in
these elements satisfies some set condition, a ✓ sign will appear in the gutter
to the left. Otherwise, a ✗ sign is displayed.
### expect *expect*
"expect" lines check that the contents of the line are identical to some preset text
(like in the exercises above). The expected text is defined in inline comments that
are not visible to the user.
An example line is written like "This is wrong. [[This is right.]]"
The user will see "This is wrong." and have an interactive sign.
A value of [[-1]] means that the condition for the line will always be satisfied,
no matter what (this is useful for letting the user play a bit).
This is an "expect" line that is always satisfied. Try changing it. [[-1]]
For a full example, see the file that corresponds to this tutorial.