sublime-text

# Sublime Text 4 Sublime Text is a lightweight, ultra-responsive text editor known for its instant startup speed, multi-caret editing, and extensible Package Control ecosystem. ## When to Use - **Instantaneous Large File Editing**: Opening massive log files, JSON dumps, and SQL exports with zero lag. - **Multiple Selection & Column Editing**: Refactoring repeated patterns rapidly using multi-cursor manipulation. - **Lightweight Polyglot Coding**: Editing diverse scripts (Python, Bash, Rust, Go) without the overhead of heavy IDEs. - **Custom Build Systems & Macros**: Automating compilation, syntax checking, and text transformation pipelines. ## Quick Start ### 1. Minimal Custom Build System ```json // ~/.config/sublime-text/Packages/User/NodeRun.sublime-build { "cmd": ["node", "$file"], "file_regex": "^[ ]*File \"(...*?)\", line ([0-9]*)", "selector": "source.js", "shell": true } ``` ### 2. Custom User Keybindings ```json // Preferences > Key Bindings [ { "keys": ["super+shift+r"], "command": "reindent" }, { "keys": ["super+d"], "command": "find_under_expand" } ] ``` ## Core Concepts ### Production Editor Configuration (`Preferences.sublime-settings`) Configuring modern performance, typography, and whitespace rules: ```json { "font_face": "JetBrains Mono", "font_size": 13, "theme": "Default Dark.sublime-theme", "color_scheme": "Packages/Color Scheme - Default/Mariana.sublime-color-scheme", "draw_white_space": "selection", "ensure_newline_at_eof_on_save": true, "trim_trailing_white_space_on_save": true, "tab_size": 2, "translate_tabs_to_spaces": true, "word_wrap": false, "hardware_acceleration": "opengl", "index_files": true, "show_git_status": true } ``` ### Custom Polyglot Build System (`PythonTest.sublime-build`) Automating test running and error matching directly from the editor: ```json { "cmd": ["pytest", "-q", "$file"], "selector": "source.python", "file_regex": "^(..[^:]*):([0-9]+):?([0-9]+)?:? (.*)$", "working_dir": "$project_path", "env": { "PYTHONPATH": "$project_path" }, "variants": [ { "name": "Ruff Check", "cmd": ["ruff", "check", "$file"] } ] } ``` ### High-Speed Multi-Cursor Workflows - Select word: `Ctrl+D` (macOS: `Cmd+D`) to select next matching occurrence. - Select all matching occurrences in file: `Alt+F3` (macOS: `Ctrl+Cmd+G`). - Split lines into selection: Select lines -> `Ctrl+Shift+L` (macOS: `Cmd+Shift+L`) -> edit every line simultaneously. - Jump to file: `Ctrl+P` (macOS: `Cmd+P`). - Jump to symbol: `Ctrl+R` (macOS: `Cmd+R`). ## Common Patterns ### Full LSP Integration (LSP + LSP-typescript) **Problem**: Need modern TypeScript autocompletion, hover docs, and diagnostics inside Sublime Text. **Solution**: Install `LSP` and `LSP-typescript` via Package Control. ```json // LSP.sublime-settings { "clients": { "lsp-typescript": { "enabled": true, "settings": { "typescript.suggest.completeFunctionCalls": true } } } } ``` ### Project Workspace Management **Problem**: Save project-specific folder configurations, excluded paths, and build targets. **Solution**: Create a `.sublime-project` file. ```json { "folders": [ { "path": ".", "folder_exclude_patterns": ["node_modules", ".git", "dist"], "file_exclude_patterns": ["*.min.js", "*.map"] } ], "settings": { "tab_size": 2, "translate_tabs_to_spaces": true } } ``` ## Best Practices **Do**: - Install **Package Control** and the **LSP** package (`LSP`, `LSP-pyright`, `LSP-typescript`) for IDE-grade completions. - Enable `hardware_acceleration: "opengl"` for ultra-fluid 120Hz/144Hz scrolling on supported displays. - Use `Ctrl+Shift+L` (`Cmd+Shift+L`) to convert multiple lines into independent cursor selections. - Configure project files (`.sublime-project`) with explicit `folder_exclude_patterns` for `node_modules` and `.git`. **Don't**: - Leave file indexing enabled on massive multi-gigabyte build output directories. - Install unmaintained legacy Sublime Text 2/3 plugins that block the UI thread. - Store sensitive API keys in plaintext user snippets or build configurations. ## Troubleshooting | Error | Cause | Solution | | ------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `Package Control: There are no packages available for installation` | SSL cert validation failure or network proxy interference | Check `Preferences > Package Settings > Package Control > Settings` and add custom `http_proxy` or refresh channel. | | High CPU usage by `plugin_host` | Heavy file indexing on large dependency directories (`node_modules`) | Add `node_modules` to `binary_file_patterns` or `folder_exclude_patterns` in User Preferences. | | LSP server fails to start | Target runtime (`node`, `python`, etc.) not in Sublime's `$PATH` | Add environment path in `LSP.sublime-settings` under `"env": { "PATH": "/usr/local/bin:$PATH" }`. | ## References - [Sublime Text Documentation](https://www.sublimetext.com/docs/)