SpaceVim

Written: 2026-08-23

Overview

SpaceVim — a community-driven Vim/Neovim distribution with a layer system inspired by Spacemacs, bringing mnemonic SPC-leader bindings to Vim.

Aspect	Detail
Base	Vim 8+ or Neovim
Config	~/.SpaceVim.d/init.toml
Package system	Layers + custom plugins
Leader key	SPC (space bar)
Local leader	, (language-specific actions)

---

Installation

# Automatic installer
curl -sLf https://spacevim.org/install.sh | bash

# For Neovim specifically
curl -sLf https://spacevim.org/install.sh | bash -s -- --install neovim

---

Configuration (init.toml)

# ~/.SpaceVim.d/init.toml

[options]
    colorscheme = "gruvbox"
    colorscheme_bg = "dark"
    statusline_separator = "arrow"
    buffer_index_type = 4
    enable_tabline_filetype_icon = true
    enable_statusline_mode = true
    filemanager = "nerdtree"
    bootstrap_before = "myconfig#before"
    bootstrap_after = "myconfig#after"
    relativenumber = true

# Layers
[[layers]]
    name = "autocomplete"
    auto_completion_return_key_behavior = "complete"
    auto_completion_tab_key_behavior = "smart"

[[layers]]
    name = "shell"
    default_position = "bottom"
    default_height = 30

[[layers]]
    name = "git"

[[layers]]
    name = "lsp"

[[layers]]
    name = "lang#python"

[[layers]]
    name = "lang#rust"

[[layers]]
    name = "lang#typescript"

[[layers]]
    name = "lang#markdown"

[[layers]]
    name = "format"

# Custom plugins
[[custom_plugins]]
    repo = "tpope/vim-surround"
    merged = false

---

Key Bindings

File & Buffer

Key	Action
SPC f f	Find file
SPC f s	Save file
SPC f S	Save all
SPC f r	Recent files
SPC f t	Toggle file tree
SPC b b	Buffer list
SPC b d	Delete buffer
SPC b n / p	Next / previous buffer
SPC 1-9	Switch to buffer by index

Window

Key	Action
SPC w v	Split vertical
SPC w s	Split horizontal
SPC w d	Close window
SPC w h/j/k/l	Navigate windows
SPC w H/J/K/L	Move windows
SPC w =	Equalize window sizes

Search & Project

Key	Action
SPC s s	Search in buffer
SPC s p	Search in project
SPC s f	Search files by name
SPC p f	Find file in project
SPC p p	Switch project
SPC p t	Toggle file tree

Language (Local Leader ,)

Key	Action
, g d	Go to definition
, g r	Find references
, r	Rename
, f	Format file
, e	Show errors
, d	Show documentation

Git

Key	Action
SPC g s	Git status
SPC g c	Git commit
SPC g p	Git push
SPC g d	Git diff
SPC g b	Git blame

---

Available Layers

Category	Layers
Completion	autocomplete, denite, unite
Languages	lang#python, lang#rust, lang#go, lang#java, lang#typescript, lang#c
Tools	git, shell, format, debug, test
UI	colorscheme, ui, treesitter
Frameworks	lang#vue, lang#react
Integration	lsp, ctags, tmux

---

Custom Functions

# In init.toml
[options]
    bootstrap_before = "myconfig#before"
    bootstrap_after = "myconfig#after"

" ~/.SpaceVim.d/autoload/myconfig.vim

function! myconfig#before() abort
    " Settings applied before SpaceVim loads
    let g:mapleader = "\<Space>"
endfunction

function! myconfig#after() abort
    " Settings applied after SpaceVim loads
    set scrolloff=5
    set wrap

    " Custom mappings
    nnoremap <leader>ot :terminal<CR>
endfunction

---

SpaceVim vs Other Distributions

Aspect	SpaceVim	Spacemacs	LazyVim (Neovim)
Base editor	Vim or Neovim	Emacs	Neovim only
Config format	TOML	Elisp	Lua
Layer system	Yes	Yes	Modules
Mnemonic keys	SPC-based	SPC-based	SPC-based
Startup time	Fast (< 500ms)	Slow (2-5s)	Very fast (< 200ms)
Customization	TOML + VimScript	Elisp	Lua
Ease of use	Easy (TOML)	Medium	Medium (need Lua)
IDE completeness	Good	Excellent	Excellent