qf_helper.nvim

A collection of improvements for neovim quickfix.

The goal of this plugin is to be small and unobtrusive. It should make your normal quickfix workflows smoother, but it does not aim to change your workflows.

Why another quickfix plugin?

Why not just use vim-qf, nvim-bqf, QFEnter, etc?

Those are all great plugins, but I wanted two features that I could not find:

1. Keep the quickfix location in sync with cursor location in the file
2. Have one keybinding for next/prev that intelligently chooses between quickfix and loclist

position tracking in action

Installation

It's a standard neovim plugin. Follow your plugin manager's instructions.

Need a plugin manager? Try pathogen, paq, packer.nvim, vim-packager, dein, or vim-plug

Configuration

All features can be disabled to play nice with any other quickfix plugins or personal customizations you have. Configuration is done by calling setup():

-- Set up qf_helper with the default config
require("qf_helper").setup()

That one line is all you need, but if you want to change some options you can pass them in like so:

require("qf_helper").setup({
  prefer_loclist = true,       -- Used for QNext/QPrev (see Commands below)
  sort_lsp_diagnostics = true, -- Sort LSP diagnostic results
  quickfix = {
    autoclose = true,          -- Autoclose qf if it's the only open window
    default_bindings = true,   -- Set up recommended bindings in qf window
    default_options = true,    -- Set recommended buffer and window options
    max_height = 10,           -- Max qf height when using open() or toggle()
    min_height = 1,            -- Min qf height when using open() or toggle()
    track_location = true,     -- Keep qf updated with your current location
  },
  loclist = {                  -- The same options, but for the loclist
    autoclose = true,
    default_bindings = true,
    default_options = true,
    max_height = 10,
    min_height = 1,
    track_location = true,
  },
})

I also recommend setting up some useful keybindings

-- use <C-N> and <C-P> for next/prev.
vim.keymap.set("n", "<C-N>", "<CMD>QNext<CR>")
vim.keymap.set("n", "<C-P>", "<CMD>QPrev<CR>")
-- toggle the quickfix open/closed without jumping to it
vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>q", "<CMD>QFToggle!<CR>")
vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>l", "<CMD>LLToggle!<CR>")

Commands

Bindings

When default_bindings = true, the following keybindings are set in the quickfix/loclist buffer:

FAQ

Q: Why isn't the location tracking working?

Tracking your location requires that the quickfix or loclist items are sorted by both row and col. Chances are you have some items that are out of order.