Neovim Beginner’s Guide (Part Three): LSP Configuration (Part One) discussed what LSP is, how to configure it, and how to start it. Now, let’s proceed with other configurations related to LSP. This chapter mainly covers the following aspects: code highlighting, code formatting, and UI beautification related to LSP.

⚠️ Error Warning Prompt

After setting up LSP, when we write code and encounter errors, corresponding reminders will appear. As shown in the following image:

🧩 What is LSP

For an editor, to accomplish tasks like auto-completion, finding relevant definitions, etc., extensive development is required. Different editors require separate development efforts for different languages. The Language Server Protocol (LSP) streamlines this process. LSP, short for Language Server Protocol, defines the protocol used between editors and language services. As long as the relevant language supports LSP, editors can implement features like auto-completion by meeting specific requirements, ensuring a consistent user experience across different editors.

Common Plugin Configurations

After the introduction in the previous sections, your Neovim setup is now ready for basic usage. Below, we’ll recommend some common plugins to help you get started quickly.

📂 nvim-tree

nvim-tree is a file explorer that enables quick file selection from a sidebar.

Installing plugins in Neovim is straightforward. Following the previously outlined approach, first, find the relevant repository on GitHub, such as https://github.com/nvim-tree/nvim-tree.lua, then proceed with the installation. Installation specifics are usually detailed in the project’s README.

In the world of programming, there are two ancient artifacts. One is called “The Editor of the Gods, Emacs”, and the other is called “The God of Editors, Vim”. These two editors, since their inception, have engaged in an ongoing holy war. Whether it’s Vim or Emacs, both are constantly evolving and developing. Gradually, a dazzling new star has emerged on the branch of Vim, and it’s called Neovim.

What is Neovim

From its name, Neovim appears to be a new star in the Vim galaxy. According to the official description: Neovim is a fork of Vim that focuses mainly on extensibility and usability. Many Vim users have migrated to Neovim, inheriting Vim’s charm of classic shortcuts and rich plugin system, while adding new features such as built-in LSP (Language Server Protocol) and asynchronous IO.