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Glide Browser features a powerful modal editing system inspired by Vim, allowing you to navigate and interact with web pages using keyboard-driven workflows. The browser operates in different modes, each optimized for specific tasks.

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Available Modes

Glide supports six distinct modes:

Normal Mode

The default mode for navigation and issuing commands. Most keybindings are available in this mode.

Insert Mode

For interacting with form inputs and editable elements. Similar to how a traditional browser works.

Visual Mode

For selecting and manipulating text within editable elements.

Operator-Pending Mode

A temporary mode activated when waiting for a motion after an operator (like d for delete).

Command Mode

For executing ex commands through the command line interface.

Ignore Mode

Passes all key inputs directly to the web page, bypassing Glide’s keybindings.

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Switching Between Modes

You can switch modes using the mode_change ex command or the built-in keybindings:

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From Normal Mode

// Enter insert mode
glide.keymaps.set("normal", "i", "mode_change insert --automove=left");
glide.keymaps.set("normal", "a", "mode_change insert");
glide.keymaps.set("normal", "A", "mode_change insert --automove=endline");

// Enter visual mode
glide.keymaps.set("normal", "v", "motion v");

// Enter ignore mode
glide.keymaps.set(["normal", "insert", "visual"], "<S-Esc>", "mode_change ignore");

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Returning to Normal Mode

// From insert, visual, or operator-pending mode
glide.keymaps.set(["insert", "visual", "op-pending"], "<Esc>", "mode_change normal");
glide.keymaps.set(["insert", "visual", "op-pending"], "<C-[>", "mode_change normal");

// From ignore mode
glide.keymaps.set("ignore", "<S-Esc>", "mode_change normal");

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Mode-Specific Behavior

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Normal Mode

Normal mode is optimized for navigation and issuing commands:
  • Navigation motions: h, j, k, l for character-level movement
  • Word motions: w, W, e, b, B for word-based navigation
  • Line motions: 0, ^, $ for line navigation
  • Scrolling: gg, G, <C-d>, <C-u> for page scrolling
  • Operators: d, c, r for editing operations

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Insert Mode

Insert mode allows direct interaction with input fields and editable content:
  • Most keybindings are disabled to allow normal text entry
  • Tab navigation and history controls remain active
  • Exit with <Esc> or <C-[>

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Visual Mode

Visual mode enables text selection and manipulation: 
// Visual mode motions
glide.keymaps.set("visual", "h", "motion vh");
glide.keymaps.set("visual", "l", "motion vl");
glide.keymaps.set("visual", "d", "motion vd");
glide.keymaps.set("visual", "c", "motion vc");
glide.keymaps.set("visual", "y", "visual_selection_copy");

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Operator-Pending Mode

This mode is automatically entered when you press an operator key (like d or c): 
// Define operators
glide.keymaps.set("normal", "d", "mode_change op-pending --operator=d");
glide.keymaps.set("normal", "c", "mode_change op-pending --operator=c");

// Execute motion after operator
glide.keymaps.set("op-pending", "w", "execute_motion"); // delete word: dw
glide.keymaps.set("op-pending", "$", "execute_motion"); // delete to end: d$

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Mode Change Options

The mode_change command supports several options:

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Auto-move Cursor

When entering insert mode, you can automatically move the cursor: 
// Move cursor left before entering insert (like 'i' in Vim)
glide.excmds.execute("mode_change insert --automove=left");

// Move cursor to end of line (like 'A' in Vim)
glide.excmds.execute("mode_change insert --automove=endline");

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Operator Mode

Specify which operator to use in operator-pending mode: 
// Delete operator
glide.excmds.execute("mode_change op-pending --operator=d");

// Change operator
glide.excmds.execute("mode_change op-pending --operator=c");

// Replace operator
glide.excmds.execute("mode_change op-pending --operator=r");

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Monitoring Mode Changes

You can react to mode changes using autocmds: 
// Listen for any mode change
glide.autocmds.create("ModeChanged", "*", ({ old_mode, new_mode }) => {
  console.log(`Mode changed from ${old_mode} to ${new_mode}`);
});

// Listen for entering visual mode
glide.autocmds.create("ModeChanged", "*:visual", ({ new_mode }) => {
  console.log("Entered visual mode");
});

// Listen for leaving insert mode
glide.autocmds.create("ModeChanged", "insert:*", ({ old_mode, new_mode }) => {
  console.log(`Left insert mode, now in ${new_mode}`);
});

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Current Mode

You can check the current mode in your config: 
// Access current mode
const currentMode = glide.ctx.mode;

// Use in conditional logic
if (glide.ctx.mode === "normal") {
  // Do something only in normal mode
}

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Custom Mode-Specific Keybindings

Define keybindings that work across multiple modes: 
// Tab navigation works in both normal and insert modes
glide.keymaps.set(["normal", "insert"], "<C-j>", "tab_next");
glide.keymaps.set(["normal", "insert"], "<C-k>", "tab_prev");

// History navigation
if (glide.ctx.os === "macosx") {
  glide.keymaps.set(["normal", "insert"], "<C-h>", "back");
  glide.keymaps.set(["normal", "insert"], "<C-l>", "forward");
} else {
  glide.keymaps.set(["normal", "insert"], "<A-h>", "back");
  glide.keymaps.set(["normal", "insert"], "<A-l>", "forward");
}
  • :mode_change <mode> - Switch to the specified mode
  • :blur - Blur the active element and return to normal mode
  • :focusinput last - Focus the last input element on the page
The mode system is defined in browser-excmds-registry.mts:47-56 with available modes: normal, insert, visual, op-pending, ignore, command, and hint.