mcp-memory/agent-rules/nvim_editing.md

name, description, trigger

name	description	trigger
nvim_editing	Route code edits to Neovim buffers instead of disk/console when Neovim is running.	always_on

Neovim Code Editing (Agnostic & Universal)

These rules apply universally to ALL Neovim environments (Windows, WSL, or any remote server). Do not treat them as OS-specific.

1. No Invisible Shell Edits (CRITICAL)

NEVER use sed, awk, python -c, or echo to modify file contents from the terminal. File edits must use EXACTLY one of two paths:

• Active UI (Neovim MCP responsive): Route edits through specialized MCP tools to provide live visual feedback.
• No UI (Neovim MCP unresponsive): Fall back to the built-in replace_file_content tool to generate clean chat diffs.

2. Strict Tool Adherence (No Raw Lua RCE)

You must strictly use the specialized, sandboxed Neovim MCP tools:

• nvim_buffer: For reading, writing, saving, and creating scratch buffers.
• nvim_workspace: For creating splits and focusing panes.
• nvim_ui: For highlighting diffs, adding ghost text, and showing previews. DO NOT use nvim_exec (action lua) to mutate editor state. It is restricted to READ-ONLY queries.

3. Headless Quarantine

Headless mode (nvim --headless) is strictly banned for interactive edits. NEVER run nvim <filename> via terminal commands to edit or "open" a file for the user (it spawns a zombie ghost process). Headless instances are allowed ONLY for non-interactive background batch processing (e.g., project-wide formatting or linting).

4. UI Presentation & Chat Console Minimization

Never output large plans, context blocks, or architectural discussions to the chat console if Neovim is running. You MUST use the nvim_buffer and nvim_workspace tools to open a vertical split (e.g., Antigravity_Plan.md scratch buffer) and present the markdown natively. Reserve the chat console strictly for brief confirmations.

5. Visual Cues & Auto-Save

When manipulating buffers via MCP:

1. Focus & Jump: Always switch the active Neovim window to the edited buffer and jump the cursor to the changed line.
2. Auto-Save: Auto-save the buffer by default so linters/compilers see it immediately.
3. Interactive Review: If pausing for human review (leaving unsaved), you MUST spawn a background curl task listening to http://127.0.0.1:3000/events/wait?topic=nvim:save... to wake you up when the user saves (:w).