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Essential Keyboard Shortcuts ​

These are the essential keyboard shortcuts that will dramatically improve your productivity in Sidian. Master these first before moving on to more specialized shortcuts.

AI Features ​

Sidian's AI-powered features have dedicated shortcuts for quick access:

ActionWindows/LinuxmacOSDescription
Add Selection to ChatCtrl+L⌘+LAdd selected code or current file to AI chat
New ChatCtrl+Shift+L⌘+Shift+LStart a new AI chat conversation
Quick EditCtrl+K⌘+KQuick inline editing with AI
Accept AI SuggestionTabTabAccept inline AI code suggestions
Reject AI SuggestionEscEscDismiss current AI suggestion
Open SidebarF1 → "Sidian: Open Sidebar"F1 → "Sidian: Open Sidebar"Open/close AI chat panel

AI Diff Management ​

Navigate and manage AI-generated code changes:

ActionWindows/LinuxmacOSDescription
Next DiffCtrl+Alt+Shift+↓⌃+⌥+↓Navigate to next code diff
Previous DiffCtrl+Alt+Shift+↑⌃+⌥+↑Navigate to previous code diff
Next File with DiffsCtrl+Alt+Shift+→⌃+⌥+→Go to next file containing diffs
Previous File with DiffsCtrl+Alt+Shift+←⌃+⌥+←Go to previous file containing diffs

Diff Actions ​

ActionWindows/LinuxmacOSDescription
Accept DiffCtrl+Alt+Shift+Enter⌃+⌥+EnterAccept current diff
Reject DiffCtrl+Alt+Shift+Backspace⌃+⌥+BackspaceReject current diff
Accept All (Current File)Alt+Shift+Enter⌥+Shift+EnterAccept all diffs in current file
Reject All (Current File)Alt+Shift+Backspace⌥+Shift+BackspaceReject all diffs in current file
Accept All (All Files)Ctrl+Shift+Enter⌘+Shift+EnterAccept all diffs in all files
Reject All (All Files)Ctrl+Shift+Backspace⌘+Shift+BackspaceReject all diffs in all files

File Operations ​

Essential shortcuts for file management:

ActionWindows/LinuxmacOSDescription
New FileCtrl+N⌘+NCreate a new file
Open FileCtrl+O⌘+OOpen an existing file
Save FileCtrl+S⌘+SSave current file
Save AsCtrl+Shift+S⌘+Shift+SSave file with new name
Close FileCtrl+W⌘+WClose current file
Reopen Closed FileCtrl+Shift+T⌘+Shift+TReopen recently closed file

Move around your code and files efficiently:

ActionWindows/LinuxmacOSDescription
Quick OpenCtrl+P⌘+PQuickly open files by name
Go to LineCtrl+G⌘+GJump to specific line number
Go to SymbolCtrl+Shift+O⌘+Shift+ONavigate to functions/classes
Go to DefinitionF12F12Jump to symbol definition
Go BackAlt+←⌃+-Navigate back in history
Go ForwardAlt+→⌃+Shift+-Navigate forward in history

Editing ​

Core editing shortcuts for efficient code manipulation:

ActionWindows/LinuxmacOSDescription
Cut LineCtrl+X⌘+XCut entire line (no selection needed)
Copy LineCtrl+C⌘+CCopy entire line (no selection needed)
Move Line UpAlt+↑⌥+↑Move current line up
Move Line DownAlt+↓⌥+↓Move current line down
Duplicate LineCtrl+Shift+D⌘+Shift+DDuplicate current line
Delete LineCtrl+Shift+K⌘+Shift+KDelete entire line

Search and Replace ​

Find and replace text across files:

ActionWindows/LinuxmacOSDescription
FindCtrl+F⌘+FFind in current file
Find and ReplaceCtrl+H⌘+HFind and replace in current file
Find in FilesCtrl+Shift+F⌘+Shift+FSearch across all files
Replace in FilesCtrl+Shift+H⌘+Shift+HReplace across all files
Find NextF3⌘+GFind next occurrence
Find PreviousShift+F3⌘+Shift+GFind previous occurrence

Selection ​

Advanced text selection techniques:

ActionWindows/LinuxmacOSDescription
Select AllCtrl+A⌘+ASelect entire file
Select LineCtrl+L⌘+LSelect current line
Select WordCtrl+D⌘+DSelect current word
Multi-cursorCtrl+Alt+↑/↓⌘+⌥+↑/↓Add cursor above/below
Select All OccurrencesCtrl+Shift+D⌘+Shift+DSelect all occurrences of selection
Add Selection to NextCtrl+D⌘+DAdd next occurrence to selection

Code Formatting ​

Keep your code clean and consistent:

ActionWindows/LinuxmacOSDescription
Format DocumentShift+Alt+F⌘+Shift+P → FormatFormat entire document
Format SelectionCtrl+K Ctrl+F⌘+K ⌘+FFormat selected code
Toggle CommentCtrl+/⌘+/Comment/uncomment lines
Block CommentShift+Alt+A⌘+Shift+AToggle block comment
IndentTabTabIndent selected lines
OutdentShift+TabShift+TabOutdent selected lines

Panel Management ​

Control Sidian's interface panels:

ActionWindows/LinuxmacOSDescription
Toggle SidebarCtrl+B⌘+BShow/hide file explorer
Toggle PanelCtrl+J⌘+JShow/hide bottom panel
Toggle TerminalCtrl+`⌘+`Show/hide integrated terminal
Command PaletteCtrl+Shift+P⌘+Shift+PAccess all commands
SettingsCtrl+,⌘+,Open settings

Terminal ​

Integrated terminal shortcuts:

ActionWindows/LinuxmacOSDescription
New TerminalCtrl+Shift+`⌘+Shift+`Create new terminal
Split TerminalCtrl+Shift+5⌘+Shift+5Split terminal pane
Focus TerminalCtrl+`⌘+`Focus on terminal
Kill TerminalCtrl+Shift+K⌘+Shift+KClose current terminal

Debugging ​

Debug your code efficiently:

ActionWindows/LinuxmacOSDescription
Start DebuggingF5F5Start debugging session
Step OverF10F10Execute next line
Step IntoF11F11Step into function
Step OutShift+F11Shift+F11Step out of function
Toggle BreakpointF9F9Add/remove breakpoint
Stop DebuggingShift+F5Shift+F5Stop debugging session

Customization Tips ​

Creating Custom Shortcuts ​

  1. Open Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P)
  2. Type "Preferences: Open Keyboard Shortcuts"
  3. Search for the command you want to customize
  4. Click the pencil icon and set your preferred shortcut

Chord Shortcuts ​

Sidian supports chord shortcuts (multiple key combinations):

  • Ctrl+K Ctrl+S: Open keyboard shortcuts
  • Ctrl+K Ctrl+T: Change color theme
  • Ctrl+K Ctrl+F: Format selection

Context-Aware Shortcuts ​

Many shortcuts behave differently based on context:

  • Ctrl+L: Select current line
  • Ctrl+Shift+L: Add selection to AI chat
  • Tab in editor: Indent
  • Tab with AI suggestion: Accept suggestion

Practice Tips ​

  1. Start small: Learn 5-10 shortcuts first
  2. Use daily: Practice shortcuts in your regular development tasks
  3. Muscle memory: Repeat shortcuts until they become automatic
  4. Customize: Adapt shortcuts to match your preferences
  5. Share: Teach shortcuts to teammates for better collaboration

Mastering these shortcuts will significantly boost your productivity and make coding in Sidian a more enjoyable experience.