Split View for Programming

Left and right splits

No matter if I’m using Vim, Emacs or VS Code, depending on what I am studying or working on, I often like to have the editor with the code on the left, and a a shell on the right.

This layout provides good context while programming or debugging, as the code and output (of a test, compilation, linter, etc.) can be seen at a glance without requiring back and forth switching applications with Alt+Tab or similar.

On VS Code, one can open a terminal on the right from the command pallet (Ctrl+Shift+p or Cmd+Shift+p) and then typing “Terminal: Create New Terminal in Editor Area to the Side”.

To switch between the editor text on the left and the terminal on the right, one can set shortcuts like:

  • Ctrl+Shift+Super+l: View: Focus Right Editor Group

  • Ctrl+Shift+Super+h: View: Focus Left Editor Group

  • Ctrl+Shift+Super+;: View: Focus Next Editor Group. This one allows one to keep looping on all editor groups, not only left or right.

In vim, h goes to the left and l goes to the right, as h is to the left and l is to the right considering the home keys on most keyboard layouts.

I also noticed that versions of VS Code in 2026 also provide Ctrl+k Ctrl+h and Ctrl+k Ctrl+l by default.

Next and Previous Error, Warning

  • Option+Ctrl+Shift+]: Go to Next Problem (Error, Warning, Info)

  • Option+Ctrl+Shift+[: Go to Previous Problem (Error, Warning, Info)

LSP

Alt+r opens references in a sort of inline preview. With vim keys, can navigate with j an j, an open collapsed resutls with o.

Ctrl+Alt+r opens references in the sidebar.