Tmux copy mode with Helix keybinding

[Multirious]

Had anyone tried to configure their Tmux copy mode to be Helix-styled? I have done some elaborate bind-key command and it seems to work fine with some inconsistency but otherwise it's quite nice. Had anyone considered making a Tmux plugin for this?

[Multirious]

This is my current key bindings (generated with nix)
It's fast enough and the cursor behavior is almost just like Helix. Now I don't have the switch my muscle memory every time I want to copy something which is nice.

Summary of currently implemented keys:

• Modal sequence key binding with no timeout
• Basic movement h j k l
• Word-wise movement w b e
• Extend mode v
• Extend line-wise x X Alt-x
• Goto mode gg ge gs gl gh
• Flip selection Alt-;
• Collapse selection ;
• Ensure selection forward Alt-:
• Half page Ctrl-u Ctrl-d
• Unimpaired (only paragraph) [p ]p
• Match mode (only matching bracket) mm

I'll occasionally update the script for any progress.

The script

set-option -g @mode 'normal'
set-option -g @current_keys ''
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi C-d {
  set-option -Fp @current_keys '#{@current_keys} C-d'
  if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, C-d}' {
      send -X halfpage-down
      if -F '#{!=:#{@mode},extend}' "send -X begin-selection"
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{!=:#{m|r:^ C-d$,#{@current_keys}},1}' {
    set-option -up @current_keys
  }}
}
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi C-u {
  set-option -Fp @current_keys '#{@current_keys} C-u'
  if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, C-u}' {
      send -X halfpage-up
      if -F '#{!=:#{@mode},extend}' "send -X begin-selection"
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{!=:#{m|r:^ C-u$,#{@current_keys}},1}' {
    set-option -up @current_keys
  }}
}
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi M-: {
  set-option -Fp @current_keys '#{@current_keys} M-:'
  if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, M-:}' {
      %hidden copy_cursor_y_abs='#{e|-|:#{e|+|:#{history_size},#{copy_cursor_y}},#{scroll_position}}'
      %hidden selection_latest_x='#{?#{>:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{selection_start_x},#{?#{<:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{selection_end_x},#{?#{>:#{selection_start_x},#{selection_end_x}},#{selection_start_x},#{selection_end_x}}}}'
      %hidden selection_latest_y='#{?#{>:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}}'
      %hidden selection_forward='#{&&:#{==:#{copy_cursor_x},#{E:selection_latest_x}},#{==:#{E:copy_cursor_y_abs},#{E:selection_latest_y}}}'
      %hidden selection_height='#{?#{>:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{e|-|:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{e|-|:#{selection_end_y},#{selection_start_y}}}'
      %hidden selection_oneline='#{==:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}}'
      
      if -F '#{!=:#{E:selection_forward},1}' {
        send -X other-end
      }
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{!=:#{m|r:^ M-:$,#{@current_keys}},1}' {
    set-option -up @current_keys
  }}
}
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi M-\; {
  set-option -Fp @current_keys '#{@current_keys} M-\;'
  if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, M-\;}' {
      send -X other-end
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{!=:#{m|r:^ M-\\;$,#{@current_keys}},1}' {
    set-option -up @current_keys
  }}
}
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi M-x {
  set-option -Fp @current_keys '#{@current_keys} M-x'
  if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, M-x}' {
      %hidden copy_cursor_y_abs='#{e|-|:#{e|+|:#{history_size},#{copy_cursor_y}},#{scroll_position}}'
      %hidden selection_latest_x='#{?#{>:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{selection_start_x},#{?#{<:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{selection_end_x},#{?#{>:#{selection_start_x},#{selection_end_x}},#{selection_start_x},#{selection_end_x}}}}'
      %hidden selection_latest_y='#{?#{>:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}}'
      %hidden selection_forward='#{&&:#{==:#{copy_cursor_x},#{E:selection_latest_x}},#{==:#{E:copy_cursor_y_abs},#{E:selection_latest_y}}}'
      %hidden selection_height='#{?#{>:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{e|-|:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{e|-|:#{selection_end_y},#{selection_start_y}}}'
      %hidden selection_oneline='#{==:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}}'
      
      if -F '#{!=:#{E:selection_oneline},1}' {
        if -F '#{==:#{E:selection_height},1}' {
          if -F '#{E:selection_forward}' {
      
          } {
      
          } 
        } {
          if -F '#{E:selection_forward}' {
            send -X cursor-right
            send -X cursor-up
            send -X end-of-line
            send -X other-end
            send -X cursor-left
            send -X cursor-down
            send -X start-of-line
            send -X other-end
          } {
            send -X cursor-left
            send -X cursor-down
            send -X start-of-line
            send -X other-end
            send -X cursor-right
            send -X cursor-up
            send -X end-of-line
            send -X other-end
          } 
        }
      }
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{!=:#{m|r:^ M-x$,#{@current_keys}},1}' {
    set-option -up @current_keys
  }}
}
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi X {
  set-option -Fp @current_keys '#{@current_keys} X'
  if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, X}' {
      %hidden copy_cursor_y_abs='#{e|-|:#{e|+|:#{history_size},#{copy_cursor_y}},#{scroll_position}}'
      %hidden selection_latest_x='#{?#{>:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{selection_start_x},#{?#{<:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{selection_end_x},#{?#{>:#{selection_start_x},#{selection_end_x}},#{selection_start_x},#{selection_end_x}}}}'
      %hidden selection_latest_y='#{?#{>:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}}'
      %hidden selection_forward='#{&&:#{==:#{copy_cursor_x},#{E:selection_latest_x}},#{==:#{E:copy_cursor_y_abs},#{E:selection_latest_y}}}'
      %hidden selection_height='#{?#{>:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{e|-|:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{e|-|:#{selection_end_y},#{selection_start_y}}}'
      %hidden selection_oneline='#{==:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}}'
      
      if -F '#{E:selection_forward}' {
        send -X end-of-line
        send -X other-end
        send -X start-of-line
        send -X other-end
      } {
        send -X start-of-line
        send -X other-end
        send -X end-of-line
        send -X other-end
      }
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{!=:#{m|r:^ X$,#{@current_keys}},1}' {
    set-option -up @current_keys
  }}
}
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi [ {
  set-option -Fp @current_keys '#{@current_keys} ['
  
  if-shell -F '#{!=:#{m|r:^ \[$,#{@current_keys}},1}' {
    set-option -up @current_keys
  }
}
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi \; {
  set-option -Fp @current_keys '#{@current_keys} \;'
  if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, M-\;}' {
      send -X other-end
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, \;}' {
      send -X begin-selection
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{!=:#{m|r:^ M-\\;$|^ \\;$,#{@current_keys}},1}' {
    set-option -up @current_keys
  }}}
}
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi ] {
  set-option -Fp @current_keys '#{@current_keys} ]'
  
  if-shell -F '#{!=:#{m|r:^ ]$,#{@current_keys}},1}' {
    set-option -up @current_keys
  }
}
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi b {
  set-option -Fp @current_keys '#{@current_keys} b'
  if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, b}' {
      if -F '#{!=:#{@mode},extend}' "send -X begin-selection"
      send -X previous-word
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{!=:#{m|r:^ b$,#{@current_keys}},1}' {
    set-option -up @current_keys
  }}
}
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi e {
  set-option -Fp @current_keys '#{@current_keys} e'
  if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, e}' {
      if -F '#{!=:#{@mode},extend}' "send -X begin-selection"
      send -X next-word-end
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, g e}' {
      send -X history-bottom
      if -F '#{!=:#{@mode},extend}' "send -X begin-selection"
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{!=:#{m|r:^ e$|^ g e$,#{@current_keys}},1}' {
    set-option -up @current_keys
  }}}
}
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi g {
  set-option -Fp @current_keys '#{@current_keys} g'
  if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, g g}' {
      send -X history-top
      if -F '#{!=:#{@mode},extend}' "send -X begin-selection"
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{!=:#{m|r:^ g$|^ g g$,#{@current_keys}},1}' {
    set-option -up @current_keys
  }}
}
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi h {
  set-option -Fp @current_keys '#{@current_keys} h'
  if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, g h}' {
      send -X start-of-line
      if -F '#{!=:#{@mode},extend}' "send -X begin-selection"
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, h}' {
      send -X cursor-left
      if -F '#{!=:#{@mode},extend}' "send -X begin-selection"
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{!=:#{m|r:^ g h$|^ h$,#{@current_keys}},1}' {
    set-option -up @current_keys
  }}}
}
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi j {
  set-option -Fp @current_keys '#{@current_keys} j'
  if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, j}' {
      send -X cursor-down
      if -F '#{!=:#{@mode},extend}' "send -X begin-selection"
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{!=:#{m|r:^ j$,#{@current_keys}},1}' {
    set-option -up @current_keys
  }}
}
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi k {
  set-option -Fp @current_keys '#{@current_keys} k'
  if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, k}' {
      send -X cursor-up
      if -F '#{!=:#{@mode},extend}' "send -X begin-selection"
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{!=:#{m|r:^ k$,#{@current_keys}},1}' {
    set-option -up @current_keys
  }}
}
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi l {
  set-option -Fp @current_keys '#{@current_keys} l'
  if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, g l}' {
      send -X end-of-line
      if -F '#{!=:#{@mode},extend}' "send -X begin-selection"
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, l}' {
      send -X cursor-right
      if -F '#{!=:#{@mode},extend}' "send -X begin-selection"
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{!=:#{m|r:^ g l$|^ l$,#{@current_keys}},1}' {
    set-option -up @current_keys
  }}}
}
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi m {
  set-option -Fp @current_keys '#{@current_keys} m'
  if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, m m}' {
      send -X next-matching-bracket
      if -F '#{!=:#{@mode},extend}' "send -X begin-selection"
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{!=:#{m|r:^ m$|^ m m$,#{@current_keys}},1}' {
    set-option -up @current_keys
  }}
}
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi p {
  set-option -Fp @current_keys '#{@current_keys} p'
  if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, [ p}' {
      send -X previous-paragraph
      if -F '#{!=:#{@mode},extend}' "send -X begin-selection"
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, ] p}' {
      send -X next-paragraph
      if -F '#{!=:#{@mode},extend}' "send -X begin-selection"
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{!=:#{m|r:^ \[ p$|^ ] p$,#{@current_keys}},1}' {
    set-option -up @current_keys
  }}}
}
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi s {
  set-option -Fp @current_keys '#{@current_keys} s'
  if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, g s}' {
      send -X back-to-indentation
      if -F '#{!=:#{@mode},extend}' "send -X begin-selection"
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{!=:#{m|r:^ g s$,#{@current_keys}},1}' {
    set-option -up @current_keys
  }}
}
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi v {
  set-option -Fp @current_keys '#{@current_keys} v'
  if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, v}' {
      if -F '#{!=:#{@mode},extend}' {
        set -p @mode 'extend'
      } {
        set -p @mode 'normal'
      }
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{!=:#{m|r:^ v$,#{@current_keys}},1}' {
    set-option -up @current_keys
  }}
}
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi w {
  set-option -Fp @current_keys '#{@current_keys} w'
  if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, w}' {
      if -F '#{!=:#{@mode},extend}' "send -X begin-selection"
      send -X next-word
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{!=:#{m|r:^ w$,#{@current_keys}},1}' {
    set-option -up @current_keys
  }}
}
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi x {
  set-option -Fp @current_keys '#{@current_keys} x'
  if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, M-x}' {
      %hidden copy_cursor_y_abs='#{e|-|:#{e|+|:#{history_size},#{copy_cursor_y}},#{scroll_position}}'
      %hidden selection_latest_x='#{?#{>:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{selection_start_x},#{?#{<:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{selection_end_x},#{?#{>:#{selection_start_x},#{selection_end_x}},#{selection_start_x},#{selection_end_x}}}}'
      %hidden selection_latest_y='#{?#{>:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}}'
      %hidden selection_forward='#{&&:#{==:#{copy_cursor_x},#{E:selection_latest_x}},#{==:#{E:copy_cursor_y_abs},#{E:selection_latest_y}}}'
      %hidden selection_height='#{?#{>:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{e|-|:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{e|-|:#{selection_end_y},#{selection_start_y}}}'
      %hidden selection_oneline='#{==:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}}'
      
      if -F '#{!=:#{E:selection_oneline},1}' {
        if -F '#{==:#{E:selection_height},1}' {
          if -F '#{E:selection_forward}' {
      
          } {
      
          } 
        } {
          if -F '#{E:selection_forward}' {
            send -X cursor-right
            send -X cursor-up
            send -X end-of-line
            send -X other-end
            send -X cursor-left
            send -X cursor-down
            send -X start-of-line
            send -X other-end
          } {
            send -X cursor-left
            send -X cursor-down
            send -X start-of-line
            send -X other-end
            send -X cursor-right
            send -X cursor-up
            send -X end-of-line
            send -X other-end
          } 
        }
      }
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, x}' {
      %hidden copy_cursor_y_abs='#{e|-|:#{e|+|:#{history_size},#{copy_cursor_y}},#{scroll_position}}'
      %hidden selection_latest_x='#{?#{>:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{selection_start_x},#{?#{<:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{selection_end_x},#{?#{>:#{selection_start_x},#{selection_end_x}},#{selection_start_x},#{selection_end_x}}}}'
      %hidden selection_latest_y='#{?#{>:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}}'
      %hidden selection_forward='#{&&:#{==:#{copy_cursor_x},#{E:selection_latest_x}},#{==:#{E:copy_cursor_y_abs},#{E:selection_latest_y}}}'
      %hidden selection_height='#{?#{>:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{e|-|:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}},#{e|-|:#{selection_end_y},#{selection_start_y}}}'
      %hidden selection_oneline='#{==:#{selection_start_y},#{selection_end_y}}'
      
      if -F '#{E:selection_forward}' {
        send -X other-end
      } 
      send -X start-of-line
      send -X other-end
      send -X cursor-right
      send -X end-of-line
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{!=:#{m|r:^ M-x$|^ x$,#{@current_keys}},1}' {
    set-option -up @current_keys
  }}}
}
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi y {
  set-option -Fp @current_keys '#{@current_keys} y'
  if-shell -F '#{==:#{@current_keys}, y}' {
      send -X copy-selection-and-cancel
      run -b "tmux show-buffer | xclip -sel clip"
      set -up @mode
      set -up @current_keys
      set-option -up @current_keys
  } { if-shell -F '#{!=:#{m|r:^ y$,#{@current_keys}},1}' {
    set-option -up @current_keys
  }}
}