quick-swap TUI mode while using vi keybindings in GDB

Question

In the default mode of gdb, pressing ctrl+x a turns on and off the UI, and ctrl+x 2 cycles through different split views. There are a number of similar useful shortcuts.

I can turn on vi emulation either with esc ctrl+j, or by adding set editing-mode vi into ~/.inputrc.

When vi emulation is enabled, ctrl+x now puts the characters ^X into my prompt, and the shortcuts cease to function. How do I fix this?

Cheers

Answer 1

I ran into this issue today and found the needed required incantation buried in the GDB info pages:

emacs-editing-mode (C-e)

When in vi command mode, this causes a switch to emacs editing mode.

So if you are in vi-mode, press Esc (to get out of vi insert mode) and then Ctrl + E to get back to Emacs mode.

Now Ctrl+X should work as expected as the leader escape for the TUI.