Save file and run tests on Enter in Vim

TL:DR

:nmap <CR> :w<CR> :!{your_test_command_here}<CR>

example where testfile is test/bottles_test.rb

:nmap <CR> :w<CR> :!ruby test/bottles_test.rb<CR>

The first time I saw this was in one of Gary Bernhardt’s videos and I was so enamoured with it.

When in normal mode in Vim hitting the Enter key will save your file and run your tests. This small addition to how I write code has made my life so much better.

Here’s a gif of me saving a file and running tests by hitting enter. My keystrokes appear in the bottom left hand corner.