Code intelligence in Skink: LSP completion, go to definition

Hover, go to definition, completion with rust-analyzer.

Skink gets completion, errors, go to definition and the rest from language servers. Install the server for your language and put it on your PATH. Skink starts it the first time you open a file of that language, with no config.

Then Ctrl+Space completes, Alt+G goes to the definition and Alt+R lists references.

Which language servers

Language	Server Skink looks for	One way to install it
Rust	`rust-analyzer`	`rustup component add rust-analyzer`
TypeScript, JavaScript	`typescript-language-server`	`npm i -g typescript-language-server typescript`
Python	`basedpyright-langserver`, else `pyright-langserver`	`pip install basedpyright` or `npm i -g pyright`
Go	`gopls`	`go install golang.org/x/tools/gopls@latest`
Zig	`zls`	Your package manager, or a release from the zls project
Dart	`dart language-server`	Comes with the Dart (or Flutter) SDK

Other languages get syntax colours and every editing feature, but no language server yet. The server list is built in; you cannot add your own servers in settings.

Check and restart a server

:lsp shows the server for the current file, its memory use and progress. If the server is missing, it says which program it looked for.

:lsp restart restarts it.
:lsp log shows its full log.

A server that crashes is restarted once automatically. One with no open files for 10 minutes is stopped and starts again when you need it, which keeps memory low.

Keys and commands

Key	Command	Does
`Ctrl`+`Space`	`:complete`	Completion list
`Alt`+`K`	`:hover`	Type and docs of the symbol at the cursor
`Alt`+`G`	`:definition` (`:def`)	Go to definition (several: a list)
`Alt`+`Shift`+`G`	`:typedef`	Go to the type’s definition
`Alt`+`J`	`:peek`	Peek the definition in a popup
	`:implementation` (`:impl`)	Go to implementations
`Alt`+`R`	`:references` (`:refs`)	Every use, in a results tab (`Enter` jumps)
`Alt`+`Enter`	`:fix` or `:actions`	Code actions: quick fixes and refactorings
`Alt`+`Shift`+`R`	`:renamesymbol NEW` (`:rn`)	Rename the symbol everywhere
`Alt`+`Shift`+`F`	`:format` (`:fmt`)	Format the selection or the file
`Ctrl`+`R`	`:symbols`	Symbols in this file
`Alt`+`W`	`:allsymbols`	Symbols in the whole project
`Shift`+`F8` (`F9` before 0.8)	`:problems`	Errors and warnings of the open files
`F6` / `Shift`+`F6`	`:nextproblem` / `:prevproblem`	Next / previous error or warning in this file
`Alt`+`U` / `Alt`+`Shift`+`U`	`:back` / `:forward`	Back to where you were before a jump, and forward again

While a debug session runs, F6 pauses the program instead.

Completion

The list opens by itself after two letters or after ., :: or ->.

Key	Does
`↑` / `↓`	Choose an item
`Enter` or `Tab`	Insert it
`Esc`	Close the list

Docs for the selected item show beside the list. Snippets select their first placeholder; Tab moves to the next one.

Set "autocomplete": false. Ctrl+Space still works.

Signature help

Signature help opens after ( and ,, showing the parameters of the call you are typing.

Errors and warnings

Diagnostics show in the gutter and as red and yellow marks on the scrollbar (the editor’s last column).

F6 steps through them. Shift+F8 or :problems lists all of them in a tab.

A lightbulb in the sign column means the cursor line has code actions: press Alt+Enter, or type :fix.

To send the errors to an AI agent, press Alt+Shift+E. See AI agents.

Format on save

{ "formatonsave": true }

With this, Ctrl+S asks the language server to format the file first.

Alt+Shift+F (or :format) formats on demand.

Inlay hints

Inline type and parameter hints from the server are off by default. Turn them on with:

{ "inlayhints": true }

Rename and other multi-file edits

Rename (Alt+Shift+R) and code actions that touch several files open the refactor preview, where you check which changes to apply. See Refactoring.

Breadcrumbs and quick open

The status line shows where the cursor is, like impl Foo > fn bar.

Quick open (Alt+P, or :recent) switches mode by its first character:

@ for symbols in the file
# for symbols in the project
> for commands

When nothing happens

Run :lsp. If it says the server is not installed, install it and make sure your shell’s PATH has it, then :lsp restart.
Files of 2 MB or more open as LARGE, without a language server.
Over SSH, the server has to be installed on the server.
Inside EveryAI, language servers come from EveryAI instead.