Using normal-mode motions in command-line mode in Vim

Question

Is modal editing possible in command-line mode?

Some examples:

• After writing !ls ~/foo/bar I want to db to delete bar

Answer 1

Custom mappings that replicate Normal mode commands

You can manually map specific Normal commands to keystrokes in Command-line mode.

For example the following set of mappings will make Alt+h in Command-line mode go one character left, Alt+k recall the previous Ex command and so on, analogously to hjkl in Normal mode.

" provide hjkl movements in Command-line mode via the  modifier key
cnoremap   &cedit. 'h' .''
cnoremap   &cedit. 'j' .''
cnoremap   &cedit. 'k' .''
cnoremap   &cedit. 'l' .''

Since the Alt modifier key is not mapped (to something important) by default, you can in the same fashion pull other (or all) functionality from Normal mode to Insert mode. E.g.: Moving to the beginning of the current word with Alt+b:

" Normal mode command(s) go… --v <-- here
cnoremap   &cedit. 'b' .''
cnoremap   &cedit. 'w' .''

" + changes the first word (typically 
"   the last run Ex :command or the last range, given the case)
cnoremap   &cedit. '^cw' .''

You have to copy that code into your vimrc file to have it loaded every time you start vim (you can open that by typing :new $myvimrc starting in Normal mode).

Instead of "reinventing the wheel", or as a complement to your own mappings, you can draw on full-featured plugins from other authors → see my other answer.