--- /dev/null Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
+++ b/chapters/19.markdown Sun Oct 09 22:38:43 2011 -0400
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+Variables
+=========
+
+Up to this point we've covered single commands. For the next third of the book
+we're going to look at Vimscript as a *programming language*. This won't be as
+instantly gratifying as the rest of what we've learned, but it will lay the
+groundwork for the last part, which walks through creating a full-fledged Vim
+plugin from scratch.
+
+The first thing we need to talk about are variables.
+
+Run the following commands:
+
+ :let foo = "bar"
+ :echo foo
+
+Vim will display "bar". `foo` is now a variable, and we've assigned it
+a string: "bar". Now run these commands:
+
+ :let foo = 42
+ :echo foo
+
+Vim will display "42", because we've reassigned `bar` to the integer "42". From
+this we can see that Vimscript is dynamically typed.
+
+Options as Variables
+--------------------
+
+You can read and set *options* as variables by using a special syntax. Run the
+following commands:
+
+ :set textwidth=80
+ :echo &textwidth
+
+Vim will display "80". Using an ampersand in front of a name tells Vim that
+you're referring to the option, not a variable that happens to have the same
+name.
+
+Let's see how Vim works with boolean options. Run the following commands:
+
+ :set nowrap
+ :echo &wrap
+
+Vim displays "0". Now try these commands:
+
+ :set wrap
+ :echo &wrap
+
+This time Vim displays "1". This is a very strong hint that Vim treats the
+integer "0" as "false" and the integer "1" as "true". It's reasonable to assume
+that Vim treats *any* non-zero integer as "truthy", and this is indeed the case.
+
+We can also *set* options as variables. Run the following commands:
+
+ :let &textwidth = 100
+ :set textwidth?
+
+Vim will display "textwidth=100".
+
+Why would we want to do this when we could just use `set`? Run the following
+commands:
+
+ :let &textwidth = &textwidth + 10
+ :set textwidth?
+
+This time Vim displays "textwidth=110". When you set an option using `set` you
+can only set it to a single, literal value. When you use `let` and set it as
+a variable you can use the full power of Vimscript to determine the value.
+
+Local Options
+-------------
+
+If you want to set the *local* value of an option as a variable, instead of the
+*global* value, you need to prefix the variable name.
+
+Open two files in separate splits. Run the following command:
+
+ :let &l:number = 1
+
+Now switch to the other file and run this command:
+
+ :let &l:number = 0
+
+Notice that the first window has line numbers and the second does not.
+
+Exercises
+---------
+
+Go through your `~/.vimrc` file and change some of the `set` and
+`setlocal` commands to their `let` forms. Remember that boolean options still
+need to be set to something.
+
+Try setting a boolean option like `wrap` to something other than zero or one.
+What happens when you set it to a different number? What happens if you set it
+to a string?
+
+Go back through your `~/.vimrc` file and undo the changes. You should never use
+`let` if `set` will suffice -- it's harder to read.
--- a/outline.org Sun Oct 09 19:18:29 2011 -0400
+++ b/outline.org Sun Oct 09 22:38:43 2011 -0400
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@
** DONE operator-pending maps
** DONE more operator-pending maps
** DONE basic status lines
-** TODO a word on shortened command names
+** DONE a word on shortened command names
* part 2 - programming in vimscript
-** variables
+** TODO variables
** variable scopes
** conditionals
** comparisons