---
title: "Grep on the fly in SpaceVim"
categories: [feature, blog]
description: "Grep and replace asynchronously, display searching results on the fly based on user input"
image: https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/13142418/80607963-b704d300-8a68-11ea-99c4-5b5bd653cb24.gif
commentsID: "Grep on the fly"
comments: true
---
# [Blogs](../blog/) >> Asynchronous grep on the fly
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FlyGrep means **grep on the fly**, it will update the result as you type. Of course, it is running
asynchronously. Before using this feature, you need to install a searching tool. FlyGrep works
through search tools: `ag`, `rg`, `ack`, `pt` and `grep`, Choose one you like.
This ia a built-in plugin in SpaceVim, and we also separated a plugin : [FlyGrep.vim](https://github.com/wsdjeg/FlyGrep.vim)
## Install
In linux os, flygrep use grep by default, if you want a more fast tool, you can choose one of following:
- [ripgrep(rg)](https://github.com/BurntSushi/ripgrep)
- [the_silver_searcher(ag)](https://github.com/ggreer/the_silver_searcher)
- [the_platinum_searcher(pt)](https://github.com/monochromegane/the_platinum_searcher)
## Features
- **Search in a project**
In SpaceVim, you can use `SPC s p` or `SPC s /` to search in the current project.
- **Search in current file**
You can use `SPC s s` to search in the current file. To search word under the cursor, you can press `SPC s S`.
- **Search in all loaded buffers**
To searching in all loaded buffers, you need to press `SPC s b`, and you can also use `SPC s B` to search word under the point.
- **Search in an arbitrary directory**
If you want to searching in a different directory instead of current directory, you can
use `SPC s f`. Then insert the path of the arbitrary directory.
- **Search in a project in the background**
If you need background searching, you can press `SPC s j`, after searching is done, the index will be displayed on statusline. you can use `SPC s l` to list all the search results.
## Key bindings
The search commands in SpaceVim are organized under the `SPC s` prefix with the next key is the tool to use and the last key is the scope. For instance `SPC s a b` will search in all opened buffers using `ag`.
If the last key (determining the scope) is uppercase then the current word under the cursor is used as default input for the search. For instance `SPC s a B` will search with word under cursor.
If the tool key is omitted then a default tool will be automatically selected for the search. This tool corresponds to the first tool found on the system of the list `g:spacevim_search_tools`, the default calling sequence is `rg`, `ag`, `pt`, `ack` then `grep`. For instance `SPC s b` will search in the opened buffers using `pt` if `rg` and `ag` have not been found on the system.
The tool keys are:
| Tool | Key |
| ---- | --- |
| ag | a |
| grep | g |
| ack | k |
| rg | r |
| pt | t |
The available scopes and corresponding keys are:
| Scope | Key |
| -------------------------- | --- |
| opened buffers | b |
| files in a given directory | f |
| current project | p |
**Within FlyGrep buffer:**
| Key Bindings | Descriptions |
| ------------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| `<Esc>` | close FlyGrep buffer |
| `<Enter>` | open file at the cursor line |
| `Ctrl-t` | open item in new tab |
| `Ctrl-s` | open item in split window |
| `Ctrl-v` | open item in vertical split window |
| `Ctrl-q` | apply all items into quickfix |
| `<Tab>` | move cursor line down |
| `Shift-<Tab>` | move cursor line up |
| `<BackSpace>` | remove last character |
| `Ctrl-w` | remove the Word before the cursor |
| `Ctrl-u` | remove the Line before the cursor |
| `Ctrl-k` | remove the Line after the cursor |
| `Ctrl-a` / `<Home>` | Go to the beginning of the line |
| `Ctrl-e` / `<End>` | Go to the end of the line |