Can I Make Command Mode Default in Bash’s Vi Mode?

Just to clarify, you aren't actually in editing mode until you hit . Before that, you're just in the shell environment, similar to cooked mode where you can enter commands normally. In Bash's vi mode, it doesn’t really emulate all of vi's features. For example, you don’t have functionalities like marking positions with `m*x*` and returning back with `*x*`. It offers a lot of the command features, but not everything you’d find in a full vi session. If you want that level of control, you might want to use the `fc` command to invoke the vi editor directly instead!

Unfortunately, you can't set command mode as the default in stock Bash. When you're in vi mode, Bash automatically starts in insertion mode. The only way to change it would be to dive into the source code, which is quite involved. You'd have to replace `rl_vi_insertion_mode()` with `rl_vi_movement_mode()` in the `bashline.c` file, then rebuild Bash from scratch. However, I did try this myself, and it didn't work — it seems the code needs to be changed in several places, not just that one instance. Plus, starting in command mode means you'd always have to prefix new commands with `i`, which might get really annoying quickly!

You could try typing `vi`. This backslash bypasses any preset options Bash has for commands. Maybe it will help with your commands in a different way!

Have you considered why you'd want command mode as the default? Just curious about your thought process!