Automatically quit vim if NERDTree is last and only buffer.

Question

I have the following in my .vimrc:

""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
" Open NERDTree by default
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
autocmd VimEnter * NERDTree
autocmd VimEnter * wincmd p

So,

% vim file.txt

opens NERDTree and focuses the cursor in the file.txt buffer. I make my edits, and hit :q on the buffer, and I'm left with . . . NERDTree. This is annoying.

I could use :qa to close all buffers, and exit vim, but I'm used to the :q trope. So I'm wondering if there's a way to detect that the only remaining buffer is NERDTree, and "unify" the two buffers, for purposes of :q

Ideas?

TIA, Noah

Answer 1

An idea in need of implementation:

You could write a function which, when called, checks if the only buffer remaining (or perhaps the only non-help buffer, if you prefer) is a NERDTree buffer and, if so, deletes it (or just quits).

Then have an autocmd run it whenever a buffer is deleted / hidden / whatever actually happens when you :q (it shames me to admit I'm not entirely sure!).

Answer 2

You could :cabbrv q qa but I'd advise against that because you'll forget about it when you actually want q.

Answer 3

I like to do this: cmap bq :bufdo q<CR> to close all buffers with two keystrokes in command mode.