How to sort methods into alphabetical order in VIM?

Question

class MyClass

  def zzz
    # method body
  end

  def aaa
    # method body
  end

end

How would I get VIM to organise these into alphabetical order such that the definition of aaa precedes the definition of zzz?

Answer 1

Well you can set up code folding e.g. by indentation, and close those functions/fold, then do it manuall with dd then p but that is not an ideal solution with a large file.

It's not an easy task. You can set up some line-joining, e.g.:

1. put some specific comment/identifier before every first level def, like

   # DEFINITION

   def zzz

   ...

   end

   # END DEF

2. then join those lines into one with some multiline regex magic (and/or column editing), using some placeholder which generally does not occur in your code.

3. then sort it via standard unix sort (e.g. visually select your joined lines, then

   :'<,'>!sort

4. then split on the inserted pattern...

Still less than ideal, but it can be done...

See this answer too.