send-to-repl.nvim

A Neovim plugin for sending code directly to an interactive terminal REPL. Designed for rapid experimentation, data analysis, and iterative script development without needing Tmux or external multiplexers.

What You Can Do

• Send Any Code Chunk: Send the current line, word, paragraph, or visual selection with a single keypress.
• Run Notebook Cells: Execute self-contained code cells delimited by # %%, ##, // %%, or -- %%.
• Use Vim Motions: Use native operator motions (e.g. gxcip for inner paragraph, gxcaf for a function) to send arbitrary text objects, the entire buffer or custom line ranges.
• Control the REPL: Toggle window focus, restart the session, send interrupts (Ctrl-C), or clear the screen (Ctrl-L).
• Flexible Terminal Layouts: Open REPLs in vertical splits, horizontal splits, or tabs with customizable split sizes.
• Ready for Multiple Languages: Built-in defaults for Python (uv + IPython with autoreload), R, Julia, Lua, Bash, Zsh, Node.js, and TypeScript.

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Requirements

• Neovim >= 0.10.0 (0.11+ recommended)
• If using Python defaults: uv (or configure standard python3/ipython)

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Installation & Setup

lazy.nvim

{
  "toreerdmann/send-to-repl.nvim",
  cmd = {
    "SendToReplWith",
    "SendToReplCmd",
    "SendToReplCommand",
    "SendToReplStart",
    "SendToReplToggle",
    "SendToReplRestart",
    "SendToReplClear",
    "SendToReplInterrupt",
    "SendToReplSend",
  },
  keys = {
    { "<leader>l", function() require("send-to-repl").send_line() end, desc = "Send line to REPL" },
    { "<leader>p", function() require("send-to-repl").send_word() end, desc = "Send word to REPL" },
    { "<leader>c", function() require("send-to-repl").send_cell() end, desc = "Send cell to REPL" },
    { "<leader><CR>", function() require("send-to-repl").send_paragraph() end, desc = "Send paragraph to REPL" },
    { "<leader><CR>", function() require("send-to-repl").send_visual() end, mode = "v", desc = "Send selection to REPL" },
    { "<leader>rf", function() require("send-to-repl").send_file() end, desc = "Send file to REPL" },
    { "<leader>rt", function() require("send-to-repl").toggle_repl() end, desc = "Toggle REPL window" },
    { "<leader>rr", function() require("send-to-repl").restart_repl() end, desc = "Restart REPL" },
    { "<leader>rw", function() require("send-to-repl").start_repl_with() end, desc = "Start REPL with packages" },
    { "<leader>rc", function() require("send-to-repl").start_repl_cmd() end, desc = "Start REPL with custom command" },
    { "<leader>rx", function() require("send-to-repl").clear() end, desc = "Clear REPL screen" },
    { "<leader>ri", function() require("send-to-repl").interrupt() end, desc = "Interrupt REPL (Ctrl-C)" },
    { "gxc", function() require("send-to-repl").send_operator() end, desc = "Send motion to REPL" },
  },
  opts = {
    layout = {
      split = "vertical", -- "vertical" | "horizontal" | "tab"
      size = 0.4,         -- 40% split width/height
    },
  },
}

---

Configuration

Default options:

require("send-to-repl").setup({
  layout = {
    split = "vertical", -- "vertical" | "horizontal" | "tab"
    size = nil,         -- nil for default split, or number (e.g. 0.4 for 40% or 80 for cols)
    open = nil,         -- optional custom function: fun(cmd: string): number (term_buf)
  },
  cell_marker = nil,    -- string or table<filetype, pattern> (defaults to `# %%`, `// %%`, etc.)
  bracketed_paste = true,
  wait_for_prompt = true,
  repls = {
    python = {
      cmd = "uv",
      args = { "run", "--with", "ipython", "--", "ipython", "--profile", "nvim" },
      ensure_ipython_profile = true,
      -- Fallback packages when working in a directory without a venv/project:
      no_venv_packages = {},          -- e.g. { "pandas" } (automatically runs: uv run --with ipython --with pandas ...)
      detect_venv = true,             -- whether to auto-detect virtual environments
      -- Optional fallbacks when outside a venv:
      -- no_venv_cmd = "python3",
      -- no_venv_args = { "-i" },
    },
    r = { cmd = "R", args = { "--no-save", "--quiet" } },
    julia = { cmd = "julia", args = {} },
    lua = { cmd = "lua", args = {} },
    sh = { cmd = "bash", args = {} },
    bash = { cmd = "bash", args = {} },
    zsh = { cmd = "zsh", args = {} },
    javascript = { cmd = "node", args = {} },
    typescript = { cmd = "ts-node", args = {} },
  },
})

Standalone Python / Virtual Environment Detection

When working in a folder without a virtual environment (no .venv, venv, active $VIRTUAL_ENV, or pyproject.toml), send-to-repl.nvim can automatically include fallback packages using no_venv_packages = { "pandas" }, or use a custom command via no_venv_cmd and no_venv_args.

You can also start or restart a REPL on-demand with specific packages or an exact custom startup command:

• :SendToReplCmd <command> (or :SendToReplStart <command>) — Starts or restarts REPL with an exact custom command (supports shell and path tab-completion, e.g. :SendToReplCmd .venv/bin/ipython or :SendToReplCmd python3 -i).
• :SendToReplCmd (or <leader>rc) — Prompts interactively for a custom startup command, pre-filling a smart default (e.g. .venv/bin/ipython if detected in the project).
• :SendToReplWith pandas polars — Starts or restarts REPL with pandas and polars (includes autocompletion for common libraries).
• :SendToReplWith (or <leader>rw) — Prompts interactively for packages to run with.

Dynamic commands and arguments can also be functions:

opts = {
  repls = {
    python = {
      cmd = function()
        if vim.fn.filereadable(".venv/bin/python") == 1 then
          return ".venv/bin/python"
        end
        return "python3"
      end,
      args = { "-i" },
      ensure_ipython_profile = false,
    },
  },
}

---

Lua API & User Commands

Lua API	User Command	Description
require("send-to-repl").send_line()	:SendToReplLine	Send line under cursor
require("send-to-repl").send_word()	:SendToReplWord	Send word under cursor
require("send-to-repl").send_paragraph()	:SendToReplParagraph	Send paragraph under cursor
require("send-to-repl").send_visual()	:SendToReplVisual	Send visually selected text
require("send-to-repl").send_cell()	:SendToReplCell	Send code cell (# %%, ##, etc.)
require("send-to-repl").send_file()	:SendToReplFile / :SendToReplBuffer	Send entire buffer
require("send-to-repl").send_range(l1, l2)	—	Send line range [l1, l2]
require("send-to-repl").send_operator()	—	Operator motion function
require("send-to-repl").send(text)	:SendToReplSend <text>	Send arbitrary text
require("send-to-repl").start_repl_cmd([cmd])	:SendToReplCmd [cmd] / :SendToReplCommand [cmd] / :SendToReplStart [cmd]	Start/restart REPL with custom command (prompts if empty)
require("send-to-repl").start_repl_with([pkgs])	:SendToReplWith [pkgs]	Start/restart REPL with packages (prompts if empty)
require("send-to-repl").start_repl(opts)	—	Start/restart REPL with custom options table
require("send-to-repl").toggle_repl()	:SendToReplToggle	Toggle/Focus REPL window
require("send-to-repl").restart_repl()	:SendToReplRestart	Restart the REPL process
require("send-to-repl").clear()	:SendToReplClear	Send <C-l> / clear screen
require("send-to-repl").interrupt()	:SendToReplInterrupt	Send <C-c> / SIGINT
require("send-to-repl").has_venv([dir])	—	Check if virtual environment / project is detected

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Interactive Test Drive

You can launch a completely isolated, clean Neovim session with pre-configured keymaps and an interactive demo buffer without touching your personal config:

./scripts/test_drive.sh

Or open a specific file:

./scripts/test_drive.sh path/to/script.py

---

Running Tests

./scripts/run_tests.sh

Or run headless directly:

XDG_CONFIG_HOME=/tmp XDG_DATA_HOME=/tmp nvim --headless --clean -u tests/minimal_init.lua -c "PlenaryBustedFile tests/tests.lua"