Rename a variable in one function

Two functions in the same file share a throwaway name, tmp. The first one is about to grow, so its tmp should become total — every occurrence in that function, and none in the one below it, which keeps its tmp.

A language server’s rename would do this across the project, but the build here has no rename, and the job is deliberately narrower than a project-wide rename anyway: one function, three occurrences. Helix gives you two ways to keep a change inside a boundary.

Select the boundary first, then act inside it. Match mode’s text objects (lesson 10) select a function body in one command; a line selection extended over the function (lesson 5) does the same by hand. Turn that one selection into a cursor on every tmp inside it and nowhere else (lesson 11), then retype them all at once.
Or walk the matches with search (lesson 9), changing each and stopping when you reach the second function. Replaying the last change at each stop keeps it to a couple of keys per occurrence.

Either way, the outcome is what counts: make the buffer match the target under the editor.

One route, if you want it

With the cursor anywhere in total_price, mif selects the function body. s, then tmp and Enter, leaves one cursor on each of the three tmps inside that selection. c deletes all three and drops into insert mode; type total and press Esc. The second function is untouched because it was never inside the selection.

Make the file match the target under the editor.

Any route counts — the buffer alone is judged.

Loading editor…

Target

fn total_price(items: &[Item]) -> u32 {
    let mut total = 0;
    for item in items {
        total += item.price * item.qty;
    }
    total
}

fn total_weight(items: &[Item]) -> u32 {
    let mut tmp = 0;
    for item in items {
        tmp += item.weight;
    }
    tmp
}

Rename a variable in one function

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