Multiple views, single document
Single document ⋅ Multiple views ⋅ Windows ⋅ Split view ⋅ Views instead of layouts
Open the same file in multiple places at once. Keep one part of a file visible while working on another, or open the same file in a separate window. Changes appear everywhere as you edit.
Single document
Opening a file in another view doesn't create another copy of the document.
Each view references the same underlying document, so an edit made in one appears immediately in every other view. There is no synchronization step and no separate copy to save.
This lets you work in one part of a file while keeping another part visible, including across separate windows.
Multiple views
Each view has its own position in the document. One view can be near the top of a file while another is hundreds of lines further down.
Scrolling, cursor position, and selections are local to each view, while the text itself is shared.
This is useful for working on distant parts of a file, keeping a definition visible while editing its implementation, or leaving a reference section on screen while navigating elsewhere.
Windows
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| ⌘command ⇧shift N | Open a new window. |
Open the command palette with ⌘⇧P and run Open file in new window to open the active file in a separate window.
The same file can be open in several windows, with each view at a different position in the document. Use macOS window management or a tiling window manager to arrange them however you like.
Buffer Explorer
Open the Buffer Explorer with ⌘⇧\.
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| ⌘command → | Open in new window. |
A file can also be dragged out of the Buffer Explorer to open it in a new window.
Split view
A document can also be shown in two side-by-side views within the same window.
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| ⌘command \ | Toggle split editor. |
This provides a simple dual-pane view without introducing a hierarchy of editor groups. For opening several different files at the same time, see Tab Multi-Select.
Why only two?
Koi limits a split to two views rather than allowing the same window to be repeatedly divided in every direction. More complex layouts can be built with multiple windows. This keeps each window simple while still allowing files and views to be arranged across a larger workspace.
Views instead of layouts
Multiple views, splits, and windows can be combined as needed.
Keep two parts of a large file side by side, open related files in another window, or leave a reference visible on a second monitor. If the same document appears in more than one place, every view reflects the same text.
There is no workspace layout to configure first. Open the files and views you need, then arrange them around the work you're doing.
Tab multi-select