neovim + clangd for kernel development

What’s LSP ?

The Language Server Protocol (LSP) is an open, JSON-RPC-based protocol for use between source code editors or integrated development environments (IDEs) and servers that provide “language intelligence tools”. Programming language-specific features like code completion, syntax highlighting and marking of warnings and errors, as well as refactoring routines. The goal of the protocol is to allow programming language support to be implemented and distributed independently of any given editor or IDE. In the early 2020s LSP quickly became a “norm” for language intelligence tools providers.

The LSP was created by Microsoft to define a common language for programming language analyzers to speak. Today, several companies have come together to support its growth, including Codenvy, Red Hat, and Sourcegraph, and the protocol is becoming supported by a rapidly growing list of editor and language communities.

What’s clangd ?

clangd is a language server that can work with many editors via a plugin. clangd understands the C++ code and adds smart features to editor like code completion,compile errors, go-to-definition and more.

Clangd features

Here is what clangd can do:

• clangd runs the clang compiler on the code as you type, and shows diagnostics of errors and warnings in-place.
• The compiler can suggest fixes for many common problems automatically, and clangd can update the code for you.
• clangd embeds clang-tidy which provides extra hints about code problems: bug-prone patterns, performance traps, and style issues.
• clangd will index the whole project and can suggest cross references & find the references for selected API’s.
• Hover over a symbol to see more information about it, such as its type, documentation, and definition.
• clangd embeds clang-format, which can reformat your code: fixing indentation, breaking lines, and reflowing comments.

What’s neovim ?

Neovim is a refactor, and sometimes redactor, in the tradition of Vim (which itself derives from Stevie). It is not a rewrite but a continuation and extension of Vim. Many clones and derivatives exist, some very clever—but none are Vim. Neovim is built for users who want the good parts of Vim, and more.

Installing clangd on Ubuntu (on arm64)

Here is how you can install clangd on ubuntu:

sudo apt install clangd
manojeda@manojeda-vm$ which clangd
/usr/bin/clangd

Config files

Below are the config files that would add clang lsp to neovim: