An IDE-like Coding Workflow for UE5 on Neovim

Hi everyone!

I’m excited to share an open-source project I’ve been working on: UnrealDev.nvim. If you love Neovim but find setting up a development environment for Unreal Engine 5 difficult, or if you simply find Visual Studio/Rider too heavy for quick C++ tasks, this project is for you.

Repository: GitHub - taku25/UnrealDev.nvim: The Neovim suite for Unreal Engine development. Integrates plugins like UEP, UBT, ULG, UCM, and more for a unified experience.

What is UnrealDev.nvim? It is not just a single plugin; it is a comprehensive wrapper and manager for a suite of specialized Neovim plugins. It unifies the interface, allowing you to control the entire Unreal C++ workflow seamlessly.

It follows the “Single Responsibility Principle,” where each part of the ecosystem handles a specific task:

The Ecosystem:

The Manager (UnrealDev.nvim): The central hub that orchestrates all the tools below, providing a unified command interface (e.g., :UDEV Build, :UDEV New).

The Builder (UBT.nvim): Handles interactions with the Unreal Build Tool. It runs builds asynchronously, reports progress, and generates project files (including compile_commands.json for LSP) without freezing your editor.

The Architect (UCM.nvim): Manages C++ classes and file operations. It automates boilerplate generation (Copyright, Includes), ensures correct folder structures (Public/Private), and handles header/source navigation.

The Observer (ULG.nvim): Watches your Saved/Logs in real-time. It streams the Output Log directly into a Neovim buffer with syntax highlighting, allowing you to jump to errors instantly.

The Librarian & Explorer (UEP.nvim & UNX.nvim): Parses your .uproject file to understand the logical structure of your project (Modules, Plugins) and provides a dedicated file explorer UI tailored for Unreal Engine.

Why Use This?

Performance: Instant startup and lightweight footprint compared to traditional IDEs.

Workflow: Stay in the terminal. Create classes, build, run, and debug without touching the mouse.

Customizability: Since it’s built on Neovim and Lua, you can tweak every aspect of your workflow.

Getting Started: Please check the Wiki and README in the repository for installation instructions.

I am actively looking for feedback, bug reports, and contributors. Happy Hacking!