Emacs-style keymap for VSCode with memory hints (mnemonics)

keybindings.json

[
  /* 0. UNBIND VS Code defaults that clash (→ new Emacs-style key) */
  { "key": "ctrl+f",         "command": "-actions.find"                            },  // C-s/C-r = isearch-forward/backward  
  { "key": "ctrl+s",         "command": "-workbench.action.files.save"             },  // C-x C-s = save-buffer
  { "key": "ctrl+v",         "command": "-editor.action.clipboardPasteAction"      },  // C-y = yank (paste)
  { "key": "ctrl+y",         "command": "-redo"                                    },  // C-/ = undo, C-? = redo
  { "key": "ctrl+p",         "command": "-workbench.action.quickOpen"              },  // C-x C-f = find-file
  { "key": "ctrl+n",         "command": "-workbench.action.files.newUntitledFile"  },  // C-x C-n = new-file
  { "key": "ctrl+a",         "command": "-editor.action.selectAll"                 },  // C-x h = mark-whole-buffer
  { "key": "ctrl+e",         "command": "-workbench.action.files.saveAs"           },  // C-x C-w = write-file
  { "key": "ctrl+w",         "command": "-workbench.action.closeActiveEditor"      },  // C-x k = kill-buffer
  { "key": "ctrl+/",         "command": "-editor.action.commentLine"               },  // M-; = comment-dwim
  { "key": "ctrl+g",         "command": "-workbench.action.gotoLine"               },  // M-g g = goto-line
  { "key": "ctrl+x",         "command": "-editor.action.clipboardCutAction"        },  // C-w = kill-region (cut)
  
  /* macOS Command key unbindings */
  { "key": "cmd+f",          "command": "-actions.find"                             },  // Unbind macOS find
  { "key": "cmd+s",          "command": "-workbench.action.files.save"              },  // Unbind macOS save
  { "key": "cmd+v",          "command": "-editor.action.clipboardPasteAction"       },  // Unbind macOS paste
  { "key": "cmd+y",          "command": "-redo"                                     },  // Unbind macOS redo
  { "key": "cmd+p",          "command": "-workbench.action.quickOpen"               },  // Unbind macOS quick open
  { "key": "cmd+n",          "command": "-workbench.action.files.newUntitledFile"   },  // Unbind macOS new file
  { "key": "cmd+a",          "command": "-editor.action.selectAll"                  },  // Unbind macOS select all
  { "key": "cmd+e",          "command": "-workbench.action.files.saveAs"            },  // Unbind macOS save as
  { "key": "cmd+w",          "command": "-workbench.action.closeActiveEditor"       },  // Unbind macOS close editor
  { "key": "cmd+/",          "command": "-editor.action.commentLine"                },  // Unbind macOS comment line
  { "key": "cmd+g",          "command": "-workbench.action.gotoLine"                },  // Unbind macOS go to line
  { "key": "cmd+x",          "command": "-editor.action.clipboardCutAction"         },  // Unbind macOS cut

  /* 1. Basic cursor movement */
  { "key": "ctrl+f",         "command": "cursorRight",                              "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus || searchViewletFocus || inSearchEditor" },  // C-f = forward-char
  { "key": "ctrl+b",         "command": "cursorLeft",                               "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus || searchViewletFocus || inSearchEditor" },  // C-b = backward-char
  { "key": "ctrl+n",         "command": "cursorDown",                               "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus || searchViewletFocus || inSearchEditor" },  // C-n = next-line
  { "key": "ctrl+p",         "command": "cursorUp",                                 "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus || searchViewletFocus || inSearchEditor" },  // C-p = previous-line
  { "key": "ctrl+a",         "command": "cursorHome",                               "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus || searchViewletFocus || inSearchEditor" },  // C-a = beginning-of-line
  { "key": "ctrl+e",         "command": "cursorEnd",                                "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus || searchViewletFocus || inSearchEditor" },  // C-e = end-of-line
  { "key": "alt+f",          "command": "cursorWordEndRight",                       "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus || searchViewletFocus || inSearchEditor" },  // M-f = forward-word
  { "key": "alt+b",          "command": "cursorWordStartLeft",                      "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus || searchViewletFocus || inSearchEditor" },  // M-b = backward-word
  { "key": "ctrl+v",         "command": "scrollPageDown",                           "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus || searchViewletFocus || inSearchEditor" },  // C-v = scroll-down
  { "key": "alt+v",          "command": "scrollPageUp",                             "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus || searchViewletFocus || inSearchEditor" },  // M-v = scroll-up

  /* 2. Kill / delete / yank */
  { "key": "ctrl+k",         "command": "deleteAllRight",                           "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // C-k = kill-line
  { "key": "ctrl+d",         "command": "deleteRight",                              "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // C-d = delete-char
  { "key": "alt+d",          "command": "deleteWordEndRight",                       "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // M-d = kill-word
  { "key": "alt+backspace",  "command": "deleteWordStartLeft",                      "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // M-DEL = backward-kill-word
  { "key": "ctrl+w",         "command": "editor.action.clipboardCutAction",         "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // C-w = kill-region (cut)
  { "key": "alt+w",          "command": "editor.action.clipboardCopyAction",        "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // M-w = kill-ring-save (copy)
  { "key": "ctrl+y",         "command": "editor.action.clipboardPasteAction",       "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // C-y = yank (paste)
  { "key": "alt+y",          "command": "emacs.yankPop",                            "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // M-y = yank-pop (cycle paste)

  /* 3. Incremental search */
  { "key": "ctrl+s",         "command": "actions.find",                             "when": "(editorFocus || terminalFocus) && !findWidgetVisible" },  // C-s = isearch-forward
  { "key": "ctrl+s",         "command": "editor.action.nextMatchFindAction",        "when": "(editorFocus || terminalFocus) && findWidgetVisible" },  // C-s = isearch-repeat-forward
  { "key": "ctrl+r",         "command": "actions.find",                             "when": "(editorFocus || terminalFocus) && !findWidgetVisible" },  // C-r = isearch-backward
  { "key": "ctrl+r",         "command": "editor.action.previousMatchFindAction",    "when": "(editorFocus || terminalFocus) && findWidgetVisible" },  // C-r = isearch-repeat-backward

  /* 4. Mark & region */
  { "key": "ctrl+space",     "command": "editor.action.setSelectionAnchor",         "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // C-SPC = set-mark-command
  { "key": "ctrl+x ctrl+x",  "command": "editor.action.gotoSelectionAnchor",        "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // C-x C-x = exchange-point-and-mark

  /* 5. File / buffer (C-x prefix) */
  { "key": "ctrl+x ctrl+s",  "command": "workbench.action.files.save",              "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // C-x C-s = save-buffer
  { "key": "ctrl+x ctrl+w",  "command": "workbench.action.files.saveAs",            "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // C-x C-w = write-file
  { "key": "ctrl+x ctrl+f",  "command": "workbench.action.files.openFile",          "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // C-x C-f = find-file
  { "key": "ctrl+x ctrl+o",  "command": "workbench.action.quickOpen",               "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // C-x C-o = quick-find-file
  { "key": "ctrl+x k",       "command": "workbench.action.closeActiveEditor",       "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // C-x k = kill-buffer
  { "key": "ctrl+x b",       "command": "workbench.action.showAllEditors",          "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // C-x b = switch-to-buffer
  { "key": "ctrl+x h",       "command": "editor.action.selectAll",                  "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // C-x h = mark-whole-buffer
  { "key": "ctrl+x ctrl+n",  "command": "workbench.action.files.newUntitledFile",   "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // C-x C-n = new-empty-buffer

  /* 6. Undo, comment, abort */
  { "key": "ctrl+/",         "command": "undo",                                     "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // C-/ = undo
  { "key": "ctrl+x u",       "command": "undo",                                     "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // C-x u = undo
  { "key": "ctrl+shift+/",   "command": "redo",                                     "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // C-? = redo
  { "key": "ctrl+shift+-",   "command": "redo",                                     "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // C-_ = redo
  { "key": "alt+;",          "command": "editor.action.commentLine",                "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // M-; = comment-dwim
  { "key": "alt+g g",        "command": "workbench.action.gotoLine",                "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // M-g g = goto-line
  { "key": "ctrl+g",         "command": "cancelSelection",                          "when": "textInputFocus || terminalFocus" },  // C-g = keyboard-quit
  { "key": "ctrl+g",         "command": "workbench.action.closeQuickOpen",          "when": "inQuickOpen || terminalFocus" },     // C-g = close quick open
  
  /* 7. Terminal passthrough */
  { "key": "ctrl+f",         "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0006" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-f = forward-char
  { "key": "ctrl+b",         "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0002" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-b = backward-char
  { "key": "ctrl+n",         "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u000e" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-n = next-line
  { "key": "ctrl+p",         "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0010" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-p = previous-line
  { "key": "ctrl+a",         "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0001" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-a = beginning-of-line
  { "key": "ctrl+e",         "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0005" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-e = end-of-line
  { "key": "alt+f",          "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u001bf" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // M-f = forward-word
  { "key": "alt+b",          "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u001bb" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // M-b = backward-word
  { "key": "ctrl+v",         "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0016" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-v = scroll-down
  { "key": "alt+v",          "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u001bv" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // M-v = scroll-up
  { "key": "ctrl+k",         "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u000b" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-k = kill-line
  { "key": "ctrl+d",         "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0004" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-d = delete-char
  { "key": "alt+d",          "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u001bd" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // M-d = kill-word
  { "key": "alt+backspace",  "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u001b\u007f" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // M-DEL = backward-kill-word
  { "key": "ctrl+w",         "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0017" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-w = kill-region
  { "key": "alt+w",          "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u001bw" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // M-w = kill-ring-save
  { "key": "ctrl+y",         "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0019" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-y = yank
  { "key": "alt+y",          "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u001by" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // M-y = yank-pop
  { "key": "ctrl+s",         "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0013" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-s = isearch-forward
  { "key": "ctrl+r",         "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0012" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-r = isearch-backward
  { "key": "ctrl+space",     "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0000" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-SPC = set-mark-command
  { "key": "ctrl+x ctrl+x",  "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0018\u0018" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-x C-x = exchange-point-and-mark
  { "key": "ctrl+x ctrl+s",  "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0018\u0013" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-x C-s = save-buffer
  { "key": "ctrl+x ctrl+w",  "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0018\u0017" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-x C-w = write-file
  { "key": "ctrl+x ctrl+f",  "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0018\u0006" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-x C-f = find-file
  { "key": "ctrl+x ctrl+o",  "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0018\u000f" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-x C-o = delete-blank-lines
  { "key": "ctrl+x k",       "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0018k" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-x k = kill-buffer
  { "key": "ctrl+x b",       "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0018b" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-x b = switch-to-buffer
  { "key": "ctrl+x h",       "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0018h" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-x h = mark-whole-buffer
  { "key": "ctrl+x ctrl+n",  "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0018\u000e" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-x C-n = set-goal-column
  { "key": "ctrl+/",         "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u001f" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-/ = undo
  { "key": "ctrl+x u",       "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0018u" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-x u = undo
  { "key": "ctrl+shift+/",   "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u001f" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-? = undo (same as C-/)
  { "key": "ctrl+shift+-",   "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u001f" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-_ = undo
  { "key": "alt+;",          "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u001b;" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // M-; = comment-dwim
  { "key": "alt+g g",        "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u001bgg" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // M-g g = goto-line
  { "key": "ctrl+g",         "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0007" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" },  // C-g = keyboard-quit
  { "key": "ctrl+x ctrl+c",  "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",   "args": { "text": "\u0018\u0003" }, "when": "terminalFocus && terminalProcessSupported" }   // C-x C-c = save-buffers-kill-terminal
]

Refer the doc for how to custom key bindings for Visual Studio Code.
https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/configure/keybindings#_advanced-customization