this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2026
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If you're coding, your code editor may have some way to input that.
Some people who frequently input something like that use a snippet system.
In emacs, hitting most keys (like "*") runs
self-insert-command. That takes a numeric parameter, so one can just do something like/ M-5 M-6 * /(slash, hold Alt, type 56, hit asterisk, slash) to get a slash followed by 56 asterisks followed by a slash.I'm not really a serious vim person, but I'm sure that vim has similar functionality.
searches
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/5054128/repeating-characters-in-vim-insert-mode
Looks like, in insert mode,
/ Control-o 56 a * Esc a /. Probably not using correct vim terminology for the keystrokes, but you get my drift.I have to reserve the limited keystroke remembering capacity of my aging brain to more crucial stuff, I am afraid...
Also, the tiny time span passing while mindlessly holding down the "*" key is a welcome pause to clear your mind, take a short breath and gather your thoughts on what the heck you are supposed to be writing in the comment body following the /**********/ line. ;-)