Vim dotfiles @mathiassm

Basic config (vimrc)

TBD

Plugins are included as git submodules.

How to upgrade plugin versions

git submodule update --remote # Pull changes on each plugin (not dependencies!)
# Might need now to init/checkout subdependecies

List of plugins

Language support

Must-haves that cover most use cases:

• sheerun/vim-polyglot

  Fast syntax highlighting for almost anything.

• dense-analysis/ale

  Asynchronous Lint Engine that comes pre-loaded with almost any existing (good) linter/formatter for over 150 languages. It also has very opinionated configurations so no linter can go wild using resources and all run fast.

• vim-test/vim-test

  (Have not used much) Run tests from vim, à la IDE-style. Compatible with testing frameworks for most well-known languages.

More specific ones:

• vim-pandoc/vim-pandoc-syntax

  Adds pandoc syntax highlighting to markdown, including embedded languages (latex, codeblocks) and pretty display using vim's conceal functionalities.

• m-pilia/vim-mediawiki

  Adds mediawiki syntax. Closest I get to Xwiki.

• lervag/vimtex

  LaTeX integration. Super useful when editing raw latex. But I prefer pandoc with markdown and latex sprinkled here and there.

• heavenshell/vim-jsdoc

  Generates JSDoc comments for JS and TS.

Some syntax-related not-language-specific ones:

• ap/vim-css-color

  Highlights CSS-syntax colors with the actual color.

• ntpeters/vim-better-whitespace

  Highlights trailing whitespace.

Prose (non-code) writing

• davidbeckingsale/writegood.vim

  Highlights common writing problems (passive voice, weasel words...). Maybe covered by wordy. Very annoying as I'll never understand why passive voice is such a problem.

• preservim/vim-wordy

  Misuse/abuse/overuse of words checker. Rather annoying as it highlights a potential problem as a warning, which in code I'm used to never ignore. Useful for prose, but better to toggle it after writing, and not during. It does have many different dictionaries for different problems.

• junegunn/goyo.vim

  (Removing soon) This adds a "distraction-free mode" to vim. Great for writing prose. I'm just so used to my setup that I don't feel the need of this mode.

Tool integration

• junegunn/fzf.vim

  I ocassionally use fzf (and it's great), although I rarely need to use it within vim (I prefer good-old file tree).

• editorconfig/editorconfig-vim

  (Good to have) EditorConfig plugin, to be able to format your code according to your team/project's shared configuration. I prefer other ways to set and enforce these preferences, but if I work with a repository that needs it, then this is enough.

• tpope/vim-fugitive

  Git integration. It integrates with the status line (and airline), otherwise I use it for blaming specific lines or other in-file actions. It does include some higher-level commands like :Gedit, :Gdiffsplit, etc. but I don't use them.

  tpope/vim-rhubarb allows it to integrate with Github (hub) for :GBrowse and autocompletion for issues, collaborators, etc. I haven't used it yet.

• airblade/vim-gitgutter

  Shows git diff in the signs column. Let's you know which lines are added, where are they removed, changed, and so on.

• jamessan/vim-gnupg

  Transparent editing of GPG-encrypted files. Also turns off viminfo, swapfile and undofile for security. Haven't used it other than for fun/exploring, but works well.

• ledger/vim-ledger

  Both syntax highlighting (already from polyglot plugin), autocompletion, formatting and some integration for ledger and hledger. I don't think I have used it much, but worth taking a look at configurations before ditching.

• vim-pandoc/vim-pandoc

  Integration with pandoc. Folding support, TOC functionality, bibliography suport. I don't think I have used it much other than markdown folding (still worth it).

• christoomey/vim-tmux-navigator

  Allows moving seemlessly between vim and tmux splits/panes. Needs some extra configuration on tmux side.

UI components

• preservim/nerdtree

  Vim already has a file tree viewer. But I hated it when I was starting and replaced it with NERDTree. I like the keys and I'm already used to it; I haven't found anything better, but even then it'd take some effort moving.

  There are multiple extensions:

  • Git plugin to add Git information to the tree.
  • vim-devicons is not nerdtree-specific but adds filetype icons both here and in other plugins like airline.
  • "Syntax highlighting" to add color to filetype icons OR to the whole filename based on filetype.

• vim-airline/vim-airline

  Lightweight status line to replace default vim's one with extra functionality. Integrates with a bunch of other plugins to display more info as well:

  • akinsho/bufferline.nvim

    Adds open buffers (files) to the status line. Integrates nicely with airline status line.

• sjl/gundo.vim

  (Should use more often) This nice tool lets you visualize vim's undo tree (yes, it's a freaking tree, not a stack!), making it easier/possible to find the changes you want.

• mhinz/vim-startify

  Provides a nice start/home page with easy access to recent files, sessions, bookmarks, etc. I used it a lot before but not so much now, as I'm not usually on the same files but rather exploring.

Quick vim is quick (editing files)

• terryma/vim-expand-region

  (Should use more often) Easily select expanding/super/upper regions with a single keystroke. Also allows to customize how it selects regions, but I haven't had the need.

• junegunn/vim-easy-align

  Ridiculously easy and powerful vertical align plugin. E.g. align lines on the = sign, or align table columns, and so on. I love to use it for tables and configuration files when possible.

• tomtom/tcomment_vim

  Filetype-aware comments toggle.

• tpope/vim-surround

  Adds the ability to change the surrounding parenthesis, tags, etc. Both ones on the same action, without going there to change each individually.

• tpope/vim-speeddating

  Allows using <C-A> (increase one) and <C-X> (reduce one) in dates, not only numbers.

• tpope/vim-repeat

  Allows . to repeat not only the last native command but also plugin-defined commands. Supported by surround, speeddating among others.

Other little things

• pbrisbin/vim-mkdir

  Transparently create all missing folders in a path to a new file.

• preservim/vim-indent-guides

  Makes indentation have alternating colors. Easily toggled. Color might need adjustment if not using gVim.

• junegunn/vim-emoji

  Make emojis usable in git gutter, but also enable autocomplete by name using github's :emoji: syntax.

  I don't use autocomplete too much, I might remove this (also because it's last updated in 2018).

Color schemes

These colors may change depending on your terminal color configuration (and screen color, as well).

Many of these colorschemes are TextMate ports.

• dracula/vim

• tomasr/molokai

• rakr/vim-one (Yes, from Atom editor)

• vim-airline/vim-airline-themes

  For the airline UI component. Can mix it up with the general color scheme (as using the same one is not always great).