Easily install the latest GUI Vim application

Dec 07, '07 07:30:02AM

Contributed by: Alex Yeh

In my search for the nicest text editor, I have kept returning to Vim. I would use it for a little while, and then I would lose interest because something or another wasn't quite working the way I liked. This last time, I manged to solve all of those things, and I even found some extra features I didn't know about. Right now, I am using Vim.app (native GUI), version 7.1.161, with all the latest patches. Even better, I did not have to puzzle over configuration settings or anything to compile it - I just entered a command, and everything else relating to compiling was done automatically. How is this possible, you ask? All will be revealed...

Prerequisites:

Okay, here are the steps:

  1. Visit the OS X section of the AAP site, and follow the directions there.
  2. Follow these directions. Go read a book or something while aap compiles Vim for you. Note, I chose /usr/local/aap/vim as the folder for aap to use. I will assume that you will use the same.
  3. Execute the following command as root (this is one long command line):
    cp -r /usr/local/aap/vim/vim/src/Vim.app /Applications; find /usr/local/aap/vim/vim/runtime -name zip*.vim -exec rm {} ;; rm /usr/local/aap/vim/vim/runtime/doc/pi_zip.txt; find /usr/local/aap/vim/vim/runtime -name netrw*.vim -exec rm {} ;; rm /usr/local/aap/vim/vim/runtime/doc/pi_netrw.txt
  4. Now, execute the following command not as root (this is also a long command line):
    mkdir ~/.vim; cd ~/Desktop; curl -O http://mysite.verizon.net/astronaut/vim/vbafiles/zip.vba.gz; curl -O http://mysite.verizon.net/astronaut/vim/vbafiles/tar.vba.gz; curl -O http://mysite.verizon.net/astronaut/vim/vbafiles/netrw.vba.gz; curl -O http://mysite.verizon.net/astronaut/vim/tarfiles/vimball.tar.gz; tar -xzvf vimball.tar.gz; mv vimball/* ~/.vim; rm -r vimball*
  5. Now, put /Applications/Vim.app in your dock, and install the remaining gzipped vimballs (the *.vba.gz files). To install a gzipped vimball, do the following:
    1. Drag the .vga.gz file onto the Vim icon on the dock.
    2. Enter :so % and then hit Return.
And you're done! Here are some extra steps to make using Vim nicer: That's all. Enjoy your new fancy text editor!

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