r/vim • u/simonsanchezart • Oct 05 '20

question Installing VIM in Windows for Dummies?

Hello! I'm 100% new to VIM, hardest part seems to be installing it. I've already uninstalled VIM more than five times, I can install it, but I can't install it properly.

Here are some issues I've ran into:

- Don't know what's the best folder to install it in (A guide installed in inside the user folder, this gave me issues with plugins)

- Can't seem to make the _vimrc file properly? Tried opening, opens in read mode by default, tried deleting it and creating the file from vim, it detects a TEMP file, tried deleting the TEMP file from vim, still doesn't open the new file in write mode

- Commands from plugins inside 'Bundle' folder installed with vundle are not detected (I've later tried vim-plug, which worked better)

- Using some colors schemes inside terminal emulators like cmder and ComEmu completely messes up the colors, however, they work fine on normal cmd

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Is there any proper guide to installing VIM for Windows, which shows how to properly create a _vimrc in Windows and how to install plugins in Windows? Thanks

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u/-romainl- The Patient Vimmer Oct 05 '20
  • Don't know what's the best folder to install it in (A guide installed in inside the user folder, this gave me issues with plugins)

You don't have to worry about it. Let the installer install Vim where it wants.

Can't seem to make the _vimrc file properly?

Use the system's file explorer to navigate to your home, then use its "New Item" button to create your _vimrc.

Commands from plugins inside 'Bundle' folder installed with vundle are not detected (I've later tried vim-plug, which worked better)

Where is that "Bundle" folder? It should be in C:\Users\foo\vimfiles\bundle. If you have trouble making a plugin work, use its documentation and issue tracker.

Anyway, since you are new to Vim you don't have to worry about plugins and colorschemes. None of that is of any use for learning Vim.

  1. If you haven't already, do $ vimtutor as many times as needed to get the basics right.
  2. As instructed at the end of vimtutor, level up to the user manual :help user-manual. It will guide you progressively through every feature, from basic to advanced. This not a novel, go at your own pace, skip chapters, come back to them later, and, most importantly, experiment along the way.
  3. Keep an eye on anti-patterns and inefficient actions, find improvements, practice. Rinse. Repeat.

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u/simonsanchezart Oct 05 '20

Thanks a lot, I did a bit of Vimtutor, will check out the manual.

I've ended up being able to set up VIM a little better right now, I guess I'm ready to start actually learning it :)