Vim Configuration for Python, JavaScript, Bash & Web Development

This is my personal Vim configuration tailored for Python, JavaScript, Bash/Shell scripting, and web development. It focuses on ease of use, readability, and productivity while staying close to vanilla Vim.

Two configs are provided:

File	Description
.vimrc	Full config with plugins via vim-plug
.vimrc.lite	Zero-plugin alternative using Vim built-ins only — no :PlugInstall needed

Both configs are cross-platform: macOS (Apple Terminal & iTerm2) and Linux (with xclip fallback when +clipboard is unavailable).

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Features

• Syntax highlighting
• Line numbers & relative numbers
• Consistent indentation (4 spaces for Python/Bash, 2 for JS/HTML)
• Automatic & smart indentation
• Smart case search with real-time results
• Mouse support
• System clipboard integration (macOS unnamed, Linux unnamedplus, xclip fallback)
• Persistent undo across sessions
• Sensible split behavior
• macOS + Linux compatibility with automatic OS detection
• Trailing whitespace auto-cleanup on save for .py, .sh, .bash
• Dotfiles hidden by default in the file tree (easy toggle)
• Clock and session timer in the status line
• :Theme command to switch colorschemes
• :Open (Vim 9.2+ built-in) to reveal files/folders in Finder or the system file manager
• :Reload to re-source the config without restarting Vim

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.vimrc — Full Config (Plugin-based)

Plugins

• NERDTree — file tree navigation (Ctrl+n / :Tree)
• vim-airline — enhanced status line with ALE integration, clock, and session timer
• ALE — asynchronous linting and auto-fixing on save
• vim-commentary — easy commenting with gc
• vim-monokai — Monokai color scheme (default)
• gruvbox, tokyonight, onedark, moonfly — additional themes via :Theme
• emmet-vim — fast HTML/CSS writing
• CtrlP — fuzzy file finder (Ctrl+p), ignores node_modules, .git, dist, build
• auto-pairs — auto-close brackets and quotes
• vim-gitgutter — git diff indicators in the gutter
• vim-polyglot — enhanced syntax highlighting for all languages
• vim-buftabline — visual buffer list at the top of the screen

Linting & Fixing (ALE)

ALE lints in real-time and auto-fixes on save:

Language	Linters	Fixers
Python	flake8, pylint	isort, black (88 char line length)
JavaScript	eslint	prettier
HTML	htmlhint	prettier
Shell/Bash	shellcheck	—

Python Virtual Environment Auto-Detection

When opening a .py file, Vim automatically searches parent directories for .venv or venv and configures ALE linters (flake8, pylint) to use the virtual environment's Python binary.

Installation

1. Install vim-plug:

curl -fLo ~/.vim/autoload/plug.vim --create-dirs \
    https://raw.githubusercontent.com/junegunn/vim-plug/master/plug.vim

2. Clone this repository:

git clone git@github.com:georgegozal/vim-config.git

3. Copy the .vimrc to your home directory:

cp vim-config/.vimrc $HOME/.vimrc

4. Install plugins — launch Vim and run:

:PlugInstall

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.vimrc.lite — Zero-Plugin Config

A drop-in alternative for servers, fresh machines, SSH sessions, or any environment where you only have Vim — no plugins, no internet, no :PlugInstall. Works in any shell (bash, zsh, sh, etc.).

All features use Vim built-ins: netrw, syntax/filetype detection, built-in colorschemes, and custom Vimscript functions.

Full .vimrc	.vimrc.lite equivalent
NERDTree	netrw (Lexplore)
vim-airline	custom built-in statusline with clock and session timer
CtrlP	set path+=** + :find with tab completion
vim-commentary	custom ToggleComment() function
vim-buftabline	custom BufTabLine() function
Plugin themes	built-in themes via :Theme

Comment toggling (\c) is filetype-aware and supports: Python, Bash/Shell, Zsh, YAML, JavaScript, Java, C/C++, Vim, HTML, XML.

Optional OS tools (only needed for specific features):

Feature	macOS	Linux
Clipboard	built-in	+clipboard, or xclip as fallback
:Open	built-in (Vim 9.2+)	fallback via xdg-open on older Vim

Usage

# Use instead of ~/.vimrc for a single session
vim -u ~/.vimrc.lite

# Add a shell alias for convenience (add to ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc)
alias viml="vim -u ~/.vimrc.lite"

# Or install permanently
cp vim-config/.vimrc.lite $HOME/.vimrc

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Commands

Both configs share these commands (leader key is \):

Command	Description
:Tree	Toggle file explorer
:TreeHidden	Toggle dotfile visibility in the file tree
:Theme <name>	Switch colorscheme (:Theme list shows all; :Theme default resets)
:Open [path]	Open file or folder in Finder / system file manager (Vim 9.2+ built-in; lite falls back on older Vim)
:Reload	Re-source the config without restarting Vim

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Key Mappings

Both configs share the same key mappings unless noted.

File Navigation

• Ctrl+n — toggle file explorer (NERDTree or netrw)
• Ctrl+p — fuzzy file finder (CtrlP, full config only)
• :Tree — command alias to open file explorer
• :find <name> — file search with tab completion (lite config)
• \. — toggle dotfile visibility in the file tree
• Cmd+E — toggle file explorer (macOS, when terminal forwards Cmd)
• Cmd+F — fuzzy file finder (macOS, full config only)

File Tree — Dotfiles

Dotfiles (.git, .env, etc.) are hidden by default. Toggle visibility with:

• \. or :TreeHidden — from anywhere
• I — when focused in NERDTree (full config)
• a — when focused in netrw (lite config)

NERDTree File Opening (full config)

• Enter — open file in current window
• i — open file in horizontal split
• s — open file in vertical split
• t — open file in new tab

Buffer Management

• \n — next buffer
• \p — previous buffer
• \d — delete buffer
• \b — show buffer list and switch
• \1 to \5 — jump to buffer 1–5
• \x — delete buffer without closing window
• :ls — show all open buffers

Window Navigation

• Ctrl+w h/j/k/l — move between windows

Splits

• \v — vertical split
• \s — horizontal split

Editing

• jk — escape insert mode (alternative to Esc)
• Ctrl+s — save file
• \w — quick save
• \q — quick quit
• \h — clear search highlights
• \c — toggle comment (lite config; use gc in full config)

Line Movement

• Ctrl+j — move current line/selection down
• Ctrl+k — move current line/selection up
• Alt+j / Alt+k — same (only available in iTerm2 on macOS)

Visual Mode

• < — indent left (keeps selection)
• > — indent right (keeps selection)

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File Type Settings

Language	Indentation
Python	4 spaces
Bash / Shell scripts	4 spaces
JavaScript	2 spaces
HTML / XML	2 spaces
JSON / YAML	2 spaces

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Colorscheme

Use :Theme <name> to switch themes at any time.

Config	Default	Available themes
Full (.vimrc)	monokai	monokai, gruvbox, tokyonight, onedark, moonfly, desert, slate, evening
Lite (.vimrc.lite)	desert	desert, slate, evening, elflord, delek, industry, koehler, ron, shine, torte, zellner

• :Theme list — show available themes and the default
• :Theme default — reset to the config's default theme

The lite config applies custom highlight tweaks for cursor line, line numbers, and status bar on top of built-in themes.

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Status Line

Both configs show a clock (HH:MM) and session timer (MM:SS) in the status line.

• Full config: displayed in vim-airline (right section)
• Lite config: displayed in the built-in statusline

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Screenshots

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Contributing

If you have suggestions or improvements, feel free to fork this repo and submit a pull request!

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License

This project is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 (AGPL-3.0). You are free to use, modify, and distribute this configuration, provided that any modifications are also released under the same license.