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I've trouble setting up Vim (7.1.xxx) for editing Python files (*.py). Indenting seems to be broken (optimal 4 spaces). I've followed some tutorials I found via Google. Still no effect :/ Please help.

Boann
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M_1
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7 Answers7

84

I use this on my macbook:

" configure expanding of tabs for various file types
au BufRead,BufNewFile *.py set expandtab
au BufRead,BufNewFile *.c set expandtab
au BufRead,BufNewFile *.h set expandtab
au BufRead,BufNewFile Makefile* set noexpandtab

" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
" configure editor with tabs and nice stuff...
" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
set expandtab           " enter spaces when tab is pressed
set textwidth=120       " break lines when line length increases
set tabstop=4           " use 4 spaces to represent tab
set softtabstop=4
set shiftwidth=4        " number of spaces to use for auto indent
set autoindent          " copy indent from current line when starting a new line

" make backspaces more powerfull
set backspace=indent,eol,start

set ruler               " show line and column number
syntax on               " syntax highlighting
set showcmd             " show (partial) command in status line

(edited to only show stuff related to indent / tabs)

Steve Ward
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Daren Thomas
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    Don't use tabs when editing C-style languages. s/noexpandtab/expandtab – badeip Sep 01 '18 at 07:21
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    @AlexKreimer you're probably right - I wrote this in 2008 - that's a _long_ time ago. I'd love to update it, but I've moved on from using vim for most stuff. Be sure to come back here and post a link to a better answer (or write one yourself) when you figure out a better solution! – Daren Thomas Mar 23 '20 at 06:43
  • @DarenThomas IMO, a *very* outdated answer – Alex Kreimer Mar 23 '20 at 08:21
15

I use:

$ cat ~/.vimrc
syntax on
set showmatch
set ts=4
set sts=4
set sw=4
set autoindent
set smartindent
set smarttab
set expandtab
set number

But but I'm going to try Daren's entries

thanos
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    Notice that ```smartindent``` is only suitable for editing C files, not Python files (and anyway has been deprecated by now; see http://stackoverflow.com/a/234578/37639). – corwin.amber Aug 08 '16 at 16:47
15

A simpler option: just uncomment the following part of the configuration (which is originally commented out) in the /etc/vim/vimrc file:

    if has("autocmd")
      filetype plugin indent on
    endif
Teddy Belay
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5

I use the vimrc in the python repo among other things:

http://svn.python.org/projects/python/trunk/Misc/Vim/vimrc

I also add

set softtabstop=4

I have my old config here that I'm updating

Skylar Saveland
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3

Ensure you are editing the correct configuration file for VIM. Especially if you are using windows, where the file could be named _vimrc instead of .vimrc as on other platforms.

In vim type

:help vimrc

and check your path to the _vimrc/.vimrc file with

:echo $HOME

:echo $VIM

Make sure you are only using one file. If you want to split your configuration into smaller chunks you can source other files from inside your _vimrc file.

:help source

Jamie
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1

Combining the solutions proposed by Daren and Thanos we have a good .vimrc file. 

-----
" configure expanding of tabs for various file types
au BufRead,BufNewFile *.py set expandtab
au BufRead,BufNewFile *.c set noexpandtab
au BufRead,BufNewFile *.h set noexpandtab
au BufRead,BufNewFile Makefile* set noexpandtab

" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
" configure editor with tabs and nice stuff...
" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
set expandtab           " enter spaces when tab is pressed
set textwidth=120       " break lines when line length increases
set tabstop=4           " use 4 spaces to represent tab
set softtabstop=4
set shiftwidth=4        " number of spaces to use for auto indent
set autoindent          " copy indent from current line when starting a new line
set smartindent
set smarttab
set expandtab
set number

" make backspaces more powerfull
set backspace=indent,eol,start

set ruler                           " show line and column number
syntax on               " syntax highlighting
set showcmd             " show (partial) command in status line
Flávio Brito
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0

for more advanced python editing consider installing the simplefold vim plugin. it allows you do advanced code folding using regular expressions. i use it to fold my class and method definitions for faster editing.

Gabor
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