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filecreated: 
fileupdated: 2025-04-14
filetags: [readme]
---

# dotfiles-vim

I want to finally have a `.vimrc` in which I understand each and every line.  After years of collecting snips and scraps from other people's dotfiles, I want to make sure that I am aware of what my `.vimrc` is doing.

This configuration is based heavily on the guide I found here: [Vim Zero](https://www.oliversherouse.com/posts/vim_zero.html) which does exactly what I am aiming to do here: wipe the slate clean and start over.

Whenever possible, I've noted the URL from which I found the setting or snippet.  I try to insist that not everything is self-explanatory.

## Installation

Clone this repo to a directory and run the `create-links.sh` script. CAUTION: this will remove any existing `.vimrc` and `.vim` directories and replace them with soft links to the files in this repository.

Then open vim and install (or update) the plugins with `:PlugInstall` (or `:PlugUpdate`)

## Changelog

- 2025-04-14: Removed textwidth and added a word-wrap toggle (`<leader>w`). Removed old and unused templates for markdown and readinglist.
- 2024-02-13: Several changes:
  - Included more comments and links about what each entry does
  - Removed `polyglot` plugin
  - Removed `ALE` plugin 
  - Removed `tpope/vim-markdown` plugin
  - Removed netrw customizations
  - Removed auto templates, changed them to snippets:
    - Insert markdown header with `,md`
    - Insert shell header with  `,sh`
- 2024-02-22: Replaced Vimwiki with Vim Markdown
  - Suggestions from [Writing Markdown in Vim](https://codeinthehole.com/tips/writing-markdown-in-vim/)
  - Added
    - `godlygeek/tabular`
    - `preservim/vim-markdown`
- 2024-02-25: 
  - Added [vim-spellsync](https://github.com/micarmst/vim-spellsync) plugin and made the needed changes to accommodate
  - Reworked markdown and shell script templates to update dates in headers automatically.
  - Started making better commit messages in order to avoid having to document details in README :)