A basic .vimrc file that will serve as a good template on which to build.

.vimrc

" Don't try to be vi compatible
set nocompatible

" Helps force plugins to load correctly when it is turned back on below
filetype off

" TODO: Load plugins here (pathogen or vundle)

" Turn on syntax highlighting
syntax on

" For plugins to load correctly
filetype plugin indent on

" TODO: Pick a leader key
" let mapleader = ","

" Security
set modelines=0

" Show line numbers
set number

" Show file stats
set ruler

" Blink cursor on error instead of beeping (grr)
set visualbell

" Encoding
set encoding=utf-8

" Whitespace
set wrap
set textwidth=79
set formatoptions=tcqrn1
set tabstop=2
set shiftwidth=2
set softtabstop=2
set expandtab
set noshiftround

" Cursor motion
set scrolloff=3
set backspace=indent,eol,start
set matchpairs+=<:> " use % to jump between pairs
runtime! macros/matchit.vim

" Move up/down editor lines
nnoremap j gj
nnoremap k gk

" Allow hidden buffers
set hidden

" Rendering
set ttyfast

" Status bar
set laststatus=2

" Last line
set showmode
set showcmd

" Searching
nnoremap / /\v
vnoremap / /\v
set hlsearch
set incsearch
set ignorecase
set smartcase
set showmatch
map <leader><space> :let @/=''<cr> " clear search

" Remap help key.
inoremap <F1> <ESC>:set invfullscreen<CR>a
nnoremap <F1> :set invfullscreen<CR>
vnoremap <F1> :set invfullscreen<CR>

" Textmate holdouts

" Formatting
map <leader>q gqip

" Visualize tabs and newlines
set listchars=tab:▸\ ,eol:¬
" Uncomment this to enable by default:
" set list " To enable by default
" Or use your leader key + l to toggle on/off
map <leader>l :set list!<CR> " Toggle tabs and EOL

" Color scheme (terminal)
set t_Co=256
set background=dark
let g:solarized_termcolors=256
let g:solarized_termtrans=1
" put https://raw.github.com/altercation/vim-colors-solarized/master/colors/solarized.vim
" in ~/.vim/colors/ and uncomment:
" colorscheme solarized

Could someone please explain why does the keymap adds \v before search terms?

Could someone please explain why does the keymap adds \v before search terms?

It enables "very magic" regex syntax, which roughly means that characters that have a special meaning in regexes need not be escaped to have that special meaning. For example, normally to group a subregex you need to escape the parenthesis with a backslash: \(this is grouped\). With very magic syntax unescaped parenthesis have that function. Similarly alternation is usually \|, and with very magic syntax it is just |. But don't take my word for it, ask Vim: :help \v.

Thanks a lot 👍

Thanks!

thanks.. really helpful 👍

Thank you!

This is great and super helpful. thanks

thx

Thank you sir

Thanks! I had to change map <leader><space> :let @/=''<cr> " clear search -> map <leader><space> :let @/=''<cr> to prevent the visual bell going off. Also had to do the same to L91.

Good stuff, thank you! :-)

Thank you!!!!

I installed and uncommented colorscheme solarized but imo it looks much better without that coloscheme enabled

I used most, but not all, of these settings for my vimrc file. Thank you so much for putting this up to help others. 😎