Vim: how to open multiple files into different tabs

vim

Let's assume I have a folder with source code files. I want to open certain files with vim.

Can I do it, so vim already put's them into different tabs?
(Just as like opening a folder in VS Code or any other text editor).

Best Answer

vim -p /path/to/src/project/*.cpp

If you expect to have a large number of files open at once in this manner, add a line akin to this to your .vimrc:

set tabpagemax=20

I believe the default is closer to ten.

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How to install light-weight vim and to be able to efficiently load files into one instance vim

The client-server capabilities of vim depend on X11, citing from its help:

The communication between client and server goes through the X server. The display of the Vim server must be specified. The usual protection of the X server is used, you must be able to open a window on the X server for the communication to work.

[...]

A non GUI Vim with access to the X11 display (xterm-clipboard enabled), can also act as a command server if a server name is explicitly given with the --servername argument.

This mailing list post is clearer on what is needed:

Except on Windows, communication between server and client goes through X11, so in that case you need both the --with-x configuration option (or default) at compile-time (which, in turn, requires one or more X11 "development" packages to be installed) and an available X server at run-time.

Thus, if you're concerned with resources on your "workhorse", it might be better to just fire up vim instances when needed.

Edit: You could get away with "less than gvim" by building vim yourself (e.g. by rebuilding the Debian package (packaging tutorial PDF)) such that while still needing X11, you could do without GTK etc.

In Vim, how can I automatically determine whether to use spaces or tabs for indentation

You can use something like this in your ~/.vimrc to adjust to use spaces/tabs as appropriate:

" By default, use spaced tabs.
set expandtab

" Display tabs as 4 spaces wide. When expandtab is set, use 4 spaces.
set shiftwidth=4
set tabstop=4

function TabsOrSpaces()
    " Determines whether to use spaces or tabs on the current buffer.
    if getfsize(bufname("%")) > 256000
        " File is very large, just use the default.
        return
    endif

    let numTabs=len(filter(getbufline(bufname("%"), 1, 250), 'v:val =~ "^\\t"'))
    let numSpaces=len(filter(getbufline(bufname("%"), 1, 250), 'v:val =~ "^ "'))

    if numTabs > numSpaces
        setlocal noexpandtab
    endif
endfunction

" Call the function after opening a buffer
autocmd BufReadPost * call TabsOrSpaces()

Best Answer

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How to install light-weight vim and to be able to efficiently load files into one instance vim

In Vim, how can I automatically determine whether to use spaces or tabs for indentation

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