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What is use_vim_as_ide?

yangyangwithgnu/use_vim_as_ide — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-06-24

9,179VimLAudience · developerComplexity · 2/5Setup · hard

In one sentence

A detailed Chinese-language tutorial for configuring Vim into a full C/C++ IDE, covering plugin management, intelligent code completion, project file navigation, and build tool integration.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((use_vim_as_ide))
    What it does
      IDE features in Vim
      C and C++ focused
      Chinese tutorial
    Key Plugins
      YouCompleteMe
      Vundle
    Topics Covered
      Code completion
      Syntax highlighting
      Build integration
    Audience
      Vim beginners
      C++ developers
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Code map

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filefunction / class

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Follow the step-by-step guide to set up YouCompleteMe in Vim for intelligent C/C++ code completion without leaving the terminal.

USE CASE 2

Configure Vundle plugin manager and a project file tree browser in Vim to replace a visual IDE like CLion.

USE CASE 3

Integrate build tools into Vim so you can compile C/C++ projects and see errors without switching applications.

What is it built with?

VimLVimCC++YouCompleteMeVundle

How does it compare?

yangyangwithgnu/use_vim_as_idekien/ctrlp.vimspf13/spf13-vim
Stars9,1797,23915,513
LanguageVimLVimLVimL
Setup difficultyhardeasyeasy
Complexity2/52/52/5
Audiencedeveloperdeveloperdeveloper

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · hard Time to first run · 1h+

Requires building Vim from source and compiling YouCompleteMe with C/C++ semantic support enabled.

So what is it?

This repository is a comprehensive Chinese-language tutorial on configuring the vim text editor to work like a full IDE (Integrated Development Environment), specifically for C and C++ programming. Vim is a powerful terminal-based text editor that many developers use, but it requires significant configuration before it handles things like code completion, syntax error highlighting, and project file browsing the way a visual IDE such as Visual Studio or CLion does out of the box. This guide walks through that configuration step by step. The tutorial covers a wide range of topics: installing vim from source to get the full feature set, managing plugins using the Vundle plugin manager, customizing the visual appearance and layout, code analysis features like syntax highlighting and code folding, navigating between function declarations and their implementations, intelligent code completion using the YouCompleteMe plugin, generating implementation skeletons from header files, browsing project file trees, integrating build tools so you can compile from within the editor, and running static analysis tools. The README itself is the main content of the repository. It is a long, detailed technical article written in 2016 by the author, who describes vim's main advantage as letting your fingers keep up with your thinking. The guide assumes the reader already knows basic vim operations (how to open, edit, and save files, and how to switch between insert and command mode) and wants to go further by turning vim into a development environment they will not need to leave during a working session. The repository does not contain a software application to install or run. It is a reference document, and readers follow along in their own vim setup. The full README is longer than what was shown.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Help me set up YouCompleteMe in Vim for C++ semantic code completion. My Vim was installed from source. What should I add to .vimrc?
Prompt 2
Show me how to configure Vundle plugin manager in Vim, then install the plugins described in the use_vim_as_ide tutorial.
Prompt 3
I want to navigate between C++ header declarations and their implementations in Vim. What plugin and keybindings should I configure?
Prompt 4
How do I add a project file tree browser to Vim and make it open automatically when I start an editing session?

Frequently asked questions

What is use_vim_as_ide?

A detailed Chinese-language tutorial for configuring Vim into a full C/C++ IDE, covering plugin management, intelligent code completion, project file navigation, and build tool integration.

What language is use_vim_as_ide written in?

Mainly VimL. The stack also includes VimL, Vim, C.

How hard is use_vim_as_ide to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated hard, with roughly 1h+ to a first successful run.

Who is use_vim_as_ide for?

Mainly developer.

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