This document provides instructions to turn VIM into a modern Python IDE. It outlines some pre-conditions including using a Linux distribution and understanding VI editors. It then lists simple steps to install necessary packages and plugins with Git and to customize color schemes. While this is just the beginning, it allows using VIM for effective Python programming with fewer steps than heavyweight IDEs. More details and customization options are referenced for continuing the VIM IDE journey.

1. Turn VIM into
a modern Python IDE
by Chee-Chan Keng

2. Pre-conditions
• You are already using a software development optimized
Operating System, like Linux distributions (Ubuntu 64-bit is
used in example)
• You understand the power of VI based editors
• You want to be effective with Python
Programming, obviously
• You prefer simplistic approach over heavyweight IDEs
• You prefer open source solutions over commercial IDEs
What to do if you don’t meet the pre-conditions?  GOOGLE IT!

3. The Steps (from fresh Ubuntu installation)
$ sudo apt-get install git vim-gnome rake
$ git clone https://github.com/sontek/dotfiles.git
$ cd dotfiles
$ ./install.sh vim
That’s it, sorry for the simple steps!

4. My personal touch
• Edit ~/.vimrc
• Remove eol:$, from this line:
set listchars=tab:>-,eol:$,trail:-,precedes:<,extends:>
• Change the colorscheme to wombat (see below):
colorscheme wombat
To get wombat color file:
$ cd ~/.vim/colors
$ wget –O wombat.vim http://www.vim.org/scripts/download_script.php?src_id=6657

5. Now, here’s the bad news:
• This is just the beginning of a powerful VIM IDE
journey, read here to unleash its full potential:
http://sontek.net/blog/detail/turning-vim-into-a-modern-python-ide

6. Reference & Special Thanks
• More detailed documentation is here:
http://sontek.net/blog/detail/turning-vim-into-a-
modern-python-ide

7. Thank You