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Build Vim From Source

The default installation of vim on Ubuntu Server is version 802 (:echo v:version), and does not come with python or clipboard support.
The latest version from apt is only 8.2. Building from source is probably the only way to get an up-to-date vim with full features.

Table of Contents

Installing Vim With Full Feature Support

To get Vim with Python support, it can be installed from source:

  • https://github.com/vim/vim/blob/master/src/INSTALL

Dependencies

  • Base Installation Dependencies:
    • git
    • make
    • clang
    • libtool-bin
  • X-windows Clipboard Dependencies:
    • libxt-dev
  • Python Dependencies:
    • libpython3-dev
    • The CONF_OPT_PYTHON3 = --enable-python3interp needs to be uncommented from the Makefile.
  • GUI Dependencies (lol):
    • libgtk-3-dev
  • Debugging:
    • valgrind
    • Uncomment in Makefile: CFLAGS = -g -Wall -Wextra -Wshadow -Wmissing-prototypes -Wunreachable-code -Wno-deprecated-declarations -U_FORTIFY_SOURCE -D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=1

Installing Dependencies (full features):

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y \
git \
make \
clang \
libtool-bin \
libxt-dev \
libpython3-dev \
libgtk-3-dev \
lua5.4 \
liblua5.4-dev \

Compiling

For features that you can't enable/disable in another way, you can edit the file "feature.h" to match your preferences.

  1. Uncomment the desired features in the Makefile
    • Python 3 support
      • CONF_OPT_PYTHON3 = --enable-python3interp
    • Debugging Support with Valgrind
      • CFLAGS = -g -Wall -Wextra -Wshadow -Wmissing-prototypes -Wunreachable-code -Wno-deprecated-declarations -U_FORTIFY_SOURCE -D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=1
  2. make - run configure, compile and link
  3. make install - installation in /usr/local

This will include the GUI and X11 libraries, if you have them. If you want a version of Vim that is small and starts up quickly, see the Makefile for how to disable the GUI and X11. If you don't have GUI libraries and/or X11, these features will be disabled automatically.

Language Interfaces

# Lua
sudo apt install -y lua5.4 liblua5.4-dev
# Perl
sudo apt install -y libperl-dev
# Python
sudo apt install -y libpython3-dev

Enabling the Python Interface

  • Required Debian package is "libpython3-dev".
  • For Python3 support make a symbolic link in /usr/local/bin (required): 
    which python3
# ---> /usr/bin/python3
cd /usr/local/bin/
ln -s /usr/bin/python3 python3.1
    Uncomment the following line from vim/src/Makefile 
    CONF_OPT_PYTHON = --enable-pythoninterp

Enabling Lua Interface

  • Required Debian package is "lua5.3" and "liblua5.3-dev", OR "lua5.4" and "liblua5.4-dev".
  • For Lua support make a symbolic link in /usr/local/bin (not required): 
    which lua
# ---> /usr/bin/lua
cd /usr/local/bin/
ln -s /usr/bin/lua .
    Uncomment the following line from vim/src/Makefile 
    CONF_OPT_LUA = --enable-luainterp

Enabling Perl Interface

  • Required Debian package is "libperl-dev" Uncomment the following line from vim/src/Makefile 
    CONF_OPT_PERL = --enable-perlinterp

Enabling the Ruby Interface

  • Required Debian package is "ruby-dev". Uncomment the following line from vim/src/Makefile 
    CONF_OPT_RUBY = --enable-rubyinterp

After Editing Makefile

When you're done enabling the options you want in the Makefile, run: 

make reconfig

TL;DR: Uncomment These in Makefile

This will be what needs to be uncommented for compiling Vim
with lua, ruby, perl, and python3 support.
Uncomment the following lines from the Makefile:

# Don't build the GUI version
CONF_OPT_GUI = --disable-gui

# Enable Lua
CONF_OPT_LUA = --enable-luainterp
# Make sure the exe is symlinked to /usr/local/bin
CONF_OPT_LUA_PREFIX = --with-lua-prefix=/usr/local

# Enable Perl
CONF_OPT_PERL = --enable-perlinterp
# Enable Python
CONF_OPT_PYTHON3 = --enable-python3interp
# Get the features, all the features
CONF_OPT_FEAT = --with-features=huge

# OPTIONAL: Change name and email in '--with-compiledby'
CONF_OPT_COMPBY = "--with-compiledby=Kolkhis <36500473+Kolkhis@users.noreply.github.com>"
Then, run: 
make
# OR, if you've already run `make`:
make reconfig

Starting Over

If you screwed it up the first time (like I did), go to vim/src (where you first ran make) and then run: 

# in vim/src
make distclean   # or clean, distclean is more thorough.
Now, reconfigure and/or install the things that need installing.
When you think you've got everything, run: 
make