Did you come here by mistake? If so, check out our EmacsTips.

Configuration for setting up Vim

Here's a complete vimrc file that you can use. To call it add these lines to your ~/.vimrc:

if !exists("autocommands_loaded")
  let autocommands_loaded = 1
  autocmd BufRead,BufNewFile,FileReadPost *.py source ~/.vim/python
endif

" This beauty remembers where you were the last time you edited the file, and returns to the same position.
au BufReadPost * if line("'\"") > 0|if line("'\"") <= line("$")|exe("norm '\"")|else|exe "norm $"|endif|endif

And then create the ~/.vim/python file as below. A summary of what it does:

Set indent to 4 spaces with no tabs and wrapping at 78 columns.
Enable extra syntax highlighting
Smart indenting after some Python keywords
Autocompletion of keywords with ctrl-space. It will even offer a list of class methods/properties (very, very cool feature).
Press shift-k to see documentation for the keyword under the cursor.
Make comments wrap at 72 chars.
Highlight end of line whitespace.
Put the cursor on an import, type gf and it jumps to the file.
Sets up ctags (for more completion options)
:make will show syntax errors
Highlight some code (shift-v) and ctrl-h executes it.
F7/shift-F7 adds/removes breakpoints for pdb (really nice!)

" The magical turn-Vim-into-a-Python-IDE vim resource file!
"
" Mostly taken from http://www.sontek.net/category/Vim.aspx
" Other bits culled from various sources, Canonical guys, or made up by me.
"
" Julian Edwards 2008-05-30

" Wrapping and tabs.
set tw=78 ts=4 sw=4 sta et sts=4 ai

" More syntax highlighting.
let python_highlight_all = 1

" Smart indenting
set smartindent cinwords=if,elif,else,for,while,try,except,finally,def,class

" Auto completion via ctrl-space (instead of the nasty ctrl-x ctrl-o)
set omnifunc=pythoncomplete#Complete
inoremap <Nul> <C-x><C-o>

" Get this plugin from http://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=1112
" Pressing "K" takes you to the documentation for the word under the cursor.
autocmd filetype python source ~/.vim/pydoc.vim

" Wrap at 72 chars for comments.
set formatoptions=cq textwidth=72 foldignore= wildignore+=*.py[co]

" Highlight end of line whitespace.
highlight WhitespaceEOL ctermbg=red guibg=red
match WhitespaceEOL /\s\+$/

" The next two highlight matches break the previous one, I don't know why.
" Show long lines.
"highlight LongLine guibg=red ctermbg=red
"match LongLine /\%>79v.\+/
" Highlight bzr merge markers.
"highlight MergeMarker guibg=red ctermbg=red
"match MergeMarker /^[<=>\|]\{7\}\( [A-Z]\+\)?$/

" `gf` jumps to the filename under the cursor.  Point at an import statement
" and jump to it!
python << EOF
import os
import sys
import vim
for p in sys.path:
    if os.path.isdir(p):
        vim.command(r"set path+=%s" % (p.replace(" ", r"\ ")))
EOF

" Generate tags with: ctags -R -f ~/.vim/tags/python24.ctags /usr/lib/python2.4/
" ctrl-[ to go to the tag under the cursor, ctrl-T to go back.
set tags+=$HOME/.vim/tags/python24.ctags

" Use :make to see syntax errors. (:cn and :cp to move around, :dist to see
" all errors)
set makeprg=python\ -c\ \"import\ py_compile,sys;\ sys.stderr=sys.stdout;\ py_compile.compile(r'%')\"
set efm=%C\ %.%#,%A\ \ File\ \"%f\"\\,\ line\ %l%.%#,%Z%[%^\ ]%\\@=%m

" Execute a selection of code (very cool!)
" Use VISUAL to select a range and then hit ctrl-h to execute it.
python << EOL
import vim
def EvaluateCurrentRange():
    eval(compile('\n'.join(vim.current.range),'','exec'),globals())
EOL
map <C-h> :py EvaluateCurrentRange()

" Use F7/Shift-F7 to add/remove a breakpoint (pdb.set_trace)
" Totally cool.
python << EOF
def SetBreakpoint():
    import re
    nLine = int( vim.eval( 'line(".")'))

    strLine = vim.current.line
    strWhite = re.search( '^(\s*)', strLine).group(1)

    vim.current.buffer.append(
       "%(space)spdb.set_trace() %(mark)s Breakpoint %(mark)s" %
         {'space':strWhite, 'mark': '#' * 30}, nLine - 1)

    for strLine in vim.current.buffer:
        if strLine == "import pdb":
            break
    else:
        vim.current.buffer.append( 'import pdb', 0)
        vim.command( 'normal j1')

vim.command( 'map <f7> :py SetBreakpoint()<cr>')

def RemoveBreakpoints():
    import re

    nCurrentLine = int( vim.eval( 'line(".")'))

    nLines = []
    nLine = 1
    for strLine in vim.current.buffer:
        if strLine == "import pdb" or strLine.lstrip()[:15] == "pdb.set_trace()":
            nLines.append( nLine)
        nLine += 1

    nLines.reverse()

    for nLine in nLines:
        vim.command( "normal %dG" % nLine)
        vim.command( "normal dd")
        if nLine < nCurrentLine:
            nCurrentLine -= 1

    vim.command( "normal %dG" % nCurrentLine)

vim.command( "map <s-f7> :py RemoveBreakpoints()<cr>")
EOF
vim:syntax=vim

Finally, there's a great pyflakes plugin here: http://www.vim.org/scripts/download_script.php?src_id=12555

Follow its setup instructions.

Branch with configs and dependencies

Most of the configs on this page are included in this branch, and it includes a macro for sorting and formatting a from/import statement and a plugin for pocketlint checking, which is not found elsewhere.

https://code.edge.launchpad.net/~edwin-grubbs/+junk/canonical-vim