Compile and install vim 8.1 from source (debian / MX Linux) with pyenv

March 15, 2019 • Updated: June 23, 2019

The purpose of this article is to aid those who want to run cutting edge vim things.
Vim 8.1 provides :terminal. This is BIG NEWS and has opened some pretty cool plugins such as markdown preview plugin for (neo)vim. Additionally, if you want deoplete.nvim to work properly you’ll need to compile vim against python3 anyway. The most single/main user way I’ve found to make these plugins work is to compile Vim from source. This is a method that I feel is least obtrusive to a single systerm.
This HowTo will add vim v8.1 to your system under ‘/usr/local’ and set it as default (with python 3.7.2 and other common necessities -adjust as needed)
This method follows the ‘don’t break debian’ mantra as close as possible IMHO.
Disclaimer: !! Test in a VM or otherwise at your own risk !!!
Tested with:
- MX Linux v18.1
- Debian Stretch v9.8
references:

Install and setup pyenv

pyenv provides a localized python, versioned, installation at the user level.

reference: pyenv/pyenv-installer: This tool is used to install pyenv and friends.
```
curl https://pyenv.run | bash
```

config: add to your ~/.bashrc file and relogin (terminal or desktop env)

# Load pyenv automatically by adding
# the following to ~/.bashrc:

export PATH="/home/karl/.pyenv/bin:$PATH"
eval "$(pyenv init -)"
eval "$(pyenv virtualenv-init -)"

install a python version

# list available versions
pyenv install -l |less
# insta a version
pyenv install 3.7.2

set a python version for global
```
pyenv global 3.7.2
```

Script for vim compile and installation

#! /usr/bin/env bash

# Install vim from source on a debian based system where pyenv is used at thhe user level.
## The python version must already be installed via pyenv
## `pyenv install 3.7.2`
## It is not necessary remove debian installed vim packages


# fail on any error (fix things as needed)
set -e

# Convenience variables
FULL_VERSION="3.7.2"
MM_VERSION="3.7"
VIM_CONENSED_VER="81"
VIM_TAG="v8.1"
BUILT_BY="Karl N. Redman <karl.redman@gmail.com>"

# Install dependencies (note no python-dev here)
sudo apt install -y libncurses5-dev libgnome2-dev libgnomeui-dev \
libgtk2.0-dev libatk1.0-dev libbonoboui2-dev \
libcairo2-dev libx11-dev libxpm-dev libxt-dev \
ruby-dev lua5.1 liblua5.1-dev libperl-dev git

# Checkout vim
git clone https://github.com/vim/vim.git
cd vim

# make sure the repo is clean
make distclean

# (optional) Checkout the specific desired version
## umcomment to use specific tagged version
# git pull --tags
# git checkout tags/${VIM_TAG}

# Run `Configure`
./configure --with-features=huge \
            --enable-multibyte \
            --enable-rubyinterp=yes \
            --with-x \
            --enable-perlinterp=yes \
            --enable-luainterp=yes \
            --enable-gui=gtk2 \
            --enable-cscope \
            --prefix=/usr/local \
            --with-compiledby="${BUILT_BY}" \
            --enable-python3interp=yes \
            --with-python3-config-dir=$HOME/.pyenv/versions/${FULL_VERSION}/lib/python${MM_VERSION}/config-${MM_VERSION}m-x86_64-linux-gnu \
            --includedir=$HOME/.pyenv/versions/${FULL_VERSION}/include/

# Make and set the runtime directory (non default to avoid conflicts)
make VIMRUNTIMEDIR=/usr/local/share/vim/vim${VIM_CONENSED_VER}

## (optional) uncomment to remove current vim if desired
# sudo apt remove -y vim vim-runtime gvim vim-tiny vim-common vim-gui-common vim-nox

# install (to usr local)
sudo make install

# update alternatives to set our new build as default
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/editor editor /usr/local/bin/vim 1
sudo update-alternatives --set editor /usr/local/bin/vim
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/vi vi /usr/local/bin/vim 1
sudo update-alternatives --set vi /usr/local/bin/vim

echo "done."

That’s it!

relogin (if necessary) and vim --version should report v8.1! Now you can try out :terminal to make sure it’s working … and take advantage of the new plugins that are a comming!

Compile and install vim 8.1 from source (debian / MX Linux) with pyenv

Install and setup pyenv

Script for vim compile and installation

That’s it!

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