87

My favorite editor is Vim, so I decided to change the default editor of my ubuntu installation with the following command:

sudo update-alternatives --config editor

A prompt (with listed options) came up asking for an editor, but I noticed that it listed two flavors of Vim:

  • /usr/bin/vim.basic
  • /usr/bin/vim.tiny

What is the difference between the basic and tiny options?

talles
  • 1,955
  • 2
  • 14
  • 14
  • Check out this comment about the differences: http://askubuntu.com/a/104202/284690 – Mitch Jun 14 '14 at 17:59
  • 2
    @terdon not really – talles Jun 14 '14 at 18:03
  • @talles the linked question explains that `vim.tiny` is just a trimmed-down version of `vim`, presumably designed as a lightweight alternative and the accepted answer lists the `vim` features that are present in `vim.tiny`. Combined, they seem to answer your question perfectly. Don't they? – terdon Jun 14 '14 at 18:10
  • 8
    @terdon What about vim.basic? My question is precisely the difference between these two options. I'm sorry but a question that *might* have *some information* that *helps* it's definitely not an answer, it's just a helpful link. I don't want to start a debate here, but **it's definitely \*not\* a duplicate IMO**. – talles Jun 14 '14 at 18:15
  • 6
    No debate, it's your question so if the other doesn't answer it then it's not a dupe by definition. I'm just trying to understand what else you need that is not explained there. Could you [edit] the question and clarify? `vim.basic` is just `vim`, and `vim.tiny` is a limited version of `vim`. You want to use `vim.basic` (or `vim.gnome` if that is installed and you want the GUI version). What else do you need to know? – terdon Jun 14 '14 at 18:19
  • @terdon So vim.basic it's just plain vanilla Vim? Didn't know that (man page doesn't state anything about it). Thank you. Next time try to *answer it* as an *answer* (rather than as a comment) ;) – talles Jun 14 '14 at 18:22
  • 6
    Yes, `vim.basic` is just `vim` and is installed when you install the `vim` package (check with `apt-file vim.basic` or `dpkg -S /usr/bin/vim.basic`). I did not answer because I considered it a duplicate and answering a duplicate is a waste of effort for everyone involved. Glad you sorted it out. – terdon Jun 14 '14 at 18:31

1 Answers1

89

So, vim.basic is just plain vanilla Vim (as you can check with apt-file vim.basic or dpkg -S /usr/bin/vim.basic).

While vim.tiny, as the name implies, is a trimmed-down version of Vim (this question explains it further).

Kudos for @terdon at comments for sorting that out.

Community
  • 1
talles
  • 1,955
  • 2
  • 14
  • 14
  • 7
    When you say "plain vanilla Vim", there's a connotation that it's as opposed to some kind of "fancy spumoni Vim". Could you explain what you mean? – Don Hatch Nov 08 '18 at 11:03
  • @DonHatch vim.basic can be called "plain vanilla vim" because it's what you get by default when you run `vim` from the command line. That is, `/usr/bin/vim` is a symlink to `/etc/alternatives/vim`, which by default is a symlink to `/usr/bin/vim.basic`. – krubo Nov 19 '21 at 08:45