Installing Required Packages

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 123 views

Introduction

As a developer, having a powerful and customizable text editor is essential for productivity. Vim, a popular open-source text editor, offers a wide range of features and plugins to enhance its functionality. However, to unlock its full potential, you may need to compile it from source with additional features, such as Python support. In this article, we will guide you through the process of compiling Vim with Python support and installing Powerline, a popular plugin for Vim.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have the following prerequisites installed on your system:

Mac OS X Yosemite: You are running Mac OS X Yosemite, and you have a clean installation.
Xcode: You have Xcode installed on your system, which provides the necessary development tools.
Homebrew: You have Homebrew installed on your system, which is a package manager for Mac OS X.
Python: You have Python installed on your system, which is required for Vim's Python support.

Installing Required Packages

To compile Vim with Python support, you need to install the following packages:

vim: The Vim text editor.
python: The Python programming language.
python-dev: The Python development package.
libpython: The Python library.

You can install these packages using Homebrew by running the following command:

brew install vim python python-dev libpython

Compiling Vim with Python Support

Once you have installed the required packages, you can compile Vim with Python support using the following command:

brew install --build-from-source --with-python vim

This command will compile Vim with Python support and install it on your system.

Installing Powerline

Powerline is a popular plugin for Vim that provides a powerful and customizable status line. To install Powerline, you need to clone the Powerline repository from GitHub and install it in your Vim configuration directory.

git clone https://github.com/Lokaltog/powerline.git

Then, add the following line to your Vim configuration file (~/.vimrc):

set rtp+=~/.vim/powerline

Configuring Powerline

To configure Powerline, you need to create a configuration file in your Vim configuration directory. Create a new file called powerline.conf in the ~/.vim/powerline directory and add the following lines:

[statusline]
  format = '{branch} {dirty} {status} {readonly} {filename} {line} {percent} {cursorpos} {time} {date} {timezone} {username} {hostname} {gitstatus} {gitbranch} {gitdirty} {gituntracked} {gitunstaged} {gitstaged} {gitignored} {gitunmerged} {gitmerged} {gitconflicted} {gitconflictedfiles} {gitconflictedstaged} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconf<br/>
**Compiling Vim with Python Support - Installing Powerline: Q&A**
===========================================================

**Q: What is Vim and why do I need to compile it?**
------------------------------------------------

A: Vim is a popular open-source text editor that offers a wide range of features and plugins to enhance its functionality. Compiling Vim from source allows you to customize its features and plugins to suit your specific needs.

**Q: What is Powerline and why do I need it?**
------------------------------------------------

A: Powerline is a popular plugin for Vim that provides a powerful and customizable status line. It allows you to display a wide range of information, such as the current branch, dirty status, and git status, in a customizable format.

**Q: How do I install Powerline?**
--------------------------------

A: To install Powerline, you need to clone the Powerline repository from GitHub and install it in your Vim configuration directory. You can do this by running the following command:

```bash
git clone https://github.com/Lokaltog/powerline.git

Then, add the following line to your Vim configuration file (~/.vimrc):

set rtp+=~/.vim/powerline

Q: How do I configure Powerline?

A: To configure Powerline, you need to create a configuration file in your Vim configuration directory. Create a new file called powerline.conf in the ~/.vim/powerline directory and add the following lines:

[statusline]
  format = '{branch} {dirty} {status} {readonly} {filename} {line} {percent} {cursorpos} {time} {date} {timezone} {username} {hostname} {gitstatus} {gitbranch} {gitdirty} {gituntracked} {gitunstaged} {gitstaged} {gitignored} {gitunmerged} {gitmerged} {gitconflicted} {gitconflictedfiles} {gitconflictedstaged} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {gitconflicteduntracked} {gitconflictedunstaged} {gitconflictedignored} {gitconflictedunmerged} {gitconflictedmerged} {gitconflicteddirty} {git