Is it possible to apply vim configurations without restarting?

Question

I want to edit .vimrc file from Vim and apply them without restarting Vim.

Answer 1

" Quickly edit/reload this configuration file
nnoremap gev :e $MYVIMRC
nnoremap gsv :so $MYVIMRC

To automatically reload upon save, add the following to your $MYVIMRC:

if has ('autocmd') " Remain compatible with earlier versions
 augroup vimrc     " Source vim configuration upon save
    autocmd! BufWritePost $MYVIMRC source % | echom "Reloaded " . $MYVIMRC | redraw
    autocmd! BufWritePost $MYGVIMRC if has('gui_running') | so % | echom "Reloaded " . $MYGVIMRC | endif | redraw
  augroup END
endif " has autocmd

and then for the last time, type:

:so %

The next time you save your vimrc, it will be automatically reloaded.

Features:

• Tells the user what has happened (also logging to :messages)
• Handles various names for the configuration files
• Ensures that it wil only match the actual configuration file (ignores copies in other directories, or a fugitive:// diff)
• Won't generate an error if using vim-tiny

Of course, the automatic reload will only happen if you edit your vimrc in vim.