How can I activate Vim color schemes in OS X's Terminal?

Question

I\'m working with the Vim 7.2 that comes with Mac OS 10.6.1 (Leopard), using the Mac\'s \"Terminal\" app. I\'d like to use a fancy color scheme. I did this...

Answer 1

You might want to consider using a version of Vim that is a native Mac app (that runs in a window).

MacVim has great color schemes and you can still launch it from Terminal like so:

$ mvim file.txt

That will open your file in a new Vim window.

Answer 2

You need to create file ~/.vimrc and add syntax on in that file

vi ~/.vimrc

syntax on

save the file and run your vim

Answer 3

@ashcatch - Can't leave a comment, but wanted to add that iTerm has other advantages over Terminal.app such as sensible copy and paste (configurable 'word' regex for easy double click selection of paths/urls, middle click paste) and terminal mouse support (:se mouse=a in vi to get mouse text selection, moving of window borders etc.)

I'd be lost without it.

Answer 4

The Terminal.app supports AFAIK only 16 colors; iTerm supports more colors or you use mvim (as suggested by Daniel).

Answer 5

Add "syntax on" to the file /usr/share/vim/vimrc and you'll get highlighting in your files every time you edit one.

# vi /usr/share/vim/vimrc

Add this line at the end of the file:

syntax on

Now you'll get highlighting when you edit whatever's file.

Answer 6

Create vimrc file on your home folder and then edit it. You can try adding syntax on inside ~/.vimrc file.

$cat ~/.vimrc
syntax on

It will highlight your code syntax on vim