[SOLVED]Why is vi started with vim?

metalfan · 2009-01-22 07:00:48

Hi,

after running:

pacman -R vim

i can start vi? with vim, also the help shows that its vim....wtf?

greets

Last edited by metalfan (2009-01-23 13:04:07)

z0phi3l · 2009-01-22 07:02:19

If I'm correct Vim is the successor to vi, so yes to use vi you need vim, and essentially they are the same

robmaloy · 2009-01-22 07:08:32

the "vi" package also contains vim, but in a smaller version (compare the PKGBUILDs for details)

metalfan · 2009-01-22 08:58:47

its confusing, archlinux's vi package doesnt read ~/.vimrc
why not create a vi package?

Last edited by metalfan (2009-01-22 08:59:31)

Dead Code · 2009-01-22 09:06:21

I believe vi and vim are symlinked to each other

Ranguvar · 2009-01-22 12:04:23

Vi is a mini version of Vim in a lot of distros, including Arch. Robmaloy is correct.

metalfan · 2009-01-22 13:52:02

and thats all very nice, but why do i see vim printed on the screen if i start vi?
if it would be vim it would read ~/.vimrc....which it doesnt

you need to install vim for that

Allan · 2009-01-22 13:57:35

Here is the original news article:
http://www.archlinux.org/news/336/

Mr.Elendig · 2009-01-22 15:34:38

metalfan wrote:

and thats all very nice, but why do i see vim printed on the screen if i start vi?
if it would be vim it would read ~/.vimrc....which it doesnt
you need to install vim for that

In arch vi is a minimal build of vim, and reads .virc, while vim is a "battery included" build and reads .vimrc. It shouldn't be that hard to understand.

metalfan · 2009-01-23 13:03:52

Thx, according to #vim on freenode vi and vim are different programs. And its also not common to mix them up in any way.
If you want vi install it from the vi source or build a package. If you want vim install vim....
Why make extra effort in creating something in between?
Dont present users with a vim starting screen if theres only vi capability behind it.

Last edited by metalfan (2009-01-23 13:17:39)

falkman · 2009-01-23 14:13:55

Dead Code wrote:

I believe vi and vim are symlinked to each other

Exactly.

Last edited by falkman (2009-01-23 14:14:34)

Ranguvar · 2009-01-23 15:50:41

metalfan wrote:

Thx, according to #vim on freenode vi and vim are different programs. And its also not common to mix them up in any way.
If you want vi install it from the vi source or build a package. If you want vim install vim....
Why make extra effort in creating something in between?
Dont present users with a vim starting screen if theres only vi capability behind it.

Because Vi is far below Vim in terms of quality, so a minimal Vim serves its purpose much better? I don't know of any distro that distributes the original (well, original open source remake) Vi. They always either install Vim by default with a Vi symlink, or because they want to reduce dependencies for those who don't need the extra functionality, build a minimal version of Vim and call it Vi. The BSDs do, but that's about it (Nvi is the true name of the F/LOSS version of Vi). Another advantage of Vim being there's no change in the features already available if you switch from running 'vi' in Arch to 'vim'. Why use two different Vi branches when one has a much larger following, is better maintained, and can be minimal easily?

Mr.Elendig · 2009-01-23 16:05:30

falkman wrote:

Dead Code wrote:
I believe vi and vim are symlinked to each other
Exactly.

No, they are not symlinked.

Arch Linux

#1 2009-01-22 07:00:48

[SOLVED]Why is vi started with vim?

#2 2009-01-22 07:02:19

Re: [SOLVED]Why is vi started with vim?

#3 2009-01-22 07:08:32

Re: [SOLVED]Why is vi started with vim?

#4 2009-01-22 08:58:47

Re: [SOLVED]Why is vi started with vim?

#5 2009-01-22 09:06:21

Re: [SOLVED]Why is vi started with vim?

#6 2009-01-22 12:04:23

Re: [SOLVED]Why is vi started with vim?

#7 2009-01-22 13:52:02

Re: [SOLVED]Why is vi started with vim?

#8 2009-01-22 13:57:35

Re: [SOLVED]Why is vi started with vim?

#9 2009-01-22 15:34:38

Re: [SOLVED]Why is vi started with vim?

#10 2009-01-23 13:03:52

Re: [SOLVED]Why is vi started with vim?

#11 2009-01-23 14:13:55

Re: [SOLVED]Why is vi started with vim?

#12 2009-01-23 15:50:41

Re: [SOLVED]Why is vi started with vim?

#13 2009-01-23 16:05:30

Re: [SOLVED]Why is vi started with vim?

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