Vim 9.2 Released

Hacker News · Feb 14, 2026 · Collected from RSS

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Vim 9.2 is available The Vim project is happy to announce that Vim 9.2 has been released. Vim 9.2 brings significant enhancements to the Vim9 scripting language, improved diff mode, comprehensive completion features, and platform-specific improvements including experimental Wayland support. New Features in Vim 9.2 Comprehensive Completion: Added support for fuzzy matching during insert-mode completion and the ability to complete words directly from registers (CTRL-X CTRL-R). New 'completeopt' flags like nosort and nearest offer finer control over how matches are displayed and ordered. Modern Platform Support: Full support for the Wayland UI and clipboard has been added. On Linux and Unix-like systems, Vim now adheres to the XDG Base Directory Specification, using $HOME/.config/vim for user configuration. UI Enhancements: A new vertical tabpanel provides an alternative to the horizontal tabline. The MS-Windows GUI now supports native dark mode for the menu and title bars, along with improved fullscreen support and higher-quality toolbar icons. Interactive Learning: A new built-in interactive tutor plugin (started via :Tutor) provides a modernized learning experience beyond the traditional vimtutor. Vim9 Script Evolution Significant language enhancements including native support for Enums, Generic functions, and the Tuple data type. Built-in functions are now integrated as object methods, and classes now support protected _new() methods and :defcompile for full method compilation. Vim9 Script Ecosystem & AI Integration The maturity of Vim9 script's modern constructs is now being leveraged by advanced AI development tools. Contributor Yegappan Lakshmanan recently demonstrated the efficacy of these new features through two projects generated using GitHub Copilot: Battleship in Vim9: A complete implementation of the classic game, showcasing classes and type aliases. [GitHub] Number Puzzle: A logic game demonstrating the efficiency of modern Vim9 for interactive plugins. [GitHub] Diff Improvements Vim 9.2 introduces significant enhancements to how changes are visualized and aligned in diff mode: Linematch Algorithm: Includes the "linematch" algorithm for the 'diffopt' setting. This aligns changes between buffers on similar lines, greatly improving diff highlighting accuracy. Diff Anchors: The new 'diffanchors' option allows you to specify anchor points (comma-separated addresses) to split and independently diff buffer sections, ensuring better alignment in complex files. Inline Highlighting: Improves highlighting for changes within a line. This is configurable via the "inline" sub-option for 'diffopt'. Note that "inline:simple" has been added to the default 'diffopt' value. Here are some examples for the improved inline highlighting: inline:simple (old behavior) inline:char inline:word Changed Default Values Several long-standing defaults have been updated to better suit modern hardware and workflows. These values have been removed from defaults.vim as they are now the internal defaults. Option Old Default New Default (9.2) 'history' 50 200 (More undo/command history saved) 'backspace' "" (empty) "indent,eol,start" (Normal backspace behavior) 'diffopt' "internal,filler" "internal,filler,closeoff,indent-heuristic,inline:char" 'fontsize' (GTK) 10pt 12pt (Optimized for High-DPI monitors) 'showcmd' Off (Unix) On (Always visible in non-compatible mode) 'ruler' Off On (Shows cursor position by default) Completion Feature Examples These examples demonstrate how to use the powerful new completion and introspection tools available in Vim 9.2. 1. Auto-completion Vim's standard completion frequently checks for user input while searching for new matches. It is responsive irrespective of file size. This makes it well-suited for smooth auto-completion. vim9script def InsComplete() if getcharstr(1) == '' && getline('.')->strpart(0, col('.') - 1) =~ '\k$' SkipTextChangedIEvent() feedkeys("\<c-n>", "n") endif enddef def SkipTextChangedIEvent(): string # Suppress next event caused by <c-e> (or <c-n> when no matches found) set eventignore+=TextChangedI timer_start(1, (_) => { set eventignore-=TextChangedI }) return '' enddef set cot=menuone,popup,noselect inf autocmd TextChangedI * InsComplete() inoremap <silent> <c-e> <c-r>=<SID>SkipTextChangedIEvent()<cr><c-e> 2. Live grep, fuzzy find file, fuzzy find buffer vim9script var selected_match = null_string var allfiles: list<string> def GrepComplete(arglead: string, cmdline: string, cursorpos: number): list<any> return arglead->len() > 1 ? systemlist($'grep -REIHns "{arglead}"' .. ' --exclude-dir=.git --exclude=".*" --exclude="tags" --exclude="*.swp"') : [] enddef def VisitFile() if (selected_match != null_string) var qfitem = getqflist({lines: [selected_match]}).items[0] if qfitem->has_key('bufnr') && qfitem.lnum > 0 var pos = qfitem.vcol > 0 ? 'setcharpos' : 'setpos' exec $':b +call\ {pos}(".",\ [0,\ {qfitem.lnum},\ {qfitem.col},\ 0]) {qfitem.bufnr}' setbufvar(qfitem.bufnr, '&buflisted', 1) endif endif enddef def FuzzyFind(arglead: string, _: string, _: number): list<string> if allfiles == null_list allfiles = systemlist($'find {get(g:, "fzfind_root", ".")} \! \( -path "*/.git" -prune -o -name "*.swp" \) -type f -follow') endif return arglead == '' ? allfiles : allfiles->matchfuzzy(arglead) enddef def FuzzyBuffer(arglead: string, _: string, _: number): list<string> var bufs = execute('buffers', 'silent!')->split("\n") var altbuf = bufs->indexof((_, v) => v =~ '^\s*\d\+\s\+#') if altbuf != -1 [bufs[0], bufs[altbuf]] = [bufs[altbuf], bufs[0]] endif return arglead == '' ? bufs : bufs->matchfuzzy(arglead) enddef def SelectItem() selected_match = '' if getcmdline() =~ '^\s*\%(Grep\|Find\|Buffer\)\s' var info = cmdcomplete_info() if info != {} && info.pum_visible && !info.matches->empty() selected_match = info.selected != -1 ? info.matches[info.selected] : info.matches[0] setcmdline(info.cmdline_orig) # Preserve search pattern in history endif endif enddef command! -nargs=+ -complete=customlist,GrepComplete Grep VisitFile() command! -nargs=* -complete=customlist,FuzzyBuffer Buffer exe 'b ' .. selected_match->matchstr('\d\+') command! -nargs=* -complete=customlist,FuzzyFind Find exe !empty(selected_match) ? $'e {selected_match}' : '' nnoremap <leader>g :Grep<space> nnoremap <leader>G :Grep <c-r>=expand("<cword>")<cr> nnoremap <leader><space> :<c-r>=execute('let fzfind_root="."')\|''<cr>Find<space><c-@> nnoremap <leader>fv :<c-r>=execute('let fzfind_root="$HOME/.vim"')\|''<cr>Find<space><c-@> nnoremap <leader>fV :<c-r>=execute('let fzfind_root="$VIMRUNTIME"')\|''<cr>Find<space><c-@> nnoremap <leader><bs> :Buffer <c-@> autocmd CmdlineEnter : allfiles = null_list autocmd CmdlineLeavePre : SelectItem() 3. Auto Completion vim9script def CmdComplete() var [cmdline, curpos] = [getcmdline(), getcmdpos()] if getchar(1, {number: true}) == 0 # Typehead is empty && !pumvisible() && curpos == cmdline->len() + 1 && cmdline =~ '\%(\w\|[*/:.-]\)$' && cmdline !~ '^\d\+$' feedkeys("\<C-@>", "ti") SkipCmdlineChanged() timer_start(0, (_) => getcmdline()->substitute('\%x00', '', 'g')->setcmdline()) endif enddef def SkipCmdlineChanged(key = ''): string set ei+=CmdlineChanged timer_start(0, (_) => execute('set ei-=CmdlineChanged')) return key != '' ? ((pumvisible() ? "\<c-e>" : '') .. key) : '' enddef set wim=noselect:lastused,full wop=pum wcm=<C-@> wmnu autocmd CmdlineChanged : CmdComplete() autocmd CmdlineEnter : set bo+=error autocmd CmdlineLeave : set bo-=error cnoremap <expr> <up> SkipCmdlineChanged("\<up>") cnoremap <expr> <down> SkipCmdlineChanged("\<down>") Optional: Autocompletion (Popup Menu) For automatic popup menu completion as you type in search or : commands, include this in your .vimrc: vim9script def CmdComplete() var [cmdline, curpos, cmdmode] = [getcmdline(), getcmdpos(), expand('<afile>') == ':'] var trigger_char = '\%(\w\|[*/:.-]\)$' var not_trigger_char = '^\%(\d\|,\|+\|-\)\+$' if getchar(1, {number: true}) == 0 && !wildmenumode() && curpos == cmdline->len() + 1 && (!cmdmode || (cmdline =~ trigger_char && cmdline !~ not_trigger_char)) SkipCmdlineChanged() feedkeys("\<C-@>", "t") timer_start(0, (_) => getcmdline()->substitute('\%x00', '', 'ge')->setcmdline()) endif enddef def SkipCmdlineChanged(key = ''): string set ei+=CmdlineChanged timer_start(0, (_) => execute('set ei-=CmdlineChanged')) return key == '' ? '' : ((wildmenumode() ? "\<C-E>" : '') .. key) enddef set wim=noselect:lastused,full wop=pum wcm=<C-@> wmnu autocmd CmdlineChanged :,/,? CmdComplete() # Optional: Preserve history recall behavior cnoremap <expr> <Up> SkipCmdlineChanged("\<Up>") cnoremap <expr> <Down> SkipCmdlineChanged("\<Down>") # Optional: Customize popup height autocmd CmdlineEnter : set bo+=error | exec $'set ph={max([10, winheight(0) - 4])}' autocmd CmdlineEnter /,? set bo+=error ph=8 autocmd CmdlineLeave :,/,? set bo-=error ph& Other Improvements and Changes Many bugs have been fixed since the release of Vim 9.1, including security vulnerabilities, memory leaks and potential crashes. See the helpfile for other improvements: :h new-other-9.2 Changes to existing behaviour is documented at: :h changed-9.2 A few new functions, autocommands, ex commands and options have been added: :h added-9.2 The full list of patches is documented at: :h patches-9.2 Charity: Transition to Kuwasha For over 30 years, Vim has been "Charityware," supporting children in Kibaale, Uganda. Following the passing of Bram Moolenaar, the ICCF Holland foundation was dissolved, and its mission has been carried forward by a new partner. ICCF Holland Dissolution: Because the charity could not be sustained in its original form without Bram, ICCF Holland was dissolved and its remaining funds were transferred to ensure continued support for the Kibaale project. Partnership with Kuwasha: To ensure that aid remained uninterrupted, all sponsorship activities were moved to Kuwasha, a long-term partner based in Canada that now manages the projects in Uganda.