Ubuntu
vim package

vi does not show insert status

Bug #118817 reported by markba
2
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
vim (Ubuntu)
Invalid
Undecided
Unassigned

Bug Description

Binary package hint: vim

When vi is set in insert mode by hitting <insert> or 'i', the status bar on the bottom is not updated so it is not clear what the current status is (insert mode or not). However, vi is indeed set to insert mode because typing is possible.

When hitting <escape>, insert mode is left and commands like :q etc. work as expected. Also in the case, there's no indication about the status.

When vim is called instead of vi, everything workes as expected.

Problem is detected on Edgy (Dapper was working fine), but also present in Feisty.

Revision history for this message
Micah Cowan (micahcowan) wrote :

Thank you for your report.

The behavior you describe is as desired. It is intended that by default, "vi" will invoke a traditional-usage vi; traditionally, the default value for the 'showmode' option is off; if you wish a traditional vi, but want the mode to be shown by default, please add "set showmode" to your .vimrc. If you do not wish a traditional vi, you should really invoke vim directly, as "vim". However, if you really want to invoke a full-featured vim via the "vi" command, it is possible to set this up via "sudo update-alternatives --set vi /usr/bin/vim.full" or the like.

Changed in vim:
status: Unconfirmed → Rejected
Revision history for this message
markba (mark-baaijens) wrote :

Point taken. But why is it that this function is introduced in Edgy, while in Dapper it functions like vim. It looks like functionality once build into vi from vim, is taken out again. I do not understand this.

Cursor keys not working in Edgy+ is another example of mimic vi more to the original vi instead of vim:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/vim/+bug/70569

Revision history for this message
Micah Cowan (micahcowan) wrote :

IIRC, Edgy was when the decision was made to install vim-tiny as part of the default installation, rather than vim-full. That way, Ubuntu would ship with a basic vi, as many Unix users expect; but the install CD would save space by not including a full-on vim, especially considering that the default editor in a new install is nano. It was felt that users who desired a "real" vim would just install one, and use update-alternatives to make it the default vim (if necessary).

This is all AIUI, and some of it may be mistaken.

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