Skip to content

Releases: vim/vim-appimage

Vim: v9.1.1039

20 Jan 01:15
Compare
Choose a tag to compare

Vim AppImage Release v9.1.1039

Github Downloads (by Release)

Version Information:
GVim: v9.1.1039 - Vim git commit: a81cf8b99 - glibc: 2.29

GitHub Actions Logfile


Downloads

This release provides the following Artifacts:

  • GVim-v9.1.1039.Appimage
  • Vim-v9.1.1039.Appimage

Changelog

What is the Difference between the GVim and the Vim Appimage?

The difference between the GVim and Vim Appimage is, that the GVim version includes a graphical User Interface (GTK3) and other X11 features like clipboard handling. That means, for proper clipboard support, you'll need the GVim Appimage, but you can only run this on a system that has the X11 libraries installed.

For a Server or headless environment, you are probably be better with the Vim version.

Note: The image is based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS focal. It most likely won't work on older distributions.

Run it

Download the AppImage, make it executable then you can just run it:

wget -O /tmp/gvim.appimage https://github.com/vim/vim-appimage/releases/download/v9.1.1039/GVim-v9.1.1039.glibc2.29-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x /tmp/gvim.appimage
/tmp/gvim.appimage
# alternatively, download the Vim Appimage
wget -O /tmp/vim.appimage https://github.com/vim/vim-appimage/releases/download/v9.1.1039/Vim-v9.1.1039.glibc2.29-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x /tmp/vim.appimage
/tmp/vim.appimage

That's all, you should have a graphical vim now running (if you have a graphical system running) 😄

If you want a terminal Vim (with X11 and clipboard feature enabled), just create a symbolic link with a name starting with "vim". Like:

ln -s /tmp/gvim.appimage /tmp/vim.appimage

Then execute vim.appimage to get a terminal Vim.

Interpreter interfaces

The Vim / GVim AppImage's are compiled with Vim interfaces for Perl 5.30, Python 3.8+, Ruby 2.7, and Lua 5.3 and built on Ubuntu 20.04 ("focal"). If your system runs this exact version of Ubuntu (or some compatible flavor), and has the corresponding interpreter packages installed, they will work just as in a native Vim distro package.

Otherwise,

  • for Python 3: install it on your system. In Vim, set pythonthreedll=libpython3.10.so or similar (use the shell command sudo ldconfig -p | grep libpython3 to find the library name). See :help +python3/dyn-stable.
  • for any interpreter other than Python: the appimage embeds a version of its runtime. The Vim interface will work (see e.g. :help lua, :help perl, :help ruby), however it won't have access to the default / base modules (with various effects for each interpreter). Any interpreter modules (base and add-ons) installed on your system will be ignored and are most likely not compatible with the runtime version embedded in the AppImage.

Vim: v9.1.1024

17 Jan 01:14
Compare
Choose a tag to compare

Vim AppImage Release v9.1.1024

Github Downloads (by Release)

Version Information:
GVim: v9.1.1024 - Vim git commit: a11b23c4d - glibc: 2.29

GitHub Actions Logfile


Downloads

This release provides the following Artifacts:

  • GVim-v9.1.1024.Appimage
  • Vim-v9.1.1024.Appimage

Changelog

What is the Difference between the GVim and the Vim Appimage?

The difference between the GVim and Vim Appimage is, that the GVim version includes a graphical User Interface (GTK3) and other X11 features like clipboard handling. That means, for proper clipboard support, you'll need the GVim Appimage, but you can only run this on a system that has the X11 libraries installed.

For a Server or headless environment, you are probably be better with the Vim version.

Note: The image is based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS focal. It most likely won't work on older distributions.

Run it

Download the AppImage, make it executable then you can just run it:

wget -O /tmp/gvim.appimage https://github.com/vim/vim-appimage/releases/download/v9.1.1024/GVim-v9.1.1024.glibc2.29-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x /tmp/gvim.appimage
/tmp/gvim.appimage
# alternatively, download the Vim Appimage
wget -O /tmp/vim.appimage https://github.com/vim/vim-appimage/releases/download/v9.1.1024/Vim-v9.1.1024.glibc2.29-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x /tmp/vim.appimage
/tmp/vim.appimage

That's all, you should have a graphical vim now running (if you have a graphical system running) 😄

If you want a terminal Vim (with X11 and clipboard feature enabled), just create a symbolic link with a name starting with "vim". Like:

ln -s /tmp/gvim.appimage /tmp/vim.appimage

Then execute vim.appimage to get a terminal Vim.

Interpreter interfaces

The Vim / GVim AppImage's are compiled with Vim interfaces for Perl 5.30, Python 3.8+, Ruby 2.7, and Lua 5.3 and built on Ubuntu 20.04 ("focal"). If your system runs this exact version of Ubuntu (or some compatible flavor), and has the corresponding interpreter packages installed, they will work just as in a native Vim distro package.

Otherwise,

  • for Python 3: install it on your system. In Vim, set pythonthreedll=libpython3.10.so or similar (use the shell command sudo ldconfig -p | grep libpython3 to find the library name). See :help +python3/dyn-stable.
  • for any interpreter other than Python: the appimage embeds a version of its runtime. The Vim interface will work (see e.g. :help lua, :help perl, :help ruby), however it won't have access to the default / base modules (with various effects for each interpreter). Any interpreter modules (base and add-ons) installed on your system will be ignored and are most likely not compatible with the runtime version embedded in the AppImage.

Vim: v9.1.1019

16 Jan 01:13
Compare
Choose a tag to compare

Vim AppImage Release v9.1.1019

Github Downloads (by Release)

Version Information:
GVim: v9.1.1019 - Vim git commit: 3058087f6 - glibc: 2.29

GitHub Actions Logfile


Downloads

This release provides the following Artifacts:

  • GVim-v9.1.1019.Appimage
  • Vim-v9.1.1019.Appimage

Changelog

What is the Difference between the GVim and the Vim Appimage?

The difference between the GVim and Vim Appimage is, that the GVim version includes a graphical User Interface (GTK3) and other X11 features like clipboard handling. That means, for proper clipboard support, you'll need the GVim Appimage, but you can only run this on a system that has the X11 libraries installed.

For a Server or headless environment, you are probably be better with the Vim version.

Note: The image is based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS focal. It most likely won't work on older distributions.

Run it

Download the AppImage, make it executable then you can just run it:

wget -O /tmp/gvim.appimage https://github.com/vim/vim-appimage/releases/download/v9.1.1019/GVim-v9.1.1019.glibc2.29-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x /tmp/gvim.appimage
/tmp/gvim.appimage
# alternatively, download the Vim Appimage
wget -O /tmp/vim.appimage https://github.com/vim/vim-appimage/releases/download/v9.1.1019/Vim-v9.1.1019.glibc2.29-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x /tmp/vim.appimage
/tmp/vim.appimage

That's all, you should have a graphical vim now running (if you have a graphical system running) 😄

If you want a terminal Vim (with X11 and clipboard feature enabled), just create a symbolic link with a name starting with "vim". Like:

ln -s /tmp/gvim.appimage /tmp/vim.appimage

Then execute vim.appimage to get a terminal Vim.

Interpreter interfaces

The Vim / GVim AppImage's are compiled with Vim interfaces for Perl 5.30, Python 3.8+, Ruby 2.7, and Lua 5.3 and built on Ubuntu 20.04 ("focal"). If your system runs this exact version of Ubuntu (or some compatible flavor), and has the corresponding interpreter packages installed, they will work just as in a native Vim distro package.

Otherwise,

  • for Python 3: install it on your system. In Vim, set pythonthreedll=libpython3.10.so or similar (use the shell command sudo ldconfig -p | grep libpython3 to find the library name). See :help +python3/dyn-stable.
  • for any interpreter other than Python: the appimage embeds a version of its runtime. The Vim interface will work (see e.g. :help lua, :help perl, :help ruby), however it won't have access to the default / base modules (with various effects for each interpreter). Any interpreter modules (base and add-ons) installed on your system will be ignored and are most likely not compatible with the runtime version embedded in the AppImage.

Vim: v9.1.1016

15 Jan 01:14
Compare
Choose a tag to compare

Vim AppImage Release v9.1.1016

Github Downloads (by Release)

Version Information:
GVim: v9.1.1016 - Vim git commit: 1aefe1de0 - glibc: 2.29

GitHub Actions Logfile


Downloads

This release provides the following Artifacts:

  • GVim-v9.1.1016.Appimage
  • Vim-v9.1.1016.Appimage

Changelog

What is the Difference between the GVim and the Vim Appimage?

The difference between the GVim and Vim Appimage is, that the GVim version includes a graphical User Interface (GTK3) and other X11 features like clipboard handling. That means, for proper clipboard support, you'll need the GVim Appimage, but you can only run this on a system that has the X11 libraries installed.

For a Server or headless environment, you are probably be better with the Vim version.

Note: The image is based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS focal. It most likely won't work on older distributions.

Run it

Download the AppImage, make it executable then you can just run it:

wget -O /tmp/gvim.appimage https://github.com/vim/vim-appimage/releases/download/v9.1.1016/GVim-v9.1.1016.glibc2.29-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x /tmp/gvim.appimage
/tmp/gvim.appimage
# alternatively, download the Vim Appimage
wget -O /tmp/vim.appimage https://github.com/vim/vim-appimage/releases/download/v9.1.1016/Vim-v9.1.1016.glibc2.29-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x /tmp/vim.appimage
/tmp/vim.appimage

That's all, you should have a graphical vim now running (if you have a graphical system running) 😄

If you want a terminal Vim (with X11 and clipboard feature enabled), just create a symbolic link with a name starting with "vim". Like:

ln -s /tmp/gvim.appimage /tmp/vim.appimage

Then execute vim.appimage to get a terminal Vim.

Interpreter interfaces

The Vim / GVim AppImage's are compiled with Vim interfaces for Perl 5.30, Python 3.8+, Ruby 2.7, and Lua 5.3 and built on Ubuntu 20.04 ("focal"). If your system runs this exact version of Ubuntu (or some compatible flavor), and has the corresponding interpreter packages installed, they will work just as in a native Vim distro package.

Otherwise,

  • for Python 3: install it on your system. In Vim, set pythonthreedll=libpython3.10.so or similar (use the shell command sudo ldconfig -p | grep libpython3 to find the library name). See :help +python3/dyn-stable.
  • for any interpreter other than Python: the appimage embeds a version of its runtime. The Vim interface will work (see e.g. :help lua, :help perl, :help ruby), however it won't have access to the default / base modules (with various effects for each interpreter). Any interpreter modules (base and add-ons) installed on your system will be ignored and are most likely not compatible with the runtime version embedded in the AppImage.

Vim: v9.1.1012

14 Jan 01:13
Compare
Choose a tag to compare

Vim AppImage Release v9.1.1012

Github Downloads (by Release)

Version Information:
GVim: v9.1.1012 - Vim git commit: 30377e0fe - glibc: 2.29

GitHub Actions Logfile


Downloads

This release provides the following Artifacts:

  • GVim-v9.1.1012.Appimage
  • Vim-v9.1.1012.Appimage

Changelog

What is the Difference between the GVim and the Vim Appimage?

The difference between the GVim and Vim Appimage is, that the GVim version includes a graphical User Interface (GTK3) and other X11 features like clipboard handling. That means, for proper clipboard support, you'll need the GVim Appimage, but you can only run this on a system that has the X11 libraries installed.

For a Server or headless environment, you are probably be better with the Vim version.

Note: The image is based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS focal. It most likely won't work on older distributions.

Run it

Download the AppImage, make it executable then you can just run it:

wget -O /tmp/gvim.appimage https://github.com/vim/vim-appimage/releases/download/v9.1.1012/GVim-v9.1.1012.glibc2.29-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x /tmp/gvim.appimage
/tmp/gvim.appimage
# alternatively, download the Vim Appimage
wget -O /tmp/vim.appimage https://github.com/vim/vim-appimage/releases/download/v9.1.1012/Vim-v9.1.1012.glibc2.29-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x /tmp/vim.appimage
/tmp/vim.appimage

That's all, you should have a graphical vim now running (if you have a graphical system running) 😄

If you want a terminal Vim (with X11 and clipboard feature enabled), just create a symbolic link with a name starting with "vim". Like:

ln -s /tmp/gvim.appimage /tmp/vim.appimage

Then execute vim.appimage to get a terminal Vim.

Interpreter interfaces

The Vim / GVim AppImage's are compiled with Vim interfaces for Perl 5.30, Python 3.8+, Ruby 2.7, and Lua 5.3 and built on Ubuntu 20.04 ("focal"). If your system runs this exact version of Ubuntu (or some compatible flavor), and has the corresponding interpreter packages installed, they will work just as in a native Vim distro package.

Otherwise,

  • for Python 3: install it on your system. In Vim, set pythonthreedll=libpython3.10.so or similar (use the shell command sudo ldconfig -p | grep libpython3 to find the library name). See :help +python3/dyn-stable.
  • for any interpreter other than Python: the appimage embeds a version of its runtime. The Vim interface will work (see e.g. :help lua, :help perl, :help ruby), however it won't have access to the default / base modules (with various effects for each interpreter). Any interpreter modules (base and add-ons) installed on your system will be ignored and are most likely not compatible with the runtime version embedded in the AppImage.

Vim: v9.1.1010

13 Jan 01:20
Compare
Choose a tag to compare

Vim AppImage Release v9.1.1010

Github Downloads (by Release)

Version Information:
GVim: v9.1.1010 - Vim git commit: c200f53cb - glibc: 2.29

GitHub Actions Logfile


Downloads

This release provides the following Artifacts:

  • GVim-v9.1.1010.Appimage
  • Vim-v9.1.1010.Appimage

Changelog

What is the Difference between the GVim and the Vim Appimage?

The difference between the GVim and Vim Appimage is, that the GVim version includes a graphical User Interface (GTK3) and other X11 features like clipboard handling. That means, for proper clipboard support, you'll need the GVim Appimage, but you can only run this on a system that has the X11 libraries installed.

For a Server or headless environment, you are probably be better with the Vim version.

Note: The image is based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS focal. It most likely won't work on older distributions.

Run it

Download the AppImage, make it executable then you can just run it:

wget -O /tmp/gvim.appimage https://github.com/vim/vim-appimage/releases/download/v9.1.1010/GVim-v9.1.1010.glibc2.29-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x /tmp/gvim.appimage
/tmp/gvim.appimage
# alternatively, download the Vim Appimage
wget -O /tmp/vim.appimage https://github.com/vim/vim-appimage/releases/download/v9.1.1010/Vim-v9.1.1010.glibc2.29-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x /tmp/vim.appimage
/tmp/vim.appimage

That's all, you should have a graphical vim now running (if you have a graphical system running) 😄

If you want a terminal Vim (with X11 and clipboard feature enabled), just create a symbolic link with a name starting with "vim". Like:

ln -s /tmp/gvim.appimage /tmp/vim.appimage

Then execute vim.appimage to get a terminal Vim.

Interpreter interfaces

The Vim / GVim AppImage's are compiled with Vim interfaces for Perl 5.30, Python 3.8+, Ruby 2.7, and Lua 5.3 and built on Ubuntu 20.04 ("focal"). If your system runs this exact version of Ubuntu (or some compatible flavor), and has the corresponding interpreter packages installed, they will work just as in a native Vim distro package.

Otherwise,

  • for Python 3: install it on your system. In Vim, set pythonthreedll=libpython3.10.so or similar (use the shell command sudo ldconfig -p | grep libpython3 to find the library name). See :help +python3/dyn-stable.
  • for any interpreter other than Python: the appimage embeds a version of its runtime. The Vim interface will work (see e.g. :help lua, :help perl, :help ruby), however it won't have access to the default / base modules (with various effects for each interpreter). Any interpreter modules (base and add-ons) installed on your system will be ignored and are most likely not compatible with the runtime version embedded in the AppImage.

Vim: v9.1.1006

12 Jan 01:22
Compare
Choose a tag to compare

Vim AppImage Release v9.1.1006

Github Downloads (by Release)

Version Information:
GVim: v9.1.1006 - Vim git commit: 5eaacef18 - glibc: 2.29

GitHub Actions Logfile


Downloads

This release provides the following Artifacts:

  • GVim-v9.1.1006.Appimage
  • Vim-v9.1.1006.Appimage

Changelog

What is the Difference between the GVim and the Vim Appimage?

The difference between the GVim and Vim Appimage is, that the GVim version includes a graphical User Interface (GTK3) and other X11 features like clipboard handling. That means, for proper clipboard support, you'll need the GVim Appimage, but you can only run this on a system that has the X11 libraries installed.

For a Server or headless environment, you are probably be better with the Vim version.

Note: The image is based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS focal. It most likely won't work on older distributions.

Run it

Download the AppImage, make it executable then you can just run it:

wget -O /tmp/gvim.appimage https://github.com/vim/vim-appimage/releases/download/v9.1.1006/GVim-v9.1.1006.glibc2.29-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x /tmp/gvim.appimage
/tmp/gvim.appimage
# alternatively, download the Vim Appimage
wget -O /tmp/vim.appimage https://github.com/vim/vim-appimage/releases/download/v9.1.1006/Vim-v9.1.1006.glibc2.29-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x /tmp/vim.appimage
/tmp/vim.appimage

That's all, you should have a graphical vim now running (if you have a graphical system running) 😄

If you want a terminal Vim (with X11 and clipboard feature enabled), just create a symbolic link with a name starting with "vim". Like:

ln -s /tmp/gvim.appimage /tmp/vim.appimage

Then execute vim.appimage to get a terminal Vim.

Interpreter interfaces

The Vim / GVim AppImage's are compiled with Vim interfaces for Perl 5.30, Python 3.8+, Ruby 2.7, and Lua 5.3 and built on Ubuntu 20.04 ("focal"). If your system runs this exact version of Ubuntu (or some compatible flavor), and has the corresponding interpreter packages installed, they will work just as in a native Vim distro package.

Otherwise,

  • for Python 3: install it on your system. In Vim, set pythonthreedll=libpython3.10.so or similar (use the shell command sudo ldconfig -p | grep libpython3 to find the library name). See :help +python3/dyn-stable.
  • for any interpreter other than Python: the appimage embeds a version of its runtime. The Vim interface will work (see e.g. :help lua, :help perl, :help ruby), however it won't have access to the default / base modules (with various effects for each interpreter). Any interpreter modules (base and add-ons) installed on your system will be ignored and are most likely not compatible with the runtime version embedded in the AppImage.

Vim: v9.1.1001

11 Jan 01:17
Compare
Choose a tag to compare

Vim AppImage Release v9.1.1001

Github Downloads (by Release)

Version Information:
GVim: v9.1.1001 - Vim git commit: ad409876d - glibc: 2.29

GitHub Actions Logfile


Downloads

This release provides the following Artifacts:

  • GVim-v9.1.1001.Appimage
  • Vim-v9.1.1001.Appimage

Changelog

What is the Difference between the GVim and the Vim Appimage?

The difference between the GVim and Vim Appimage is, that the GVim version includes a graphical User Interface (GTK3) and other X11 features like clipboard handling. That means, for proper clipboard support, you'll need the GVim Appimage, but you can only run this on a system that has the X11 libraries installed.

For a Server or headless environment, you are probably be better with the Vim version.

Note: The image is based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS focal. It most likely won't work on older distributions.

Run it

Download the AppImage, make it executable then you can just run it:

wget -O /tmp/gvim.appimage https://github.com/vim/vim-appimage/releases/download/v9.1.1001/GVim-v9.1.1001.glibc2.29-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x /tmp/gvim.appimage
/tmp/gvim.appimage
# alternatively, download the Vim Appimage
wget -O /tmp/vim.appimage https://github.com/vim/vim-appimage/releases/download/v9.1.1001/Vim-v9.1.1001.glibc2.29-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x /tmp/vim.appimage
/tmp/vim.appimage

That's all, you should have a graphical vim now running (if you have a graphical system running) 😄

If you want a terminal Vim (with X11 and clipboard feature enabled), just create a symbolic link with a name starting with "vim". Like:

ln -s /tmp/gvim.appimage /tmp/vim.appimage

Then execute vim.appimage to get a terminal Vim.

Interpreter interfaces

The Vim / GVim AppImage's are compiled with Vim interfaces for Perl 5.30, Python 3.8+, Ruby 2.7, and Lua 5.3 and built on Ubuntu 20.04 ("focal"). If your system runs this exact version of Ubuntu (or some compatible flavor), and has the corresponding interpreter packages installed, they will work just as in a native Vim distro package.

Otherwise,

  • for Python 3: install it on your system. In Vim, set pythonthreedll=libpython3.10.so or similar (use the shell command sudo ldconfig -p | grep libpython3 to find the library name). See :help +python3/dyn-stable.
  • for any interpreter other than Python: the appimage embeds a version of its runtime. The Vim interface will work (see e.g. :help lua, :help perl, :help ruby), however it won't have access to the default / base modules (with various effects for each interpreter). Any interpreter modules (base and add-ons) installed on your system will be ignored and are most likely not compatible with the runtime version embedded in the AppImage.

Vim: v9.1.1000

10 Jan 01:18
Compare
Choose a tag to compare

Vim AppImage Release v9.1.1000

Github Downloads (by Release)

Version Information:
GVim: v9.1.1000 - Vim git commit: ebea31e45 - glibc: 2.29

GitHub Actions Logfile


Downloads

This release provides the following Artifacts:

  • GVim-v9.1.1000.Appimage
  • Vim-v9.1.1000.Appimage

Changelog

What is the Difference between the GVim and the Vim Appimage?

The difference between the GVim and Vim Appimage is, that the GVim version includes a graphical User Interface (GTK3) and other X11 features like clipboard handling. That means, for proper clipboard support, you'll need the GVim Appimage, but you can only run this on a system that has the X11 libraries installed.

For a Server or headless environment, you are probably be better with the Vim version.

Note: The image is based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS focal. It most likely won't work on older distributions.

Run it

Download the AppImage, make it executable then you can just run it:

wget -O /tmp/gvim.appimage https://github.com/vim/vim-appimage/releases/download/v9.1.1000/GVim-v9.1.1000.glibc2.29-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x /tmp/gvim.appimage
/tmp/gvim.appimage
# alternatively, download the Vim Appimage
wget -O /tmp/vim.appimage https://github.com/vim/vim-appimage/releases/download/v9.1.1000/Vim-v9.1.1000.glibc2.29-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x /tmp/vim.appimage
/tmp/vim.appimage

That's all, you should have a graphical vim now running (if you have a graphical system running) 😄

If you want a terminal Vim (with X11 and clipboard feature enabled), just create a symbolic link with a name starting with "vim". Like:

ln -s /tmp/gvim.appimage /tmp/vim.appimage

Then execute vim.appimage to get a terminal Vim.

Interpreter interfaces

The Vim / GVim AppImage's are compiled with Vim interfaces for Perl 5.30, Python 3.8+, Ruby 2.7, and Lua 5.3 and built on Ubuntu 20.04 ("focal"). If your system runs this exact version of Ubuntu (or some compatible flavor), and has the corresponding interpreter packages installed, they will work just as in a native Vim distro package.

Otherwise,

  • for Python 3: install it on your system. In Vim, set pythonthreedll=libpython3.10.so or similar (use the shell command sudo ldconfig -p | grep libpython3 to find the library name). See :help +python3/dyn-stable.
  • for any interpreter other than Python: the appimage embeds a version of its runtime. The Vim interface will work (see e.g. :help lua, :help perl, :help ruby), however it won't have access to the default / base modules (with various effects for each interpreter). Any interpreter modules (base and add-ons) installed on your system will be ignored and are most likely not compatible with the runtime version embedded in the AppImage.

Vim: v9.1.0998

09 Jan 01:17
Compare
Choose a tag to compare

Vim AppImage Release v9.1.0998

Github Downloads (by Release)

Version Information:
GVim: v9.1.0998 - Vim git commit: 4f73c07ab - glibc: 2.29

GitHub Actions Logfile


Downloads

This release provides the following Artifacts:

  • GVim-v9.1.0998.Appimage
  • Vim-v9.1.0998.Appimage

Changelog

What is the Difference between the GVim and the Vim Appimage?

The difference between the GVim and Vim Appimage is, that the GVim version includes a graphical User Interface (GTK3) and other X11 features like clipboard handling. That means, for proper clipboard support, you'll need the GVim Appimage, but you can only run this on a system that has the X11 libraries installed.

For a Server or headless environment, you are probably be better with the Vim version.

Note: The image is based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS focal. It most likely won't work on older distributions.

Run it

Download the AppImage, make it executable then you can just run it:

wget -O /tmp/gvim.appimage https://github.com/vim/vim-appimage/releases/download/v9.1.0998/GVim-v9.1.0998.glibc2.29-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x /tmp/gvim.appimage
/tmp/gvim.appimage
# alternatively, download the Vim Appimage
wget -O /tmp/vim.appimage https://github.com/vim/vim-appimage/releases/download/v9.1.0998/Vim-v9.1.0998.glibc2.29-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x /tmp/vim.appimage
/tmp/vim.appimage

That's all, you should have a graphical vim now running (if you have a graphical system running) 😄

If you want a terminal Vim (with X11 and clipboard feature enabled), just create a symbolic link with a name starting with "vim". Like:

ln -s /tmp/gvim.appimage /tmp/vim.appimage

Then execute vim.appimage to get a terminal Vim.

Interpreter interfaces

The Vim / GVim AppImage's are compiled with Vim interfaces for Perl 5.30, Python 3.8+, Ruby 2.7, and Lua 5.3 and built on Ubuntu 20.04 ("focal"). If your system runs this exact version of Ubuntu (or some compatible flavor), and has the corresponding interpreter packages installed, they will work just as in a native Vim distro package.

Otherwise,

  • for Python 3: install it on your system. In Vim, set pythonthreedll=libpython3.10.so or similar (use the shell command sudo ldconfig -p | grep libpython3 to find the library name). See :help +python3/dyn-stable.
  • for any interpreter other than Python: the appimage embeds a version of its runtime. The Vim interface will work (see e.g. :help lua, :help perl, :help ruby), however it won't have access to the default / base modules (with various effects for each interpreter). Any interpreter modules (base and add-ons) installed on your system will be ignored and are most likely not compatible with the runtime version embedded in the AppImage.