JavaScript syntax & indentation in Vim

Question

I know this has been asked before, but I'm having trouble getting JavaScript indentation to work properly in Vim.

I tried installing this plugin:

http://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=3081

And I get this behaviour:

if (x == 1) {
alert("nice");
}

This is my vimrc:

syntax on
set background=light
colorscheme solarized
set tabstop=4
filetype plugin indent on
let g:solarized_termcolors=16

I also tried it with this plugin:

http://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=1840

But that gives me this:

if (x == 1) {
        alert("nice");
}

i.e., two tabs, where I only want it to indent by a single tab.

Anyone have any ideas what to do here?

David Avsajanishvili · Accepted Answer · 2017-04-06 08:35:48Z

20

Vim wiki explains how to setup filetype-specific indentation, and it's pretty straight-forward: http://vim.wikia.com/wiki/Indenting_source_code#Different_settings_for_different_file_types

The simplest way is to put autocmd FileType instructions in your .vimrc file. You can specify indentation for each file type separately:

autocmd FileType javascript setlocal shiftwidth=2 tabstop=2
autocmd FileType html       setlocal shiftwidth=2 tabstop=2
autocmd FileType python     setlocal shiftwidth=4 softtabstop=4 expandtab

or set default indentation for all file types, and override it for the specific ones:

set tabstop=4
set shiftwidth=4

autocmd FileType javascript setlocal shiftwidth=2 tabstop=2                                                   
autocmd FileType html setlocal shiftwidth=2 tabstop=2

answered Apr 6, 2017 at 8:35

David Avsajanishvili

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1 Comment

weberc2 Over a year ago

The problem for me is that JavaScript in HTML is broken. HTML correctly indents with 4 spaces, but the JavaScript indents with 16 spaces and I can't figure out why.

phillmv · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-27 19:59:35Z

7

I came here from google and was unsatisfied with Yi Zhao's indent file as suggested above. Still wasn't catching some nested functions of mine.

I asked around on twitter and was suggested https://github.com/pangloss/vim-javascript - with which I am far happier.

HTH,

answered Mar 27, 2012 at 19:59

phillmv

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1 Comment

dgo.a Over a year ago

Thanks a lot! You're right... the pangloss one you suggested is better than the Yi Zhao and jelera alternatives.

Andy Ray · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-05 02:46:38Z

4

Have you tried this in your .vimrc

set smarttab
set cindent

edit also the JavaScript "plugin" I use for VIM is javascript.vim which replaces the default VIM javascript syntax file.

No matter what plugins you use, indenting in VIM is usually pretty bad, and is a common complaint with VIM users, especially with JavaScript. There is no perfect solution, which is strange considering the powerful extensibility of VIM.

answered Oct 5, 2011 at 2:46

Andy Ray

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3 Comments

Shane Stillwell Over a year ago

I work in Vim all day on JavaScript and don't seem to have any real issues with Javascript indenting. Have a look at my Vim dotfiles on Github --> https://github.com/shanestillwell/dotvim

Sully Over a year ago

Although this is marked as the right answer, stackoverflow.com/a/9896760/209864 worked better for me.

Craig Jackson Over a year ago

@ShaneStillwell those per-language Autocmds are right to the point.

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