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eggbean/add_vim_to_path.ps1

Last active July 17, 2025 15:05
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Revisions

  1. eggbean revised this gist Sep 23, 2024. 1 changed file with 12 additions and 11 deletions.
    23 changes: 12 additions & 11 deletions add_vim_to_path.ps1
    View file
    Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
    @@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
    # Jason Gomez - June 2024
    # Problem 1: When installing Vim for Windows using winget it's not added
    # to %PATH% so it cannot easily be used from the command line.
    # to $PATH so it cannot easily be used from the command line.
    # Problem 2: The path to the Vim executables keeps changing as the
    # version number is part of the path.
    # Solution: This script makes a persistent symlink to the latest installed
    # version of Vim for Windows and adds it to %PATH%. Re-run the
    # version of Vim for Windows and adds it to $PATH. Re-run the
    # script when a new version of Vim is installed.

    # Get all Vim directories and sort them by version number
    @@ -30,14 +30,15 @@ if (-not (Test-Path $symLinkPath) -or (Get-Item $symLinkPath).Target -ne $latest
    Write-Host "Vim symlink created"
    }

    # Add vim to %PATH%
    $vimExe = Join-Path -Path $symLinkPath -ChildPath "vim.exe"
    # Get current $PATH
    $path = [Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable("PATH", [EnvironmentVariableTarget]::User)

    if (-not (Get-Command gvim.exe -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)) {
    if (Test-Path $vimExe) {
    $path = [Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable("PATH", [EnvironmentVariableTarget]::Machine)
    $newPath = "$path;$symLinkPath"
    [Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("PATH", $newPath, [EnvironmentVariableTarget]::Machine)
    Write-Host "Vim added to path"
    }
    # Add vim to $PATH if necessary
    if ($path -notlike "*$symLinkPath*") {
    # Append the symLinkPath to $PATH if it's not already there
    $newPath = "$path;$symLinkPath"
    [Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("PATH", $newPath, [EnvironmentVariableTarget]::User)
    Write-Host "Vim added to path"
    } else {
    Write-Host "Vim path is already in the system PATH"
    }
  2. eggbean created this gist Jul 15, 2024.
    43 changes: 43 additions & 0 deletions add_vim_to_path.ps1
    View file
    Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
    @@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
    # Jason Gomez - June 2024
    # Problem 1: When installing Vim for Windows using winget it's not added
    # to %PATH% so it cannot easily be used from the command line.
    # Problem 2: The path to the Vim executables keeps changing as the
    # version number is part of the path.
    # Solution: This script makes a persistent symlink to the latest installed
    # version of Vim for Windows and adds it to %PATH%. Re-run the
    # script when a new version of Vim is installed.

    # Get all Vim directories and sort them by version number
    $vimDirs = Get-ChildItem -Path "C:\Program Files\Vim\" -Directory |
    Where-Object { $_.Name -match '^vim(\d+)$' } |
    Sort-Object { [int]($_.Name -replace 'vim', '') } -Descending

    # Select the latest version
    $latestVim = $vimDirs[0].FullName

    # Define the symbolic link path
    $symLinkPath = "C:\Program Files\Vim\Current"

    # Create the symbolic link if it doesn't exist or if it's not pointing to the latest version
    if (-not (Test-Path $symLinkPath) -or (Get-Item $symLinkPath).Target -ne $latestVim) {
    # Remove existing symbolic link if it exists
    if (Test-Path $symLinkPath) {
    Remove-Item $symLinkPath -Force -Recurse
    }

    # Create new symbolic link to the latest Vim version
    New-Item -ItemType SymbolicLink -Path $symLinkPath -Target $latestVim | Out-Null
    Write-Host "Vim symlink created"
    }

    # Add vim to %PATH%
    $vimExe = Join-Path -Path $symLinkPath -ChildPath "vim.exe"

    if (-not (Get-Command gvim.exe -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)) {
    if (Test-Path $vimExe) {
    $path = [Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable("PATH", [EnvironmentVariableTarget]::Machine)
    $newPath = "$path;$symLinkPath"
    [Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("PATH", $newPath, [EnvironmentVariableTarget]::Machine)
    Write-Host "Vim added to path"
    }
    }