romainl · October 18, 2025 20:00 · Sep 3, 2021 · Apr 20, 2020 · Apr 12, 2020 · Nov 14, 2017
diff --git a/vanilla-linter.md b/vanilla-linter.md
@@ -13,6 +13,29 @@ Example:
     autocmd FileType python setlocal makeprg=pylint\ --output-format=parseable
     autocmd FileType javascript setlocal makeprg=eslint\ --format\ compact
 
+## Defining `errorformat` (optional)
+
+The whole point of defining `makeprg` is for Vim to parse the output of the linter and display eventual errors.
+
+The most sensibly designed compilers/linters default to or can be told to use a simple, machine-readable, output formatting that looks more or less like this:
+
+    path/to/file:123:4 Error message
+
+That format (and a few variants) is supported by default so there is no need to do anything but some compilers/linters are not as sensibly designed and you might have to handle silly formatting with ASCII arrows, multi-line messages, etc. In such a case, writing a custom `errorformat` is pretty much an obligation. See `:help errorformat` for the nitty-gritty.
+
+## "Compiler"
+
+Chances are your linter is already natively supported via the "Compiler" feature, in which case you don't have to define either `makeprg` or `errorformat`. You simply need to call the `:compiler` command with the name of your linter as argument and you are set:
+
+    :compiler eslint
+
+Of course, calling that command manually for every file you edit is not an exciting prospect but you can use an autocommand like the ones above to make it all automatic:
+
+    autocmd FileType python compiler pylint
+    autocmd FileType javascript compiler eslint
+
+There are currently 96 supported "compilers" so it might be a good idea to `:view $VIMRUNTIME/compiler` (and consider adding it to the default distribution if it is not ;-)).
+
 ## Automatic execution on `:write`
 
     autocmd BufWritePost <pattern> silent make! <afile> | silent redraw!

diff --git a/vanilla-linter.vim b/vanilla-linter.vim
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 augroup Linting
 	autocmd!
-	autocmd FileType python setlocal makeprg=pylint\ --output-format=parseable
+	autocmd FileType python compiler pylint
 	autocmd BufWritePost *.py silent make! <afile> | silent redraw!
 	autocmd QuickFixCmdPost [^l]* cwindow
 augroup END
diff --git a/vanilla-linter.md b/vanilla-linter.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Linting your code, the vanilla way
 
-You may *want* a lint plugin to lint your code in Vim but you probably don't *need* it. At least try the built-in way before jumping on the plugin bandwagon.
+You may *want* a linter plugin to lint your code in Vim but you probably don't *need* it. At least try the built-in way before jumping on the plugin bandwagon.
 
 ## Defining `makeprg`
 

diff --git a/vanilla-linter.md b/vanilla-linter.md
@@ -27,4 +27,8 @@ Example:
 
 This autocommand tells Vim to open the quickfix window whenever a quickfix command is executed (like `:make`) AND there are valid errors to display.
 
-  	autocmd QuickFixCmdPost [^l]* cwindow
+  	autocmd QuickFixCmdPost [^l]* cwindow
+
+---
+
+[My Vim-related gists](https://gist.github.com/romainl/4b9f139d2a8694612b924322de1025ce).
diff --git a/vanilla-linter.md b/vanilla-linter.md
@@ -6,11 +6,12 @@ You may *want* a lint plugin to lint your code in Vim but you probably don't *ne
 
     autocmd FileType <filetype> setlocal makeprg=<external command>
 
-This autocommand tells Vim to use `<external command>` when invoking `:make %` in a `<filetype>` buffer. You can add as many similar lines as you need.
+This autocommand tells Vim to use `<external command>` when invoking `:make %` in a `<filetype>` buffer. You can add as many similar lines as needed for other languages.
 
 Example:
 
     autocmd FileType python setlocal makeprg=pylint\ --output-format=parseable
+    autocmd FileType javascript setlocal makeprg=eslint\ --format\ compact
 
 ## Automatic execution on `:write`
 
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ This autocommand tells Vim to run `:make` on the current file matching `<pattern
 
 Example:
 
-    autocmd BufWritePost *.py silent make! <afile> | silent redraw!
+    autocmd BufWritePost *.py,*.js silent make! <afile> | silent redraw!
 
 ## Automatic opening of the quickfix window
 

diff --git a/vanilla-linter.md b/vanilla-linter.md
@@ -1,3 +1,29 @@
 # Linting your code, the vanilla way
 
-You may *want* a lint plugin to lint your code in Vim but you probably don't *need* it.
+You may *want* a lint plugin to lint your code in Vim but you probably don't *need* it. At least try the built-in way before jumping on the plugin bandwagon.
+
+## Defining `makeprg`
+
+    autocmd FileType <filetype> setlocal makeprg=<external command>
+
+This autocommand tells Vim to use `<external command>` when invoking `:make %` in a `<filetype>` buffer. You can add as many similar lines as you need.
+
+Example:
+
+    autocmd FileType python setlocal makeprg=pylint\ --output-format=parseable
+
+## Automatic execution on `:write`
+
+    autocmd BufWritePost <pattern> silent make! <afile> | silent redraw!
+
+This autocommand tells Vim to run `:make` on the current file matching `<pattern>` whenever you `:write` it. You can add patterns if you want that to happen with other filetypes.
+
+Example:
+
+    autocmd BufWritePost *.py silent make! <afile> | silent redraw!
+
+## Automatic opening of the quickfix window
+
+This autocommand tells Vim to open the quickfix window whenever a quickfix command is executed (like `:make`) AND there are valid errors to display.
+
+  	autocmd QuickFixCmdPost [^l]* cwindow
diff --git a/vanilla-linter.vim b/vanilla-linter.vim
@@ -1,23 +1,6 @@
 augroup Linting
 	autocmd!
-
-	" This autocommand tells Vim to use '<external command>' when invoking ':make %' in a '<filetype>' buffer.
-	" You can add as many similar lines as you need.
-	"
-	"     autocmd FileType <filetype> setlocal makeprg=<external command>
-	"
-	" Example:
 	autocmd FileType python setlocal makeprg=pylint\ --output-format=parseable
-
-	" This autocommand tells Vim to run ':make' on the current file matching '<pattern>' whenever you ':write' it.
-	" You can add patterns if you want that to happen with other filetypes
-	"
-	"     autocmd BufWritePost <pattern> silent make! <afile> | silent redraw!
-	"
-	" Example:
 	autocmd BufWritePost *.py silent make! <afile> | silent redraw!
-
-	" This autocommand tells Vim to open the quickfix window whenever a quickfix command is
-	" executed (like ':make') AND there are valid errors to display.
 	autocmd QuickFixCmdPost [^l]* cwindow
 augroup END
diff --git a/vanilla-linter.md b/vanilla-linter.md
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 # Linting your code, the vanilla way
 
-You may *want* a lint plugin to lint your code in Vim but you don't *need* it.
+You may *want* a lint plugin to lint your code in Vim but you probably don't *need* it.
diff --git a/vanilla-linter.vim b/vanilla-linter.vim
@@ -1,6 +1,23 @@
 augroup Linting
 	autocmd!
+
+	" This autocommand tells Vim to use '<external command>' when invoking ':make %' in a '<filetype>' buffer.
+	" You can add as many similar lines as you need.
+	"
+	"     autocmd FileType <filetype> setlocal makeprg=<external command>
+	"
+	" Example:
 	autocmd FileType python setlocal makeprg=pylint\ --output-format=parseable
+
+	" This autocommand tells Vim to run ':make' on the current file matching '<pattern>' whenever you ':write' it.
+	" You can add patterns if you want that to happen with other filetypes
+	"
+	"     autocmd BufWritePost <pattern> silent make! <afile> | silent redraw!
+	"
+	" Example:
 	autocmd BufWritePost *.py silent make! <afile> | silent redraw!
+
+	" This autocommand tells Vim to open the quickfix window whenever a quickfix command is
+	" executed (like ':make') AND there are valid errors to display.
 	autocmd QuickFixCmdPost [^l]* cwindow
 augroup END
diff --git a/vanilla-linter.md b/vanilla-linter.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# Linting your code, the vanilla way
+
+You may *want* a lint plugin to lint your code in Vim but you don't *need* it.
diff --git a/vanilla-linter.vim b/vanilla-linter.vim
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+augroup Linting
+	autocmd!
+	autocmd FileType python setlocal makeprg=pylint\ --output-format=parseable
+	autocmd BufWritePost *.py silent make! <afile> | silent redraw!
+	autocmd QuickFixCmdPost [^l]* cwindow
+augroup END
Original file line number	Diff line number	Diff line change
		@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
		# Linting your code, the vanilla way

		You may want a lint plugin to lint your code in Vim but you don't need it.
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