# Install vim-classic with Homebrew, apk Vim 8 long term support version with no LLM-generated code. Version 8.3.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-22. Also installable with apk: sudo apk add gvim-classic. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:vim-classic ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install vim-classic ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add vim-classic ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: vim-classic from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:vim-classic - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 8.3.0 - **Source summary:** Vim 8 long term support version with no LLM-generated code - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** Vim - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-22T14:06:34-07:00 - **Generated:** 2026-07-25T07:20:51+00:00 ## Dependencies - gettext ## Build dependencies - gettext - lua - python@3.14 ## Uses from macOS - ncurses ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Caveats: Additional features can be enabled by installing: lua, python@3.14 - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-25 - Package-manager version: 8.3.0 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-22 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://vim-classic.org/ - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage Vim Classic is a 2026 fork of Vim 8.x that presents itself as long-term support for the pre-Vim9 line of Vim. Its own homepage describes the project as a stable, dependable Vim 8.x fork maintained entirely by humans, and its first release announcement frames it as a fork maintained without generative AI tools. ### Project history Drew DeVault announced the fork in March 2026 after deciding he did not want to use Vim and Neovim codebases that accepted LLM-assisted development. He chose Vim 8.2.0148 as the base because it was the patch immediately before Vim9 Script entered upstream Vim, making Vim Classic intentionally compatible with older Vim plugins and workflows while avoiding the newer Vim9 language line. The first public release, Vim Classic 8.3.0, was announced on June 2, 2026. The release was based on Vim 8.2.0148 with selected upstream bug fixes and security patches conservatively backported, and the announcement explicitly warned that the fork had not reviewed every upstream patch since that base. ### Adoption history Vim Classic is an early-stage fork rather than a broad replacement for upstream Vim. Its adoption story is mostly ideological and compatibility-driven: it targets users who want Vim 8 behavior, legacy plugin compatibility, and a maintenance policy that rejects generative AI assistance. ### How it is used In daily use, Vim Classic is meant to be used like Vim: the editor keeps Vim's modal editing model, command-line commands, help system, vimrc conventions, and vi/Vim muscle memory. The project documentation points users to the normal Vim help model, including reading help inside the editor. ### Why package nerds care For package maintainers and terminal-editor users, Vim Classic is notable less as a new editor interface and more as a policy fork: it freezes around a Vim 8-era compatibility point, backports selected fixes, and creates a packageable alternative for users who object to LLM-assisted upstream development. ### Timeline - 2026-03-25: Drew DeVault publicly describes forking Vim and choosing Vim 8.2.0148 as the base. - 2026-06-02: Vim Classic 8.3.0 is released as the first stable long-term-support fork release. ### Related projects - Vim Classic is directly derived from Vim, deliberately stopping before Vim9 Script. It is also discussed in contrast with Neovim, another major Vim-family fork, and with upstream Vim's continuing post-Bram maintenance. ### Sources - - - - ## Security Notes No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for vim-classic. Nucleus package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL. ## Configuration and credential file locations These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval. ## Configuration files - Unix: ~/.vimrc, ~/.vim/vimrc, $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/vim/vimrc - Windows: ~/_vimrc, ~/vimfiles/vimrc, $VIM/_vimrc ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** vim-classic - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Conflicts With:** ex-vi, macvim, vim - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - apk - gvim-classic - 8.3.0-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: gvim-classic from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Fork of Vim 8.x text editor for long-term maintenance (GTK GUI) | https://vim-classic.org - apk - vim-classic - 8.3.0-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: vim-classic from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Fork of Vim 8.x text editor for long-term maintenance | https://vim-classic.org - apk - vim-classic-common - 8.3.0-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: vim-classic-common from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Fork of Vim 8.x text editor for long-term maintenance (common files) | https://vim-classic.org - apk - vim-classic-doc - 8.3.0-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: vim-classic-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Fork of Vim 8.x text editor for long-term maintenance (documentation) | https://vim-classic.org - apk - vim-classic-tutor - 8.3.0-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: vim-classic-tutor from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Fork of Vim 8.x text editor for long-term maintenance (interactive tutorial) | https://vim-classic.org - apk - vim-classic-xxd - 8.3.0-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: vim-classic-xxd from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Tool to make and reverse a hex dump | https://vim-classic.org ## Related links - [AI and agent packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/ai-agent-tools/) - Matched AI model, agent, coding-agent, orchestration, or MCP metadata. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Text processing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [gettext](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gettext/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [lua](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lua/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [python@3.14](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/python-3-14/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [vim](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/vim/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, productivity, text-editor, vi, vim. - [ad](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ad/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, productivity, text-editor, vi. - [neatvi](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/neatvi/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, productivity, text-editor, vi. - [openvi](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/openvi/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, productivity, text-editor, vi. - [vile](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/vile/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, productivity, text-editor, vi. - [amp](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/amp/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, productivity, text-editor. - [aoeui](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/aoeui/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, productivity, text-editor. - [edbrowse](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/edbrowse/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, productivity, text-editor. - [enter-tex](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/enter-tex/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, editor, gettext, productivity, text. - [gedit](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gedit/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, editor, gettext, productivity, text. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/vim-classic.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/vim-classic.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - package-page enrichment - curated configuration and credential file locations - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph