reference a filename in vi

Question

Sometimes I run make directly from the vim command line. However, sometimes I would just like to build one file currently being edited: !g++ filename.cpp . Is there a shortcut to reference the file without having to type it..?

Guys, I DO NOT want to use make at all. all I want to do is to build it from vi's command line, using g++/gcc

Answer 1

in VIM "%:p" stands for the current file.

try "!g++ %:p"

Answer 2

You can use % to reference the current file so:

:!g++ %

Answer 3

You can use this to refer to the filename you are working on with the extension substituted with .o:

%r.o

Your filename.cpp becomes filename.o which is useful if you put something like this in your .vimrc.:

set makeprg=gmake\ %:r.o

That way you can just do this in vim and it will then launch the command declared using makeprg on the current file:

:make

Answer 4

If your make program is actually GNU make, just execute:

:make %<

If you want to add flags like -Wall or -pedantic then just set $CFLAG (for compiling C files, or $CPPFLAGS for C++ files), or if you want to specify libraries then set $LDFLAGS from vim.

:h :make
:h %<

EDIT: Unlike plain calls to :!gcc, this solution is compatible with the quickfix mode (:h quickfix), and it does not require to change &makeprg to 'g++ $CPPFLAGS -o $* $*.cpp $LDFLAGS'.

NB:

• No need to write any makefile to take advantage of GNU-make.
• And even if you have one Makefile, and as long as you don't mess with the default implicit rules, this solution will also work!

Answer 5

As mentioned the shortcut is %.

You can bind the whole thing to one key by putting the following in your .vimrc file:

map <F9> :!gcc %<CR>