Why it's needed to "source" some Vim plugins?

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Why it's needed to "source" some Vim plugins?

install details

Simply source the file autoTag.vim from your .vimrc file. This utility will (obviously) only work when using vim that's been compiled with python support.

Is this needed because this is a Python plugin in vim, instead of a vimscript? Aren't plugins in .vim/plugin loaded automatically?

This plugin only works when I source it. Is this behavior expected because I'm using pathogen?

+1 A:

There is no difference: if you place it in .vim/plugin, you don't need to source it from somewhere else.

Addendum

As Randy Morris explains in the comments, with pathogen.vim's magic, the equivalent plugin path to put the script in would actually be .vim/bundle/autotag/plugin.

Piet Delport 2010-10-13 15:59:04

The plugin doesn't work unless I source it in my vimrc. I've edited my question with more information.

Somebody still uses you MS-DOS 2010-10-13 16:14:18

Are you sure it's actually being loaded as a plugin? Is the script listed in `:scriptnames`?

Piet Delport 2010-10-13 16:24:00

Is listed in :scriptnames only when I source it in my vimrc, not when I just place autotag.vim in ~/.vim/bundle/autotag/autotag.vim. Other plugins with pathogen work. I'm going to test it inside plugin directory.

Somebody still uses you MS-DOS 2010-10-13 16:34:22

You have to put it in `.vim/plugin` for it to be loaded as a plugin, obviously.

Piet Delport 2010-10-13 16:39:15

@Piet: He is using pathogen, which means it doesn't have to go in ~/.vim/plugin, but it does have to go in a plugin directory.

Randy Morris 2010-10-13 17:02:56

@Somebody: Put it in ~/.vim/bundle/autotag/plugin/autotag.vim instead.

Randy Morris 2010-10-13 17:03:17

@Randy, you're right. My bad. ~/.vim/bundle/autotag/plugin/autotag.vim works.

Somebody still uses you MS-DOS 2010-10-13 17:37:52

@Randy, if you answer my question, I can mark it as accepted since you solved my problem, but if you don't I'm going to accept Piet Delport if he edits his question adding your solution and since the answer about "source" command seems correct.

Somebody still uses you MS-DOS 2010-10-13 17:41:45

@Somebody: His answer is also correct, and more correct for the wording of the question. I'd suggest accepting his.

Randy Morris 2010-10-13 17:59:08

@Piet: I'm going to accept your answer, it would be interesting if you edit your answer containing Randy's solution so other users wouldn't need to read all comments. Thanks Randy!

Somebody still uses you MS-DOS 2010-10-13 18:09:17

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Why it's needed to "source" some Vim plugins?

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