Setting up vim-gpg plugin

Revision as of 21:53, 27 September 2025 by Pravs (talk | contribs) (use gitg to clone the vim gpg plugin)

vim-gpg plugin allows transparent editing for files encrypted using GPG .Those who are new to GPG can follow this guide.

1) Search "Gvim" in Software app (if you are using GNOME) and install. This is the easiest option.

OR

Install vim using your package manager (Those who prefer the GUI way of doing things can use vim-gtk3).

  sudo apt install vim 

OR

  sudo apt install vim-gtk3

2) Install vim-gpg plugin .There are 3 ways you can do this:-

2a) Install gitg from GNOME Software and start gitg from activities. Click on "Clone" option in gitg. Add https://github.com/jamessan/vim-gnupg.git as URL and select ~/.vim/pack/bundle/start/vim-gnupg as "Local Folder". In "Local Folder" drop down, choose "Other" at the bottom, click on "Home" on the left bar, choose Create Folder icon on top right, and enter .vim and then each sub folders. The click Clone on the top right.

2b) If you are on a debian based distro. There is a package called `vim-scripts` that already has this plugin. So installing this package would make things a lot easier
  sudo apt install vim-scripts
Now add the line "packadd! gnupg" to your ~/.vimrc. You can use a graphical text editor like GNOME Text Editor or GVim to open ~/.vimrc file and add this line to the end of the file (if it has some contents already or just add it to the start if the file is empty).
  echo "packadd! gnupg" >> ~/.vimrc
That's it ! Now you can open your gpg encrypted file using vim and it will ask for your passphrase.
OR
2c) You can use Vim's package support to contain the plugin in its own directory.
  mkdir -p ~/.vim/pack/bundle/start
  cd ~/.vim/pack/bundle/start
  git clone git@github.com:jamessan/vim-gnupg.git
Vim will find and load everything on its own, without mixing the files with others.