# tpope/vim-dispatch

dispatch.vim: Asynchronous build and test dispatcher

Repository: https://github.com/tpope/vim-dispatch
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/vim-dispatch
Homepage: https://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=4504
Language: Vim Script
License Family: other
Topics: vimscript-4504, vim-plugin, vim
Last push: 2024-09-02T19:34:27+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 32/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 0, release rhythm 35, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 4902, "days_push": 730, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: no_releases, no_license
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 2739, forks 138 (observed 2026-08-28T04:07:16.463484+00:00)

## What it is
dispatch.vim is a Vim plugin by Tim Pope that runs builds and test suites asynchronously via adapters like tmux, screen, iTerm, Windows, and headless mode. It integrates with Vim's compiler plugins so that errors are automatically loaded and parsed into the quickfix list when jobs complete.

## Use cases
- run test suites asynchronously from vim
- kick off builds without blocking the editor
- parse compiler errors into the quickfix window automatically
- dispatch a single test file like rspec %
- run long background jobs in tmux or screen while editing
- switch compiler plugins and run make-style commands

## When to choose
- you use Vim and want asynchronous :make and test running
- you work in tmux or screen and want background build windows
- you want automatic quickfix error parsing from build tools

## When to avoid
- you use Neovim with built-in async jobs and prefer makeprg or modern alternatives
- you need an actively developed plugin with a clear license
- you want an IDE-style integrated test runner with rich UI

## Facets
- artifact type: plugin
- maturity: maintenance
- function: developer-tools, testing, cli
- domain: developer-tools, text-editors, testing
- platform: windows, cross-platform
- tags: vim-plugin, vimscript, async-build, quickfix, tmux, tpope, linux, macos

## Member repositories
- tpope/vim-dispatch (main) score 32

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:07:16.463484+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T08:19:12.550638+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/tpope/vim-dispatch (fetched 2026-08-28T04:07:16.463484+00:00, sha 423cb0dacdc3)
  - homepage: https://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=4504 (fetched 2026-08-29T09:57:25.416881+00:00, sha aeb0aa223182)
  - site_page: https://www.vim.org/about.php (fetched 2026-08-29T09:57:25.426368+00:00, sha 1bd2c1907ce5)
  - site_page: https://www.vim.org/docs.php (fetched 2026-08-29T09:57:25.428378+00:00, sha 438015e9e2e2)
  - site_page: http://www.vim.org/about.php (fetched 2026-08-29T09:57:25.431888+00:00, sha fbe78bde9535)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.