# tpope/vim-vinegar

vinegar.vim: Combine with netrw to create a delicious salad dressing

Repository: https://github.com/tpope/vim-vinegar
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/vim-vinegar
Homepage: https://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=5671
Language: Vim Script
License Family: other
Last push: 2024-06-28T23:22:40+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": 4635, "days_push": 796, "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 2348, forks 91 (observed 2026-08-28T04:06:40.142749+00:00)

## What it is
vinegar.vim is a Vim plugin by Tim Pope that enhances the built-in netrw file browser with cleaner listings, faster directory navigation, and convenient file-path commands. It aims to make netrw a viable alternative to heavier 'project drawer' style file explorer plugins.

## Use cases
- improve the built-in netrw file browser in Vim
- quickly hop up and down directory trees with the '-' key
- hide dotfiles and wildignore patterns from file listings
- pre-populate command lines with the file under the cursor
- yank absolute paths of files in the explorer
- avoid installing a separate project drawer plugin like NERDTree

## When to choose
- you use Vim or Neovim and want a lightweight file explorer built on netrw
- you find netrw's default banner and sorting annoying
- you want minimal directory navigation without extra dependencies

## When to avoid
- you need a full-featured file tree with icons, git status, or fuzzy finding
- you already use a file explorer plugin like NERDTree, nvim-tree, or oil.nvim
- you don't use Vim

## Facets
- artifact type: plugin
- maturity: maintenance
- function: editor, file-system, developer-tools
- domain: text-editors, developer-tools, files
- platform: editor-plugin, cross-platform
- tags: vim, netrw, file-explorer, vim-plugin, directory-navigation

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

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:40.142749+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 2026-08-30T02:37:00.108045+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/tpope/vim-vinegar (fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:40.142749+00:00, sha 6b6675116b89)
  - homepage: https://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=5671 (fetched 2026-08-29T10:17:32.244913+00:00, sha baaf10653696)
  - site_page: https://www.vim.org/about.php (fetched 2026-08-29T10:17:32.247436+00:00, sha 1bd2c1907ce5)
  - site_page: https://www.vim.org/docs.php (fetched 2026-08-29T10:17:32.249729+00:00, sha 438015e9e2e2)
  - site_page: http://www.vim.org/about.php (fetched 2026-08-29T10:17:32.251668+00:00, sha fbe78bde9535)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.