Summary
The issue at hand involves a user who deleted the directory indicated by $VIMRUNTIME, which on SUSE Linux is /usr/share/vim, in an attempt to start with a fresh Vim configuration. After reinstalling Vim, the user found that utility files such as help.txt, syntax files, and vimtutor were missing. The goal is to retrieve these files or find a way to install Vim with all the necessary files in SUSE Linux Enterprise 16.0 running on Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).
Root Cause
The root cause of the problem is the deletion of the /usr/share/vim directory, which contains essential Vim runtime files, including help files, syntax definitions, and tutorials. When Vim was reinstalled, these files were not restored because they are typically part of the vim-runtime package, which might not be explicitly reinstalled when updating or reinstalling the vim package alone.
Why This Happens in Real Systems
This issue can occur in real systems when users attempt to manually manage or modify system files without fully understanding the implications. In Linux distributions, packages often depend on each other, and removing a package or its files can lead to missing dependencies or functionality, even after reinstalling the main package.
Real-World Impact
The real-world impact is that users are left without essential Vim utility files, which can hinder their ability to use Vim effectively. This includes missing out on the built-in help system, syntax highlighting for various programming languages, and interactive tutorials like vimtutor, which are crucial for learning and mastering Vim.
Example or Code
To reinstall the necessary Vim runtime files on SUSE Linux, you can use the zypper package manager. The command to install or reinstall the vim package and its dependencies, including runtime files, would be:
sudo zypper install --force vimAdditionally, to ensure that all runtime files are included, you can specifically install the vim-runtime package if available:
sudo zypper install vim-runtimeHow Senior Engineers Fix It
Senior engineers would typically approach this issue by first identifying the missing files and understanding the package dependencies involved. They would then use the distribution’s package manager to reinstall the necessary packages, ensuring that all dependencies, including runtime files, are included. This involves using commands like those mentioned above, tailored to the specific Linux distribution being used.
Why Juniors Miss It
Junior engineers or users might miss the solution because they are not familiar with how Linux package management works, particularly regarding dependencies and what files are included in each package. They might also overlook the importance of the $VIMRUNTIME directory and its contents for Vim’s full functionality. Additionally, without experience in troubleshooting package-related issues, they might not know how to use the package manager to restore missing files and dependencies effectively.