Install Neovim on RHEL 9

 

Introduction

Neovim is a powerful, extensible text editor that’s rapidly gaining traction among developers, system administrators, and power users. With features like better plugin management, asynchronous job control, and enhanced performance over Vim, Neovim is an essential tool for many. This guide will walk you through the steps to install NeoVim on RHEL 9, from installing dependencies to launching your first NeoVim session. We’ll also cover some basic configurations to get you started.

Why NeoVim on RHEL 9?

If you’re working on RHEL 9 Workstation, you may find the default editor, vim, to be somewhat limiting. NeoVim offers a modern take, maintaining compatibility with Vim configurations while adding enhancements that appeal to coders and sysadmins alike.

Key Benefits of NeoVim:

• Improved performance with async support
• Extensible plugin system
• Cross-platform support
• Enhanced UI with terminal-based GUI plugins

Install NeoVim on RHEL 9 | Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Prepare Your System

Before diving into the installation, ensure your system is updated. This helps avoid conflicts during the installation process.

sudo dnf update -y

Step 2: Install Prerequisites

Neovim requires several libraries and development tools. Use the command below to install the necessary packages.

sudo dnf install -y gcc make cmake unzip curl gettext tar xclip

Step 3: Install Neovim

Neovim is available in the Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux (EPEL) repository, making installation straightforward on RHEL 9. Below, we’ll cover how to enable EPEL and install Neovim.

Option 1: Install from the EPEL Repository

Enable the EPEL Repository: The EPEL repository provides access to additional packages, including Neovim:

sudo dnf install https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/epel/epel-release-latest-9.noarch.rpm

sudo dnf install epel-release -y

Install NeoVim and Dependencies: Now that EPEL is enabled, install NeoVim along with all required dependencies:

sudo dnf install neovim -y

The installation includes essential packages like libvterm, luajit, msgpack, and others to support NeoVim’s extended features.

Photo by admingeek from Infotechys

Verify the Installation: Check the installation and version to confirm NeoVim is ready:

nvim --version

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Option 2: Download and Install the AppImage (Alternative Method)

If you prefer to use the latest AppImage release from GitHub, follow these steps:

Download the Neovim AppImage

curl -LO https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/latest/download/nvim.appimage

Make the AppImage executable

chmod u+x nvim.appimage

Move Neovim to a directory in your PATH for easy access

sudo mv nvim.appimage /usr/local/bin/nvim

Verify the installation

nvim --version

NVIM v0.10.2
Build type: Release
LuaJIT 2.1.1713484068
Run "nvim -V1 -v" for more info

Step 4: Set Up Neovim Configuration

Neovim, like Vim, uses a configuration file (init.vim) to manage settings. Let’s create this file and set some basic configurations.

mkdir -p ~/.config/nvim

touch ~/.config/nvim/init.vim

Add some initial configurations by editing init.vim:

vim ~/.config/nvim/init.vim

Here’s a simple starter configuration:

" Enable line numbers
set number

" Enable syntax highlighting
syntax on

" Use spaces instead of tabs
set expandtab
set tabstop=4
set shiftwidth=4

Step 5: Install NeoVim Plugin Manager (Optional)

For plugin management, vim-plug is a popular choice. It’s efficient, lightweight, and easy to use.

vim ~/.config/nvim/init.vim

Install vim-plug:

curl -fLo ~/.local/share/nvim/site/autoload/plug.vim --create-dirs https://raw.githubusercontent.com/junegunn/vim-plug/master/plug.vim

Add Plugin Configurations to init.vim:

Here’s how to add a sample plugin, such as gruvbox for a color theme:

call plug#begin('~/.config/nvim/plugged')
Plug 'morhetz/gruvbox'
call plug#end()

call plug#begin('~/.local/share/nvim/plugged')
Plug 'tpope/vim-sensible'
Plug 'junegunn/fzf', { 'do': { -> fzf#install() } }
call plug#end()

This configuration tells NeoVim where to look for plugins and specifies a few sample plugins.

Install the Plugin in Neovim:

Open Neovim and run the following command to install the plugin:

:PlugInstall

Photo by admingeek from Infotechys

Step 6: Verify Your Installation

After setting up Neovim, check to make sure it’s working correctly.

Open Neovim

nvim

Open the Command Mode and Check Plugins

In Neovim, press : to open the command mode, then type :PlugStatus to see the status of your plugins.

Photo by admingeek from Infotechys

Neovim Installation Summary Table

Step	Description	Command
System Update	Update your RHEL 9 system	sudo dnf update -y
Install Prerequisites	Install essential tools and libraries	sudo dnf install -y gcc make cmake unzip curl gettext tar xclip
Download Neovim	Download the Neovim AppImage	curl -LO https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/latest/download/nvim.appimage
Set Permissions	Make AppImage executable	chmod u+x nvim.appimage
Move to PATH	Move Neovim to a directory in PATH	sudo mv nvim.appimage /usr/local/bin/nvim
Verify Installation	Check Neovim version	nvim --version
Create Config File	Set up Neovim configuration	mkdir -p ~/.config/nvim and touch ~/.config/nvim/init.vim
Install vim-plug	Install Plugin Manager	curl -fLo ~/.local/share/nvim/site/autoload/plug.vim --create-dirs https://raw.githubusercontent.com/junegunn/vim-plug/master/plug.vim

Neovim CLI Examples for Quick Customization

Below are some CLI examples and commands you can use to customize and enhance your Neovim experience.

Setting a Custom Color Scheme

To set a new color scheme, add the following line to your init.vim file. For instance, using the popular gruvbox theme:

" Set Color Scheme:
colorscheme gruvbox

Then reload your configuration:

source ~/.config/nvim/init.vim

Key Mapping for Faster Navigation

Key mappings can save you time. Here’s an example to remap the jk key combination to exit insert mode:

" Set Key Mappings:
inoremap jk <Esc>

Step 7: Explore Additional Neovim Plugins

Neovim supports various plugins that can improve productivity, especially for coding. Here are some popular plugins:

Plugin	Purpose	Installation Command in init.vim
NERDTree	File Explorer	Plug 'preservim/nerdtree'
coc.nvim	Language Server Protocol (LSP) support	Plug 'neoclide/coc.nvim', {'branch': 'release'}
lightline.vim	Lightweight status line	Plug 'itchyny/lightline.vim'
vim-airline	Enhanced status/tab line	Plug 'vim-airline/vim-airline'
vim-commentary	Quick commenting	Plug 'tpope/vim-commentary'
vim-surround	Easy manipulation of surrounding characters	Plug 'tpope/vim-surround'

To install these plugins, add the corresponding Plug command in the init.vim file and then run :PlugInstall in Neovim.

call plug#begin('~/.local/share/nvim/plugged')
" List plugins below:

Plug 'preservim/nerdtree'
Plug 'neoclide/coc.nvim', {'branch': 'release'}
Plug 'itchyny/lightline.vim'
Plug 'vim-airline/vim-airline'
Plug 'tpope/vim-commentary'
Plug 'tpope/vim-surround'

call plug#end()

:PlugInstall

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Troubleshooting Common Issues

Neovim Not Found in Path

Ensure the AppImage file was moved to /usr/local/bin or another directory in your PATH. Run echo $PATH to confirm.

Permission Denied on Plugin Install

This often occurs if you’re trying to install plugins in a directory without write permissions. Ensure you have ownership of the ~/.config/nvim/plugged directory.

Neovim Freezes with Heavy Plugins

Some plugins may slow Neovim. Consider disabling or limiting plugins if you encounter performance issues.