# Vim documentation: usr_52

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    *usr_52.txt*	For Vim version 9.2.  Last change: 2026 Feb 14

    		     VIM USER MANUAL	by Bram Moolenaar

    		       Write larger plugins

    When plugins do more than simple things, they tend to grow big.  This file
    explains how to make sure they still load fast and how to split them up in
    smaller parts.

    |52.1|	Export and import
    |52.2|	Autoloading
    |52.3|	Autoloading without import/export
    |52.4|	Other mechanisms to use
    |52.5|	Using a Vim9 script from legacy script
    |52.6|	Vim9 examples: comment and highlight-yank plugin

         Next chapter: |usr_90.txt|  Installing Vim
     Previous chapter: |usr_51.txt|  Create a plugin
    Table of contents: |usr_toc.txt|

    ==============================================================================

    *52.1*	Export and import

    Vim9 script was designed to make it easier to write large Vim scripts.  It
    looks more like other script languages, especially Typescript.  Also,
    functions are compiled into instructions that can be executed quickly.  This
    makes Vim9 script a lot faster, up to a 100 times.

    The basic idea is that a script file has items that are private, only used
    inside the script file, and items that are exported, which can be used by
    scripts that import them.  That makes very clear what is defined where.

    Let's start with an example, a script that exports one function and has one
    private function:

    	vim9script

    	export def GetMessage(count: string): string
    	   var nr = str2nr(count)
    	   var result = $'To {nr} we say '
    	   result ..= GetReply(nr)
    	   return result
    	enddef

    	def GetReply(nr: number): string
    	  if nr == 42
    	     return 'yes'
    	  elseif nr == 22
    	     return 'maybe'
    	  else
    	     return 'no'
    	  endif
    	enddef

    The `vim9script` command is required, `export` only works in a |Vim9| script.

    The `export def GetMessage(...` line starts with `export`, meaning that this
    function can be called by other scripts.  The line `def GetReply(...` does not
    start with `export`, this is a script-local function, it can only be used
    inside this script file.

    Now about the script where this is imported.  In this example we use this
    layout, which works well for a plugin below the "pack" directory:
    	.../plugin/theplugin.vim
    	.../lib/getmessage.vim

    Assuming the "..." directory has been added to 'runtimepath', Vim will look
    for plugins in the "plugin" directory and source "theplugin.vim".  Vim does
    not recognize the "lib" directory, you can put any scripts there.

    The above script that exports GetMessage() goes in lib/getmessage.vim.  The
    GetMessage() function is used in plugin/theplugin.vim:

    	vim9script

    	import "../lib/getmessage.vim"
    	command -nargs=1 ShowMessage echomsg getmessage.GetMessage(<f-args>)

    The `import` command uses a relative path, it starts with "../", which means
    to go one directory up.  For other kinds of paths see the `:import` command.

    How we can try out the command that the plugin provides:
    	ShowMessage 1
     	To 1 we say no

    	ShowMessage 22
     	To 22 we say maybe

    Notice that the function GetMessage() is prefixed with the imported script
    name "getmessage".  That way, for every imported function used, you know what
    script it was imported from.  If you import several scripts each of them could
    define a GetMessage() function:

    	vim9script

    	import "../lib/getmessage.vim"
    	import "../lib/getother.vim"
    	command -nargs=1 ShowMessage echomsg getmessage.GetMessage(<f-args>)
    	command -nargs=1 ShowOther echomsg getother.GetMessage(<f-args>)

    If the imported script name is long or you use it in many places, you can
    shorten it by adding an "as" argument:
    	import "../lib/getmessage.vim" as msg
    	command -nargs=1 ShowMessage echomsg msg.GetMessage(<f-args>)

    RELOADING

    One thing to keep in mind: the imported "lib/getmessage.vim" script will be
    sourced only once.  When it is imported a second time sourcing it will be
    skipped, since the items in it have already been created.  It does not matter
    if this import command is in another script, or in the same script that is
    sourced again.

    This is efficient when using a plugin, but when still developing a plugin it
    means that changing "lib/getmessage.vim" after it has been imported will have
    no effect.  You need to quit Vim and start it again. (Rationale: the items
    defined in the script could be used in a compiled function, sourcing the
    script again may break those functions).

    USING GLOBALS

    Sometimes you will want to use global variables or functions, so that they can
    be used anywhere.  A good example is a global variable that passes a
    preference to a plugin.  To avoid other scripts using the same name, use a
    prefix that is very unlikely to be used elsewhere.  For example, if you have a
    "mytags" plugin, you could use:

    	g:mytags_location = '$HOME/project'
    	g:mytags_style = 'fast'

    ==============================================================================

    *52.2*	Autoloading

    After splitting your large script into pieces, all the lines will still be
    loaded and executed the moment the script is used.  Every `import` loads the
    imported script to find the items defined there.  Although that is good for
    finding errors early, it also takes time.  Which is wasted if the
    functionality is not often used.

    Instead of having `import` load the script immediately, it can be postponed
    until needed.  Using the example above, only one change needs to be made in
    the plugin/theplugin.vim script:
    	import autoload "../lib/getmessage.vim"

    Nothing in the rest of the script needs to change.  However, the types will
    not be checked.  Not even the existence of the GetMessage() function is
    checked until it is used.  You will have to decide what is more important for
    your script: fast startup or getting errors early.  You can also add the
    "autoload" argument later, after you have checked everything works.

    AUTOLOAD DIRECTORY

    Another form is to use autoload with a script name that is not an absolute or
    relative path:
    	import autoload "monthlib.vim"

    This will search for the script "monthlib.vim" in the autoload directories of
    'runtimepath'.  With Unix one of the directories often is "~/.vim/autoload".
    It will also search under 'packpath', under "start".

    The main advantage of this is that this script can be easily shared with other
    scripts.  You do need to make sure that the script name is unique, since Vim
    will search all the "autoload" directories in 'runtimepath', and if you are
    using several plugins with a plugin manager, it may add a directory to
    'runtimepath', each of which might have an "autoload" directory.

    Without autoload:
    	import "monthlib.vim"

    Vim will search for the script "monthlib.vim" in the import directories of
    'runtimepath'.  Note that in this case adding or removing "autoload" changes
    where the script is found.  With a relative or absolute path the location does
    not change.

    ==============================================================================

    *52.3*	Autoloading without import/export

    						*write-library-script*
    A mechanism from before import/export is still useful and some users may find
    it a bit simpler.  The idea is that you call a function with a special name.
    That function is then in an autoload script.  We will call that one script a
    library script.

    The autoload mechanism is based on a function name that has "#" characters:

    	mylib#myfunction(arg)

    Vim will recognize the function name by the embedded "#" character and when
    it is not defined yet search for the script "autoload/mylib.vim" in
    'runtimepath'.  That script must define the "mylib#myfunction()" function.
    Obviously the name "mylib" is the part before the "#" and is used as the name
    of the script, adding ".vim".

    You can put many other functions in the mylib.vim script, you are free to
    organize your functions in library scripts.  But you must use function names
    where the part before the '#' matches the script name.  Otherwise Vim would
    not know what script to load.  This is where it differs from the import/export
    mechanism.

    If you get really enthusiastic and write lots of library scripts, you may
    want to use subdirectories.  Example:

    	netlib#ftp#read('somefile')

    Here the script name is taken from the function name up to the last "#". The
    "#" in the middle are replaced by a slash, the last one by ".vim".  Thus you
    get "netlib/ftp.vim".  For Unix the library script used for this could be:

    	~/.vim/autoload/netlib/ftp.vim

    Where the function is defined like this:

    	def netlib#ftp#read(fname: string)
    		#  Read the file fname through ftp
    	enddef

    Notice that the name the function is defined with is exactly the same as the
    name used for calling the function.  And the part before the last '#'
    exactly matches the subdirectory and script name.

    You can use the same mechanism for variables:

    	var weekdays = dutch#weekdays

    This will load the script "autoload/dutch.vim", which should contain something
    like:

    	var dutch#weekdays = ['zondag', 'maandag', 'dinsdag', 'woensdag',
    		\ 'donderdag', 'vrijdag', 'zaterdag']

    Further reading: |autoload|.

    ==============================================================================

    *52.4*	Other mechanisms to use

    Some may find the use of several files a hassle and prefer to keep everything
    together in one script.  To avoid this resulting in slow startup there is a
    mechanism that only defines a small part and postpones the rest to when it is

    actually used.  *write-plugin-quickload*

    The basic idea is that the plugin is loaded twice.  The first time user
    commands and mappings are defined that offer the functionality.  The second
    time the functions that implement the functionality are defined.

    It may sound surprising that quickload means loading a script twice.  What we
    mean is that it loads quickly the first time, postponing the bulk of the
    script to the second time, which only happens when you actually use it.  When
    you always use the functionality it actually gets slower!

    This uses a FuncUndefined autocommand.  This works differently from the
    |autoload| functionality explained above.

    The following example shows how it's done:

    	" Vim global plugin for demonstrating quick loading
    	" Last Change:	2005 Feb 25
    	" Maintainer:	Bram Moolenaar <Bram@vim.org>
    	" License:	This file is placed in the public domain.

    	if !exists("s:did_load")
    		command -nargs=* BNRead  call BufNetRead(<f-args>)
    		map <F19> :call BufNetWrite('something')<CR>

    		let s:did_load = 1
    		exe 'au FuncUndefined BufNet* source ' .. expand('<sfile>')
    		finish
    	endif

    	function BufNetRead(...)
    		echo 'BufNetRead(' .. string(a:000) .. ')'
    		" read functionality here
    	endfunction

    	function BufNetWrite(...)
    		echo 'BufNetWrite(' .. string(a:000) .. ')'
    		" write functionality here
    	endfunction

    When the script is first loaded "s:did_load" is not set.  The commands between
    the "if" and "endif" will be executed.  This ends in a |:finish| command, thus
    the rest of the script is not executed.

    The second time the script is loaded "s:did_load" exists and the commands
    after the "endif" are executed.  This defines the (possible long)
    BufNetRead() and BufNetWrite() functions.

    If you drop this script in your plugin directory Vim will execute it on
    startup.  This is the sequence of events that happens:

    1. The "BNRead" command is defined and the <F19> key is mapped when the script
       is sourced at startup.  A |FuncUndefined| autocommand is defined.  The
       ":finish" command causes the script to terminate early.

    2. The user types the BNRead command or presses the <F19> key.  The
       BufNetRead() or BufNetWrite() function will be called.

    3. Vim can't find the function and triggers the |FuncUndefined| autocommand
       event.  Since the pattern "BufNet*" matches the invoked function, the
       command "source fname" will be executed.  "fname" will be equal to the name
       of the script, no matter where it is located, because it comes from
       expanding "<sfile>" (see |expand()|).

    4. The script is sourced again, the "s:did_load" variable exists and the
       functions are defined.

    Notice that the functions that are loaded afterwards match the pattern in the
    |FuncUndefined| autocommand.  You must make sure that no other plugin defines
    functions that match this pattern.

    ==============================================================================

    *52.5*	Using a Vim9 script from legacy script		*source-vim9-script*

    In some cases you have a legacy Vim script where you want to use items from a
    Vim9 script.  For example in your .vimrc you want to initialize a plugin.  The
    best way to do this is to use `:import`.  For example:

    	import 'myNicePlugin.vim'
    	call myNicePlugin.NiceInit('today')

    This finds the exported function "NiceInit" in the Vim9 script file and makes
    it available as script-local item "myNicePlugin.NiceInit". `:import` always
    uses the script namespace, even when "s:" is not given.  If "myNicePlugin.vim"
    was already sourced it is not sourced again.

    Besides avoiding putting any items in the global namespace (where name clashes
    can cause unexpected errors), this also means the script is sourced only once,
    no matter how many times items from it are imported.

    In some cases, e.g. for testing, you may just want to source the Vim9 script.
    That is OK, but then only global items will be available.  The Vim9 script
    will have to make sure to use a unique name for these global items. Example:
    	source ~/.vim/extra/myNicePlugin.vim
    	call g:NicePluginTest()

    ==============================================================================

    *52.6*	Vim9 examples: comment and highlight-yank plugin

    COMMENT PACKAGE

    Vim comes with a comment plugin, written in Vim9 script.  |comment-install|
    Have a look at the package located at $VIMRUNTIME/pack/dist/opt/comment/

    HIGHLIGHT YANK PLUGIN

    Vim comes with the highlight-yank plugin, written in Vim9 script
    |hlyank-install|, here is a simplified implementation: >vim9

    	vim9script

    	def HighlightedYank(hlgroup = 'IncSearch', duration = 300, in_visual = true)
    	  if v:event.operator ==? 'y'
    	    if !in_visual && visualmode() != null_string
    	      visualmode(1)
    	      return
    	    endif
    	    var [beg, end] = [getpos("'["), getpos("']")]
    	    var type = v:event.regtype ?? 'v'
    	    var pos = getregionpos(beg, end, {type: type, exclusive: false})
    	    var m = matchaddpos(hlgroup, pos->mapnew((_, v) => {
    	      var col_beg = v[0][2] + v[0][3]
    	      var col_end = v[1][2] + v[1][3] + 1
    	      return [v[0][1], col_beg, col_end - col_beg]
    	    }))
    	    var winid = win_getid()
    	    timer_start(duration, (_) => m->matchdelete(winid))
    	  endif
    	enddef

    	autocmd TextYankPost * HighlightedYank()
    <
    For the complete example, have a look into the package located at
    `$VIMRUNTIME/pack/dist/opt/hlyank/`

    ==============================================================================

    Next chapter: |usr_90.txt|  Installing Vim

    Copyright: see |manual-copyright|  vim:tw=78:ts=8:noet:ft=help:norl:
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