Vim 9.1 Released: New Features, Tributes, and the Future of the Legendary Editor

Vim 9.1 Release Overview

Vim 9.1 was released on 2 January 2024 as a bug‑fix version, containing hundreds of fixes and several new features.

Dedication

This version is dedicated to Bram Moolenaar, the lead developer of Vim for over 30 years, who passed away in August 2023.

New Features

Support for Vim9 script language classes and objects ( :h vim9-class).

New :defer command to help clean up functions ( :h :defer).

Virtual text in buffers, useful for language‑server features ( :h virtual-text).

Smooth scrolling ( :h 'smoothscroll').

Bundled EditorConfig plugin ( :h editorconfig-install).

Updates for OpenVMS (see the OpenVMS Vim page).

xxd now supports colored output and reverse bit dump.

Other Improvements and Changes

Numerous bug fixes since 9.0, addressing unsafe memory access, memory leaks, buffer overflows, and potential crashes.

Additional improvements documented in :h new-other-9.1.

Behavior changes listed in :h changed-9.1.

New functions, autocommands, Ex commands, and options ( :h added-9.1).

Full patch list available via :h patches-9.1.

The Vim FTP Server has been retired; users are encouraged to use the Git repository.

Official Announcement

For full details see the official release page: https://www.vim.org/vim-9.1-released.php

About Bram Moolenaar

Bram Moolenaar, creator and lifelong maintainer of Vim, died on 3 August 2023 at age 62, having devoted most of his life to the editor.

Future of Vim

Core developer Christian Brabandt announced that he has obtained GitHub administrative rights from Bram’s family and invites more developers to join the Vim organization, ensuring the editor’s continued development.