created July 11, 2002 · complexity basic · author Mario Martinez · version 6.0
Some versions of Mac OS X don't have syntax highlighting support in terminal Vim with default settings.
If you don't have syntax highlighting in any Vim, first make sure something like this is in your .vimrc:
filetype plugin indent on syntax on
If you have that, and still don't get syntax highlighting in Vim running in a terminal (i.e. not a GUI like MacVim), you may need to inform Vim how to handle the terminal.
Something like this is needed, prior to the syntax on command in your .vimrc:
set term=builtin_beos-ansi
Others (on "Mountain Lion") reported success with this instead:
set term=builtin_ansi
Comments
set term=builtin_ansi Worked like a charm on OS X 10.9 Mavericks, Thanks.
set term=xterm also works on OS X 10.9 Mavericks
Disclaimer: Under 10.9 Mavericks with an external keyboard, term=builtin_ansi may make the delete key next to the end key change the character under the cursor rather than delete as expected. term=xterm has this key behave as expected.