Tip 107: Customize the External Compiler

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Configure ':make'

References:

# If you open the file in vim,
# then you can \"ayy@a the next line to execute the vim command: 
:h 'makeprg'

Populate the Quickfix List Using Configured Output

The 'errorformat' setting allows us to teach Vim how to parse the output generated by running :make.

References:

# If you open the file in vim,
# then you can \"ayy@a the next line to execute the vim command: 
:h 'errorformat'

• inspect the default value:

  :setglobal errorformat?
  errorformat=%*[^"]"%f"%*\D%l: %m,"%f"%*\D%l: %m, ...[abridged]...
  

References:

# If you open the file in vim,
# then you can \"ayy@a the next line to execute the vim command: 
:h errorformat

• set the error format:

  :setlocal efm=%A%f\,\ line\ %l\,\ character\ %c:%m,%Z%.%#,%-G%.%#
  

Set Up 'makeprg' and 'errorformat' with a Single Command

References:

# If you open the file in vim,
# then you can \"ayy@a the next line to execute the vim command: 
:h :compiler

:compiler and :make Are Not Just for Compiled Languages