vimpluginsstatusbarvundle

Vim does not load plugins in edit window but loads them in help or other system windows

Background

I wanted to use some vim plugins (used it plain vanilla before). I installed vundle (my .vimrc is at the bottom).

I ran PluginInstall and it went ok, PluginList shows:

" My Plugins
Plugin 'VundleVim/Vundle.vim'
Plugin 'sjl/badwolf'
Plugin 'itchyny/lightline.vim'
Plugin 'tomtom/tcomment_vim'
Plugin 'easymotion/vim-easymotion'
Plugin 'nathanaelkane/vim-indent-guides'
Plugin 'junegunn/fzf'

Problem

When I open vim, the status bar from lightline does not show. However, if I do :help or :PluginList, these windows have the status bar from lightline.

This has been driving me insane and I have uninstalled/installed vim countless times now, to no avail, so any help will be hugely appreciated!

.vimrc

set nocompatible              " be iMproved, required
filetype off                  " required

" set the runtime path to include Vundle and initialize
set rtp+=~/.vim/bundle/Vundle.vim
call vundle#begin()
" alternatively, pass a path where Vundle should install plugins
"call vundle#begin('~/some/path/here')

" let Vundle manage Vundle, required
Plugin 'VundleVim/Vundle.vim'

Plugin 'sjl/badwolf'
Plugin 'itchyny/lightline.vim'
Plugin 'tomtom/tcomment_vim'
Plugin 'easymotion/vim-easymotion'
Plugin 'nathanaelkane/vim-indent-guides'
Plugin 'junegunn/fzf'
call vundle#end()            " required
filetype plugin indent on    " required
Solution

  • :help 'laststatus'

    (In the comments, I mistakenly pointed the OP towards 'statusline'.)

    'laststatus' 'ls' number (default 1)

    The value of this option influences when the last window will have a status line:

    • 0: never
    • 1: only if there are at least two windows
    • 2: always

    The screen looks nicer with a status line if you have several windows, but it takes another screen line. |status-line|

    The default value of 'laststatus' means that the status line will only show if there are at least two windows, and it usually only shows up in the last window.

    To show it always, add

    set laststatus=2

    to your vimrc.