How to set syntax specific settings in my VIMRC?

Question

I work with several languages and markups in vim every day (ruby, python, javascript, CSS, HTML, etc), and would like to have different settings for each buffer when I fire up my editor. How can I detect which syntax is loaded in the current buffer?

Specifically, I really prefer python indent to be 4 spaces, while other languages are find with 2. I've envisioned something like this in my .vimrc file:

if syntax == 'python'
  set softtabstop=4
  set shiftwidth=4
else if syntax == 'html'
  " ...
endif

Anything like that in vim? thanks.

Answer 1

Use the FileType autocommand event. See :h autocmd.txt for details.

au Filetype python source ~/.vim/scripts/python.vim

Answer 2

ft-plugins are what you are looking for.

See the following answers:

• Vim Hotkeys For Specific File
• http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1404515/gvim-and-multiple-programming-languages/1404570#1404570