How do I set up Vim autoindentation properly for editing Python files?

Question

I've trouble setting up Vim (7.1.xxx) for editing Python files (*.py). Indenting seems to be broken (optimal 4 spaces). I've followed some tutorials I found via Google. Still no effect :/ Please help.

Answer 1

I use this on my macbook:

" configure expanding of tabs for various file types au BufRead,BufNewFile *.py set expandtab au BufRead,BufNewFile *.c set expandtab au BufRead,BufNewFile *.h set expandtab au BufRead,BufNewFile Makefile* set noexpandtab  " -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- " configure editor with tabs and nice stuff... " -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- set expandtab           " enter spaces when tab is pressed set textwidth=120       " break lines when line length increases set tabstop=4           " use 4 spaces to represent tab set softtabstop=4 set shiftwidth=4        " number of spaces to use for auto indent set autoindent          " copy indent from current line when starting a new line  " make backspaces more powerfull set backspace=indent,eol,start  set ruler                           " show line and column number syntax on               " syntax highlighting set showcmd             " show (partial) command in status line 

(edited to only show stuff related to indent / tabs)

Answer 2

I use:

$ cat ~/.vimrc syntax on set showmatch set ts=4 set sts=4 set sw=4 set autoindent set smartindent set smarttab set expandtab set number 

But but I'm going to try Daren's entries