How I Setup Neovim On My Mac To Make It AMAZING in 2024

If you’re a Mac user and want to supercharge your coding experience, setting up Neovim correctly can make all the difference. Neovim is a modern, highly customizable alternative to Vim that can transform your workflow with plugins, keybindings, and a beautiful UI.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how I set up Neovim on my Mac in 2024 to make it absolutely amazing.

1. Why Choose Neovim Over Vim?

The Evolution of Vim to Neovim

Vim has been a favorite among developers for years, but Neovim takes it a step further by offering:

• Better Performance – Asynchronous job control means no lag.
• Extensibility – Native support for Lua-based configurations.
• Modern UI Improvements – True color and built-in LSP support.

2. Installing Neovim on Mac

Using Homebrew for Easy Installation

The simplest way to install Neovim on a Mac is with Homebrew:

brew install neovim

This ensures you get the latest version and can update easily.

Verifying the Installation

Once installed, verify it by running:

nvim --version

This should display the installed Neovim version.

3. Setting Up a Neovim Config Directory

Neovim stores configurations in ~/.config/nvim/. Create the directory if it doesn’t exist:

mkdir -p ~/.config/nvim

4. Choosing Between Lua and Vimscript

Neovim supports both, but Lua is faster and recommended. Create init.lua for your configuration:

touch ~/.config/nvim/init.lua

5. Installing a Plugin Manager (Packer.nvim)

Packer is a Lua-based plugin manager for Neovim. Install it using:

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/wbthomason/packer.nvim \
  ~/.local/share/nvim/site/pack/packer/start/packer.nvim

Add this to your init.lua:

require('packer').startup(function()
  use 'wbthomason/packer.nvim'
end)

6. Must-Have Plugins for an Amazing Setup

UI Enhancements

• gruvbox.nvim – A beautiful colorscheme.
• lualine.nvim – A better statusline.
• nvim-tree.lua – A powerful file explorer.

Productivity Boosters

• telescope.nvim – Fuzzy finder for files, buffers, and more.
• which-key.nvim – Displays available keybindings.
• auto-pairs – Auto-closes brackets and quotes.

7. Setting Up Language Server Protocol (LSP)

Neovim natively supports LSP, making it a great choice for coding. Install the nvim-lspconfig plugin:

use 'neovim/nvim-lspconfig'

Then, configure an LSP like this:

require'lspconfig'.pyright.setup{}

Replace pyright with your language server.

8. Keybindings for Efficiency

Modify keybindings to make your workflow smoother. Add this to init.lua:

vim.api.nvim_set_keymap('n', '<leader>e', ':NvimTreeToggle<CR>', { noremap = true, silent = true })

This binds <leader>e to toggle the file explorer.

9. Setting Up Treesitter for Better Syntax Highlighting

Treesitter enhances syntax highlighting and code parsing. Install it with:

use { 'nvim-treesitter/nvim-treesitter', run = ':TSUpdate' }

Then enable it:

require'nvim-treesitter.configs'.setup {
  highlight = { enable = true }
}

10. Final Touches: Autocompletion & Snippets

For an IDE-like experience, install nvim-cmp:

use 'hrsh7th/nvim-cmp'
use 'hrsh7th/cmp-nvim-lsp'

Enable it in your init.lua:

local cmp = require'cmp'
cmp.setup {
  mapping = {
    ['<Tab>'] = cmp.mapping.select_next_item(),
  }
}

Conclusion

Setting up Neovim on my Mac in 2024 has been an incredible journey. With the right plugins, custom keybindings, and LSP support, my workflow has become faster and more efficient. Whether you’re a seasoned Vim user or a newcomer, customizing Neovim can make coding more enjoyable and productive. Give it a try, and you’ll never look back!

FAQs

1. Is Neovim better than Vim?

Yes! Neovim offers better performance, built-in LSP support, and a more modern plugin ecosystem, making it a great choice over Vim.

2. Can I use my old Vim configuration in Neovim?

Mostly, yes! Neovim is compatible with Vim configurations, but it’s recommended to migrate to Lua for better performance.

3. How do I update Neovim on Mac?

If you installed it via Homebrew, simply run:

brew upgrade neovim

4. Does Neovim support GUI versions?

Yes! You can use Neovide or Goneovim for a graphical Neovim experience.

5. What’s the best colorscheme for Neovim?

It depends on personal preference, but gruvbox.nvim, catppuccin, and tokyonight are popular choices!