[vim] Why does Vim save files with a ~ extension?

I've found that while using Vim on Windows Vim saves the file, a .ext.swp file that's deleted on closing the Vim window and a .ext~ file.

I assume the .ext.swp file is a session backup in case Vim crashes. What's the purpose of the .ext~ file however? Is this a permanent backup file? It's annoying as I'd like to copy all the files I'm working on to my host, without these duplicates. How can I turn this off or, if it's there for a good reason, hide the files?

The only option that worked for me was to put this line in my ~/.vimrc file

set noundofile

The other options referring to backup files did not prevent the creation of the temp files ending in ~ (tilde)

I had to add set noundofile to ~_gvimrc

The "~" directory can be identified by changing the directory with the cd ~ command

You're correct that the .swp file is used by vim for locking and as a recovery file.

Try putting set nobackup in your vimrc if you don't want these files. See the Vim docs for various backup related options if you want the whole scoop, or want to have .bak files instead...

And you can also set a different backup extension and where to save those backup (I prefer ~/.vimbackups on linux). I used to use "versioned" backups, via:

au BufWritePre * let &bex = '-' . strftime("%Y%m%d-%H%M%S") . '.vimbackup'

This sets a dynamic backup extension (ORIGINALFILENAME-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.vimbackup).

:set nobackup 

will turn off backups. You can also set a backupdir if you still want those backup files but in a central folder. This way your working dir is not littered with ~ files.

You find more information on backups under :he backup.

To turn off those files, just add these lines to .vimrc (vim configuration file on unix based OS):

set nobackup       #no backup files
set nowritebackup  #only in case you don't want a backup file while editing
set noswapfile     #no swap files

I think the better solution is to place these lines in your vimrc file

set backupdir=~/vimtmp//,.
set directory=~/vimtmp//,.

The first line is for backup files, the second line for swap files. The double slash at the end ensures that there is no conflict in case of two files having the same name, see comments (at the time of this edit this option is only honored for swap files, not yet for backup files). The ,. allow vim to use the current directory if the former doesn't exist.

You have to create a directory in your home directory called vimtmp for this to work. Also, check that backups are enabled in your config (add set backup if not).

That way you get the benefit of both worlds, you don't have to see the files, but if something does get futzed you can go get your backup file from vimtmp. Don't forget to clean the directory out every now and then.

Put this line into your vimrc:

set nobk nowb noswf noudf " nobackup nowritebackup noswapfile noundofile

In windows that would be the:

C:\Program Files (x86)\vim\_vimrc

file for system-wide vim configuration for all users.

Setting the last one noundofile is important in Windows to prevent the creation of *~ tilda files after editing.

I wish Vim had that line included by default. Nobody likes ugly directories.

Let the user choose if and how she wants to enable advanced backup/undo file features first.

This is the most annoying part of Vim.

The next step might be setting up:

set noeb vb t_vb= " errorbells visualbell

to disable beeping in vim as well :-)