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Launching Vim like gVim on linux

calendar Feb 12, 2026 · 2 min read · vim gvim Fedora Linux  ·
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If you’ve recently upgraded to Fedora 43, you might have noticed that gvim (the GTK-based GUI for Vim) feels a bit like a relic. It often struggles with Wayland, requiring X11 overrides just to launch.

I recently decided to ditch the buggy gvim package entirely and create a dedicated "Vim App" that runs inside the native terminal (Ptyxis), but behaves like a standalone application in the GNOME environment.

Here is the step-by-step guide on how to set it up.

  1. The Clean Slate: Uninstalling GVim

Since gvim is notoriously "cranky" on Wayland, the first step is to remove the old X11-dependent package. Don't worry—your .vimrc and plugins will stay safe.

1sudo dnf remove vim-X11
  1. Restoring the Icon

Removing gvim also removes the official Vim logo. To keep the "Pro" look, download the official SVG logo to your local icons folder:

1mkdir -p ~/.local/share/icons
2curl -o ~/.local/share/icons/vim-logo.svg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Vimlogo.svg
  1. Creating the Custom "Vim App"

The goal is to have a launcher that:

  • Opens in a high-performance terminal.

  • Appears as a separate icon in the Alt-Tab switcher (not grouped with other terminals).

  • Uses the official Vim logo.

Create a new desktop entry at ~/.local/share/applications/vim-terminal.desktop:

 1[Desktop Entry]
 2Type=Application
 3Name=Vim
 4Comment=High-performance terminal-based text editor
 5# --standalone: Opens in a new process
 6# --gapplication-app-id: Gives it a unique identity for the Alt-Tab switcher
 7Exec=ptyxis --standalone --gapplication-app-id=org.vim.Terminal -- vim %F
 8Terminal=false
 9Icon=/home/USER/.local/share/icons/vim-logo.svg
10StartupWMClass=org.vim.Terminal
11Categories=Utility;TextEditor;

Note: Replace /home/USER/ with your actual username in the Icon path.
  1. Registering the Changes

Once the file is saved, tell Fedora to refresh its application database so the new "Vim" app appears in your launcher: Bash

update-desktop-database ~/.local/share/applications/

Why This is Better

  • Wayland Native: No more GDK_BACKEND=x11 hacks.

  • GPU Accelerated: You get the benefit of your terminal's modern rendering.

  • Window Management: By using a unique gapplication-app-id, GNOME treats Vim as a first-class citizen in the Alt-Tab list, separate from your regular coding or system terminals.

Now, when you hit the Super key and type "Vim," you get a lightning-fast, perfectly scaled, standalone editor.