Trouble with vimrc

Question

So I've been using Vim at school with a vimrc that seemed to be well set up, and learn few extra commands like set nu or syntax on.

Right now I'm trying I'm using Vi on my computer, and was struck by how bad Vi default configuration was, and am trying to set my vimrc but it's hell as well:

1 filetype indent on
2 set tabstop=4
3 set backspace=indent,eol,start
4 syntax enable
5 set nu

The backspace is unpractical (not deleting letters as it should naturally), my vimrc is displaying an error message when I start it up. Are the function summoned in vimrc wrong? Thanks.

Edit: Yup, nope, this irrational backspace crap is driving me crazy. I can't get a regular backspace behavior (deletes previous character, period). Set backspace and filetype indent don't work.

Edit#2: So Vim backspace still won't behave humanly, I'm still trying to figure the f how to implement a normal backspace (which removes previous characters, period)

Answer 1

2 suggestions:

1) Are you trying to use Vi or Vim? On most systems 'vi' is just a link to vim, but it may not be the case on your system. Your description of the backspace makes it sound a little like you may be using vi instead of vim.

2) If you don't like the default vim options, you could look into NeoVim (https://neovim.io/). I believe one of their objectives is to improve on what options are enabled by default.