Question

I found how to compile the current buffer in vim with make:

set makeprg=g++\ -o\ %<\ %

I know that % means “current buffer” but I am wondering what less than sign (<) means?

Also, in this link http://vim.wikia.com/wiki/Make-compile_current_buffer mentions that %< is deprecated. Is there another way?

Answer 1

“%<” is expanded to the name of the current buffer without the extension. See :help _%<.
So, when you are currently editing myfile.c, your makeprg setting is expanded to g++ -o myfile myfile.c, which will compile myfile.c into the executable myfile.