How to let packer install all the missing plugins automaitcally?

[y9c]

After copying config files into a new machine, It is possible to install packer.nvim automatically if it is not exist. But how to install the plugins right after packer.nvim?

[gegoune]

https://github.com/wbthomason/packer.nvim#bootstrapping talks about bootstrapping.

[gegoune]

You can then add execute 'PackerInstall' after packed line. That should work.

[y9c]

Thank your @cloggier, I have tried this way before. But since packer.nvim is not sourced, no PackerInstall command can be found, unless I exit vim and open vim again manually.

[wbthomason]

You can use packadd packer.nvim to ensure that packer is sourced. It's probably also best to run PackerSync rather than PackerInstall to ensure that your compiled file gets correctly constructed.

[wbthomason]

To clarify: you'll want the execute PackerSync command after your call to packer.startup (assuming you're using the startup method), as that's what creates those commands.

[y9c]

Hi @wbthomason , do you mean add a extract line like this?

I have tried this before. It will cause a error, which is

[y9c]

BTW, I mean Packer command not work after a fresh installation.

[wbthomason]

Right - that's why I was saying that you need the execute PackerSync after you use packer.startup or similar. Otherwise, the commands will not exist.
e.g.

if not packer_exists then
...
end
require('packer').startup(....)
if not packer_exists then execute 'PackerSync' end

[y9c]

Thank you @wbthomason . Seem that it is a little difficult for me. I wrap packer conf into a lua script and return packer.startup(...) in the last line of the script. I don't known how to run packersync after the return.

[y9c]

One of the attempts,

https://github.com/yech1990/myneovim.lua/tree/b0b9b3f067d8e4ea8f2e7c2a86d28596f3c037fb

[rafamadriz]

Did you find a solution ? I have the same problem.

[HicaroD]

Hey, I know this question is old, but I was having the same problem and I solved it doing the following steps:

• Remove your plugin folder from your nvim root folder.
• Reinstall Packer
  Packer is installed at that location ~/.local/share/nvim/site/pack/packer/start/packer.nvim, just remove it and install it again.
• Now, open the lua file where Packer is being used to install plugins and run the editor command :so %

Now, you might be able to run commands like PackerSync for installing your packages.

That's how I solved it, hope you guys can solve it too.