What does $vimruntime mean?

Understanding VIMRUNTIME. $VIMRUNTIME identifes a directory where Vim’s support files are located. Many of the files are not necessary for Vim to run, but are used to provide extra functionality such as syntax highlighting and filetype-based plugins. Its value can be displayed in Vim with the command :echo $VIMRUNTIME.

Why can’t I find the latest version of Vim runtime files?

When you obtain the latest version of Vim and apply all the patches, you still don’t have the latest version of the runtime files (syntax highlighting, indenting, filetype plugins, etc.). That is because no patches are made for them. The recommended way is to use the git repository at github.

How to get Vim to find my vimrc file?

In order for gvim to find my .vimrc file I have set the $VIM (%VIM%) environment variable, pointing to the directory in which this .vimrc file is located. You don’t normally set $VIMRUNTIME yourself, but let Vim figure it out.

Where should I put my Vim plugins?

Vim searches there by default. Files located there won’t be overridden when updating your Vim installation, so it’s generally a good idea to do this and you won’t have to mess around with any variables. If you have any custom plugins, syntax files etc, place them below vimfiles/plugins, vimfiles/syntax etc.