// the find
Shougo/neocomplete.vim
Next generation completion framework after neocomplcache
neocomplete is a keyword-cache-based autocompletion plugin for Vim, the predecessor to deoplete and ddc.vim. It requires Vim 7.3.885+ compiled with Lua support, which is increasingly uncommon in modern Vim builds. The author has explicitly ended development and the plugin is broken on Vim 8.2.1066+.
The source/filter pipeline architecture (separate matchers, sorters, converters) is genuinely well-designed and influenced deoplete's architecture. Async cache updates prevent UI blocking during completion. The Unite integration and extensible source system made it easy to add language-specific completion backends without patching the core.
Broken on any Vim newer than 8.2.1066 — this isn't a minor compatibility issue, it's a hard stop for anyone on a modern Vim. Requires Lua compiled into Vim, which most distro packages don't include by default, making setup friction high. The project is explicitly archived; the author directs users to ddc.vim, so adopting this today means inheriting a dead codebase. No Neovim support at all — Shougo built deoplete for that.