When VIM is installed using $ sudo apt-get install vim on a Debian-based Linux distro, it does not come with line numbers as part of the default package. To add line numbers after installing VIM, navigate to home directory by using the command $ cd $HOME and then make a file called .vimrc (no file extension). In this file, add the line set nu and save. Line numbers will now display in VIM which make it easier to navigate.