diff --git a/runtime/syntax/Makefile b/runtime/syntax/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c1ac273
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/syntax/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# Portable Makefile for running syntax tests.
+
+# Override this if needed, e.g. with ../../src/vim
+VIMPROG = vim
+
+# "runtime" relative to "runtime/syntax/testdir"
+VIMRUNTIME = ../..
+
+# Uncomment this line to use valgrind for memory leaks and extra warnings.
+# VALGRIND = valgrind --tool=memcheck --leak-check=yes --num-callers=45 --log-file=valgrind.$*
+
+# ENVVARS = LC_ALL=C LANG=C LANGUAGE=C
+
+RUN_VIMTEST = VIMRUNTIME=$(VIMRUNTIME) $(VALGRIND) $(ENVVARS) $(VIMPROG) -f $(GUI_FLAG)
+
+# Run the tests that didn't run yet or failed previously.
+# If a test succeeds a testdir/done/{name} file will be written.
+# If a test fails a testdir/failed/{name}.dump file will be written.
+test:
+	@# the "vimcmd" file is used by the screendump utils
+	@echo "$(VIMPROG)" > testdir/vimcmd
+	@echo "$(RUN_VIMTEST)" >> testdir/vimcmd
+	VIMRUNTIME=$(VIMRUNTIME) $(VIMPROG) --clean --not-a-term -u testdir/runtest.vim
+
+
+clean testclean:
+	rm -f testdir/failed/* testdir/done/* testdir/vimcmd
diff --git a/runtime/syntax/testdir/README.txt b/runtime/syntax/testdir/README.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..22b6084
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/syntax/testdir/README.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+Tests for syntax highlighting plugins
+=====================================
+
+Summary: Files in the "input" directory are edited by Vim with syntax
+highlighting enabled.  Screendumps are generated and compared with the
+expected screendumps in the "dumps" directory.  This will uncover any
+character attributes that differ.
+
+Without any further setup a screendump is made at the top of the file (using
+_00.dump) and another one at the end of the file (using _99.dump).  The dumps
+are normally 20 screen lines tall.
+
+When the screendumps are OK an empty "done/{name}" file is created.  This
+avoids running the test again until "make clean" is used.  Thus you can run
+"make test", see one test fail, try to fix the problem, then run "make test"
+again to only repeat the failing test.
+
+When a screendump differs it is stored in the "failed" directory.  This allows
+for comparing it with the expected screendump, using a command like:
+
+	let fname = '{name}_99.dump'
+	call term_dumpdiff('failed/' .. fname, 'dumps/' .. fname)
+
+
+Creating a syntax plugin test
+-----------------------------
+
+Create a source file in the language you want to test in the "input"
+directory.  Make sure to include some interesting constructs with complicated
+highlighting.
+
+Use the filetype name as the base and a file name extension matching the
+filetype.  Let's use Java as an example.  The file would then be
+"input/java.java".
+
+If there is no further setup required, you can now run the tests:
+	make test
+
+The first time this will fail with an error for a missing screendump.  The
+newly created screendumps will be "failed/java_00.dump",
+"failed/java_01.dump", etc.  You can inspect each with:
+
+	call term_dumpload('failed/java_00.dump')
+	call term_dumpload('failed/java_01.dump')
+	...
+	call term_dumpload('failed/java_99.dump')
+
+If they look OK, move them to the "dumps" directory:
+
+	:!mv failed/java_00.dump dumps
+	:!mv failed/java_01.dump dumps
+	...
+	:!mv failed/java_99.dump dumps
+
+If you now run the test again, it will succeed.
+
+
+Adjusting a syntax plugin test
+------------------------------
+
+If you make changes to the syntax plugin, you should add code to the input
+file to see the effect of these changes.  So that the effect of the changes
+are covered by the test.  You can follow these steps:
+
+1. Edit the syntax plugin somewhere in your personal setup.  Use a file
+   somewhere to try out the changes.
+2. Go to the directory where you have the Vim code checked out and replace the
+   syntax plugin.  Run the tests: "make test".  Usually the tests will still
+   pass, but if you fixed syntax highlighting that was already visible in the
+   input file, carefully check that the changes in the screendump are
+   intentional:
+	let fname = '{name}_99.dump'
+	call term_dumpdiff('failed/' .. fname, 'dumps/' .. fname)
+   Fix the syntax plugin until the result is good.
+2. Edit the input file for your language to add the items you have improved.
+   (TODO: how to add another screendump?).
+   Run the tests and you should get failures.  Like with the previous step,
+   carefully check that the new screendumps in the "failed" directory are
+   good.  Update the syntax plugin and the input file until the highlighting
+   is good and you can see the effect of the syntax plugin improvements.  Then
+   move the screendumps from the "failed" to the "dumps" directory.  Now "make
+   test" should succeed.
+3. Prepare a pull request with the modified files:
+	- syntax plugin:    syntax/{name}.vim
+	- test input file:  syntax/testdir/input/{name}.{ext}
+	- test dump files:  syntax/testdir/dumps/{name}_99.dump
+
+As an extra check you can temporarily put back the old syntax plugin and
+verify that the tests fail.  Then you know your changes are covered by the
+test.
+
+
+
+TODO: run test for one specific filetype
+
+TODO: testing with various option values
+TODO: test syncing by jumping around
diff --git a/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_00.dump b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_00.dump
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d32cbd2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_00.dump
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+>/+0#0000e05#ffffff0|*| |v|i|:|s|e|t| |t|s|=|8+0#e000002&| +0#0000e05&|s|t|s|=|4+0#e000002&| +0#0000e05&|s|w|=|4+0#e000002&| +0#0000e05&|n|o|e|t|:| +0#0000000&@43
+| +0#0000e05&|*| +0#0000000&@72
+| +0#0000e05&|*| |V|I|M| |-| |V|i| |I|M|p|r|o|v|e|d| @3|b|y| |B|r|a|m| |M|o@1|l|e|n|a@1|r| +0#0000000&@33
+| +0#0000e05&|*| +0#0000000&@72
+| +0#0000e05&|*| |D|o| |"+0#e000002&|:|h|e|l|p| |u|g|a|n|d|a|"| +0#0000e05&@1|i|n| |V|i|m| |t|o| |r|e|a|d| |c|o|p|y|i|n|g| |a|n|d| |u|s|a|g|e| |c|o|n|d|i|t|i|o|n|s|.| +0#0000000&@8
+| +0#0000e05&|*| |D|o| |"+0#e000002&|:|h|e|l|p| |c|r|e|d|i|t|s|"| +0#0000e05&|i|n| |V|i|m| |t|o| |s|e@1| |a| |l|i|s|t| |o|f| |p|e|o|p|l|e| |w|h|o| |c|o|n|t|r|i|b|u|t|e|d|.| +0#0000000&@5
+| +0#0000e05&|*| |S|e@1| |R|E|A|D|M|E|.|t|x|t| |f|o|r| |a|n| |o|v|e|r|v|i|e|w| |o|f| |t|h|e| |V|i|m| |s|o|u|r|c|e| |c|o|d|e|.| +0#0000000&@17
+| +0#0000e05&|*|/| +0#0000000&@71
+@75
+|#+0#e000e06&|d|e|f|i|n|e| |E|X|T|E|R|N| +0#0000000&@60
+|#+0#e000e06&|i|n|c|l|u|d|e| |"+0#e000002&|v|i|m|.|h|"| +0#0000000&@58
+@75
+|#+0#e000e06&|i|f|d|e|f| |_@1|C|Y|G|W|I|N|_@1| +0#0000000&@57
+|#+0#e000e06&| |i|n|c|l|u|d|e| |<+0#e000002&|c|y|g|w|i|n|/|v|e|r|s|i|o|n|.|h|>| +0#0000000&@46
+|#+0#e000e06&| |i|n|c|l|u|d|e| |<+0#e000002&|s|y|s|/|c|y|g|w|i|n|.|h|>| +0#0000000&@7|/+0#0000e05&@1| |f|o|r| |c|y|g|w|i|n|_|c|o|n|v|_|t|o|_|p|o|s|i|x|_|p|a|t|h|(|)| |a|n|d|/|o|r| +0#0000000&@1
+@32|/+0#0000e05&@1| |c|y|g|w|i|n|_|c|o|n|v|_|p|a|t|h|(|)| +0#0000000&@21
+|#+0#e000e06&| |i|n|c|l|u|d|e| |<+0#e000002&|l|i|m|i|t|s|.|h|>| +0#0000000&@54
+|#+0#e000e06&|e|n|d|i|f| +0#0000000&@68
+@75
+|"|i|n|p|u|t|/|c|.|c|"| |1|2@1|L|,| |3|1|7|4|B| @33|1|,|1| @10|T|o|p| 
diff --git a/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_01.dump b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_01.dump
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cd6ae05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_01.dump
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+|#+0#e000e06#ffffff0| |i|n|c|l|u|d|e| |<+0#e000002&|c|y|g|w|i|n|/|v|e|r|s|i|o|n|.|h|>| +0#0000000&@46
+|#+0#e000e06&| |i|n|c|l|u|d|e| |<+0#e000002&|s|y|s|/|c|y|g|w|i|n|.|h|>| +0#0000000&@7|/+0#0000e05&@1| |f|o|r| |c|y|g|w|i|n|_|c|o|n|v|_|t|o|_|p|o|s|i|x|_|p|a|t|h|(|)| |a|n|d|/|o|r| +0#0000000&@1
+@32|/+0#0000e05&@1| |c|y|g|w|i|n|_|c|o|n|v|_|p|a|t|h|(|)| +0#0000000&@21
+|#+0#e000e06&| |i|n|c|l|u|d|e| |<+0#e000002&|l|i|m|i|t|s|.|h|>| +0#0000000&@54
+|#+0#e000e06&|e|n|d|i|f| +0#0000000&@68
+> @74
+|#+0#e000e06&|i|f| |d|e|f|i|n|e|d|(|M|S|W|I|N|)| |&@1| |(|!|d|e|f|i|n|e|d|(|F|E|A|T|_|G|U|I|_|M|S|W|I|N|)| ||@1| |d|e|f|i|n|e|d|(|V|I|M|D|L@1|)@1| +0#0000000&@7
+|#+0#e000e06&| |i|n|c|l|u|d|e| |"+0#e000002&|i|s|c|y|g|p|t|y|.|h|"| +0#0000000&@52
+|#+0#e000e06&|e|n|d|i|f| +0#0000000&@68
+@75
+|/+0#0000e05&@1| |V|a|l|u|e|s| |f|o|r| |e|d|i|t|_|t|y|p|e|.| +0#0000000&@50
+|#+0#e000e06&|d|e|f|i|n|e| |E|D|I|T|_|N|O|N|E| @2|0+0#e000002&| +0#e000e06&@6|/+0#0000e05&@1| |n|o| |e|d|i|t| |t|y|p|e| |y|e|t| +0#0000000&@27
+|#+0#e000e06&|d|e|f|i|n|e| |E|D|I|T|_|F|I|L|E| @2|1+0#e000002&| +0#e000e06&@6|/+0#0000e05&@1| |f|i|l|e| |n|a|m|e| |a|r|g|u|m|e|n|t|[|s|]| |g|i|v|e|n|,| |u|s|e| |a|r|g|u|m|e|n|t| |l|i
+|s|t| +0#0000000&@72
+|#+0#e000e06&|d|e|f|i|n|e| |E|D|I|T|_|S|T|D|I|N| @1|2+0#e000002&| +0#e000e06&@6|/+0#0000e05&@1| |r|e|a|d| |f|i|l|e| |f|r|o|m| |s|t|d|i|n| +0#0000000&@23
+|#+0#e000e06&|d|e|f|i|n|e| |E|D|I|T|_|T|A|G| @3|3+0#e000002&| +0#e000e06&@6|/+0#0000e05&@1| |t|a|g| |n|a|m|e| |a|r|g|u|m|e|n|t| |g|i|v|e|n|,| |u|s|e| |t|a|g|n|a|m|e| +0#0000000&@7
+|#+0#e000e06&|d|e|f|i|n|e| |E|D|I|T|_|Q|F| @4|4+0#e000002&| +0#e000e06&@6|/+0#0000e05&@1| |s|t|a|r|t| |i|n| |q|u|i|c|k|f|i|x| |m|o|d|e| +0#0000000&@21
+@75
+|#+0#e000e06&|i|f| |(|d|e|f|i|n|e|d|(|U|N|I|X|)| ||@1| |d|e|f|i|n|e|d|(|V|M|S|)@1| |&@1| |!|d|e|f|i|n|e|d|(|N|O|_|V|I|M|_|M|A|I|N|)| +0#0000000&@14
+@57|1|9|,|0|-|1| @7|1|2|%| 
diff --git a/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_02.dump b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_02.dump
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..82820ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_02.dump
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+|s+0#00e0003#ffffff0|t|a|t|i|c| +0#0000000&|i+0#00e0003&|n|t| +0#0000000&|f|i|l|e|_|o|w|n|e|d|(|c+0#00e0003&|h|a|r| +0#0000000&|*|f|n|a|m|e|)|;| @39
+|#+0#e000e06&|e|n|d|i|f| +0#0000000&@68
+|s+0#00e0003&|t|a|t|i|c| +0#0000000&|v+0#00e0003&|o|i|d| +0#0000000&|m|a|i|n|e|r@1|(|i+0#00e0003&|n|t|,+0#0000000&| |c|h|a|r|_|u| |*|)|;| @39
+|s+0#00e0003&|t|a|t|i|c| +0#0000000&|v+0#00e0003&|o|i|d| +0#0000000&|e|a|r|l|y|_|a|r|g|_|s|c|a|n|(|m|p|a|r|m|_|T| |*|p|a|r|m|p|)|;| @31
+|#+0#e000e06&|i|f|n|d|e|f| |N|O|_|V|I|M|_|M|A|I|N| +0#0000000&@55
+>s+0#00e0003&|t|a|t|i|c| +0#0000000&|v+0#00e0003&|o|i|d| +0#0000000&|u|s|a|g|e|(|v+0#00e0003&|o|i|d|)+0#0000000&|;| @50
+|s+0#00e0003&|t|a|t|i|c| +0#0000000&|v+0#00e0003&|o|i|d| +0#0000000&|p|a|r|s|e|_|c|o|m@1|a|n|d|_|n|a|m|e|(|m|p|a|r|m|_|T| |*|p|a|r|m|p|)|;| @27
+|s+0#00e0003&|t|a|t|i|c| +0#0000000&|v+0#00e0003&|o|i|d| +0#0000000&|c|o|m@1|a|n|d|_|l|i|n|e|_|s|c|a|n|(|m|p|a|r|m|_|T| |*|p|a|r|m|p|)|;| @28
+|s+0#00e0003&|t|a|t|i|c| +0#0000000&|v+0#00e0003&|o|i|d| +0#0000000&|c|h|e|c|k|_|t@1|y|(|m|p|a|r|m|_|T| |*|p|a|r|m|p|)|;| @36
+|s+0#00e0003&|t|a|t|i|c| +0#0000000&|v+0#00e0003&|o|i|d| +0#0000000&|r|e|a|d|_|s|t|d|i|n|(|v+0#00e0003&|o|i|d|)+0#0000000&|;| @45
+|s+0#00e0003&|t|a|t|i|c| +0#0000000&|v+0#00e0003&|o|i|d| +0#0000000&|c|r|e|a|t|e|_|w|i|n|d|o|w|s|(|m|p|a|r|m|_|T| |*|p|a|r|m|p|)|;| @31
+|s+0#00e0003&|t|a|t|i|c| +0#0000000&|v+0#00e0003&|o|i|d| +0#0000000&|e|d|i|t|_|b|u|f@1|e|r|s|(|m|p|a|r|m|_|T| |*|p|a|r|m|p|,| |c|h|a|r|_|u| |*|c|w|d|)|;| @20
+|s+0#00e0003&|t|a|t|i|c| +0#0000000&|v+0#00e0003&|o|i|d| +0#0000000&|e|x|e|_|p|r|e|_|c|o|m@1|a|n|d|s|(|m|p|a|r|m|_|T| |*|p|a|r|m|p|)|;| @29
+|s+0#00e0003&|t|a|t|i|c| +0#0000000&|v+0#00e0003&|o|i|d| +0#0000000&|e|x|e|_|c|o|m@1|a|n|d|s|(|m|p|a|r|m|_|T| |*|p|a|r|m|p|)|;| @33
+|s+0#00e0003&|t|a|t|i|c| +0#0000000&|v+0#00e0003&|o|i|d| +0#0000000&|s|o|u|r|c|e|_|s|t|a|r|t|u|p|_|s|c|r|i|p|t|s|(|m|p|a|r|m|_|T| |*|p|a|r|m|p|)|;| @23
+|s+0#00e0003&|t|a|t|i|c| +0#0000000&|v+0#00e0003&|o|i|d| +0#0000000&|m|a|i|n|_|s|t|a|r|t|_|g|u|i|(|v+0#00e0003&|o|i|d|)+0#0000000&|;| @41
+|s+0#00e0003&|t|a|t|i|c| +0#0000000&|v+0#00e0003&|o|i|d| +0#0000000&|c|h|e|c|k|_|s|w|a|p|_|e|x|i|s|t|s|_|a|c|t|i|o|n|(|v+0#00e0003&|o|i|d|)+0#0000000&|;| @31
+|#+0#e000e06&| |i|f|d|e|f| |F|E|A|T|_|E|V|A|L| +0#0000000&@57
+|s+0#00e0003&|t|a|t|i|c| +0#0000000&|v+0#00e0003&|o|i|d| +0#0000000&|s|e|t|_|p|r|o|g|p|a|t|h|(|c|h|a|r|_|u| |*|a|r|g|v|0|)|;| @34
+@57|3|7|,|1| @9|3|0|%| 
diff --git a/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_03.dump b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_03.dump
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5f0e8d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_03.dump
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+|s+0#00e0003#ffffff0|t|a|t|i|c| +0#0000000&|v+0#00e0003&|o|i|d| +0#0000000&|s|e|t|_|p|r|o|g|p|a|t|h|(|c|h|a|r|_|u| |*|a|r|g|v|0|)|;| @34
+|#+0#e000e06&| |e|n|d|i|f| +0#0000000&@67
+|#+0#e000e06&|e|n|d|i|f| +0#0000000&@68
+@75
+@75
+>/+0#0000e05&|*| +0#0000000&@72
+| +0#0000e05&|*| |D|i|f@1|e|r|e|n|t| |t|y|p|e|s| |o|f| |e|r@1|o|r| |m|e|s@1|a|g|e|s|.| +0#0000000&@37
+| +0#0000e05&|*|/| +0#0000000&@71
+|s+0#00e0003&|t|a|t|i|c| +0#0000000&|c+0#00e0003&|h|a|r| +0#0000000&|*|(|m|a|i|n|_|e|r@1|o|r|s|[|]|)| |=| @44
+|{| @73
+@4|N|_|(|"+0#e000002&|U|n|k|n|o|w|n| |o|p|t|i|o|n| |a|r|g|u|m|e|n|t|"|)+0#0000000&|,| @40
+|#+0#e000e06&|d|e|f|i|n|e| |M|E|_|U|N|K|N|O|W|N|_|O|P|T|I|O|N| @6|0+0#e000002&| +0#0000000&@41
+@4|N|_|(|"+0#e000002&|T|o@1| |m|a|n|y| |e|d|i|t| |a|r|g|u|m|e|n|t|s|"|)+0#0000000&|,| @40
+|#+0#e000e06&|d|e|f|i|n|e| |M|E|_|T|O@1|_|M|A|N|Y|_|A|R|G|S| @7|1+0#e000002&| +0#0000000&@41
+@4|N|_|(|"+0#e000002&|A|r|g|u|m|e|n|t| |m|i|s@1|i|n|g| |a|f|t|e|r|"|)+0#0000000&|,| @41
+|#+0#e000e06&|d|e|f|i|n|e| |M|E|_|A|R|G|_|M|I|S@1|I|N|G| @9|2+0#e000002&| +0#0000000&@41
+@4|N|_|(|"+0#e000002&|G|a|r|b|a|g|e| |a|f|t|e|r| |o|p|t|i|o|n| |a|r|g|u|m|e|n|t|"|)+0#0000000&|,| @34
+|#+0#e000e06&|d|e|f|i|n|e| |M|E|_|G|A|R|B|A|G|E| @13|3+0#e000002&| +0#0000000&@41
+|@+0#4040ff13&@2| @71
+| +0#0000000&@56|5@1|,|1| @9|4|7|%| 
diff --git a/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_04.dump b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_04.dump
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9864b88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_04.dump
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+| +0&#ffffff0@3|N|_|(|"+0#e000002&|T|o@1| |m|a|n|y| |\+0#e000e06&|"|++0#e000002&|c|o|m@1|a|n|d|\+0#e000e06&|"|,+0#e000002&| |\+0#e000e06&|"|-+0#e000002&|c| |c|o|m@1|a|n|d|\+0#e000e06&|"| +0#e000002&|o|r| |\+0#e000e06&|"|-+0#e000002&@1|c|m|d| |c|o|m@1|a|n|d|\+0#e000e06&|"| +0#e000002&|a|r|g|u|m|e|n|t
+|s|"|)+0#0000000&|,| @70
+|#+0#e000e06&|d|e|f|i|n|e| |M|E|_|E|X|T|R|A|_|C|M|D| @11|4+0#e000002&| +0#0000000&@41
+@4|N|_|(|"+0#e000002&|I|n|v|a|l|i|d| |a|r|g|u|m|e|n|t| |f|o|r|"|)+0#0000000&|,| @43
+|#+0#e000e06&|d|e|f|i|n|e| |M|E|_|I|N|V|A|L|I|D|_|A|R|G| @9|5+0#e000002&| +0#0000000&@41
+|}|;| @72
+> @74
+|#+0#e000e06&|i|f|n|d|e|f| |P|R|O|T|O| @10|/+0#0000e05&@1| |d|o|n|'|t| |w|a|n|t| |a| |p|r|o|t|o|t|y|p|e| |f|o|r| |m|a|i|n|(|)| +0#0000000&@14
+@75
+|/+0#0000e05&@1| |V|a|r|i|o|u|s| |p|a|r|a|m|e|t|e|r|s| |p|a|s@1|e|d| |b|e|t|w|e@1|n| |m|a|i|n|(|)| |a|n|d| |o|t|h|e|r| |f|u|n|c|t|i|o|n|s|.| +0#0000000&@10
+|s+0#00e0003&|t|a|t|i|c| +0#0000000&|m|p|a|r|m|_|T| @1|p|a|r|a|m|s|;| @51
+@75
+|#+0#e000e06&|i|f|d|e|f| |_|I|O|L|B|F| +0#0000000&@61
+|s+0#00e0003&|t|a|t|i|c| +0#0000000&|v+0#00e0003&|o|i|d| +0#0000000&|*|s|_|v|b|u|f| |=| |N+0#e000002&|U|L@1|;+0#0000000&| @12|/+0#0000e05&@1| |b|u|f@1|e|r| |f|o|r| |s|e|t|v|b|u|f|(|)| +0#0000000&@11
+|#+0#e000e06&|e|n|d|i|f| +0#0000000&@68
+@75
+|#+0#e000e06&|i|f|n|d|e|f| |N|O|_|V|I|M|_|M|A|I|N| @4|/+0#0000e05&@1| |s|k|i|p| |t|h|i|s| |f|o|r| |u|n|i|t@1|e|s|t|s| +0#0000000&@24
+@75
+|s+0#00e0003&|t|a|t|i|c| +0#0000000&|c|h|a|r|_|u| |*|s|t|a|r|t|_|d|i|r| |=| |N+0#e000002&|U|L@1|;+0#0000000&| @7|/+0#0000e05&@1| |c|u|r@1|e|n|t| |w|o|r|k|i|n|g| |d|i|r| |o|n| |s|t|a|r|t|u|p| +0#0000000&@1
+@57|7|3|,|0|-|1| @7|6|4|%| 
diff --git a/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_05.dump b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_05.dump
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5b977ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_05.dump
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+| +0&#ffffff0@74
+|s+0#00e0003&|t|a|t|i|c| +0#0000000&|i+0#00e0003&|n|t| +0#0000000&|h|a|s|_|d|a|s|h|_|c|_|a|r|g| |=| |F|A|L|S|E|;| @40
+@75
+|#+0#e000e06&| |i|f|d|e|f| |V|I|M|D|L@1| +0#0000000&@60
+|_@1|d|e|c|l|s|p|e|c|(|d|l@1|e|x|p|o|r|t|)| @53
+>#+0#e000e06&| |e|n|d|i|f| +0#0000000&@67
+@4|i+0#00e0003&|n|t| +0#0000000&@67
+|#+0#e000e06&| |i|f|d|e|f| |M|S|W|I|N| +0#0000000&@61
+|V|i|m|M|a|i|n| @67
+|#+0#e000e06&| |e|l|s|e| +0#0000000&@68
+|m|a|i|n| @70
+|#+0#e000e06&| |e|n|d|i|f| +0#0000000&@67
+|(|i+0#00e0003&|n|t| +0#0000000&|a|r|g|c|,| |c+0#00e0003&|h|a|r| +0#0000000&|*@1|a|r|g|v|)| @51
+|{| @73
+|#+0#e000e06&|i|f| |d|e|f|i|n|e|d|(|S|T|A|R|T|U|P|T|I|M|E|)| ||@1| |d|e|f|i|n|e|d|(|C|L|E|A|N|_|R|U|N|T|I|M|E|P|A|T|H|)| +0#0000000&@20
+@4|i+0#00e0003&|n|t| +0#0000000&@8|i|;| @56
+|#+0#e000e06&|e|n|d|i|f| +0#0000000&@68
+@75
+@4|/+0#0000e05&|*| +0#0000000&@68
+@57|9|1|,|1| @9|8|2|%| 
diff --git a/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_06.dump b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_06.dump
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fd7fe90
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_06.dump
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+| +0&#ffffff0@3|/+0#0000e05&|*| +0#0000000&@68
+| +0#0000e05&@4|*| |D|o| |a|n|y| |s|y|s|t|e|m|-|s|p|e|c|i|f|i|c| |i|n|i|t|i|a|l|i|s|a|t|i|o|n|s|.| @1|T|h|e|s|e| |c|a|n| |N|O|T| |u|s|e| |I|O|b|u|f@1| |o|r
+| @4|*| |N|a|m|e|B|u|f@1|.| @1|T|h|u|s| |e|m|s|g|2|(|)| |c|a|n@1|o|t| |b|e| |c|a|l@1|e|d|!| +0#0000000&@26
+| +0#0000e05&@4|*|/| +0#0000000&@67
+@4|m|c|h|_|e|a|r|l|y|_|i|n|i|t|(|)|;| @53
+> @74
+@4|/+0#0000e05&@1| |S|o|u|r|c|e| |s|t|a|r|t|u|p| |s|c|r|i|p|t|s|.| +0#0000000&@44
+@4|s|o|u|r|c|e|_|s|t|a|r|t|u|p|_|s|c|r|i|p|t|s|(|&|p|a|r|a|m|s|)|;| @38
+@75
+|#+0#e000e06&|i|f| |0| +0#0000000&@69
+| +0#0000e05&@3|/|*| +0#0000000&@68
+| +0#0000e05&@4|*| |N|e|w|e|r| |v|e|r|s|i|o|n| |o|f| |M|z|S|c|h|e|m|e| |(|R|a|c|k|e|t|)| |r|e|q|u|i|r|e| |e|a|r|l|i|e|r| |(|t|r|a|m|p|o|l|i|n|e|d|)| +0#0000000&@3
+| +0#0000e05&@4|*| |i|n|i|t|i|a|l|i|s|a|t|i|o|n| |v|i|a| |s|c|h|e|m|e|_|m|a|i|n|_|s|e|t|u|p|.| +0#0000000&@30
+| +0#0000e05&@4|*|/| +0#0000000&@67
+| +0#0000e05&@3|r|e|t|u|r|n| |m|z|s|c|h|e|m|e|_|m|a|i|n|(|)|;| +0#0000000&@47
+|#+0#e000e06&|e|l|s|e| +0#0000000&@69
+@4|r+0#af5f00255&|e|t|u|r|n| +0#0000000&|v|i|m|_|m|a|i|n|2|(|)|;| @51
+|#+0#e000e06&|e|n|d|i|f| +0#0000000&@68
+|}| @73
+@57|1|0|9|,|0|-|1| @6|B|o|t| 
diff --git a/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_99.dump b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_99.dump
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..14b51cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/c_99.dump
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+| +0&#ffffff0@3|/+0#0000e05&|*| +0#0000000&@68
+| +0#0000e05&@4|*| |D|o| |a|n|y| |s|y|s|t|e|m|-|s|p|e|c|i|f|i|c| |i|n|i|t|i|a|l|i|s|a|t|i|o|n|s|.| @1|T|h|e|s|e| |c|a|n| |N|O|T| |u|s|e| |I|O|b|u|f@1| |o|r
+| @4|*| |N|a|m|e|B|u|f@1|.| @1|T|h|u|s| |e|m|s|g|2|(|)| |c|a|n@1|o|t| |b|e| |c|a|l@1|e|d|!| +0#0000000&@26
+| +0#0000e05&@4|*|/| +0#0000000&@67
+@4|m|c|h|_|e|a|r|l|y|_|i|n|i|t|(|)|;| @53
+@75
+@4|/+0#0000e05&@1| |S|o|u|r|c|e| |s|t|a|r|t|u|p| |s|c|r|i|p|t|s|.| +0#0000000&@44
+@4|s|o|u|r|c|e|_|s|t|a|r|t|u|p|_|s|c|r|i|p|t|s|(|&|p|a|r|a|m|s|)|;| @38
+@75
+|#+0#e000e06&|i|f| |0| +0#0000000&@69
+| +0#0000e05&@3|/|*| +0#0000000&@68
+| +0#0000e05&@4|*| |N|e|w|e|r| |v|e|r|s|i|o|n| |o|f| |M|z|S|c|h|e|m|e| |(|R|a|c|k|e|t|)| |r|e|q|u|i|r|e| |e|a|r|l|i|e|r| |(|t|r|a|m|p|o|l|i|n|e|d|)| +0#0000000&@3
+| +0#0000e05&@4|*| |i|n|i|t|i|a|l|i|s|a|t|i|o|n| |v|i|a| |s|c|h|e|m|e|_|m|a|i|n|_|s|e|t|u|p|.| +0#0000000&@30
+| +0#0000e05&@4|*|/| +0#0000000&@67
+| +0#0000e05&@3|r|e|t|u|r|n| |m|z|s|c|h|e|m|e|_|m|a|i|n|(|)|;| +0#0000000&@47
+|#+0#e000e06&|e|l|s|e| +0#0000000&@69
+@4|r+0#af5f00255&|e|t|u|r|n| +0#0000000&|v|i|m|_|m|a|i|n|2|(|)|;| @51
+|#+0#e000e06&|e|n|d|i|f| +0#0000000&@68
+>}| @73
+@57|1|2@1|,|1| @8|B|o|t| 
diff --git a/runtime/syntax/testdir/input/c.c b/runtime/syntax/testdir/input/c.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c96fb33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/syntax/testdir/input/c.c
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+/* vi:set ts=8 sts=4 sw=4 noet:
+ *
+ * VIM - Vi IMproved	by Bram Moolenaar
+ *
+ * Do ":help uganda"  in Vim to read copying and usage conditions.
+ * Do ":help credits" in Vim to see a list of people who contributed.
+ * See README.txt for an overview of the Vim source code.
+ */
+
+#define EXTERN
+#include "vim.h"
+
+#ifdef __CYGWIN__
+# include <cygwin/version.h>
+# include <sys/cygwin.h>	// for cygwin_conv_to_posix_path() and/or
+				// cygwin_conv_path()
+# include <limits.h>
+#endif
+
+#if defined(MSWIN) && (!defined(FEAT_GUI_MSWIN) || defined(VIMDLL))
+# include "iscygpty.h"
+#endif
+
+// Values for edit_type.
+#define EDIT_NONE   0	    // no edit type yet
+#define EDIT_FILE   1	    // file name argument[s] given, use argument list
+#define EDIT_STDIN  2	    // read file from stdin
+#define EDIT_TAG    3	    // tag name argument given, use tagname
+#define EDIT_QF	    4	    // start in quickfix mode
+
+#if (defined(UNIX) || defined(VMS)) && !defined(NO_VIM_MAIN)
+static int file_owned(char *fname);
+#endif
+static void mainerr(int, char_u *);
+static void early_arg_scan(mparm_T *parmp);
+#ifndef NO_VIM_MAIN
+static void usage(void);
+static void parse_command_name(mparm_T *parmp);
+static void command_line_scan(mparm_T *parmp);
+static void check_tty(mparm_T *parmp);
+static void read_stdin(void);
+static void create_windows(mparm_T *parmp);
+static void edit_buffers(mparm_T *parmp, char_u *cwd);
+static void exe_pre_commands(mparm_T *parmp);
+static void exe_commands(mparm_T *parmp);
+static void source_startup_scripts(mparm_T *parmp);
+static void main_start_gui(void);
+static void check_swap_exists_action(void);
+# ifdef FEAT_EVAL
+static void set_progpath(char_u *argv0);
+# endif
+#endif
+
+
+/*
+ * Different types of error messages.
+ */
+static char *(main_errors[]) =
+{
+    N_("Unknown option argument"),
+#define ME_UNKNOWN_OPTION	0
+    N_("Too many edit arguments"),
+#define ME_TOO_MANY_ARGS	1
+    N_("Argument missing after"),
+#define ME_ARG_MISSING		2
+    N_("Garbage after option argument"),
+#define ME_GARBAGE		3
+    N_("Too many \"+command\", \"-c command\" or \"--cmd command\" arguments"),
+#define ME_EXTRA_CMD		4
+    N_("Invalid argument for"),
+#define ME_INVALID_ARG		5
+};
+
+#ifndef PROTO		// don't want a prototype for main()
+
+// Various parameters passed between main() and other functions.
+static mparm_T	params;
+
+#ifdef _IOLBF
+static void *s_vbuf = NULL;		// buffer for setvbuf()
+#endif
+
+#ifndef NO_VIM_MAIN	// skip this for unittests
+
+static char_u *start_dir = NULL;	// current working dir on startup
+
+static int has_dash_c_arg = FALSE;
+
+# ifdef VIMDLL
+__declspec(dllexport)
+# endif
+    int
+# ifdef MSWIN
+VimMain
+# else
+main
+# endif
+(int argc, char **argv)
+{
+#if defined(STARTUPTIME) || defined(CLEAN_RUNTIMEPATH)
+    int		i;
+#endif
+
+    /*
+     * Do any system-specific initialisations.  These can NOT use IObuff or
+     * NameBuff.  Thus emsg2() cannot be called!
+     */
+    mch_early_init();
+
+    // Source startup scripts.
+    source_startup_scripts(&params);
+
+#if 0
+    /*
+     * Newer version of MzScheme (Racket) require earlier (trampolined)
+     * initialisation via scheme_main_setup.
+     */
+    return mzscheme_main();
+#else
+    return vim_main2();
+#endif
+}
diff --git a/runtime/syntax/testdir/runtest.vim b/runtime/syntax/testdir/runtest.vim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d57341d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/syntax/testdir/runtest.vim
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+" Runs all the syntax tests for which there is no "done/name" file.
+"
+" Current directory must be runtime/syntax.
+
+" Only do this with the +eval feature
+if 1
+
+let cwd = getcwd()
+if cwd !~ '[/\\]runtime[/\\]syntax\>'
+  echoerr 'Current directory must be "runtime/syntax"'
+  qall
+endif
+if !isdirectory('testdir')
+  echoerr '"testdir" directory not found'
+  qall
+endif
+
+" Use the script for source code screendump testing.  It sources other scripts,
+" therefore we must "cd" there.
+cd ../../src/testdir
+source screendump.vim
+exe 'cd ' .. fnameescape(cwd)
+
+" For these tests we need to be able to run terminal Vim with 256 colors.  On
+" MS-Windows the console only has 16 colors and the GUI can't run in a
+" terminal.
+if !CanRunVimInTerminal()
+  echomsg 'Cannot make screendumps, aborting'
+  qall
+endif
+
+cd testdir
+if !isdirectory('done')
+  call mkdir('done')
+endif
+
+set nocp
+set nowrapscan
+set report=9999
+set modeline
+set debug=throw
+set nomore
+
+au! SwapExists * call HandleSwapExists()
+func HandleSwapExists()
+  " Ignore finding a swap file for the test input, the user might be editing
+  " it and that's OK.
+  if expand('<afile>') =~ 'input[/\\].*\..*'
+    let v:swapchoice = 'e'
+  endif
+endfunc
+
+
+let failed_count = 0
+for fname in glob('input/*.*', 1, 1)
+  if fname =~ '\~$'
+    " backup file, skip
+    continue
+  endif
+
+  let linecount = readfile(fname)->len()
+  let root = substitute(fname, 'input[/\\]\(.*\)\..*', '\1', '')
+
+  " Execute the test if the "done" file does not exist of when the input file
+  " is newer.
+  let in_time = getftime(fname)
+  let out_time = getftime('done/' .. root)
+  if out_time < 0 || in_time > out_time
+    for dumpname in glob('failed/' .. root .. '_\d*\.dump', 1, 1)
+      call delete(dumpname)
+    endfor
+    call delete('done/' .. root)
+
+    let lines =<< trim END
+      syntax on
+    END
+    call writefile(lines, 'Xtestscript')
+    let buf = RunVimInTerminal('-S Xtestscript ' .. fname, {})
+
+    " Screendump at the start of the file: root_00.dump
+    let fail = VerifyScreenDump(buf, root .. '_00', {})
+
+    " Make a Screendump every 18 lines of the file: root_NN.dump
+    let topline = 1
+    let nr = 1
+    while linecount - topline > 20
+      let topline += 18
+      call term_sendkeys(buf, printf("%dGzt", topline))
+      let fail += VerifyScreenDump(buf, root .. printf('_%02d', nr), {})
+      let nr += 1
+    endwhile
+
+    " Screendump at the end of the file: root_99.dump
+    call term_sendkeys(buf, 'Gzb')
+    let fail += VerifyScreenDump(buf, root .. '_99', {})
+
+    call StopVimInTerminal(buf)
+    call delete('Xtestscript')
+
+    if fail == 0
+      call writefile(['OK'], 'done/' . root)
+      echo "Test " . root . " OK\n"
+    else
+      let failed_count += 1
+    endif
+  endif
+endfor
+
+" Matching "if 1" at the start.
+endif
+
+if failed_count > 0
+  " have make report an error
+  cquit
+endif
+qall!