If you create a file,
.exrc, in your home directory with this content
Code:
set autoindent showmode showmatch
you'll get
autoindent (you use ^D to go back to the previous indent level on a new line),
showmode (an indication of what mode you're in) and
showmatch (the cursor will jump back to the previous '(' or '[' or '{' when you type a corresponding ')' or ']' or '}' -- kinda handy, that).