If you don't make sure that the terminal does not expand tabs to spaces, of course such a setting won't work.
@@ -73,6 +73,12 @@ static char termname[] = "st-256color";
* you use this st version.
*
* it#$tabspaces,
+ *
+ * Secondly make sure your terminal is not expanding tabs. When running `stty
+ * -a` »tab0« should appear. You can tell the terminal to not expand tabs by
+ * running following command:
+ * stty tabs
*/
static unsigned int tabspaces = 8;