Re: [Ranger-users] The Configuration File

[David Woodfall]

On (02:14 22/05/10), Roman Z. <address@hidden> put forth the proposition:
> The configuration files are way too complicated.
> Please throw in ideas to make them easier =)
>
> Here are mine:
>
> 1. Adhere to the unix philosophy and "do one thing but do it well"
> => Ranger is a file manager, not a file launcher.
> Remove apps.py, leave launching of programs to another program.

You could use .mailcap or .mime.types I guess but that would involve
parsing those files. It would also mean missing/broken
mailcap/mime.types would need be fixed.

To be honest I'm quite happy with the apps.py file although I'm very
new to python.

> Since IMO most command line file launchers are too simple for ranger
> (they open files in only one possible way), I'd probably write a
> standalone file launcher with the features which are currently
> implemented by ranger / apps.py
>
> Not sure if this is a good idea.
>
>
> 2. Use eval instead of import
> Currently ranger imports the configuration files as if they were
> libraries.  This is not very elegant because, well, they are no
> libraries.  Especially keys.py, it executes functions on an existing
> FM instance, import shouldn't be used here.
>
> If I'd use eval, I could even post-process the config files, e.g.
> prepending the "from ranger.api.XYZ import *" so you don't have
> to write it in the config file.
>
>
> 3. Merge all configuration files into one, simplify syntax
> This is how the config should look like, imo:
>
> # options:
> option.colorscheme = "default"
> option.preview_files = False
>
> # keybindings:
> map(key='dd', context='browser', func=fm.delete())
> map('yy', fm.copy())  # dont torture the user and make keywords optional
>
> # apps:
> app(name='gnumeric', command='gnumeric %s', flags='d')
>
> def custom_feh_command(context):
>    if context.mode is 1:
>        return 'feh', '--bg-scale', context.filename
>    else:
>        return 'feh', context.filenames
> app(name='feh', command=custom_feh_command)
>
> option, map and app would simply be references to fm.settings,
> fm.env.keymanager.map and a new function which simplifies application
> definitions.
> We can also make the FM instance available to the user to give him total
> control and the freedom to write something like:
>
> fm.exit = lambda self: \
>    self.notify("Aww, why do you want to quit? Don't you like me?")

Ok sounds good. It would be nice to have simplified settings. Also
somewhere a list of all possible builtin commands too.


> Can't think of anything else now


--
Don't look back, the lemmings are gaining on you.

pgp5jX3GNHU1h.pgp
Description: PGP signature