XDG_CONFIG_DIR and dotfiles handling in Guix Home

XDG_CONFIG_DIR and dotfiles handling in Guix Home

[Andrew Tropin]

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In https://issues.guix.gnu.org/52808 we introduced a new service type
called home-xdg-configuration-files-service-type, its purpose should be
clear from the name: It used to define configuration files, which will
go to XDG_CONFIG_HOME (default value is ~/.config) during activation of
new home-environment.

Here an example value, which can be used to extend this service type:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---
`(("sway/config" ,(function-producing-file-like-object ...))
  ("tmux/tmux.conf" ,(function-producing-file-like-object ...)))
--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

Previously, the task of managing xdg configuration files was carried by
home-files-service-type, but there is a special handling for config/
subdirectory, which can be unexpected.  To make it clear that
xdg configuration files goes to XDG_CONFIG_HOME we created a separate
service type.

If you have any hand-made personal home services, please migrate them to
home-xdg-configuration-files-service-type.  Also, don't hesitate to
contribute home services to Guix! :)

Another downside of home-files-service-type is that for historical
reasons it requires to use a path without leading dot and adds it
automatically during activation, which makes it impossible to create a
directory or file without leading dot with it, for example ~/wow.  This
behavior is non-intuitive, so in two weeks we will make a breaking
change to fix it.

It won't affect home services, which use
home-xdg-configuration-files-service-type, so please migrate to it from
home-files-service-type before this fix or keep this date (April 8) in
mind and update your services, when the fix is out.

-- 
Best regards,
Andrew Tropin

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Re: XDG_CONFIG_DIR and dotfiles handling in Guix Home

[Ludovic Courtès]

Hi Andrew,

Andrew Tropin <andrew@trop.in> skribis:

> Another downside of home-files-service-type is that for historical
> reasons it requires to use a path without leading dot and adds it
> automatically during activation, which makes it impossible to create a
> directory or file without leading dot with it, for example ~/wow.  This
> behavior is non-intuitive, so in two weeks we will make a breaking
> change to fix it.

Sounds like a great plan to me; looking forward to that.

Thank you!

Ludo’.