Dynamically update config via cli

[devidw]

Was wondering if it's possible to patch a given config option via the cli

Was looking for something like aerospace config --set, but it appears there are only getters?

My use-case is that I would like to change the gaps dynamically (when i take my laptop + split keyboard with me and place the tilted split keyboard on the laptop keyboard it does cover some part of the bottom screen, which i would like to account for in the layout gaps)

[nikitabobko]

Currently, It's not possible, but I agree that a use case like yours is not well covered. One big thing that holds us back is the feature interaction with reload-config command.

Shall the reload-config override config --set or not? I don't like either of the answers. A more fundamental question is what is the source of truth? Right now, the answer is simple - the config is the only source of truth. And it's a good and convenient property.

Nevertheless, you have a workaround to patch the config with sed and call reload-config. That could be your "the automation script"

[devidw]

Hey @nikitabobko

First of all thanks for this awesome creation, been stuck with yabai for some time and def have gone through too many burdens to get an acceptable exp, and aerospace already feels better after only 2 days - huge thx for that

Regrading config setting, I see what you mean, I would think of the --set command more of a patch of the current runtime state rather than something persistent. If you want to persist, you have to put it into the config file

That's how it works for most other tools that come into my mind, sketchybar to name one

And yep, have automated it with a bash function that does mutate the config file and performs a reload for now

[nikitabobko]

I would think of the --set command more of a patch of the current runtime state rather than something persistent.

But then users won't be able to casually call reload-config because it may override custom config --set options

Users would need not forget to call config --set after each reload-config (I may be overconcerned with this problem)

Alternative. allow to change only environment variables via separate set-env command. Environment variables persist between reload-config invocations. Combine #278 + environment variables one can do the following:

[gaps]
outer.bottom = 'test $BIG_BOTTOM_GAP == 1 && echo 100 || echo 0'

the gap is toggleable with: aerospace set-env --toggle-set-unset BIG_BOTTOM_GAP 1

[devidw]

I personally do think it's perfectly fine and expected to lose patches after performing a config reload.

But I do like the idea of utilizing commands and env vars here since this would allow us not only author static configurations but dynamic ones and provides a lot of flexibility.

[nadeemkhedr]

Agree with @devidw I think its better if all the dynamic sets commands to be temp, doing reload config should always revert back to the config.

Usecase: I want to have some sort of "zen" experience, I could create shortcuts to toggle it on/off by increasing the gaps, I would expect when I do reload-config to revert back to the original state, I don't want my dynamic sets to presist