nushell/crates/nu-utils/src/default_files

Nushell configuration files

default_env.nu:

• The internal default environment variables (other than $env.config) that will be set during Nushell startup.
• Is loaded before the user's env.nu.
• Will be loaded during any startup where the user's env.nu is also loaded. For example:
  • During normal startup with nu
  • During a startup where the user specifies an alternative env.nu via nu --env-config <path>
  • During a nu -c <commandstring> or nu <script> startup so that ENV_CONVERSIONS is properly handled for Windows.
• Is not loaded when running with an explicit no --no-config-file (-n).
• Is not commented - Comments are in doc_env.nu.
• Should be optimized for fastest load times.
• Can be introspected via config env --default | nu-highlight

default_config.nu:

Counterpart to default_env.nu.

• Contains any $env.config values that are not set via Rust defaults.
• Is loaded after the user's env.nu.
• Is loaded before the user's config.nu.
• Will be loaded during any startup where the user's config.nu is also loaded. For example:
  • During normal startup with nu
  • During a startup where the user specifies an alternative config.nu via nu --config <path>
• Likewise, is never loaded during a startup where the user's config.nu would not be loaded. For example:
  • nu -n/--no-config
  • nu -c "ls"
  • nu <script.nu>
• Is not commented - Comments are in doc_config.nu.
• Should be optimized for fastest load times. Whenever possible, values should be set via nu-protocol::config
  • Exception: color_config values are currently set in this file so that user's can introspect the values
  • TODO: Implement defaults for color_config in nu-protocol::config and remove from default_config.nu
• Can be introspected via config nu --default | nu-highlight
• An ideal default_config.nu (when all values are set via nu-protocol::config) will simply be:

  $env.config = {}
  

doc_env.nu

• A commented file documenting the most common environment variables that a user might configure in env.nu
• For convenient in-shell access - Can be pretty-printed via config env --doc | nu-highlight
• Since this file is for documentation only, include actual Nushell code without comments so that it can be pretty-printed
• No optimization necessary - Not intended for use other than documentation.
• Consider replacing config env --doc with help env.nu at some point.
• Uses a mix of default values (explained) as well as other examples that users might want in their own env.nu

doc_config.nu

Counterpart to doc_env.nu.

• A commented file documenting the most common environment variables that a user might configure in config.nu
• For convenient in-shell access - Can be pretty-printed via config nu --doc | nu-highlight
• Since this file is for documentation only, include actual Nushell code without comments so that it can be pretty-printed
• No optimization necessary - Not intended for use other than documentation.
• Consider replacing config nu --doc with help config.nu at some point.
• Uses a mix of default values (explained) as well as other examples that users might want in their own config.nu

scaffold_env.nu

• This file is used one-time (typically) at first startup
• If the $nu.default-config-path directory does not exist, the directory is created and then both scaffold_env.nu and scaffold_config.nu are written to it
• Contains only commented lines explaining the purpose of the file to the user, along with information on the config env command.

scaffold_config.nu

Counterpart to scaffold_env.nu.

• This file is used one-time (typically) at first startup
• If the $nu.default-config-path directory does not exist, the directory is created and then both scaffold_env.nu and scaffold_config.nu are written to it
• Contains only commented lines explaining the purpose of the file to the user, along with information on the config nu command.

sample_login.nu

This file is not used by any Nushell code. Of course, if the user has a login.nu, then it will be evaluated during startup of a login shell.