⚡ Volt

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| |   \ \ / /    | || |  | |    | |  | || |    | |   _   | || |     | |      | |
| |    \ ' /     | || |  \  `--'  /  | || |   _| |__/ |  | || |    _| |_     | |
| |     \_/      | || |   `.____.'   | || |  |________|  | || |   |_____|    | |
| |              | || |              | || |              | || |              | |
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See the command reference for more details.

• What is Volt
• Install
• Self upgrade
• Introduction
  • VOLTPATH
  • Install plugin(s)
  • Update plugins
  • Uninstall plugins
• How it works
  • Syncing ~/.vim/pack/volt directory with $VOLTPATH
• Config
• Features
  • Easy setup
  • Configuration per plugin ("Plugconf" feature)
  • Switch set of plugins ("Profile" feature)
  • Manage a local directory as a vim plugin
• Contribution

What is Volt

• Multi-platform CLI tool managing Vim plugin life
• Parallel vim plugin update
• Based on Vim 8 packages feature
  • All plugins are installed under ~/.vim/pack/volt directory
• Zero overhead & optimizations
  • Volt does not slow down your startup
  • We plan to support transpilation of Vim script (Uglification, Transpiler to LuaJIT, ...)
• Provides version locking & easy setup
• Managing plugin configuration by plugconf files
  • This separates plugin configuration from vimrc, so you can easily disable/remove plugins in a second
• Profile feature saves set of plugins, vimrc, and gvimrc
  • You can switch those combinations with one command
  • For example, you can switch various Vim such as Web development mode, Essential plugins + vimrc only, or Vanilla Vim.

Quickstart

Install

• Download
• Or go get github.com/vim-volt/volt

Optional: Bash/Zsh completion scripts in _contrib/completion/ directory (by @AvianY, @mrymtsk).

Self upgrade

If you already have older version's volt command, you can use volt self-upgrade command.

$ volt self-upgrade

will upgrade current running volt binary to the latest version if the newer releases published.

Or also you can just checks if the newer releases published by running volt self-upgrade -check.

vimrc / gvimrc

If you put your vimrc / gvimrc to:

• $HOME/volt/rc/<profile>/vimrc.vim (installed to: $HOME/.vim/vimrc)
• $HOME/volt/rc/<profile>/gvimrc.vim (installed to: $HOME/.vim/gvimrc)

The default profile is default.

Why volt manages vimrc / gvimrc is to allow easily switching vimrc / gvimrc. See the profile feature for details.

VOLTPATH

You can change base directory of volt by VOLTPATH environment variable. This is $HOME/volt by default.

Install plugin(s)

For example, installing tyru/caw.vim plugin:

$ volt get https://github.com/tyru/caw.vim   # most verbose way (but handy when you copy & paste from browser address bar :)
$ volt get github.com/tyru/caw.vim           # you can omit https:// of repository URL
$ volt get tyru/caw.vim                      # you can omit github.com/ if the repository is on GitHub

And you can install multiple plugins (parallel download):

$ volt get tyru/open-browser.vim tyru/open-browser-github.vim

For example, what volt get tyru/caw.vim command does internally is:

• Clone and install the repository to $VOLTPATH/repos/github.com/tyru/caw.vim
  • Volt does not require git command because it's powered by go-git
• Update $VOLTPATH/lock.json
• Run volt build
  • Copy repository files to ~/.vim/pack/volt/opt/github.com_tyru_caw.vim
  • Install ~/.vim/pack/volt/start/system/plugin/bundled_plugconf.vim
    • It loads plugins like packadd github.com_tyru_caw.vim

Update plugins

You can update all plugins as follows:

$ volt get -l -u

-l works like all plugins in current profile are specified (the repositories list is read from $VOLTPATH/lock.json). If you do not use profile feature, or enable and disable commands, you can think that -l specifies all plugins what you have installed. -u updates specified plugins.

Or, update only specified plugin(s) as follows:

$ volt get -u tyru/caw.vim

Uninstall plugins

You can uninstall tyru/caw.vim as follows:

$ volt rm tyru/caw.vim   # (sob)

How it works

Syncing ~/.vim/pack/volt directory with $VOLTPATH

volt build synchronizes ~/.vim/pack/volt/... with $VOLTPATH/rc/<profile>/vimrc.vim and $VOLTPATH/rc/<profile>/gvimrc.vim (if exists), $VOLTPATH/repos (repositories), $VOLTPATH/plugconf (plugconf):

1. Install $VOLTPATH/rc/<profile>/{vimrc.vim,gvimrc.vim} to ~/.vim/vimrc and ~/.vim/gvimrc
2. Copy $VOLTPATH/repos/<repos> to ~/.vim/pack/volt/opt/<repos>

• if $VOLTPATH/repos/<repos> has modified/new file(s), copy them to ~/.vim/pack/volt/opt/<repos>
• if $VOLTPATH/repos/<repos> does not exist, remove ~/.vim/pack/volt/opt/<repos>

1. Install bootstrap script to ~/.vim/pack/volt/start/system/plugin/bundled_plugconf.vim (load plugins & plugconfs)

Users don't have to run volt build when running volt get, volt rm, volt add, volt profile, ... commands, because those commands invoke volt build command internally if the commands modify repositories, plugconf, lock.json. But if you edit $VOLTPATH/rc/<profile>/vimrc.vim or $VOLTPATH/rc/<profile>/gvimrc.vim, you have to run volt build to copy them to ~/.vim/vimrc or ~/.vim/gvimrc.

volt build uses cache for the next running. Normally volt build synchronizes correctly, but if you met the bug, try volt build -full (or please file an issue as possible :) to ignore the previous cache.

Config

Config file: $VOLTPATH/config.toml

[alias]
# You can use `volt update` in addition to `volt get -u`
update = ["get", "-u"]

[build]
# * "symlink" (default): "volt build" creates symlinks "~/.vim/pack/volt/opt/<repos>" referring to "$VOLTPATH/repos/<repos>"
# * "copy": "volt build" copies "$VOLTPATH/repos/<repos>" files to "~/.vim/pack/volt/opt/<repos>"
strategy = "symlink"

[get]
# * true (default): "volt get" creates skeleton plugconf file at "$VOLTPATH/plugconf/<repos>.vim"
# * false: It does not creates skeleton plugconf file
create_skeleton_plugconf = true

# * true (default): When "volt get" or "volt get -u" fail and "git" command is
#                   installed, it tries to execute "git clone" or "git pull" as a fallback
# * false: "volt get" or "volt get -u" won't try to execute fallback commands
fallback_git_cmd = true

[edit]
# If you ever wanted to use emacs to edit your vim plugin config, you can
# do so with the following. If not specified, volt will try to use
# vim/nvim, $VISUAL, sensible-editor, or $EDITOR in this order until a usable
# one is found.
editor = "emacs"

Features

Easy setup

If you want to install set of plugins which you have installed by volt get, you can use volt get -l.

$ volt get -l   # install missing plugins in current profile in $VOLTPATH/lock.json

First, you have to manage the following files under $VOLTPATH.

$VOLTPATH/
├ ─ ─  lock.json
├ ─ ─  plugconf (optional)
└ ─ ─  rc (optional)

NOTE: DO NOT RECOMMEND SHARING VOLT DIRECTORY ITSELF ON DROPBOX (see related issues).

For example, my actual setup is:

$ tree -L 1 ~/volt/
/home/tyru/volt/
├ ─ ─  lock.json -> /home/tyru/git/dotfiles/dotfiles/volt/lock.json
├ ─ ─  plugconf -> /home/tyru/git/dotfiles/dotfiles/volt/plugconf
├ ─ ─  rc -> /home/tyru/git/dotfiles/dotfiles/volt/rc
└ ─ ─  repos

See volt directory in tyru/dotfiles repository for example.

Configuration per plugin ("Plugconf" feature)

You can write plugin configuration in "plugconf" file. The files are placed at:

• $VOLTPATH/plugconf/<repository>.vim

For example, tyru/open-browser-github.vim configuration is $VOLTPATH/plugconf/github.com/tyru/open-browser.vim.vim because "github.com/tyru/open-browser-github.vim" is the repository URL.

Some special functions can be defined in plugconf file:

• s:on_load_pre()
  • Plugin configuration to be executed before a plugin is loaded
• s:on_load_post()
  • Plugin configuration to be executed after a plugin is loaded
• s:loaded_on() (optional)
  • Return value: String (when to load a plugin by :packadd)
  • This function specifies when to load a plugin by :packadd
  • e.g.: return "start" (default, load on VimEnter autocommand)
  • e.g.: return "filetype=<filetype>" (load on FileType autocommand)
  • e.g.: return "excmd=<excmd>" (load on CmdUndefined autocommand)
• s:depends() (optional)
  • Return value: List (repository name)
  • The specified plugins by this function are loaded before the plugin of plugconf
  • e.g.: ["github.com/tyru/open-browser.vim"]

However, you can also define global functions in plugconf (see tyru/nextfile.vim example).

An example config of tyru/open-browser-github.vim:

" Plugin configuration like the code written in vimrc.
" This configuration is executed *before* a plugin is loaded.
function! s:on_load_pre()
  let g:openbrowser_github_always_use_commit_hash = 1
endfunction

" Plugin configuration like the code written in vimrc.
" This configuration is executed *after* a plugin is loaded.
function! s:on_load_post()
  call openbrowser#open('https://example.net/my-start-page.html')
endfunction

" This function determines when a plugin is loaded.
"
" Possible values are:
" * 'start' (a plugin will be loaded at VimEnter event)
" * 'filetype=<filetypes>' (a plugin will be loaded at FileType event)
" * 'excmd=<excmds>' (a plugin will be loaded at CmdUndefined event)
" <filetypes> and <excmds> can be multiple values separated by comma.
"
" This function must contain 'return "<str>"' code.
" (the argument of :return must be string literal)
function! s:loaded_on()
  " this is the default value, you don't have to write this
  return 'start'
endfunction

" Dependencies of this plugin.
" The specified plugins are loaded *before* this plugin is loaded.
"
" This function must contain 'return [<repos>, ...]' code.
" (the argument of :return must be list literal, and the elements are string)
function! s:depends()
  return ['github.com/tyru/open-browser.vim']
endfunction

NOTE:

• Plugconf file is parsed by go-vimlparser
• The rhs of :return must be literal
• Breaking newline by backslash (\) in s:loaded_on() and s:depends() is safe, but the following code can not be recognized (currently not supported at least)

" Wrong
function! s:loaded_on()
  let when = 'filetype=vim'
  return when
endfunction

" Wrong
function! s:depends()
  let list =  ['github.com/tyru/open-browser.vim']
  return list
endfunction

" OK
function! s:depends()
  return [
  \  'github.com/tyru/open-browser.vim'
  \]
endfunction

See plugconf directory in tyru/dotfiles repository for example.

Switch set of plugins ("Profile" feature)

You can think this is similar feature of branch of git. The default profile name is "default".

You can see profile list by volt profile list.

$ volt profile list
* default

You can create a new profile by volt profile new.

$ volt profile new foo   # will create profile "foo"
$ volt profile list
* default
  foo

You can switch current profile by volt profile set.

$ volt profile set foo   # will switch profile to "foo"
$ volt profile list
  default
* foo

You can delete profile by volt profile destroy (but you cannot delete current profile which you are switching on).

$ volt profile destroy foo   # will delete profile "foo"

You can enable/disable plugin by volt enable (volt profile add), volt disable (volt profile rm).

$ volt enable tyru/caw.vim    # enable loading tyru/caw.vim on current profile
$ volt profile add foo tyru/caw.vim    # enable loading tyru/caw.vim on "foo" profile

$ volt disable tyru/caw.vim   # disable loading tyru/caw.vim on current profile
$ volt profile rm foo tyru/caw.vim    # disable loading tyru/caw.vim on "foo" profile

You can create a vimrc & gvimrc file for each profile:

• vimrc: $VOLTPATH/rc/<profile name>/vimrc.vim
• gvimrc: $VOLTPATH/rc/<profile name>/gvimrc.vim

NOTE: If the path(s) exists, $MYVIMRC and $MYGVIMRC are set. So :edit $MYVIMRC does not open generated vimrc (~/.vim/vimrc), but above vimrc/gvimrc.

This file is copied to ~/.vim/vimrc and ~/.vim/gvimrc with magic comment (shows error if existing vimrc/gvimrc files exist with no magic comment).

And you can enable/disable vimrc by removing (or renaming) $VOLTPATH/rc/<profile name>/vimrc.vim file if you don't want vimrc for the profile.

See volt help profile for more detailed information.

Manage a local directory as a vim plugin

You can manage also a local directory as a vim plugin (it's called static repository).

Quick try:

$ mkdir -p ~/volt/repos/localhost/local/hello/plugin
$ echo 'command! Hello echom "hello"' >~/volt/repos/localhost/local/hello/plugin/hello.vim
$ volt get localhost/local/hello     # will add the local repository as a plugin
$ vim -c Hello                       # will output "hello"

volt get does not make a request when the specified repository directory already exists, but it adds to $VOLTPATH/lock.json if it does not have.

You can use a arbitrary name as a repository name, but localhost/{user}/{name} is recommended. Because if you run volt get localhost/{user}/{name} accidentally you only get connection refused. So it is guaranteed that you won't install a unwanted plugin :)

In other words, this means you can also manage your ~/.vim/* files as a vim plugin. Off cource you can disable/enable it by volt disable <repos> and volt enable <repos>.

Move files/directories to vimdir
$ mkdir -p ~/volt/repos/localhost/my/vimdir
$ mv ~/.vim/* ~/volt/repos/localhost/my/vimdir/

Remove unnecessary files/directories
$ rm -rf ~/volt/repos/localhost/my/vimdir/pack/volt    # generated by volt
$ rm -rf ~/volt/repos/localhost/my/vimdir/.netrwhist   # netrw plugin history file
$ ...

Move to profile directory if you have vimrc/gvimrc
$ mv ~/volt/repos/localhost/my/vimdir/vimrc ~/volt/repos/default/vimrc.vim
$ mv ~/volt/repos/localhost/my/vimdir/gvimrc ~/volt/repos/default/gvimrc.vim

Install vimdir as a vim plugin
$ volt get localhost/my/vimdir

🎉 Contribution

If you want to contribute to volt, you can setup like:

$ make precompile   # this speeds up 'go build'
$ vim ...           # edit sources
$ make
$ bin/volt ...      # run volt command