dotfiles/.config/matugen/templates/neovim/README.md

# Matugen + Neovim

> [!NOTE]
> This theme is primarily a proof-of-concept with sample colors chosen. While
> it is usable and somewhat complete, the colors themselves may not necessarily
> look the best, so it's important you style them accordingly if you are
> unsatisfied with the result. Additionally, this setup only styles basic
> Neovim colors + Lualine. Other plugins that manage their own highlight groups
> are not covered by this guide (e.g. Neogit)


## The `base16-colorscheme` Plugin

As with any program broad and free as Neovim, there are infinite ways to go
about styling it. However, the easiest approach is to utilize
the `base16-colorscheme` plugin. This plugin allows you to pass in an arbitrary
list of 16 color values, and it will automatically propagate them to all
highlight groups in a reasonable fashion.

```lua
-- THIS IS NOT THE ENTIRE TEMPLATE FILE
-- To see why, continue reading below...
require('base16-colorscheme').setup({
  base00 = "{{colors.background.default.hex}}",
  base01 = "{{colors.surface_container_lowest.default.hex}}",
  base02 = "{{colors.surface_container_low.default.hex}}",
  base03 = "{{colors.outline_variant.default.hex}}",
  base04 = "{{colors.on_surface_variant.default.hex}}",
  base05 = "{{colors.on_surface.default.hex}}",
  base06 = "{{colors.inverse_on_surface.default.hex}}",
  base07 = "{{colors.surface_bright.default.hex}}",
  base08 = "{{colors.tertiary.default.hex | lighten: -5}}",
  base09 = "{{colors.tertiary.default.hex}}",
  base0A = "{{colors.secondary.default.hex}}",
  base0B = "{{colors.primary.default.hex}}",
  base0C = "{{colors.tertiary_container.default.hex}}",
  base0D = "{{colors.primary_container.default.hex}}",
  base0E = "{{colors.secondary_container.default.hex}}",
  base0F = "{{colors.secondary.default.hex | lighten: -10}}",
})
```

While this `.setup()` call takes care of mostly everything, some additional
calls to `nvim_set_hl` may be needed to tweak colors to your liking:

``` lua
-- Make selected text stand out more
vim.api.nvim_set_hl(0, 'Visual', {
  bg = '{{colors.primary_container.default.hex}}',
  fg = '{{colors.background.default.hex}}',
})
```

## Lualine (and plugins that manage their own colors)

Because Lualine has its own specific named highlight groups, the
`base16-colorscheme` plugin cannot style it within its `setup` function.
Thankfully, Lualine is flexible enough to offer the following configuration
option, which aids the process a little:

```lua
require('lualine').setup({
  options = {
    theme = "base16",
  }
})
```

Setting this option tells Lualine to base its highlight group colors off of
some internal 16 base values (which `base16-colorscheme` sets). While this helps,
it unfortunately does not give us full hot-reloading out of the box. In addition
to this, Lualine must be **re-sourced upon every matugen update** in order to
refresh its colors.

If you are using an unmodified (or simple) Lualine configuration, all you need
to do add a `require('lualine').setup({})` to the end of matugen's
`template.lua`, which will re-setup Lualine as the output file gets sourced.
However, if your Lualine setup is a bit complex, it can be sub-optimal to copy
its entire setup function into the matugen template file. 

One solution to this is to refactor your Lualine setup into its own file, and
then just call `dofile()` on said file from both your `init.lua` and matugen
template. _(This is not necessary, but helps tidy your configuration up)_

## Init Hook

It's a good idea to attempt to source matugen's generated file upon Neovim's
startup, falling back to a default colorscheme when the matugen file is
unavailable. The following code snippet can be added in your `init.lua` or
adjacent to safely perform this source:

```lua
local function source_matugen()
  -- Update this with the location of your output file
  local matugen_path = os.getenv("HOME") .. "/.config/nvim/generated.lua"  -- dofile doesn't expand $HOME or ~

  local file, err = io.open(matugen_path, "r")
  -- If the matugen file does not exist (yet or at all), we must initialize a color scheme ourselves
  if err ~= nil then
    -- Some placeholder theme, this will be overwritten once matugen kicks in
    vim.cmd('colorscheme base16-catppuccin-mocha')

    -- Optionally print something to the user
    vim.print("A matugen style file was not found, but that's okay! The colorscheme will dynamically change if matugen runs!")
  else
    dofile(matugen_path)
    io.close(file)
  end
end
```

## Updating Neovim with New Colors

Neovim does not support hot-reloading directly, so we must register an
`autocmd` to listen process signals and execute Lua code as a result. This is
fairly simply, as shown below:

> [!NOTE] The below `autocmd` is only tested for Linux. Separate workarounds
> may be required for other systems.

```lua
-- Register an autocmd to listen for matugen updates
vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("Signal", {
  pattern = "SIGUSR1",
  callback = auxiliary_function,
})


-- Main entrypoint on matugen reloads
local function auxiliary_function()
  -- Load the matugen style file to get all the new colors
  source_matugen()

  -- Because reloading base16 overwrites lualine configuration, just source lualine here
  dofile(os.getenv("HOME") .. '/.config/nvim/config/plugins/lualine-nvim.lua') -- path of your lualine setup

  -- Any other options you wish to set upon matugen reloads can also go here!
  vim.api.nvim_set_hl(0, "Comment", { italic = true })
end
```

## Matugen Config

Create an entry in matugen's `config.toml` as shown below:

```toml
[templates.neovim]
input_path = './template.lua'
output_path = '~/.config/nvim/generated.lua'
post_hook = 'pkill -SIGUSR1 nvim'
```

With any luck, your Neovim should now be stylized to match your wallpaper!