Show Installed Packages: Add List/Status Command

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Show Installed Packages: Add List/Status Command

Hey guys! Today, we're diving deep into a crucial enhancement for package management: adding a list and status command to display installed packages. This functionality is super important because it gives users a clear view of what's installed and how everything is linked up. Trust me, this will make your life a whole lot easier, especially when you need to uninstall something or figure out where a symlink is pointing. Let's get into the nitty-gritty!

Why We Need a List/Status Command

Having a way to view installed packages and their associated symlinks is essential for several reasons. Think of it as having a detailed map of your installed goodies, making it way simpler to navigate and manage them. This is especially helpful since haunt uninstall requires the package name, not just a file path. Imagine trying to find a specific book in a library without a catalog – sounds frustrating, right? That’s what it's like managing packages without a proper list or status command.

Use Case 1: Finding Package Names Before Uninstalling

One of the most common scenarios is needing to uninstall a package but not remembering its exact name. Without a list command, you're stuck guessing or digging through files. But with it, it’s a breeze. Check out this example:

$ haunt list
shell
 Package: /Users/mike/dotfiles/shell
 Target: /Users/mike

$ haunt uninstall shell

See how easy that is? You just run haunt list, find the package name (shell in this case), and then uninstall it. No more guesswork!

Use Case 2: Identifying Package Ownership of Symlinks

Another super handy use case is figuring out which package owns a particular symlink. This is where the status command shines. Let’s say you have a bunch of symlinks and you’re not sure which package manages which. The status command can quickly tell you.

$ haunt status ~/.bashrc
~/.bashrc -> ~/dotfiles/shell/.bashrc (package: shell)

Or, you could use a more detailed list view:

$ haunt list --verbose
shell
 Package: /Users/mike/dotfiles/shell
 Target: /Users/mike
 Symlinks:
 ~/.bashrc -> /Users/mike/dotfiles/shell/.bashrc
 ~/.config/starship.toml -> /Users/mike/dotfiles/shell/.config/starship.toml

This is incredibly useful for maintaining your system and ensuring everything is organized.

Use Case 3: Auditing Installed Packages

Think of the list and status commands as your personal auditors, helping you keep your system in tip-top shape. You can quickly:

  • See all your installed packages at a glance.
  • Verify that your symlinks are still valid.
  • Detect any modified or broken symlinks.

This is like having a health check for your dotfiles, ensuring everything is working as it should. Regular audits can prevent headaches down the road!

Possible Commands: Two Approaches

Now, let's talk about how we can implement these features. There are a couple of ways we can go about this, each with its own pros and cons. Let's break them down.

Option 1: The Versatile list Command with Flags

This approach uses a single list command but adds flags to control its behavior. It’s like having a Swiss Army knife – one tool that can do multiple jobs. Here’s how it might look:

haunt list # Show package names, dirs, and targets
haunt list --verbose # Show all symlinks per package
haunt list --check # Verify symlinks, show modified/broken ones
  • haunt list: This would give you a basic overview of your installed packages, including their names, package directories, and target directories.
  • haunt list --verbose: This option would provide a more detailed view, listing all the symlinks associated with each package. Super helpful for those who like to see the full picture!
  • haunt list --check: This is your audit mode. It would verify the symlinks, show any that are modified or broken, and generally ensure everything is in order.

The benefit here is simplicity – you only need to remember one command. However, it can become a bit cluttered if we add too many flags.

Option 2: Separate, Dedicated Commands

The second option is to have separate commands for list and status. This is like having specialized tools for each job. It might look like this:

haunt list # Show installed packages
haunt status [PATH] # Show status of specific symlink or all symlinks
  • haunt list: This command would simply list the installed packages. Clean and straightforward.
  • haunt status [PATH]: This command would show the status of a specific symlink if you provide a path, or all symlinks if you don’t. This is great for targeted checks.

This approach can be more intuitive for some users since each command has a specific purpose. However, it does mean remembering two commands instead of one.

Implementation Notes: How It Works Under the Hood

So, how would these commands actually work? Let’s peek under the hood and see what’s involved.

The key is the registry file, which is typically located at ~/.local/state/haunt/registry.json (or the macOS equivalent). This file stores information about your installed packages, so we need to read from it.

For each package, we’d want to display:

  • Package Name: This is what you use for haunt uninstall, so it’s crucial.
  • Package Directory: This is the source of the symlinks.
  • Target Directory: This is where the symlinks are created.
  • Optionally: A list of symlinks with their targets (for the verbose mode).

For the verification mode (haunt list --check or a similar feature), we’d need to:

  • Check if the symlinks still exist.
  • Check if they still point to the expected target.
  • Flag any symlinks that are modified, broken, or missing.

This involves a bit of file system checking, but it’s all pretty standard stuff.

Output Format Considerations: Making It Readable

The way we display the information is just as important as the information itself. A clear and readable output format makes the commands much more user-friendly. Let's look at some examples.

Basic List

For the basic list command, we want something concise and easy to scan:

dotfiles
 Package: /Users/mike/dotfiles
 Target: /Users/mike

nvim
 Package: /Users/mike/dotfiles/nvim
 Target: /Users/mike

shell
 Package: /Users/mike/dotfiles/shell
 Target: /Users/mike

This format gives you the essential information without being overwhelming.

Verbose List

The verbose list should include the symlinks. This can get a bit longer, but it provides a lot more detail:

dotfiles
 Package: /Users/mike/dotfiles
 Target: /Users/mike
 Symlinks:
 ~/.bashrc -> /Users/mike/dotfiles/.bashrc
 ~/.vimrc -> /Users/mike/dotfiles/.vimrc
 (2 symlinks)

nvim
 Package: /Users/mike/dotfiles/nvim
 Target: /Users/mike
 Symlinks:
 ~/.config/nvim/init.lua -> /Users/mike/dotfiles/nvim/.config/nvim/init.lua
 (1 symlink)

Here, you can see each symlink and its target, which is super useful for debugging.

Status Checking

When checking the status, it’s helpful to indicate the health of each symlink:

dotfiles
 Package: /Users/mike/dotfiles
 Target: /Users/mike
 Symlinks:
 ✓ ~/.bashrc -> /Users/mike/dotfiles/.bashrc
 ✗ ~/.vimrc (modified: points to ~/other/.vimrc)
 (1 valid, 1 modified)

The checkmark (✓) indicates a valid symlink, while the cross (✗) flags an issue. This makes it easy to spot problems at a glance. Using colors (e.g., green for valid, red for broken) could also enhance readability.

Conclusion: Making Package Management a Breeze

Alright guys, adding a list and status command to our package manager is a total game-changer. It simplifies so many tasks, from uninstalling packages to auditing symlinks. Whether we go with the versatile list command with flags or separate, dedicated commands, the key is to provide users with clear, accessible information. By focusing on readability and usability, we can make package management a whole lot less painful. What do you think? Which approach do you prefer, and what other features would you find helpful? Let’s keep the conversation going!