Easier way to set local options

[lopi-py]

I have signcolumn setted to 2, but in file explorer I don't want the signcolumn, looks weird, or is there an option to this?

[cseickel]

The short answer is that the neo-tree buffer has a filetype of "neo-tree", and you can use autocmd events to set options based on that. For a pure lua solution, you can use neo-tree's own event system. See #104 for an example.

[lopi-py]

Thanks!, I think it's a hacky solution but works, I wonder if can be setted at buffer creation

[cseickel]

I could certainly create another way for you to add set local options for neo-tree buffers. I'm hesitant because there are already so many options... I can think of three options, in order of most generic to most specific:

1. Add another event type that is specific to "neo-tree-buffer-enter", just so you don't need to do the filetype check yourself.
2. Add a root level config option which is a function that fires on the above event:

require("neo-tree").setup({
  buffer_enter = function()
    vim.cmd("setlocal signcolumn=2")
  end
})

3. Add a root level config option which is a table of local options to be set, like this: https://github.com/MunifTanjim/nui.nvim/tree/main/lua/nui/popup#win_options

For your specific use case, 3 is the ideal solution, but 1 and 2 can be reused for other things and will allow conditional logic, like having different settings for a float vs sidebar vs split.

[lopi-py]

Yeah, the 3 looks good, but you can tree make a combination of 2 and 3, something like this

require("neo-tree").setup({
  buffer_options = { SETTINGS HERE } | function()
    -- allow buffer_options to be a table or function
  end
})

[cseickel]

I ended up going with the event solution, just to keep the number of config strategies down. There are now 4 new events that can be used to set/unset options that should apply to the neo-tree buffers:

"neo_tree_buffer_enter"~
Fired after entering a neo-tree buffer. It is also right after neo-tree applies
it's own settings, so it's the ideal place to apply any local settings you would
like to have.

"neo_tree_buffer_leave"~
Fired after a neo-tree buffer was exited. Technically it fires when entering a
buffer that is not neo-tree, when the last buffer enter event was neo-tree.

"neo_tree_popup_buffer_enter"~
Fired after entering a neo-tree popup buffer. This includes things such as file
rename prompts and filter inputs. It runs right after neo-tree applies it's own
settings, so it's the ideal place to apply any local settings you would like to
have.

"neo_tree_popup_buffer_leave"~
Fired after leaving a neo-tree popup buffer.

For example, to use them to hide the cursor in a neo-tree window, you could do something like this:

  require('neo-tree').setup({
    event_handlers = {
      {
        event = "neo_tree_buffer_enter",
        handler = function()
          vim.cmd 'highlight! Cursor blend=100'
        end
      },
      {
        event = "neo_tree_buffer_leave",
        handler = function()
          vim.cmd 'highlight! Cursor guibg=#5f87af blend=0'
        end
      }
    },
  })