Config modernizer

Skill: Configuration Modernizer

A specialized workflow for auditing, updating, and modernizing software configuration files (dotfiles) with a focus on technical accuracy and system compatibility.

Instructions

1. Discovery & Context Gathering

• Identify the Program: Use apropos <program> and man -f <program> to locate binary paths and manual sections.
• Locate Configs: Read the FILES section of the program's primary man page. This is the authoritative source for finding where the program expects its configuration (e.g., ~/.config/, /etc/, ~/.<program>rc).
• Check the Version: Run <program> --version and check the local package manager (e.g., yay -Q <program>) to ensure you are auditing for the correct release. Features and syntax change significantly between versions.

2. Environmental Audit

• Environment Variables: Check $TERM, $SHELL, $XDG_SESSION_TYPE, and $DISPLAY/$WAYLAND_DISPLAY. Many configurations (especially for CLI tools and terminal emulators) behave differently based on these values.
• Sandbox Detection: Identify if the program is running inside a multiplexer (Check $TMUX) or a container, as this often requires "passthrough" or "escape" configurations.

3. The Review (The Four C's)

Perform a line-by-line audit of all identified configuration files using these criteria:

• Correctness: Identify typos, invalid options, or deprecated syntax. Use shell-native check commands if available (e.g., bash -n, python -m py_compile).
• Completeness: Compare the current files against the program's default templates (often found in /usr/share/doc/ or the official GitHub repository). Identify missing standard features.
• Currentness: Ensure the configuration leverages modern protocols (e.g., GPU acceleration, Wayland support, Kitty graphics protocol) instead of legacy fallbacks.
• Best Practices: Audit for performance (e.g., optimized search commands, efficient redraw rates) and readability (e.g., logical grouping, helpful comments).

4. Strategy & Implementation

• Document Findings: Present a concise summary of issues found before proposing changes.
• Surgical Edits: Use the replace tool for targeted updates. Do not overwrite entire files unless they are beyond repair or the user requests a factory reset.
• Verification: After editing, always run a syntax check or dry-run of the program to ensure the new configuration is valid.

Mandatory Safety Rule

• User Confirmation: You MUST present your findings and proposed plan to the user. Do not modify configuration files until a Directive is issued.