Separate directory for configuration and data

[octvs]

Just started using timewarrior, thanks for the effort.

I noticed having a separate environment variable such as TIMEWARRIORRC to
separate the user config from the data files came up several times [1-2].
Although this is addressed somewhat with XDG Base Directory implementation [3],
it doesn't let the user choose a different directory to back-up or sync
the data. Although it is trivial to do

ln -s $XDG_DATA_HOME/timewarrior/data <path-desired>

Wouldn't it be better to let user choose whichever place to store data (without
configuration files), via TIMEWARRIORDB (or alternatively with a configuration
option on current default $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/timewarrior/timewarrior.cfg) ?

I yet to see a need to use config file, but wouldn't this allow people to share
the user configuration between instances and only check data to their
back-up/sync solution?

1: #193 (comment), 3rd point
2: #392 (comment)
3: #207

[lauft]

I am not quite sure whether I understand your suggestion.

With #207 the user can now choose to store their timewarrior.cfg file under XDG_CONFIG_HOME and their data files separate under XDG_DATA_HOME. With that the user can backup their data independently from the configuration.

Are you proposing to introduce an environment variable TIMEWARRIORRC to specify the location of the configuration file?

[smemsh]

There are indeed two separate variables for data and config, to get what you were asking originally. $XDG_DATA_HOME and $XDG_CONFIG_HOME. Mentioned in man page, and earlier comments here. In any case, glad you are fully functional.

[octvs]

There are indeed two separate variables for data and config, to get what you
were asking originally. $XDG_DATA_HOME and $XDG_CONFIG_HOME.

That was never the question. It was always possible with

alias timew='XDG_DATA_HOME=<custom_dir> timew'

My post specifically says "wouldn't it be better to ...". Alas, thanks for your
time.

[smemsh]

I really don't understand, maybe I'm slow. You asked:

Wouldn't it be better to let user choose whichever place to store data (without
configuration files

This is already possible using aforementioned environment variables. No configuration file needed. What am I missing? It seems it was always the question from the beginning, rather than "never."

[octvs]

No configuration file needed.

"without configuration files" implies a separation of storage between config
and data, just as the title.

This is already possible using aforementioned environment variables.

If it were not; it would have been on "Issues", this is an issue of convenience
therefore "Discussions".

What am I missing?

something to do?

[smemsh]

Ok, so the whole thing was tautological. Got it ✔️