3 Micro stores all of the user configuration in its configuration directory.
5 Micro uses `$MICRO_CONFIG_HOME` as the configuration directory. If this
6 environment variable is not set, it uses `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/micro` instead. If
7 that environment variable is not set, it uses `~/.config/micro` as the
8 configuration directory. In the documentation, we use `~/.config/micro` to
9 refer to the configuration directory (even if it may in fact be somewhere else
10 if you have set either of the above environment variables).
12 Here are the available options:
14 * `autoindent`: when creating a new line, use the same indentation as the
19 * `autosave`: automatically save the buffer every n seconds, where n is the
20 value of the autosave option. Also when quitting on a modified buffer, micro
21 will automatically save and quit. Be warned, this option saves the buffer
22 without prompting the user, so data may be overwritten. If this option is
23 set to `0`, no autosaving is performed.
27 * `autosu`: When a file is saved that the user doesn't have permission to
28 modify, micro will ask if the user would like to use super user
29 privileges to save the file. If this option is enabled, micro will
30 automatically attempt to use super user privileges to save without
33 default value: `false`
35 * `backup`: micro will automatically keep backups of all open buffers. Backups
36 are stored in `~/.config/micro/backups` and are removed when the buffer is
37 closed cleanly. In the case of a system crash or a micro crash, the contents
38 of the buffer can be recovered automatically by opening the file that was
39 being edited before the crash, or manually by searching for the backup in
40 the backup directory. Backups are made in the background for newly modified
41 buffers every 8 seconds, or when micro detects a crash.
45 * `backupdir`: the directory micro should place backups in. For the default
46 value of `""` (empty string), the backup directory will be
47 `ConfigDir/backups`, which is `~/.config/micro/backups` by default. The
48 directory specified for backups will be created if it does not exist.
50 default value: `""` (empty string)
52 * `basename`: in the infobar and tabbar, show only the basename of the file
53 being edited rather than the full path.
55 default value: `false`
57 * `clipboard`: specifies how micro should access the system clipboard.
59 * `external`: accesses clipboard via an external tool, such as xclip/xsel
60 or wl-clipboard on Linux, pbcopy/pbpaste on MacOS, and system calls on
61 Windows. On Linux, if you do not have one of the tools installed, or if
62 they are not working, micro will throw an error and use an internal
64 * `terminal`: accesses the clipboard via your terminal emulator. Note that
65 there is limited support among terminal emulators for this feature
66 (called OSC 52). Terminals that are known to work are Kitty (enable
67 reading with `clipboard_control` setting), iTerm2 (only copying),
68 st, rxvt-unicode and xterm if enabled (see `> help copypaste` for
69 details). Note that Gnome-terminal does not support this feature. With
70 this setting, copy-paste **will** work over ssh. See `> help copypaste`
72 * `internal`: micro will use an internal clipboard.
74 default value: `external`
76 * `colorcolumn`: if this is not set to 0, it will display a column at the
77 specified column. This is useful if you want column 80 to be highlighted
82 * `colorscheme`: loads the colorscheme stored in
83 $(configDir)/colorschemes/`option`.micro, This setting is `global only`.
85 default value: `default`
87 Note that the default colorschemes (default, solarized, and solarized-tc)
88 are not located in configDir, because they are embedded in the micro
91 The colorscheme can be selected from all the files in the
92 ~/.config/micro/colorschemes/ directory. Micro comes by default with three
95 You can read more about micro's colorschemes in the `colors` help topic
98 * `cursorline`: highlight the line that the cursor is on in a different color
99 (the color is defined by the colorscheme you are using).
101 default value: `true`
103 * `diffgutter`: display diff indicators before lines.
105 default value: `false`
107 * `divchars`: specifies the "divider" characters used for the dividing line
108 between vertical/horizontal splits. The first character is for vertical
109 dividers, and the second is for horizontal dividers. By default, for
110 horizontal splits the statusline serves as a divider, but if the statusline
111 is disabled the horizontal divider character will be used.
115 * `divreverse`: colorschemes provide the color (foreground and background) for
116 the characters displayed in split dividers. With this option enabled, the
117 colors specified by the colorscheme will be reversed (foreground and
118 background colors swapped).
120 default value: `true`
122 * `encoding`: the encoding to open and save files with. Supported encodings
123 are listed at https://www.w3.org/TR/encoding/.
125 default value: `utf-8`
127 * `eofnewline`: micro will automatically add a newline to the end of the
128 file if one does not exist.
130 default value: `true`
132 * `fastdirty`: this determines what kind of algorithm micro uses to determine
133 if a buffer is modified or not. When `fastdirty` is on, micro just uses a
134 boolean `modified` that is set to `true` as soon as the user makes an edit.
135 This is fast, but can be inaccurate. If `fastdirty` is off, then micro will
136 hash the current buffer against a hash of the original file (created when
137 the buffer was loaded). This is more accurate but obviously more resource
138 intensive. This option will be automatically disabled if the file size
141 default value: `false`
143 * `fileformat`: this determines what kind of line endings micro will use for
144 the file. Unix line endings are just `\n` (linefeed) whereas dos line
145 endings are `\r\n` (carriage return + linefeed). The two possible values for
146 this option are `unix` and `dos`. The fileformat will be automatically
147 detected (when you open an existing file) and displayed on the statusline,
148 but this option is useful if you would like to change the line endings or if
149 you are starting a new file. Changing this option while editing a file will
150 change its line endings. Opening a file with this option set will only have
151 an effect if the file is empty/newly created, because otherwise the fileformat
152 will be automatically detected from the existing line endings.
154 default value: `unix`
156 * `filetype`: sets the filetype for the current buffer. Set this option to
157 `off` to completely disable filetype detection.
159 default value: `unknown`. This will be automatically overridden depending
160 on the file you open.
162 * `incsearch`: enable incremental search in "Find" prompt (matching as you type).
164 default value: `true`
166 * `ignorecase`: perform case-insensitive searches.
168 default value: `true`
170 * `indentchar`: sets the indentation character.
172 default value: ` ` (space)
174 * `infobar`: enables the line at the bottom of the editor where messages are
175 printed. This option is `global only`.
177 default value: `true`
179 * `keepautoindent`: when using autoindent, whitespace is added for you. This
180 option determines if when you move to the next line without any insertions
181 the whitespace that was added should be deleted to remove trailing
182 whitespace. By default, the autoindent whitespace is deleted if the line
185 default value: `false`
187 * `keymenu`: display the nano-style key menu at the bottom of the screen. Note
188 that ToggleKeyMenu is bound to `Alt-g` by default and this is displayed in
189 the statusline. To disable this, simply by `Alt-g` to `UnbindKey`.
191 default value: `false`
193 * `matchbrace`: underline matching braces for '()', '{}', '[]' when the cursor
194 is on a brace character.
196 default value: `true`
198 * `mkparents`: if a file is opened on a path that does not exist, the file
199 cannot be saved because the parent directories don't exist. This option lets
200 micro automatically create the parent directories in such a situation.
202 default value: `false`
204 * `mouse`: mouse support. When mouse support is disabled,
205 usually the terminal will be able to access mouse events which can be useful
206 if you want to copy from the terminal instead of from micro (if over ssh for
207 example, because the terminal has access to the local clipboard and micro
210 default value: `true`
212 * `paste`: treat characters sent from the terminal in a single chunk as a paste
213 event rather than a series of manual key presses. If you are pasting using
214 the terminal keybinding (not Ctrl-v, which is micro's default paste
215 keybinding) then it is a good idea to enable this option during the paste
216 and disable once the paste is over. See `> help copypaste` for details about
217 copying and pasting in a terminal environment.
219 default value: `false`
221 * `parsecursor`: if enabled, this will cause micro to parse filenames such as
222 file.txt:10:5 as requesting to open `file.txt` with the cursor at line 10
223 and column 5. The column number can also be dropped to open the file at a
224 given line and column 0. Note that with this option enabled it is not possible
225 to open a file such as `file.txt:10:5`, where `:10:5` is part of the filename.
226 It is also possible to open a file with a certain cursor location by using the
227 `+LINE,COL` flag syntax. See `micro -help` for the command line options.
229 default value: `false`
231 * `permbackup`: this option causes backups (see `backup` option) to be
232 permanently saved. With permanent backups, micro will not remove backups when
233 files are closed and will never apply them to existing files. Use this option
234 if you are interested in manually managing your backup files.
236 default value: `false`
238 * `pluginchannels`: list of URLs pointing to plugin channels for downloading and
239 installing plugins. A plugin channel consists of a json file with links to
240 plugin repos, which store information about plugin versions and download URLs.
241 By default, this option points to the official plugin channel hosted on GitHub
242 at https://github.com/micro-editor/plugin-channel.
244 default value: `https://raw.githubusercontent.com/micro-editor/plugin-channel/master/channel.json`
246 * `pluginrepos`: a list of links to plugin repositories.
250 * `readonly`: when enabled, disallows edits to the buffer. It is recommended
251 to only ever set this option locally using `setlocal`.
253 default value: `false`
255 * `rmtrailingws`: micro will automatically trim trailing whitespaces at ends of
258 default value: `false`
260 * `ruler`: display line numbers.
262 default value: `true`
264 * `relativeruler`: make line numbers display relatively. If set to true, all lines except
265 for the line that the cursor is located will display the distance from the
268 default value: `false`
270 * `savecursor`: remember where the cursor was last time the file was opened and
271 put it there when you open the file again. Information is saved to
272 `~/.config/micro/buffers/`
274 default value: `false`
276 * `savehistory`: remember command history between closing and re-opening
277 micro. Information is saved to `~/.config/micro/buffers/history`.
279 default value: `true`
281 * `saveundo`: when this option is on, undo is saved even after you close a file
282 so if you close and reopen a file, you can keep undoing. Information is
283 saved to `~/.config/micro/buffers/`.
285 default value: `false`
287 * `scrollbar`: display a scroll bar
289 default value: `false`
291 * `scrollmargin`: margin at which the view starts scrolling when the cursor
292 approaches the edge of the view.
296 * `scrollspeed`: amount of lines to scroll for one scroll event.
300 * `smartpaste`: add leading whitespace when pasting multiple lines.
301 This will attempt to preserve the current indentation level when pasting an
304 default value: `true`
306 * `softwrap`: wrap lines that are too long to fit on the screen.
308 default value: `false`
310 * `splitbottom`: when a horizontal split is created, create it below the
313 default value: `true`
315 * `splitright`: when a vertical split is created, create it to the right of the
318 default value: `true`
320 * `statusformatl`: format string definition for the left-justified part of the
321 statusline. Special directives should be placed inside `$()`. Special
322 directives include: `filename`, `modified`, `line`, `col`, `opt`, `bind`.
323 The `opt` and `bind` directives take either an option or an action afterward
324 and fill in the value of the option or the key bound to the action.
326 default value: `$(filename) $(modified)($(line),$(col)) $(status.paste)|
327 ft:$(opt:filetype) | $(opt:fileformat) | $(opt:encoding)`
329 * `statusformatr`: format string definition for the right-justified part of the
332 default value: `$(bind:ToggleKeyMenu): bindings, $(bind:ToggleHelp): help`
334 * `statusline`: display the status line at the bottom of the screen.
336 default value: `true`
338 * `sucmd`: specifies the super user command. On most systems this is "sudo" but
339 on BSD it can be "doas." This option can be customized and is only used when
342 default value: `sudo`
344 * `syntax`: enables syntax highlighting.
346 default value: `true`
348 * `tabmovement`: navigate spaces at the beginning of lines as if they are tabs
349 (e.g. move over 4 spaces at once). This option only does anything if
350 `tabstospaces` is on.
352 default value: `false`
354 * `tabsize`: the size in spaces that a tab character should be displayed with.
358 * `tabstospaces`: use spaces instead of tabs.
360 default value: `false`
362 * `useprimary` (only useful on unix): defines whether or not micro will use the
363 primary clipboard to copy selections in the background. This does not affect
364 the normal clipboard using Ctrl-c and Ctrl-v.
366 default value: `true`
368 * `wordwrap`: wrap long lines by words, i.e. break at spaces. This option
369 only does anything if `softwrap` is on.
371 default value: `false`
373 * `xterm`: micro will assume that the terminal it is running in conforms to
374 `xterm-256color` regardless of what the `$TERM` variable actually contains.
375 Enabling this option may cause unwanted effects if your terminal in fact
376 does not conform to the `xterm-256color` standard.
378 Default value: `false`
382 Plugin options: all plugins come with a special option to enable or disable
383 them. The option is a boolean with the same name as the plugin itself.
385 By default, the following plugins are provided, each with an option to enable
388 * `autoclose`: automatically closes brackets, quotes, etc...
389 * `comment`: provides automatic commenting for a number of languages
390 * `ftoptions`: alters some default options depending on the filetype
391 * `linter`: provides extensible linting for many languages
392 * `literate`: provides advanced syntax highlighting for the Literate
394 * `status`: provides some extensions to the status line (integration with
396 * `diff`: integrates the `diffgutter` option with Git. If you are in a Git
397 directory, the diff gutter will show changes with respect to the most
398 recent Git commit rather than the diff since opening the file.
400 Any option you set in the editor will be saved to the file
401 ~/.config/micro/settings.json so, in effect, your configuration file will be
402 created for you. If you'd like to take your configuration with you to another
403 machine, simply copy the settings.json to the other machine.
405 ## Settings.json file
407 The settings.json file should go in your configuration directory (by default
408 at `~/.config/micro`), and should contain only options which have been modified
409 from their default setting. Here is the full list of options in json format,
410 so that you can see what the formatting should look like.
421 "clipboard": "external",
423 "colorscheme": "default",
433 "fileformat": "unix",
434 "filetype": "unknown",
441 "keepautoindent": false,
448 "parsecursor": false,
452 "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/micro-editor/plugin-channel/master/channel.json"
456 "relativeruler": false,
457 "rmtrailingws": false,
470 "statusformatl": "$(filename) $(modified)($(line),$(col)) $(status.paste)| ft:$(opt:filetype) | $(opt:fileformat) | $(opt:encoding)",
471 "statusformatr": "$(bind:ToggleKeyMenu): bindings, $(bind:ToggleHelp): help",
475 "tabmovement": false,
477 "tabstospaces": false,
483 ## Global and local settings
485 You can set these settings either globally or locally. Locally means that the
486 setting won't be saved to `~/.config/micro/settings.json` and that it will only
487 be set in the current buffer. Setting an option globally is the default, and
488 will set the option in all buffers. Use the `setlocal` command to set an option
489 locally rather than globally.
491 The `colorscheme` option is global only, and the `filetype` option is local
492 only. To set an option locally, use `setlocal` instead of `set`.
494 In the `settings.json` file you can also put set options locally by specifying
495 either a glob or a filetype. Here is an example which has `tabstospaces` on for
496 all files except Go files, and `tabsize` 4 for all files except Ruby files:
501 "tabstospaces": false
506 "tabstospaces": true,
511 Or similarly you can match with globs:
516 "tabstospaces": false
521 "tabstospaces": true,