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Configuration File Location

Fresh stores its configuration in a JSON file located at: 
~/.config/fresh/config.json
The configuration file controls all aspects of the editor including themes, keybindings, editor behavior, language settings, and LSP servers.

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Configuration Structure

The configuration file is organized into these main sections:

Editor Settings

Tab size, line numbers, syntax highlighting, auto-save, and display options

Keyboard & Keymaps

Keybinding styles (default, emacs, vscode, macos) and custom key mappings

Themes

Built-in themes and color customization

Language Settings

Per-language configuration for formatters, LSP servers, and indentation

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Example Configuration

Here’s a minimal configuration file:
config.json
{
  "theme": "high-contrast",
  "check_for_updates": true,
  "active_keybinding_map": "default",
  "editor": {
    "tab_size": 4,
    "line_numbers": true,
    "line_wrap": true,
    "syntax_highlighting": true,
    "auto_indent": true
  }
}

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Opening the Settings Editor

Fresh provides a visual settings editor for easy configuration:
1

Open Settings

Press Ctrl+, or use the command palette (Ctrl+P) and type >settings
2

Browse Settings

Settings are organized by category: Display, Editing, LSP, Performance, etc.
3

Edit Values

Click on any setting to modify it. Changes are saved automatically to config.json

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Configuration Categories

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Top-Level Settings

SettingTypeDefaultDescription
themestring"high-contrast"Active color theme name
localestring | nullnullUI language (null = auto-detect from environment)
check_for_updatesbooleantrueCheck for new versions on startup
active_keybinding_mapstring"default" (macOS: "macos")Active keybinding map

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Editor Configuration

The editor object controls editing behavior, display settings, LSP features, and performance: 
{
  "editor": {
    "tab_size": 4,
    "auto_indent": true,
    "line_numbers": true,
    "line_wrap": true,
    "syntax_highlighting": true,
    "enable_inlay_hints": true,
    "auto_save_enabled": false,
    "auto_save_interval_secs": 30
  }
}
See Settings Reference for all available options.

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File Explorer

Configure the file tree sidebar: 
{
  "file_explorer": {
    "respect_gitignore": true,
    "show_hidden": false,
    "show_gitignored": false,
    "width": 0.3
  }
}

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Clipboard

Control which clipboard methods are used: 
{
  "clipboard": {
    "use_osc52": true,
    "use_system_clipboard": true
  }
}
If you experience clipboard hangs in certain terminals (like PuTTY), disable use_osc52.

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Terminal

Configure integrated terminal behavior: 
{
  "terminal": {
    "jump_to_end_on_output": true
  }
}

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Language-Specific Configuration

Override settings per language: 
{
  "languages": {
    "rust": {
      "tab_size": 4,
      "use_tabs": false,
      "formatter": {
        "command": "rustfmt",
        "args": [],
        "stdin": true
      },
      "format_on_save": true
    },
    "go": {
      "tab_size": 8,
      "use_tabs": true,
      "show_whitespace_tabs": false
    }
  }
}

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Language Configuration Options

OptionTypeDescription
extensionsstring[]File extensions (e.g., ["rs"])
filenamesstring[]Exact filename matches (e.g., ["Makefile"])
grammarstringTree-sitter grammar name
comment_prefixstringComment syntax (e.g., "//")
tab_sizenumberSpaces per tab (overrides global)
use_tabsbooleanInsert tab characters instead of spaces
auto_indentbooleanAuto-indent new lines
formatterobjectFormatter configuration
format_on_savebooleanRun formatter on save

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LSP Server Configuration

Configure language servers: 
{
  "lsp": {
    "rust": {
      "command": "rust-analyzer",
      "args": [],
      "enabled": true,
      "auto_start": false,
      "process_limits": {
        "max_memory_percent": 50,
        "max_cpu_percent": 90,
        "enabled": true
      },
      "initialization_options": {
        "checkOnSave": false,
        "diagnostics": {"enable": true}
      }
    }
  }
}

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LSP Configuration Options

OptionTypeDescription
commandstringLSP server executable
argsstring[]Command-line arguments
enabledbooleanEnable this language server
auto_startbooleanStart server automatically when opening files
initialization_optionsobjectServer-specific initialization options
process_limitsobjectMemory and CPU limits

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Reloading Configuration

Fresh automatically reloads config.json when it changes. You can also:
  • Restart the editor: Changes take effect immediately
  • Use the settings UI: Changes are applied in real-time
  • Reload manually: >reload config in the command palette

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Configuration Schema

Fresh provides JSON schema validation for config.json. Enable schema validation in your editor:
config.json
{
  "$schema": "/path/to/fresh/plugins/config-schema.json"
}

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Migration

Fresh supports configuration migrations through the version field: 
{
  "version": 0,
  "theme": "high-contrast"
}
Configurations without a version field are treated as version 0.

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Example: Complete Configuration

{
  "theme": "high-contrast",
  "check_for_updates": true,
  "editor": {
    "tab_size": 4,
    "auto_indent": true,
    "line_numbers": true,
    "relative_line_numbers": false,
    "scroll_offset": 3,
    "syntax_highlighting": true,
    "line_wrap": true,
    "highlight_timeout_ms": 5,
    "snapshot_interval": 100,
    "large_file_threshold_bytes": 1048576,
    "estimated_line_length": 80,
    "enable_inlay_hints": true,
    "enable_semantic_tokens_full": false,
    "auto_save_enabled": true,
    "auto_save_interval_secs": 30,
    "recovery_enabled": true,
    "auto_recovery_save_interval_secs": 2,
    "highlight_context_bytes": 10000,
    "mouse_hover_enabled": true,
    "mouse_hover_delay_ms": 500,
    "double_click_time_ms": 500,
    "auto_revert_poll_interval_ms": 2000,
    "file_tree_poll_interval_ms": 3000
  },
  "file_explorer": {
    "respect_gitignore": true,
    "show_hidden": false,
    "show_gitignored": false,
    "custom_ignore_patterns": [],
    "width": 0.3
  },
  "clipboard": {
    "use_osc52": true,
    "use_system_clipboard": true
  },
  "terminal": {
    "jump_to_end_on_output": true
  },
  "keybindings": [],
  "active_keybinding_map": "default"
}

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Next Steps

Settings Reference

Complete list of all editor settings

Keyboard Configuration

Customize keybindings and keymaps

Theme System

Built-in themes and color customization

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