Configuration
Lights Out works without any settings. When you want to change something, open actions → Settings (Ctrl+,). It opens your settings file, with every option explained. Saved changes apply right away, with no restart.
The file is ~/.config/lightsout/config.toml (on Windows: %USERPROFILE%\.config\lightsout\config.toml).
The settings file
toml
[theme]
background = "#000000" # full black: OLED pixels are switched off
foreground = "#d6d6d6"
font_size = 0 # 0 = automatic
[notify]
popup = true # a popup when an agent finishes or needs you
sound = true # a short sound with it
sound_done = "" # your own sound files
sound_needs_you = ""
[status]
# extra phrases that mean "this program is waiting for my answer"
needs_you = []
[history]
keep = true # bring tabs, splits and screen history back after a restart
[bar]
# extra items in the top bar, e.g.
# items = [ { text = "my laptop" }, { command = "git branch --show-current", every = 30 } ]
items = []Your own keys
Run any command with a key: in a popup, a new tab, or a split.
toml
[keys]
"ctrl+alt+g" = { command = "lazygit", mode = "popup" }
"ctrl+alt+t" = { command = "npm test", mode = "split" }Saved machines
Machines you open over SSH, listed in actions:
toml
[[machine]]
name = "desktop"
ssh = "me@desktop.local"When an agent asks in its own words
Lights Out recognises common questions by itself. If a tool waits for you in a way it misses, add the phrase:
toml
[status]
needs_you = ["Approve this plan?", "Type the code"]Data files
Two plain files describe how tabs are handed over. Your own copies in ~/.config/lightsout/ win over the built-in ones.
| File | What it holds |
|---|---|
resume.conf | How a program continues after a switch: program = command. See Agents. |
per-system.conf | Folders in your home that hold programs for one system only (for example .cargo, .nvm), so Windows and Lights Out each keep their own copy. |
Where things are kept
| What | Where |
|---|---|
| Settings | ~/.config/lightsout/ |
| Saved tabs | Windows: %LOCALAPPDATA%\lightsout; Linux and Mac: ~/.local/state/lightsout |
| The Lights Out system (Windows) | C:\LightsOut |