Clearing individual config values

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 14 views

Introduction

When working with local configuration settings in a project, it's essential to have a clear understanding of how these settings are stored and managed. However, in some cases, clearing individual values from the local config file may not work as expected. In this article, we'll delve into the issues surrounding local config settings and explore possible causes and solutions.

Description of the Issue

After investigating issue #191, several problems with local (project-level) configuration settings have been identified:

Clearing individual config values: When using the command mycoder config clear <key>, the value is not actually removed from the local config file. Instead, the entire default configuration gets written to the local config file.
Incorrect reporting: The CLI reports that the value was cleared, but it still shows as coming from the project config.
Config file corruption: The config file now contains all default settings instead of removing the specified key.

Steps to Reproduce the Issue

To reproduce the issue, follow these steps:

Create a project directory: Create a new project directory with a .mycoder subdirectory.
Set a local config value: Run mycoder config set headless false to set a local config value.
Verify the config file: Verify that the config file contains just the headless setting.
Clear the setting: Run mycoder config clear headless to clear the setting.
Check the config file: Check the config file to see that it now contains all default settings instead of removing the headless setting.

Current Behavior

When clearing an individual config key:

Key not removed: The key is not removed from the config file.
Default config merged: The entire default config is merged into the local config file.
CLI reporting issue: The CLI incorrectly reports where the value is coming from.

Expected Behavior

The expected behavior is:

Clear key functionality: mycoder config clear <key> should remove the specified key from the config file.
Config file integrity: The config file should only contain explicitly set values.
Value source identification: After clearing a key, the value should come from the next level in the hierarchy (global or default).

Possible Causes

Looking at the implementation in packages/cli/src/settings/config.ts, the clearConfigKey function appears to have an issue. It correctly removes the key from the configuration object, but there may be a problem with how it determines where the new value is coming from after clearing.

Additionally, there seems to be an issue with how the CLI command reports the source of a value after clearing. In packages/cli/src/commands/config.ts, the logic for determining where a value comes from after clearing may be incorrect.

Possible Solution

To resolve the issue, consider the following steps:

Fix the clearConfigKey function: Properly remove keys from the config file without merging in default values.
Update reporting logic: Correctly identify the source of values after clearing.
Add more tests: For the config clearing functionality to ensure that the issue is fully addressed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the issue with local config settings not working properly when clearing individual values is a complex problem that requires a thorough understanding of the underlying implementation. By identifying the possible causes and proposing a solution, we can work towards resolving this issue and ensuring that local config settings are managed correctly.

Recommendations

To address this issue, consider the following recommendations:

Improve testing: Add more tests to ensure that the config clearing functionality is working correctly.
Review implementation: Carefully review the implementation of the clearConfigKey function and the reporting logic to ensure that they are correct.
Communicate with users: Clearly communicate the expected behavior and any changes to the config clearing functionality to users.

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the issue with local config settings not working properly when clearing individual values. We discussed the possible causes, current behavior, and expected behavior. In this article, we'll provide a Q&A section to address some of the most frequently asked questions related to this issue.

Q: What is the current behavior of the `mycoder config clear <key>` command?

A: When you run the mycoder config clear <key> command, the key is not removed from the config file. Instead, the entire default configuration gets written to the local config file. This means that the config file now contains all default settings instead of removing the specified key.

Q: Why is the CLI reporting that the value was cleared, but it still shows as coming from the project config?

A: The CLI reporting issue is due to incorrect logic in the packages/cli/src/commands/config.ts file. The logic for determining where a value comes from after clearing may be incorrect, leading to this issue.

Q: What is the expected behavior of the `mycoder config clear <key>` command?

A: The expected behavior is that the mycoder config clear <key> command should remove the specified key from the config file. The config file should only contain explicitly set values. After clearing a key, the value should come from the next level in the hierarchy (global or default).

Q: How can I fix the `clearConfigKey` function to properly remove keys from the config file without merging in default values?

A: To fix the clearConfigKey function, you need to review the implementation in packages/cli/src/settings/config.ts. You may need to modify the function to correctly remove keys from the config file without merging in default values.

Q: What are some possible causes of this issue?

A: Some possible causes of this issue include:

Incorrect implementation of the clearConfigKey function
Incorrect logic in the packages/cli/src/commands/config.ts file
Lack of testing for the config clearing functionality

Q: How can I add more tests for the config clearing functionality?

A: To add more tests for the config clearing functionality, you can use a testing framework such as Jest. You can write unit tests to verify that the clearConfigKey function is working correctly and that the CLI reporting logic is correct.

Q: What are some best practices for managing local config settings?

A: Some best practices for managing local config settings include:

Use a consistent naming convention for config keys
Use a clear and concise naming convention for config values
Use a testing framework to verify that the config clearing functionality is working correctly
Review the implementation of the clearConfigKey function and the reporting logic to ensure that they are correct

Conclusion

In conclusion, the issue with local config settings not working properly when clearing individual values is a complex problem that requires a thorough understanding of the underlying implementation. By addressing some of the most frequently asked questions related to this issue, we can work towards resolving this issue and ensuring that local config settings are managed correctly.

Recommendations

To address this issue, consider the following recommendations:

Improve testing: Add more tests to ensure that the config clearing functionality is working correctly.
Review implementation: Carefully review the implementation of the clearConfigKey function and the reporting logic to ensure that they are correct.
Communicate with users: Clearly communicate the expected behavior and any changes to the config clearing functionality to users.

By following these recommendations and working towards a solution, we can ensure that local config settings are managed correctly and that users have a positive experience with the tool.