Where Does Kakoune Store Config and Plugins?
Where Kakoune reads its kakrc file and autoload scripts on Unix, plus colors, sessions, and state.
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Kakoune reads ~/.config/kak/kakrc at startup, with bundled defaults in an autoload folder you never edit. Personal scripts, colorschemes, and plugin managers slot into the same config tree.
The modal model extends to files: selection first, action second, and config as code rather than options. Sessions are the odd one out since they live in running servers, not on disk. For persistent layouts, a session plugin under the config tree is the standard answer. The doc command covers every option.
Where Kakoune stores this, by platform
~/.config/kak/kakrc
kakrc plus autoload/, colors/, and plugin/ subfolders. Honors $XDG_CONFIG_HOME when set. The share directory holds pristine defaults for reference; copy from it instead of editing it.
~/.config/kak/kakrc
Same layout via Homebrew installs. Terminal capabilities matter more than paths here: a missing terminfo entry breaks rendering before any config loads. iTerm2 and Terminal.app both work once configured.
Frequently asked questions
where is the kakoune config file
Create ~/.config/kak/kakrc with source and hook commands. The bundled autoload directory provides defaults, so your file only adds overrides. kak -n skips the file for debugging a broken config. Keep it under version control like any dotfile.
where do kakoune plugins go
In ~/.config/kak/autoload/ (or any directory you source from kakrc). Personal scripts and plug.kak bundles live here. System scripts stay in the install share dir, so upgrades never touch your customizations.
where are kakoune sessions stored
Nowhere persistent by default: sessions live in running servers listed by kak -l. The -s flag names a server, -c attaches to it. Persisted layouts need session manager plugins, which store their own files under the config tree.
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