From 5aee1f540c9ee773f2643a8bff3170006e54c6c4 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Tomas Rivera <tomas.riveral@icloud.com>
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:41:32 +0200
Subject: [PATCH] Helix: added initial support

---
 README.md   | 10 ++++++----
 src/utils.c | 51 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++----
 2 files changed, 53 insertions(+), 8 deletions(-)

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2f6ac01..eec4284 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -40,8 +40,9 @@ Before building NoteWrapper, you must install the following dependencies:
 * `ripgrep`
 * `fzf`
 
-You must also have a [supported editor](#editor-support) installed:
+You must also have a [supported editor (and their associated plugin if needed)](#editor-support) installed:
 
+* `helix`
 * `nano`
 * `neovim`
 * `vim`
@@ -139,8 +140,9 @@ The first two features depend on [Vivify's editor integration](https://github.co
 
 If your editor does not support these features, you can implement a plugin using [Vivify's API](https://github.com/jannis-baum/Vivify?tab=readme-ov-file#editor-support).
 
-| Editor | Bufferless | Cursor | Jump to end | Plugin required                                         |
-| ------ | ---------- | ------ | ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
+| Editor | Bufferless  | Cursor  | Jump to end  | Plugin required                                         |
+| ------ | ----------- | ------- | ------------ | --------------------------------------------------------|
+| Helix  | ❌          | ❌      | ✅           | —                                                       |
 | Nano   | ❌          | ❌      | ✅           | —                                                       |
 | Neovim | ✅          | ✅      | ✅           | [vivify-vim](https://github.com/jannis-baum/vivify.vim) |
 | Vim    | ✅          | ✅      | ✅           | [vivify-vim](https://github.com/jannis-baum/vivify.vim) |
@@ -200,5 +202,5 @@ It is recommended to use a browser different from your main one for rendering.
 
 * [ ] A converter between journal types
 * [ ] Support multiple vault directories
-* [ ] Port NoteWrapper to other editors (non-exhaustive list of planned ports: `helix`, `emacs -nw`, `micro`, `jed`, kakoune, `ad`, flow-control, `ee`, `amp`, `dte`, `cano`, `mle`, `zee`, `ptext`, `kibi`, `ox`, `ne`, `nvi`, `dit`, `zile`, `moe`, `joe`)
+* [ ] Port NoteWrapper to other editors (non-exhaustive list of planned ports: `emacs -nw`, `micro`, `jed`, kakoune, `ad`, flow-control, `ee`, `amp`, `dte`, `cano`, `mle`, `zee`, `ptext`, `kibi`, `ox`, `ne`, `nvi`, `dit`, `zile`, `moe`, `joe`)
 * [ ] Default to $EDITOR
diff --git a/src/utils.c b/src/utils.c
index 73449ae..3194bae 100644
--- a/src/utils.c
+++ b/src/utils.c
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 #include "utils.h"
+#include "string.h"
 #include <stddef.h>
 
-const char *supportedEditor[] = {"neovim", "vim", "nano"};
-const int numEditors = 3;
+const char *supportedEditor[] = {"helix", "nano", "neovim", "vim"};
+const int numEditors = 4;
 
 int compareString(const void *a, const void *b) {
     const char *str1 = *(const char **)a;
@@ -204,8 +205,9 @@ int doesEditorExist (char *editorToCheck, int shouldDebug) {     // Some exectua
   char *editor;   
     if (strcmp(editorToCheck, "neovim") == 0) {
       editor = strdup("nvim"); // we must use strdup and not just copy as we would have modified editorToOpen in main
-    }
-    else {
+    } else if (strcmp(editorToCheck, "helix") == 0) {
+      editor = strdup("hx");
+    } else {
       editor = strdup(editorToCheck);
     }
     char *path_env = getenv("PATH");
@@ -338,6 +340,8 @@ int openEditor(char *path, char *editor, int render, int shouldJumpToEndOfFile,
 pid_t editor_pid = fork();
 error(editor_pid < 0, "program", "fork() failed.");
 
+// instead of reusing part of the codes, for any new editor copy an example and adapt it. This is in case we need a custom fix for an editor.
+
 if (editor_pid == 0) {
   // =========================
   // CHILD: launch editor
@@ -406,6 +410,45 @@ if (editor_pid == 0) {
       execlp("nano", "nano", path, NULL);
     }
 
+    error(1, "program", "execlp() failed.");
+  } else if (strcmp(editor, "helix") == 0) {
+
+    // If render enabled → spawn viv in parallel
+    if (render) {
+      debug("Running the editor...");
+      pid_t viv_pid = fork();
+      error(viv_pid < 0, "program", "fork() failed.");
+
+      if (viv_pid == 0) {
+        // GRANDCHILD → viv
+        
+
+        char viv_path[PATH_MAX];
+        strncpy(viv_path, path, PATH_MAX - 1);
+        viv_path[PATH_MAX - 1] = '\0';
+
+        if (shouldJumpToEndOfFile) {
+          strncat(viv_path, ":99999",
+                  PATH_MAX - strlen(viv_path) - 1);
+        }
+
+        debug("Running viv %s", viv_path);
+        execlp("viv", "viv", viv_path, NULL);
+        error(1, "program", "execlp() failed.");
+      }
+      // IMPORTANT: do NOT wait for viv
+    }
+
+    // Now run helix (this replaces the child process)
+    if (shouldJumpToEndOfFile) {
+      strncat(path, ":99999", PATH_MAX);
+      debug("Running hx %s", path);
+      execlp("hx", "hx", path, NULL);
+    } else {
+      debug("Running hx %s", path);
+      execlp("hx", "hx", path, NULL);
+    }
+
     error(1, "program", "execlp() failed.");
   }