Configuration

Cogno is configured with one plain text file. Each line sets one value:

font.size = 16
color.background = 1a1a2e
cursor.style = block

You only write what you want to change. Everything else keeps its built-in default, so an empty file is valid.

Looking for a specific setting? Go to All settings.

Where the file lives

~/.cogno/cogno.config

Open it from Cogno with Ctrl+, (Command+, on macOS) or the open_config action. cogno config path prints the path. Development builds use ~/.cogno-dev/cogno.config.

On first launch Cogno creates the file and adds a shell profile for every shell it finds.

Syntax

# A comment
key = value

One setting per line, written as key = value. Dots group related settings: font.size, font.family.
Comments start with # at the beginning of a line. A # after a value is not a comment — it becomes part of the value.
Blank lines are ignored.
If a key appears twice, the last line wins. The exception is keybind, where every line adds a binding.

Values

Kind	Written as	Example
Boolean	`true` or `false`, lowercase	`cursor.blink = false`
Number	digits, optionally with a decimal point	`padding.left = 0.5`
Text	as is; quotes are optional	`font.family = JetBrains Mono`
Color	hex, `#` optional	`color.background = 1a1a2e`
List	`[a, b, c]`	`shell.order = [zsh, bash]`
Limit	a whole number or `unlimited`	`terminal.history.max_entries = unlimited`

Text. Quotes are only needed for an empty value ("") or to keep leading or trailing spaces. Both "double" and 'single' quotes work. There are no escape sequences — a backslash is a backslash.

Colors. 6 hex digits set an opaque color, 8 digits add transparency in the last two (ff opaque, 00 invisible). The short forms with 3 and 4 digits work too. Color names like red are not accepted here.

Limits. Settings that cap something — history entries, kept notifications, how long a toast stays — take a number or the word unlimited. A number is meant literally: 0 means zero, not “no limit”.

Lists. Items are separated by commas, so an item cannot contain a comma. [] is an empty list. A list in your file replaces the default list.

Applying changes

Cogno watches the file and reloads it about a second after you save. A small “Config loaded” notification confirms it. With enable_watch_config = false, reload manually with the load_config action.

Most settings apply immediately, including to terminals that are already open. A few only affect what starts afterwards:

Setting	Takes effect
`shell.*`	in new terminals
`prompt.*`	in new terminals
`http_server.*`	after restarting Cogno

When something is wrong

A mistake never breaks the whole config. Cogno uses the default for the affected setting and shows a Config errors or Config warnings notification that names the key.

Mistake	What happens
Invalid value, e.g. `font.size = big`	Error notification, the default is used
Unknown or misspelled setting, e.g. `font.sizee`	Warning, the line is ignored
Unknown action in a `keybind` line	Warning, the line is ignored

If a setting seems to have no effect, ask Cogno what it actually uses:

cogno config get font.size

Overriding the file for one launch

cogno --config ~/other.config          # use a different file
cogno --set font.size=18               # override single values, repeatable

--set wins over the file and is never written to disk. See the CLI page.

Shell profiles — which shells Cogno starts and how
Prompt — build your own prompt from segments
Keybindings — bind keys to actions
All settings — the complete reference