feat: add try do command to graduate tries to permanent projects

robzolkos · robzolkos · commit 6921898c60f4 · 2026-01-26T12:20:31.000-05:00
Moves current try directory to ~/Work (TRY_DO_PATH), strips the date
prefix for a clean name, and ensures git is initialized. Leaves a
symlink behind so graduated tries still appear in the TUI with a ⭐.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@ try ./path/to/repo [name]                      # Use another repo as the worktre
 try worktree dir [name]                        # Same as above, explicit CLI form
 try clone https://github.com/user/repo.git  # Clone repo into date-prefixed directory
 try https://github.com/user/repo.git        # Shorthand for clone (same as above)
+try do                                       # Graduate current try dir to ~/Work
 try --help                                   # See all options
 ```
 
@@ -165,6 +166,26 @@ Supported git URI formats:
 
 The `.git` suffix is automatically removed from URLs when generating directory names.
 
+### Graduating a Try
+
+When an experiment becomes a real project, `try do` moves it out of the tries directory:
+
+```bash
+$ cd ~/src/tries/2025-08-17-redis-pool
+$ try do
+
+  From: ~/src/tries/2025-08-17-redis-pool
+  To:   ~/Work/redis-pool
+
+Name [redis-pool]:
+```
+
+- Strips the date prefix to propose a clean name
+- Moves the directory to `~/Work` (configurable via `TRY_DO_PATH`)
+- Leaves a symlink behind so it still appears in the TUI with a ⭐
+- Initializes a git repo if one doesn't already exist
+- Works from any subdirectory within the try
+
 ### Keyboard Shortcuts
 
 - `↑/↓` or `Ctrl-P/N/J/K` - Navigate
@@ -184,6 +205,14 @@ export TRY_PATH=~/code/sketches
 
 Default: `~/src/tries`
 
+Set `TRY_DO_PATH` to change where graduated projects land:
+
+```bash
+export TRY_DO_PATH=~/projects
+```
+
+Default: `~/Work`
+
 ## Nix
 
 ### Quick start
@@ -259,7 +288,7 @@ A: Because you have 200 directories and can't remember if you called it `test-re
 A: fzf is great for files. This is specifically for project directories, with time-awareness and auto-creation built in.
 
 **Q: Can I use this for real projects?**
-A: You can, but it's designed for experiments. Real projects deserve real names in real locations.
+A: It's designed for experiments. When one sticks, `try do` graduates it to a permanent home with a clean name.
 
 **Q: What if I have thousands of experiments?**
 A: First, welcome to the club. Second, it handles it fine - the scoring algorithm ensures relevant stuff stays on top.
diff --git a/spec/command_line.md b/spec/command_line.md
@@ -98,6 +98,46 @@ try . <name>              # Shorthand (requires name)
 - Returns shell script to cd into worktree
 - `try .` without a name is NOT supported (too easy to invoke accidentally)
 
+### do
+
+Move a try directory to a permanent work location.
+
+```
+try do
+try exec do
+```
+
+**Arguments:**
+- None. Operates on the current working directory.
+
+**Behavior:**
+- Must be run from inside a try directory (or subdirectory of one)
+- Extracts the immediate child directory of the tries path
+- Strips date prefix (`YYYY-MM-DD-`) to propose a clean name
+- Prompts for name confirmation (enter to accept, or type a new name)
+- Checks destination doesn't already exist
+- Leaves a symlink at the original location pointing to the new path
+- Graduated entries appear with ⭐ instead of 📁 in the TUI
+- Returns shell script to move directory and ensure git is initialized
+- Errors if the entry is already a symlink (already graduated)
+
+**Examples:**
+```
+$ cd ~/src/tries/2025-08-17-redis-pool
+$ try do
+Name [redis-pool]:
+# Moves to ~/Work/redis-pool, ensures git init
+
+$ try do
+Name [redis-pool]: my-pool
+# Moves to ~/Work/my-pool instead
+```
+
+**Error cases:**
+- Not inside tries directory → error + exit 1
+- At tries root (not in a specific try) → "cd into a try directory first"
+- Destination already exists → error + exit 1
+
 ### init
 
 Output shell function definition for shell integration.
@@ -180,6 +220,7 @@ Commands are chained with `&& \` for readability, with 2-space indent on continu
 | `HOME` | Used to resolve default tries path (`$HOME/src/tries`) |
 | `SHELL` | Used by `init` to detect shell type |
 | `NO_COLOR` | If set, disables colors (equivalent to `--no-colors`) |
+| `TRY_DO_PATH` | Override destination for `try do` (default: `~/Work`) |
 
 ## Defaults
 
@@ -246,6 +287,10 @@ try clone https://github.com/user/repo my-fork
 # Create git worktree (from within a repo)
 try worktree feature-branch
 
+# Graduate a try to a permanent project
+cd ~/src/tries/2025-08-17-redis-pool
+try do
+
 # Show version
 try --version
 
diff --git a/spec/tests/test_32_do.sh b/spec/tests/test_32_do.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,214 @@
+# Do command tests
+# Spec: try do moves a try directory to a permanent work directory
+
+section "do"
+
+# Setup: Create isolated test directories
+DO_TRIES_DIR=$(mktemp -d)
+DO_WORK_DIR=$(mktemp -d)
+mkdir -p "$DO_TRIES_DIR/2025-08-17-redis-pool"
+touch "$DO_TRIES_DIR/2025-08-17-redis-pool/README.md"
+mkdir -p "$DO_TRIES_DIR/2025-09-01-no-date-strip"
+mkdir -p "$DO_TRIES_DIR/plain-project"
+
+# Test: try do from outside tries dir shows error
+output=$(TRY_DO_PATH="$DO_WORK_DIR" try_run --path="$DO_TRIES_DIR" do 2>&1)
+exit_code=$?
+if echo "$output" | grep -qi "not inside tries directory"; then
+    pass
+else
+    fail "do outside tries dir should error" "not inside tries directory" "$output"
+fi
+
+# Test: try do from outside tries dir exits non-zero
+if [ $exit_code -ne 0 ]; then
+    pass
+else
+    fail "do outside tries dir should exit non-zero" "exit code != 0" "exit code: $exit_code"
+fi
+
+# Test: try exec do from outside tries dir shows error
+output=$(TRY_DO_PATH="$DO_WORK_DIR" try_run --path="$DO_TRIES_DIR" exec do 2>&1)
+exit_code=$?
+if echo "$output" | grep -qi "not inside tries directory"; then
+    pass
+else
+    fail "exec do outside tries dir should error" "not inside tries directory" "$output"
+fi
+
+# Test: try do at tries root shows specific message
+output=$(cd "$DO_TRIES_DIR" && TRY_DO_PATH="$DO_WORK_DIR" eval $TRY_CMD --path="$DO_TRIES_DIR" do 2>&1)
+if echo "$output" | grep -qi "cd into a try directory first"; then
+    pass
+else
+    fail "do at tries root should say cd into a try directory" "cd into a try directory first" "$output"
+fi
+
+# Test: try do generates mv command (accept default name)
+output=$(cd "$DO_TRIES_DIR/2025-08-17-redis-pool" && echo "" | TRY_DO_PATH="$DO_WORK_DIR" eval $TRY_CMD --path="$DO_TRIES_DIR" do 2>/dev/null)
+if echo "$output" | grep -q "mv"; then
+    pass
+else
+    fail "do should generate mv command" "mv in output" "$output"
+fi
+
+# Test: try do strips date prefix for default name
+output=$(cd "$DO_TRIES_DIR/2025-08-17-redis-pool" && echo "" | TRY_DO_PATH="$DO_WORK_DIR" eval $TRY_CMD --path="$DO_TRIES_DIR" do 2>/dev/null)
+if echo "$output" | grep -q "redis-pool"; then
+    pass
+else
+    fail "do should use stripped name as default" "redis-pool in output" "$output"
+fi
+
+# Test: try do destination uses DO_WORK_DIR
+output=$(cd "$DO_TRIES_DIR/2025-08-17-redis-pool" && echo "" | TRY_DO_PATH="$DO_WORK_DIR" eval $TRY_CMD --path="$DO_TRIES_DIR" do 2>/dev/null)
+if echo "$output" | grep -q "$DO_WORK_DIR/redis-pool"; then
+    pass
+else
+    fail "do should move to DO_WORK_DIR" "$DO_WORK_DIR/redis-pool" "$output"
+fi
+
+# Test: try do includes git init
+output=$(cd "$DO_TRIES_DIR/2025-08-17-redis-pool" && echo "" | TRY_DO_PATH="$DO_WORK_DIR" eval $TRY_CMD --path="$DO_TRIES_DIR" do 2>/dev/null)
+if echo "$output" | grep -q "git init"; then
+    pass
+else
+    fail "do should include git init" "git init in output" "$output"
+fi
+
+# Test: try do with custom name uses that name
+output=$(cd "$DO_TRIES_DIR/2025-08-17-redis-pool" && echo "my-project" | TRY_DO_PATH="$DO_WORK_DIR" eval $TRY_CMD --path="$DO_TRIES_DIR" do 2>/dev/null)
+if echo "$output" | grep -q "$DO_WORK_DIR/my-project"; then
+    pass
+else
+    fail "do with custom name should use it" "$DO_WORK_DIR/my-project" "$output"
+fi
+
+# Test: try do prompts for name on stderr
+output=$(cd "$DO_TRIES_DIR/2025-08-17-redis-pool" && echo "" | TRY_DO_PATH="$DO_WORK_DIR" eval $TRY_CMD --path="$DO_TRIES_DIR" do 2>&1 1>/dev/null)
+if echo "$output" | grep -q "Name \[redis-pool\]:"; then
+    pass
+else
+    fail "do should prompt for name on stderr" "Name [redis-pool]:" "$output"
+fi
+
+# Test: try do shows From path on stderr
+output=$(cd "$DO_TRIES_DIR/2025-08-17-redis-pool" && echo "" | TRY_DO_PATH="$DO_WORK_DIR" eval $TRY_CMD --path="$DO_TRIES_DIR" do 2>&1 1>/dev/null)
+if echo "$output" | grep -q "From:"; then
+    pass
+else
+    fail "do should show From: on stderr" "From:" "$output"
+fi
+
+# Test: try do shows To path on stderr
+output=$(cd "$DO_TRIES_DIR/2025-08-17-redis-pool" && echo "" | TRY_DO_PATH="$DO_WORK_DIR" eval $TRY_CMD --path="$DO_TRIES_DIR" do 2>&1 1>/dev/null)
+if echo "$output" | grep -q "To:"; then
+    pass
+else
+    fail "do should show To: on stderr" "To:" "$output"
+fi
+
+# Test: try do when destination exists shows error
+mkdir -p "$DO_WORK_DIR/redis-pool"
+output=$(cd "$DO_TRIES_DIR/2025-08-17-redis-pool" && echo "" | TRY_DO_PATH="$DO_WORK_DIR" eval $TRY_CMD --path="$DO_TRIES_DIR" do 2>&1)
+exit_code=$?
+if echo "$output" | grep -qi "destination already exists"; then
+    pass
+else
+    fail "do should error when destination exists" "destination already exists" "$output"
+fi
+rmdir "$DO_WORK_DIR/redis-pool"
+
+# Test: try do when destination exists exits non-zero
+mkdir -p "$DO_WORK_DIR/redis-pool"
+output=$(cd "$DO_TRIES_DIR/2025-08-17-redis-pool" && echo "" | TRY_DO_PATH="$DO_WORK_DIR" eval $TRY_CMD --path="$DO_TRIES_DIR" do 2>&1)
+exit_code=$?
+if [ $exit_code -ne 0 ]; then
+    pass
+else
+    fail "do should exit non-zero when destination exists" "exit code != 0" "exit code: $exit_code"
+fi
+rmdir "$DO_WORK_DIR/redis-pool"
+
+# Test: try do from subdirectory of try dir still works (uses parent try dir)
+mkdir -p "$DO_TRIES_DIR/2025-08-17-redis-pool/src/lib"
+output=$(cd "$DO_TRIES_DIR/2025-08-17-redis-pool/src/lib" && echo "" | TRY_DO_PATH="$DO_WORK_DIR" eval $TRY_CMD --path="$DO_TRIES_DIR" do 2>/dev/null)
+if echo "$output" | grep -q "2025-08-17-redis-pool"; then
+    pass
+else
+    fail "do from subdirectory should use parent try dir" "2025-08-17-redis-pool in output" "$output"
+fi
+
+# Test: try do never includes gh repo create
+output=$(cd "$DO_TRIES_DIR/2025-08-17-redis-pool" && echo "" | TRY_DO_PATH="$DO_WORK_DIR" eval $TRY_CMD --path="$DO_TRIES_DIR" do 2>/dev/null)
+if ! echo "$output" | grep -q "gh repo create"; then
+    pass
+else
+    fail "do should not include gh repo create" "no gh repo create" "$output"
+fi
+
+# Test: try do script ends with cd to destination
+output=$(cd "$DO_TRIES_DIR/2025-08-17-redis-pool" && echo "" | TRY_DO_PATH="$DO_WORK_DIR" eval $TRY_CMD --path="$DO_TRIES_DIR" do 2>/dev/null)
+last_line=$(echo "$output" | tail -1)
+if echo "$last_line" | grep -q "cd "; then
+    pass
+else
+    fail "do script should end with cd" "cd as last command" "$output"
+fi
+
+# Test: try do script includes ln -s (leaves symlink behind)
+output=$(cd "$DO_TRIES_DIR/2025-08-17-redis-pool" && echo "" | TRY_DO_PATH="$DO_WORK_DIR" eval $TRY_CMD --path="$DO_TRIES_DIR" do 2>/dev/null)
+if echo "$output" | grep -q "ln -s"; then
+    pass
+else
+    fail "do should include ln -s" "ln -s in output" "$output"
+fi
+
+# Test: try do on already-graduated symlink shows error
+mkdir -p "$DO_WORK_DIR/already-done"
+ln -s "$DO_WORK_DIR/already-done" "$DO_TRIES_DIR/2025-09-01-graduated"
+output=$(cd "$DO_TRIES_DIR/2025-09-01-graduated" && echo "" | TRY_DO_PATH="$DO_WORK_DIR" eval $TRY_CMD --path="$DO_TRIES_DIR" do 2>&1)
+exit_code=$?
+if echo "$output" | grep -qi "already graduated"; then
+    pass
+else
+    fail "do on symlink should say already graduated" "already graduated" "$output"
+fi
+
+# Test: try do on already-graduated symlink exits non-zero
+if [ $exit_code -ne 0 ]; then
+    pass
+else
+    fail "do on symlink should exit non-zero" "exit code != 0" "exit code: $exit_code"
+fi
+rm -f "$DO_TRIES_DIR/2025-09-01-graduated"
+rm -rf "$DO_WORK_DIR/already-done"
+
+# Test: symlinked entries show star emoji in TUI
+ln -s "$DO_WORK_DIR" "$DO_TRIES_DIR/2025-10-01-starred"
+output=$(try_run --path="$DO_TRIES_DIR" --and-exit exec 2>&1)
+if echo "$output" | grep -q "⭐"; then
+    pass
+else
+    fail "symlinked entry should show star emoji" "⭐ in output" "$output"
+fi
+rm -f "$DO_TRIES_DIR/2025-10-01-starred"
+
+# Test: help text includes try do
+output=$(try_run --help 2>&1)
+if echo "$output" | grep -q "try do"; then
+    pass
+else
+    fail "help should mention try do" "try do in help" "$output"
+fi
+
+# Test: help text mentions TRY_DO_PATH
+output=$(try_run --help 2>&1)
+if echo "$output" | grep -q "TRY_DO_PATH"; then
+    pass
+else
+    fail "help should mention TRY_DO_PATH" "TRY_DO_PATH in help" "$output"
+fi
+
+# Cleanup
+rm -rf "$DO_TRIES_DIR" "$DO_WORK_DIR"
diff --git a/try.rb b/try.rb
