Two small Helix Steel plugins: file auto-reload and fcitx5 focus handling

[mtul0729]

Hi, I've been experimenting with Helix's Steel plugin system and wanted to share two small plugins I've been using locally.

Both currently require a Helix build from the open Steel plugin-system PR:
#8675

1. helix-file-watcher

Repo: https://github.com/mtul0729/helix-file-watcher

This is my heavily modified fork of the original helix-file-watcher plugin:
https://github.com/mattwparas/helix-file-watcher

I forked it because the original plugin no longer worked for me with the current Steel/Helix setup, and upstream seems to have limited maintenance bandwidth at the moment.

It watches files opened in Helix and reloads them after external changes.

It is useful when files are modified by formatters, generators, Git operations, external tools, or another editor, and you want Helix to pick up those changes automatically.

Basic usage:

(require "helix-file-watcher/file-watcher.scm")

;; default reload delay: 2000 ms
(spawn-watcher)

;; custom delay
(spawn-watcher 1000)

Install with Forge:

forge pkg install --git https://github.com/mtul0729/helix-file-watcher.git

2. helix-fcitx-focus

Repo: https://github.com/mtul0729/helix-fcitx-focus

This plugin is for fcitx5 users, especially CJK input workflows.

It keeps fcitx5 inactive / English outside insert mode, then restores the previous input method when entering insert mode again. This makes normal-mode commands stay ASCII while still letting insert mode resume the input method you were using.

Behavior summary:

• Leaving insert mode saves the current fcitx5 state and switches to inactive / English.
• Entering insert mode restores the saved input method if there was one.
• Focusing Helix in normal/select mode closes fcitx5.
• Focusing Helix while still in insert mode restores the saved input method.
• When Helix loses focus, it can restore the input method state from the previous application.
• SSH and non-graphical sessions are ignored.

Install with Forge:

forge pkg install --git https://github.com/mtul0729/helix-fcitx-focus

Then load it from ~/.config/helix/init.scm:

(require "helix-fcitx-focus/cogs/fcitx-focus.scm")

The repo also includes a Nix flake package and Home Manager module for declarative setup.

Notes

These are still early plugins and depend on Helix's Steel plugin work, so they are probably most useful for people already trying that PR.

Feedback, bug reports, and suggestions are welcome.