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astal/docs/ags/variable.md
Aylur 93e41a3212 docs: fix links
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# Variable
```js
import { Variable } from "astal"
```
Variable is just a simple `GObject` that holds a value.
And has shortcuts for hooking up subprocesses.
:::info
The `Variable` object imported from the `"astal"` package is **not** [Astal.Variable](https://aylur.github.io/libastal/class.Variable.html).
:::
## Variable as state
```typescript
const myvar = Variable<string>("initial-value")
// whenever its value changes, callback will be executed
myvar.subscribe((value: string) => {
console.log(value)
})
// settings its value
myvar.set("new value")
// getting its value
const value = myvar.get()
// binding them to widgets
Widget.Label({
label: bind(myvar).as((value) => `transformed ${value}`),
label: myvar((value) => `transformed ${value}`), // shorthand for the above
})
```
:::warning
Make sure to make the transform functions pure. The `.get()` function can be called
anytime by `astal` especially when `deriving`, so make sure there are no sideeffects.
:::
## Composing variables
Using `Variable.derive` we can compose both Variables and Bindings.
```typescript
const v1: Variable<number> = Variable(2)
const v2: Variable<number> = Variable(3)
// first argument is a list of dependencies
// second argument is a transform function,
// where the parameters are the values of the dependencies in the order they were passed
const v3: Variable<number> = Variable.derive([v1, v2], (v1, v2) => {
return v1 * v2
})
const b1: Binding<string> = bind(obj, "prop")
const b2: Binding<string> = bind(obj, "prop")
const b3: Variable<string> = Variable.derive([b1, b2], (b1, b2) => {
return `${b1}-${b2}`
})
```
## Subprocess shorthands
Using `.poll` and `.watch` we can start subprocess and capture their
output in `Variables`. They can poll and watch at the same time, but they
can only poll/watch one subprocess.
:::warning
The command parameter is passed to [execAsync](/astal/ags/utilities/#executing-external-commands-and-scripts)
which means they are **not** executed in a shell environment,
they do **not** expand env variables like `$HOME`,
and they do **not** handle logical operators like `&&` and `||`.
If you want bash, run them with bash.
```js
Variable("").poll(1000, ["bash", "-c", "command $VAR && command"])
```
:::
```typescript
const myVar = Variable<number>(0)
.poll(1000, "command", (out: string, prev: number) => parseInt(out))
.poll(1000, ["bash", "-c", "command"], (out, prev) => parseInt(out))
.poll(1000, (prev) => prev + 1)
```
```typescript
const myVar = Variable<number>(0)
.watch("command", (out: string, prev: number) => parseInt(out))
.watch(["bash", "-c", "command"], (out, prev) => parseInt(out))
```
You can temporarily stop them and restart them whenever.
```js
myvar.stopWatch() // this kills the subprocess
myvar.stopPoll()
myvar.startListen() // launches the subprocess again
myvar.startPoll()
console.log(myvar.isListening())
console.log(myvar.isPolling())
```
## Gobject connection shorthands
Using `.observe` you can connect gobject signals and capture their value.
```typescript
const myvar = Variable("")
.observe(obj1, "signal", () => "")
.observe(obj2, "signal", () => "")
```
## Dispose if no longer needed
This will stop the interval and force exit the subprocess and disconnect gobjects.
```js
myVar.drop()
```
:::warning
Don't forget to drop them when they are defined inside widgets
with either `.poll`, `.watch` or `.observe`
```tsx
function MyWidget() {
const myvar = Variable().poll()
return <box onDestroy={() => myvar.drop()} />
}
```
:::