[Suggestion]: A way to programmatically do something with the selection results from UI picker

[lungsin]

Which fff frontend(s)?

Neovim plugin (fff.nvim)

What problem are you trying to solve?

I want to integrate fff.nvim with oil.nvim so that after I get the result from find_files(), I can use the result to open the directory containing that file using oil.

As a reference, the following is the way to configure this using snacks.picker and fzf.lua:

--- snacks.picker
keys = {
  {
      '<leader>fo',
      function()
        Snacks.picker.files({
          title = 'Oil',
          -- override the confirm action
          confirm = function(picker, item)
            picker:close()
            if not item then
              return
            end
            local file_path = Snacks.picker.util.path(item) or item.file
            if not file_path then
              return
            end
            local dir_path = file_path:match('^(.*)[/\\][^/\\]*$')
            require('oil').toggle_float(dir_path)
          end,
        })
      end,
      desc = 'Find directory (Oil)',
  }
}

--- fzf.lua
keys = {
   {
      '<leader>fo',
      function()
        FzfLua.files({
          prompt = 'Oil❯ ',
          actions = {
            -- override the default action
            ['default'] = function(selected, opts)
              opts.cwd = opts.cwd or vim.uv.cwd()
              if selected and #selected > 0 then
                local path = vim.split(selected[1], ' ')[2]
                local file_path = opts.cwd .. '/' .. path
                local dir_path = file_path:match('^(.*)[/\\][^/\\]*$')
                require('oil').toggle_float(dir_path)
              end
            end,
          },
        })
      end,
      desc = 'Find directory (Oil)',
   }
}

Proposed solution

I think the simplest non-breaking API change is by changing the public API of file_search(query, opts) so that the query argument becomes optional instead of required. When the query is nil, the UI is opened instead for the user to interact.

An alternative is by allowing custom actions in opts so that find_files(opts) can call a callback can be callback after the selection is done. But honestly, I don't know how to make the API nice. The select.select_window config seems to assumes that the chosen file must be opened in the buffer.

[gustav-fff]

[triage-bot] FEATURE REQUEST:

Valid use-case. Current file_search(query, opts) already returns results programmatically (lua/fff/main.lua:243), so the snacks/fzf-style "open with custom action" needs a hook on the UI path, not the headless API.

Two viable shapes, both small:

1. opts.on_submit = fun(item, action) passed to find_files(opts) — when set, picker calls it instead of the built-in edit logic. Reuses existing select_window/action plumbing.
2. Extend select_window contract so returning a sentinel (e.g. false) suppresses the default :edit and lets the callback handle the open.

Option 1 is cleaner and non-breaking. Needs maintainer call before implementing — picker close/resume semantics around a custom callback are not obvious.

@dmtrKovalenko which direction? Holding off on PR until scoped.

Honk-Honk 🪿

[dmtrKovalenko]

@gustav-fff dont we already have open with callback api?

[gustav-fff]

[triage-bot] DIRECTED:

Yes and no. picker_ui.open_with_callback(query, callback, opts) exists at lua/fff/picker_ui/picker_ui.lua:642 — but it fires the callback with the initial search results before the UI opens, then optionally suppresses UI. It's the open_file_under_cursor fast-path (lua/fff/main.lua:609), not a post-selection hook.

The reporter's use-case is different: run the picker UI normally, let the user navigate/select interactively, then invoke a custom action on the chosen item (oil's toggle_float(dirname) instead of :edit). That path goes through select_window (lua/fff/conf.lua:65), which only returns a winid — it can't replace the open action itself.

So either:

1. expose open_with_callback via main.lua and document it (covers "act on results without UI"), or
2. add an opts.on_submit to find_files that runs in place of :edit on user selection (covers the oil case).

These solve different problems. (1) is a no-op rename. (2) is the real ask. Confirm which (or both) and I'll PR.

Honk-Honk 🪿

[dmtrKovalenko]

@gustav-fff prototype me opts.on_submit

[gustav-fff]

[triage-bot] DIRECTED:

Prototype up: #606. Adds opts.on_submit = fun(item, ctx) to find_files. When set, runs in place of the default :edit after picker close. ctx = { action, path, relative_path, location, query, mode }. History tracking still runs.

Oil example:

require('fff').find_files({
  on_submit = function(item, ctx)
    local dir = ctx.path:match('^(.*)[/\\\\][^/\\\\]*$')
    require('oil').toggle_float(dir)
  end,
})

Not e2e tested in nvim — flagging for your call before merge.

Honk-Honk 🪿

[lungsin]

Wow that was fast! Thank you!

Out of topic, but your workflow with gustov bot looks interesting to me haha. I'll try to experiment with something similar. Anyway, thanks again!

[dmtrKovalenko]

I want to integrate fff.nvim with oil.nvim so that after I get the result from find_files(), I can use the result to open the directory containing that file using oil.

One additional thing to research: fff actually has a directories search mode. It's not surfaces in the neovim yet but it might be interesting for you

[lungsin]

fff actually has a directories search mode.

I'll take a look, thanks!