Screen configuration in /etc/screenrc

[aristidb]

It is in general possible to add a global screen configuration, but the nixpkgs screen package does not generate one. Most people only use a per-user configuration, of course.

I saw two options:

1. Parametrise the screen package with the configuration file. While pure, this would require rebuilding screen for every change and would make it impossible to use binary packages.
2. Set screen to use the global /etc/screenrc. Use this in conjunction with the nixos "etc" configuration option, and it should be possible to deal with.

While not entirely happy, as it is slightly impure, I chose option (2): I think it is a strict improvement over the status quo and should be workable.

(Oh and yes, I am absolutely militant about Ctrl-a being a stupid escape sequence for screen.)

[shlevy]

System-wide configuration is more of a task for nixos, especially if you're putting files in /etc.

[viric]

Well, nixpkgs already makes, for many programs, them to read from /etc. Nothing new.

Who should put that /etc/screenrc file there, it's up to nixos/sysadmin.

[aristidb]

@shlevy I'm not doing any system-wide configuration here, it's just that the package accepts a configuration which I've placed in etc. via environment.etc from NixOS.

[aristidb]

I'm open for suggestions for how to implement the same goal differently though, no matter if it requires changing nixos or nixpkgs.

[viric]

I saw screen comes without any $out/etc/screenrc, and we make many nixpkgs programs read from /etc, so I think it's all fine.