Struggling to realize 'gaps' between components

[benfrain]

Looking at a visual like this:

How is it possible to realize the gaps between components in Lualine? I have tried making a blank component like this:

local empty = {function() return ' ' end,
    color = '#ff9900',
}

And inserting that as a component, but it doesn't seem to do anything:

lualine_a = { "mode", empty},

Also tried adding separators either side of either, but that didn't do anything either.

Anyone know how to make that happen?

It made me wonder if this pattern is desirable, a setting of 'gap' could be added for components

[shadmansaleh]

You'll need a custom component for 0 char width gap between separators like that. You can have 1 char width gap with just function like you tried. Your mistake was you were suppose to have color = {bg='ff9900'} not color='ff9900' . But it looks terrible with so much gap.

For example: https://github.com/nvim-lualine/lualine.nvim/blob/master/examples/slanted-gaps.lua

local colors = {
  red         = '#ca1243',
  grey        = '#a0a1a7',
  black       = '#383a42',
  white       = '#f3f3f3',
  light_green = '#83a598',
  orange      = '#fe8019',
  green       = '#8ec07c',
}

local theme = {
  normal = {
    a = { fg = colors.white, bg = colors.black },
    b = { fg = colors.white, bg = colors.grey },
    c = { fg = colors.black, bg = colors.white },
    z = { fg = colors.white, bg = colors.black },
  },
  insert = { a = { fg = colors.black, bg = colors.light_green } },
  visual = { a = { fg = colors.black, bg = colors.orange } },
  replace = { a = { fg = colors.black, bg = colors.green } },
}

local empty = require('lualine.component'):extend()
function empty:draw(default_highlight)
  self.status = ''
  self.applied_separator = ''
  self:apply_highlights(default_highlight)
  self:apply_section_separators()
  return self.status
end

-- Put proper separators and gaps between components in sections
local function process_sections(sections)
  for name, section in pairs(sections) do
    local left = name:sub(9, 10) < 'x'
    for pos = 1, name ~= 'lualine_z' and #section or #section - 1 do
      table.insert(section, pos * 2, { empty, color = { fg = colors.white, bg = colors.white }, })
    end
    for id, comp in ipairs(section) do
      if type(comp) ~= 'table' then comp = { comp } section[id] = comp end
      comp.separator = left and { right = '' } or { left = '' }
    end
  end
  return sections
end

local function search_result()
  if vim.v.hlsearch == 0 then return '' end
  local last_search = vim.fn.getreg '/'
  if not last_search or last_search == '' then return '' end
  local searchcount = vim.fn.searchcount { maxcount = 9999 }
  return last_search .. '(' .. searchcount.current .. '/' .. searchcount.total .. ')'
end

local function modified()
  if vim.bo.modified then return '+'
  elseif vim.bo.modifiable == false or vim.bo.readonly == true then return '-' end
  return ''
end

require('lualine').setup {
  options = {
    theme = theme,
    component_separators = '',
    section_separators = { left = '', right = '' },
  },
  sections = process_sections {
    lualine_a = { 'mode' },
    lualine_b = { 'branch', 'diff',
      { 'diagnostics', source={'nvim'}, sections = { 'error' }, diagnostics_color = { error = { bg = colors.red, fg = colors.white } }, },
      { 'diagnostics', source={'nvim'}, sections = { 'warn' }, diagnostics_color = { warn = { bg = colors.orange, fg = colors.white } }, },
      { 'filename', file_status = false, path=1 },
      { modified, color = { bg = colors.red } },
      { '%w', cond = function() return vim.wo.previewwindow end, },
      { '%r', cond = function() return vim.bo.readonly end, },
      { '%q', cond = function() return vim.bo.buftype == 'quickfix' end, },
    },
    lualine_c = {},
    lualine_x = {},
    lualine_y = { search_result, 'bo:ft' },
    lualine_z = { '%l:%c', '%p%%/%L', },
  },
  inactive_sections = {
    lualine_c = { '%f %y %m' },
    lualine_x = {},
  },
}

With above config on lualine

[benfrain]

Wow. Thanks so much 👍