refactor(config): use local.lua for machine-specific paths

- Load local.lua at startup and expose via vim.g.cargdev_local
- Update avante.lua to use local config for paths and settings
- Update ideaMap.lua to use IDEA_DIR from local config
- Remove all hardcoded user paths from plugin configs
- Plugins gracefully skip if required local config is missing

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -11,6 +11,23 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/).
 ### Added
 - **Avante.nvim AI Assistant**: Added Avante.nvim with local LLM support to README documentation
 - **Bash Treesitter Parser**: Installed bash parser for noice.nvim cmdline highlighting
+- **Local Configuration Support**: `local.lua` is now loaded at startup and exposed via `vim.g.cargdev_local`
+  - Enables machine-specific paths without hardcoding
+  - Safe loading with `pcall` (won't error if file doesn't exist)
+  - Plugins gracefully skip if required config is missing
+
+### Changed
+- **Avante Plugin**: Now uses `local.lua` for all paths and settings
+  - `avante_dev_path` for plugin directory
+  - `avante_endpoint`, `avante_api_key_name`, `avante_model` for provider config
+- **IdeaDrop Plugin**: Now uses `IDEA_DIR` from `local.lua` instead of environment variable
+
+### Removed
+- **Hardcoded Paths**: Removed all hardcoded user paths from plugin configs
+  - `avante.lua` - uses `local.lua` values
+  - `ideaMap.lua` - uses `local.lua` values
+  - `leetcode.lua` - removed commented hardcoded path
+  - `lazygit.lua` - removed commented hardcoded path
 
 ### Fixed
 - **Auto-session Lazy Loading**: Changed from `event = "VeryLazy"` to `lazy = false` to enable session auto-restore on startup
@@ -150,7 +167,11 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/).
 | `lua/cargdev/core/keymaps/plugins.lua` | Fixed session/substitute keymap conflicts |
 | `lua/cargdev/core/keymaps/general.lua` | Added vault_path validation, removed commented code |
 | `lua/cargdev/core/keymaps/window.lua` | Centralized window management keymaps |
-| `lua/cargdev/core/init.lua` | Fixed double loading, added diagnostic hover, config validation |
+| `lua/cargdev/core/init.lua` | Fixed double loading, added diagnostic hover, config validation, loads `local.lua` |
+| `lua/cargdev/plugins/avante.lua` | Uses `local.lua` for paths and settings, removed hardcoded values |
+| `lua/cargdev/plugins/ideaMap.lua` | Uses `local.lua` for `IDEA_DIR`, removed env var fallback |
+| `lua/cargdev/plugins/leetcode.lua` | Removed commented hardcoded path |
+| `lua/cargdev/plugins/lazygit.lua` | Removed commented hardcoded path |
 | `lua/cargdev/core/options.lua` | Removed duplicate settings (synmaxcol, foldmethod, foldlevel) |
 | `lua/cargdev/plugins/which-key.lua` | Added group names configuration |
 | `lua/cargdev/plugins/formatting.lua` | Enabled auto-format on save with smart filtering |
@@ -195,4 +216,4 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/).
 
 ---
 
-*Last Updated: January 2026*
+*Last Updated: January 10, 2026*

lua/cargdev/core/init.lua

@@ -4,7 +4,22 @@
 -- Main core initialization for cargdev Neovim config
 -- =============================================================================
 
--- 0. Setup LuaRocks path for rest.nvim dependencies (Lua 5.1 - Neovim uses LuaJIT)
+-- 0. Load local configuration (gitignored, contains personal paths)
+local function load_local_config()
+  local ok, local_config = pcall(require, "cargdev.core.local")
+  if ok then
+    -- Make local config available globally
+    vim.g.cargdev_local = local_config
+    return local_config
+  else
+    -- Provide empty defaults if local.lua doesn't exist
+    vim.g.cargdev_local = {}
+    return {}
+  end
+end
+load_local_config()
+
+-- 1. Setup LuaRocks path for rest.nvim dependencies (Lua 5.1 - Neovim uses LuaJIT)
 local function setup_luarocks_path()
   local luarocks_path = vim.fn.system("luarocks path --lr-path --lua-version=5.1 --local 2>/dev/null"):gsub("\n", "")
   if luarocks_path and luarocks_path ~= "" then
@@ -13,14 +28,14 @@ local function setup_luarocks_path()
 end
 setup_luarocks_path()
 
--- 1. Compatibility Layer
+-- 2. Compatibility Layer
 require("cargdev.core.compatibility").setup()
 
--- 2. Core Options and Keymaps
+-- 3. Core Options and Keymaps
 require("cargdev.core.options")
 require("cargdev.core.keymaps")
 
--- 3. Utility: Load all Lua files inside `cargdev/core/function/` AFTER plugins are loaded
+-- 4. Utility: Load all Lua files inside `cargdev/core/function/` AFTER plugins are loaded
 local function load_functions()
   local function_path = vim.fn.stdpath("config") .. "/lua/cargdev/core/function"
   local scan = vim.fn.globpath(function_path, "*.lua", false, true)
@@ -33,7 +48,7 @@ local function load_functions()
   end
 end
 
--- 4. Fix: Force filetype detection on BufRead (fix for nvim-tree/plain text issue)
+-- 5. Fix: Force filetype detection on BufRead (fix for nvim-tree/plain text issue)
 -- Only run if filetype is not already detected to avoid redundant calls
 vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("BufRead", {
   pattern = "*",
@@ -44,7 +59,7 @@ vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("BufRead", {
   end,
 })
 
--- 5. Load functions on VimEnter to ensure plugins are loaded first
+-- 6. Load functions on VimEnter to ensure plugins are loaded first
 -- Using a flag to prevent double-loading
 local functions_loaded = false
 vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("VimEnter", {
@@ -59,7 +74,7 @@ vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("VimEnter", {
   once = true,
 })
 
--- 6. Diagnostic float on hover (show diagnostics when cursor holds)
+-- 7. Diagnostic float on hover (show diagnostics when cursor holds)
 vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("CursorHold", {
   callback = function()
     local opts = {
@@ -74,7 +89,7 @@ vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("CursorHold", {
   end,
 })
 
--- 7. Configuration validation on startup
+-- 8. Configuration validation on startup
 local function validate_config()
   local warnings = {}
 
@@ -107,7 +122,7 @@ vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("VimEnter", {
   once = true,
 })
 
--- 8. Custom health check command
+-- 9. Custom health check command
 vim.api.nvim_create_user_command("CheckConfig", function()
   vim.cmd("checkhealth")
 end, { desc = "Run Neovim health check" })

lua/cargdev/plugins/avante.lua

@@ -1,6 +1,14 @@
+-- Get local config (loaded in core/init.lua)
+local local_cfg = vim.g.cargdev_local or {}
+
+-- Skip plugin if local config is missing required values
+if not local_cfg.avante_dev_path then
+  return {}
+end
+
 return {
   {
-    dir = "/Users/carlos/Documents/projects/avante.nvim",
+    dir = local_cfg.avante_dev_path,
     -- "yetone/avante.nvim",
     event = "VeryLazy",
     lazy = false,
@@ -13,9 +21,9 @@ return {
       providers = {
         cargdev = {
           name = "cargdev", -- Optional
-          endpoint = "http://localhost:5001", -- endpoint = "https://api-ai.cargdev.io", -- API endpoint
-          api_key_name = "CARGDEV_API_KEY", -- reference the ENV VAR below
-          model = "qwen2.5-coder:7b",
+          endpoint = local_cfg.avante_endpoint,
+          api_key_name = local_cfg.avante_api_key_name,
+          model = local_cfg.avante_model,
           __inherited_from = "ollama", -- ensures compatibility
           max_tokens = 8192,
           -- Explicitly ensure tools are enabled
@@ -27,7 +35,7 @@ return {
     },
     -- Build from source for development
     -- Run `make BUILD_FROM_SOURCE=true` to build Rust components
-    -- You can also build manually: cd /Users/carlos/Documents/projects/avante.nvim && make
+    -- You can also build manually: cd <avante_dev_path> && make
     build = "make BUILD_FROM_SOURCE=true",
     dependencies = {
       "nvim-treesitter/nvim-treesitter",

lua/cargdev/plugins/ideaMap.lua

@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
+-- Get local config (loaded in core/init.lua)
+local local_cfg = vim.g.cargdev_local or {}
+
+-- Skip plugin if IDEA_DIR is not configured
+if not local_cfg.IDEA_DIR then
+  return {}
+end
+
 return {
   "CarGDev/ideadrop.nvim",
   name = "ideaDrop",
@@ -7,7 +15,7 @@ return {
   },
   config = function()
     require("ideaDrop").setup({
-      idea_dir = vim.env.IDEA_DIR,
+      idea_dir = vim.g.cargdev_local.IDEA_DIR,
     })
     
     -- Set up convenient keymaps for ideaDrop

lua/cargdev/plugins/lazygit.lua

@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 return {
-  --[[ dir = "/Users/carlos/Documents/SSD_Documents/projects/lazygit.nvim", ]]
   "kdheepak/lazygit.nvim",
   cmd = {
     "LazyGit",

lua/cargdev/plugins/leetcode.lua

@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 return {
-  --[[ dir = '/Users/carlos/Documents/SSD_Documents/personals/leetcode.nvim', ]]
   "kawre/leetcode.nvim",
   dependencies = {
     "nvim-telescope/telescope.nvim",