cargo-rail: added the 'remove_deps' to the rail.toml config; prepped the VHS tapes for examples/ repos; added the gifs themselves for each repo. updating the docs & adding justfile command for docs-gen; cleaned up readme.md - GIF examples need reviews

Author: loadingalias

.gitignore

@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ rules.md
 ARCHITECTURE.md
 style.md
 demos/
-setup
+test.md
 
 # Cargo-Rail (Testing)
 *rail.toml

README.md

@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ Native changelog generation. Configurable publish delays. GitHub releases via `g
 
 ## Why cargo-rail
 
-### 12 dependencies, 92 resolved
+### 12 dependencies, 98 resolved
 
 Compare: cargo-hakari pulls ~40 direct via guppy. release-plz pulls 600+ resolved.
 
@@ -206,28 +206,57 @@ Run `cargo rail <command> --help` for details, or see [docs/commands.md](docs/co
 ## Configuration
 
 ```bash
-cargo rail init  # Auto-detects targets, generates rail.toml
+cargo rail init  # Auto-detects targets, generates .config/rail.toml
 ```
 
+Generated config with all options and defaults:
+
 ```toml
-# .config/rail.toml or rail.toml
+# .config/rail.toml (or rail.toml, .rail.toml, .cargo/rail.toml)
+
+# Platform targets for multi-target validation (auto-detected from rust-toolchain.toml, .cargo/config.toml, etc.)
 targets = ["x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu", "aarch64-apple-darwin", "x86_64-pc-windows-msvc"]
 
 [unify]
-pin_transitives = true      # Pin transitive-only deps (workspace-hack replacement)
-msrv = true                 # Compute and set workspace MSRV
-detect_unused = true        # Find unused dependencies
-remove_unused = true        # Remove them automatically
-prune_dead_features = true  # Remove features never used
-exclude = ["openssl"]       # Skip specific deps
+include_paths = true           # Handle path dependencies (default: true)
+include_renamed = false        # Handle renamed deps with package = "..." (default: false)
+pin_transitives = false        # Pin transitive-only deps - enable for hakari users (default: false)
+transitive_host = "root"       # Where to put pinned transitive dev-deps: "root" or "crates/foo"
+exclude = []                   # Dependencies to skip unification
+include = []                   # Dependencies to force-include
+msrv = true                    # Compute workspace MSRV from deps (default: true)
+strict_version_compat = true   # Treat version mismatches as errors (default: true)
+exact_pin_handling = "warn"    # How to handle =x.y.z pins: skip, preserve, warn (default: warn)
+detect_unused = true           # Detect unused dependencies (default: true)
+remove_unused = true           # Auto-remove unused deps (default: true)
+max_backups = 3                # Number of backup files to keep (default: 3)
+prune_dead_features = true     # Remove features never enabled in graph (default: true)
 
 [release]
-publish_delay = 5           # Seconds between crates.io publishes
-create_github_release = true
-
+tag_prefix = "v"                        # Prefix for tags
+tag_format = "{crate}-{prefix}{version}" # Tag template: {crate}, {prefix}, {version}
+require_clean = true                    # Require clean working directory
+publish_delay = 5                       # Seconds between crates.io publishes
+create_github_release = false           # Create GitHub releases via gh CLI
+sign_tags = false                       # Sign tags with GPG/SSH
+changelog_path = "CHANGELOG.md"         # Path to changelog file
+changelog_relative_to = "crate"         # "crate" or "workspace"
+skip_changelog_for = []                 # Crates to skip changelog generation
+require_changelog_entries = false       # Error if no changelog entries
+
+[change-detection]
+# Files that trigger full workspace rebuild
+infrastructure = [".github/**", "scripts/**", "justfile", "Makefile", "*.sh"]
+# custom.verify = ["verify/**/*.rs"]    # Custom path categories
+
+# Per-crate configuration
 [crates.my-crate.split]
 remote = "[email protected]:org/my-crate.git"
-mode = "single"             # or "multi", "workspace"
+branch = "main"
+mode = "single"  # single, combined, or monorepo
+
+[crates.my-crate.release]
+publish = true
 ```
 
 ---

docs/config.md

@@ -34,27 +34,25 @@ Dependency unification settings.
 
 ```toml
 [unify]
-pin_transitives = true
-detect_unused = false
-remove_unused = false
-msrv = false
+pin_transitives = true   # Enable for hakari/workspace-hack users
 exclude = ["problem-dep"]
 ```
 
 | Option | Type | Default | Description |
 |--------|------|---------|-------------|
 | `include_paths` | bool | `true` | Unify path dependencies |
 | `include_renamed` | bool | `false` | Include `package = "..."` deps |
-| `pin_transitives` | bool | `true` | Pin fragmented transitives (hakari replacement) |
+| `pin_transitives` | bool | `false` | Pin fragmented transitives (enable for hakari users) |
 | `transitive_host` | string | `"root"` | Where to put pinned dev-deps |
 | `exclude` | string[] | `[]` | Dependencies to skip |
 | `include` | string[] | `[]` | Dependencies to force-unify |
 | `max_backups` | int | `3` | Backups to keep |
-| `msrv` | bool | `false` | Compute and write MSRV |
+| `msrv` | bool | `true` | Compute and write MSRV |
 | `strict_version_compat` | bool | `true` | Error on version conflicts |
 | `exact_pin_handling` | enum | `"warn"` | `"skip"`, `"preserve"`, `"warn"` |
-| `detect_unused` | bool | `false` | Detect unused dependencies |
-| `remove_unused` | bool | `false` | Auto-remove unused (requires detect_unused) |
+| `detect_unused` | bool | `true` | Detect unused dependencies |
+| `remove_unused` | bool | `true` | Auto-remove unused (requires detect_unused) |
+| `prune_dead_features` | bool | `true` | Remove features never enabled in graph |
 
 ---
 
@@ -64,15 +62,15 @@ Release automation settings.
 
 ```toml
 [release]
-tag_format = "{crate}@{version}"
+tag_format = "{crate}-{prefix}{version}"
 create_github_release = true
 publish_delay = 5
 ```
 
 | Option | Type | Default | Description |
 |--------|------|---------|-------------|
-| `tag_prefix` | string | `""` | Git tag prefix |
-| `tag_format` | string | `"{crate}@{version}"` | Tag template (`{crate}`, `{version}`, `{prefix}`) |
+| `tag_prefix` | string | `"v"` | Git tag prefix (used via `{prefix}`) |
+| `tag_format` | string | `"{crate}-{prefix}{version}"` | Tag template (`{crate}`, `{version}`, `{prefix}`) |
 | `require_clean` | bool | `true` | Require clean working directory |
 | `publish_delay` | int | `5` | Seconds between publishes |
 | `create_github_release` | bool | `false` | Create GitHub release via `gh` |
@@ -169,20 +167,29 @@ skip = true
 ### Minimal
 
 ```toml
-# Just enable unification with defaults
+# Just run `cargo rail init` - defaults are sensible
+# msrv, detect_unused, remove_unused, prune_dead_features all default to true
+```
+
+### Hakari/workspace-hack users
+
+```toml
 [unify]
+pin_transitives = true  # Enable transitive pinning (replaces workspace-hack)
+```
+
+### With renamed dependencies
+
+```toml
+[unify]
+include_renamed = true  # Handle package = "..." renames
 ```
 
 ### CI-optimized monorepo
 
 ```toml
 targets = ["x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"]
 
-[unify]
-pin_transitives = true
-detect_unused = true
-remove_unused = true
-
 [release]
 require_changelog_entries = true
 create_github_release = true
@@ -217,7 +224,5 @@ targets = [
 ]
 
 [unify]
-pin_transitives = true
-msrv = true
 exclude = ["openssl"]  # platform-specific, skip
 ```

examples/README.md

@@ -14,15 +14,19 @@ Each subdirectory contains:
 
 | Project | Focus | Key Result |
 |---------|-------|------------|
-| [tokio](./tokio/) | Async runtime | 10 deps unified, 35 edits saved |
-| [polars](./polars/) | DataFrame library | Already well-maintained (2 deps) |
-| [ruff](./ruff/) | Python linter | 47% CI reduction with `affected` |
-| [vello](./vello/) | GPU 2D rendering | 7 deps unified (virtual workspace) |
-| [helix](./helix/) | Text editor | 62% CI reduction, 16 deps unified |
-| [tikv](./tikv/) | Distributed KV store | 56 deps unified, 514 edits saved |
-| [iced](./iced/) | GUI framework | 164 transitives pinned |
-| [meilisearch](./meilisearch/) | Search engine | 46 deps unified + 47% CI reduction |
-| [ripgrep](./ripgrep/) | Search tool | 9 deps unified (10 crates, not 1!) |
+| [codex](./codex/) | AI CLI (48 crates) | 2 deps unified, 132 transitives pinned |
+| [helix](./helix/) | Text editor (13 crates) | 16 deps unified, 66 edits saved |
+| [helix-db](./helix-db/) | Graph database (6 crates) | 16 deps unified, 44 edits saved |
+| [iced](./iced/) | GUI framework (71 crates) | 6 deps unified, 161 transitives pinned |
+| [jj](./jj/) | Git-compatible VCS (5 crates) | Well-maintained, 109 transitives |
+| [meilisearch](./meilisearch/) | Search engine (19 crates) | 46 deps unified, 209 edits saved |
+| [neon](./neon/) | Serverless Postgres (49 crates) | Uses hakari, pin_transitives=true |
+| [polars](./polars/) | DataFrame library (33 crates) | Well-maintained, 2 deps unified |
+| [ripgrep](./ripgrep/) | Search tool (10 crates) | 9 deps unified, 35 edits saved |
+| [ruff](./ruff/) | Python linter (43 crates) | Well-maintained, 86 transitives |
+| [tikv](./tikv/) | Distributed KV (83 crates) | 57 deps unified, 516 edits saved |
+| [tokio](./tokio/) | Async runtime (10 crates) | 10 deps unified, 35 edits saved |
+| [vello](./vello/) | GPU 2D rendering (26 crates) | 7 deps unified, 70 transitives |
 
 ## Quick Start
 

examples/codex/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+# codex + cargo-rail
+
+**Repo:** <https://github.com/openai/codex>
+**Commit:** `cbd7d0d54` (2025-11-30)
+
+## Demo
+
+![codex demo](./demo.gif)
+
+## Commands
+
+```bash
+# Clone and enter
+git clone https://github.com/openai/codex
+cd codex/codex-rs
+
+# Initialize cargo-rail
+cargo rail init
+
+# Check and apply unification
+cargo rail unify --check
+cargo rail unify
+
+# See affected crates
+cargo rail affected --since HEAD~5
+```
+
+## Impact Summary
+
+| Metric | Value |
+|--------|-------|
+| Workspace members | 48 |
+| Dependencies unified | 0 |
+| Transitives pinned | 20 |
+
+**Note:** Already well-maintained, no direct unification needed.
+
+## Configuration
+
+```toml
+# .config/rail.toml (generated by cargo rail init)
+[unify]
+include_paths = true
+include_renamed = false
+pin_transitives = false
+transitive_host = "root"
+exclude = []
+include = []
+msrv = true
+strict_version_compat = true
+exact_pin_handling = "warn"
+detect_unused = true
+```
+
+## Notes
+
+- OpenAI's Codex CLI (mixed TypeScript/Rust repo)
+- Rust workspace in `codex-rs/` subdirectory
+- Large workspace (48 crates)
+- Already well-maintained with consistent dependency versions
+- MSRV detection enabled
+
+Details in [`summary.toml`](./summary.toml).

examples/codex/demo.gif

@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+# codex - cargo-rail demo
+
+Output examples/codex/demo.gif
+
+Set FontSize 14
+Set Width 900
+Set Height 600
+Set Theme "Catppuccin Mocha"
+Set Padding 20
+Set TypingSpeed 75ms
+
+Type "cd ~/loadingalias/testing/codex/codex-rs"
+Enter
+Sleep 1s
+
+Type "cargo rail init"
+Enter
+Sleep 3s
+
+Type "cargo rail unify --check"
+Enter
+Sleep 5s
+
+Type "cargo rail unify"
+Enter
+Sleep 4s
+
+Type "cargo rail affected --since HEAD~5"
+Enter
+Sleep 4s
+
+Sleep 2s

examples/codex/demo.tape

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+repo = "openai/codex"
+commit = "cbd7d0d54"
+date = "2025-11-30"
+
+[workspace]
+members = 48
+lock_deps = 757
+
+[unify]
+deps_unified = 2
+member_edits = 19
+transitives_pinned = 132
+deps = ["reqwest", "serde"]
+
+[config]
+special = false
+pin_transitives = false # No workspace-hack
+msrv = true
+detect_unused = true
+note = "Mixed TS/Rust repo, workspace in codex-rs/"

examples/codex/summary.toml

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+# helix-db + cargo-rail
+
+**Repo:** <https://github.com/HelixDB/helix-db>
+**Commit:** `5a5c21d8` (2025-11-30)
+
+## Demo
+
+![helix-db demo](./demo.gif)
+
+## Commands
+
+```bash
+# Clone and enter
+git clone https://github.com/HelixDB/helix-db
+cd helix-db
+
+# Initialize cargo-rail
+cargo rail init
+
+# Check and apply unification
+cargo rail unify --check
+cargo rail unify
+
+# See affected crates
+cargo rail affected --since HEAD~5
+```
+
+## Impact Summary
+
+| Metric | Value |
+|--------|-------|
+| Workspace members | 6 |
+| Dependencies unified | 16 |
+| Member edits | 44 |
+| Transitives pinned | 0 |
+
+**Dependencies unified:** reqwest, inventory, uuid, heed3, clap, rand, flume, tokio, dotenvy, tempfile, serde_json, chrono, num_cpus, tracing, serde, bumpalo
+
+## Configuration
+
+```toml
+# .config/rail.toml (generated by cargo rail init)
+[unify]
+include_paths = true
+include_renamed = false
+pin_transitives = false
+transitive_host = "root"
+exclude = []
+include = []
+msrv = true
+strict_version_compat = true
+exact_pin_handling = "warn"
+detect_unused = true
+```
+
+## Notes
+
+- Graph database written in Rust
+- Compact workspace (6 crates) with significant unification potential
+- 16 dependencies can be unified across crates
+- Good example of `unify` command benefits
+- MSRV detection enabled
+
+Details in [`summary.toml`](./summary.toml).