Added .sv_* files that are files for directories. So you can now edit

directories as files.

.gitignore

@@ -10,6 +10,3 @@ Frontend/dist/
 .DS_Store
 .vscode/
 .idea/
-
-# Misc
-.Todo/

Backend/Explorer.py

@@ -38,6 +38,64 @@ def ClassifyFile(EntryPath: Path) -> str:
     return FileTypeMap.get(EntryPath.suffix.lower(), "unknown")
 
 
+NoteFilePrefix = ".sv_"
+DefaultNoteExtension = ".md"
+
+
+def IsNoteFile(EntryName: str) -> bool:
+    """A directory's own "file" - editable/viewable like any other file, but
+    hidden from normal listings behind the ShowSvFiles setting.
+    """
+    return EntryName.startswith(NoteFilePrefix)
+
+
+def FindDirectoryNote(DirectoryPath: Path) -> Path | None:
+    """Find a directory's note file, whatever extension it currently has."""
+    Prefix = f"{NoteFilePrefix}{DirectoryPath.name}."
+
+    for Candidate in DirectoryPath.iterdir():
+        if Candidate.is_file() and Candidate.name.startswith(Prefix):
+            return Candidate
+
+    return None
+
+
+def EnsureDirectoryNote(DirectoryPath: Path) -> Path:
+    """Find a directory's note file, creating one (defaulting to markdown)
+    if it doesn't have one yet - e.g. a directory that predates this feature.
+    """
+    Existing = FindDirectoryNote(DirectoryPath)
+    if Existing is not None:
+        return Existing
+
+    NotePath = DirectoryPath / f"{NoteFilePrefix}{DirectoryPath.name}{DefaultNoteExtension}"
+    NotePath.touch()
+    return NotePath
+
+
+def GetDirectoryNoteInfo(DirectoryPath: Path) -> dict[str, Any] | None:
+    """Read-only lookup for listings - never creates a note."""
+    NotePath = FindDirectoryNote(DirectoryPath)
+
+    if NotePath is None:
+        return None
+
+    return {"Name": NotePath.name, "FileType": ClassifyFile(NotePath)}
+
+
+def RenameDirectoryNote(DirectoryPath: Path, OldDirectoryName: str) -> None:
+    """After a directory is renamed/moved, keep its note file's name (which
+    embeds the directory's own name) in sync, preserving its extension.
+    """
+    OldPrefix = f"{NoteFilePrefix}{OldDirectoryName}."
+
+    for Candidate in DirectoryPath.iterdir():
+        if Candidate.is_file() and Candidate.name.startswith(OldPrefix):
+            NewName = f"{NoteFilePrefix}{DirectoryPath.name}{Candidate.suffix}"
+            Candidate.rename(DirectoryPath / NewName)
+            return
+
+
 def ListRoots() -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
     """Return the configured roots as a flat list for the frontend."""
     return [{"Name": Name} for Name in GetRoots()]
@@ -52,6 +110,7 @@ def CreateEntry(RootName: str, RelativePath: str, IsDirectory: bool) -> None:
 
     if IsDirectory:
         EntryPath.mkdir(parents=False)
+        EnsureDirectoryNote(EntryPath)
     else:
         EntryPath.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         EntryPath.touch()
@@ -70,6 +129,7 @@ def MoveEntry(RootName: str, SourceRelativePath: str, DestinationRelativePath: s
     if DestinationPath.exists():
         raise FileExistsError(f"{DestinationPath.name} already exists.")
 
+    OldName = SourcePath.name
     DestinationPath.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
 
     try:
@@ -78,6 +138,9 @@ def MoveEntry(RootName: str, SourceRelativePath: str, DestinationRelativePath: s
         # Cross-device or other rename failures — fall back to a copy+delete.
         shutil.move(str(SourcePath), str(DestinationPath))
 
+    if DestinationPath.is_dir():
+        RenameDirectoryNote(DestinationPath, OldName)
+
 
 def DeleteEntry(RootName: str, RelativePath: str) -> None:
     """Delete a file, or an entire directory tree."""
@@ -92,11 +155,17 @@ def DeleteEntry(RootName: str, RelativePath: str) -> None:
         EntryPath.unlink()
 
 
-def ListDirectory(RootName: str, RelativePath: str, ShowHidden: bool = False) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
+def ListDirectory(
+    RootName: str, RelativePath: str, ShowHidden: bool = False, ShowSvFiles: bool = False
+) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
     """List the immediate contents of a directory.
 
     SaraTag's internal files are always hidden, regardless of ShowHidden.
-    Dotfiles/dotfolders are hidden unless ShowHidden is True.
+    Note files (.sv_*) are hidden unless ShowSvFiles is True - independently
+    of ShowHidden, since they're an implementation detail rather than a
+    normal dotfile. Every directory's Note metadata is still attached
+    regardless of ShowSvFiles, so clicking the directory can open it.
+    Other dotfiles/dotfolders are hidden unless ShowHidden is True.
     """
     DirectoryPath = ResolvePath(RootName, RelativePath)
 
@@ -114,7 +183,10 @@ def ListDirectory(RootName: str, RelativePath: str, ShowHidden: bool = False) ->
         if IsInternalPath(EntryPath):
             continue
 
-        if not ShowHidden and EntryPath.name.startswith("."):
+        if IsNoteFile(EntryPath.name):
+            if not ShowSvFiles:
+                continue
+        elif not ShowHidden and EntryPath.name.startswith("."):
             continue
 
         IsDirectory = EntryPath.is_dir()
@@ -124,6 +196,7 @@ def ListDirectory(RootName: str, RelativePath: str, ShowHidden: bool = False) ->
                 "IsDirectory": IsDirectory,
                 "FileType": None if IsDirectory else ClassifyFile(EntryPath),
                 "Size": None if IsDirectory else EntryPath.stat().st_size,
+                "Note": GetDirectoryNoteInfo(EntryPath) if IsDirectory else None,
             }
         )
 

Backend/Main.py

@@ -18,7 +18,15 @@ from BookReader import ReadBookForFile
 from Blame import LoadBlame, RenameUserInBlame, UpdateBlameOnSave
 from Core import ResolvePath
 from Editor import WriteTextFile
-from Explorer import ClassifyFile, CreateEntry, DeleteEntry, ListDirectory, ListRoots, MoveEntry
+from Explorer import (
+    ClassifyFile,
+    CreateEntry,
+    DeleteEntry,
+    EnsureDirectoryNote,
+    ListDirectory,
+    ListRoots,
+    MoveEntry,
+)
 from Groups import (
     CreateGroup,
     DeleteGroup,
@@ -378,8 +386,10 @@ def GetTreeEndpoint(
     RequirePathAccessible(Root, Path, CurrentUser)
 
     try:
-        ShowHidden = LoadSettings(CurrentUser["Username"]).get("ShowHiddenFolders", False)
-        Entries = ListDirectory(Root, Path, ShowHidden)
+        UserSettings = LoadSettings(CurrentUser["Username"])
+        ShowHidden = UserSettings.get("ShowHiddenFolders", False)
+        ShowSvFiles = UserSettings.get("ShowSvFiles", False)
+        Entries = ListDirectory(Root, Path, ShowHidden, ShowSvFiles)
     except (ValueError, NotADirectoryError, FileNotFoundError) as Error:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail=str(Error))
 
@@ -400,6 +410,25 @@ def GetTreeEndpoint(
     ]
 
 
+@Application.post("/api/note")
+def PostNoteEndpoint(Root: str, Path: str, CurrentUser: dict = Depends(GetCurrentUser)) -> dict:
+    """Find (or create, for a directory that predates this feature) the
+    directory's own note file, so it can be opened like any other file.
+    """
+    RequirePathAccessible(Root, Path, CurrentUser)
+
+    try:
+        DirectoryPath = ResolvePath(Root, Path)
+    except ValueError as Error:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail=str(Error))
+
+    if not DirectoryPath.is_dir():
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail="Not a directory.")
+
+    NotePath = EnsureDirectoryNote(DirectoryPath)
+    return {"Name": NotePath.name, "FileType": ClassifyFile(NotePath)}
+
+
 class CreateEntryRequest(BaseModel):
     IsDirectory: bool
 

Backend/Settings.py

@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ DefaultSettings: dict[str, Any] = {
     "FontSize": 14,
     "ThemeName": "CatppuccinMocha",
     "ShowHiddenFolders": False,
+    "ShowSvFiles": False,
     "ShowBreadcrumbs": True,
     "UseHyphenBullets": True,
     "UseAsciiFolderIcons": True,

Frontend/src/Api.js

@@ -194,6 +194,11 @@ export function DeleteEntry(RootName, RelativePath) {
   return FetchJson(`/tree?${Params}`, { method: "DELETE" });
 }
 
+export function EnsureDirectoryNote(RootName, RelativePath) {
+  const Params = new URLSearchParams({ Root: RootName, Path: RelativePath });
+  return FetchJson(`/note?${Params}`, { method: "POST" });
+}
+
 // --- Settings / themes -------------------------------------------------
 
 export function FetchSettings() {

Frontend/src/App.jsx

@@ -7,7 +7,14 @@ import DirectoryPane from "./Components/DirectoryPane.jsx";
 import TagPanel from "./Components/TagPanel.jsx";
 import SettingsPanel from "./Components/SettingsPanel.jsx";
 import LoginScreen from "./Components/LoginScreen.jsx";
-import { FetchAuthStatus, FetchMe, FetchRoots, FetchSettings, FetchTheme } from "./Api.js";
+import {
+  EnsureDirectoryNote,
+  FetchAuthStatus,
+  FetchMe,
+  FetchRoots,
+  FetchSettings,
+  FetchTheme,
+} from "./Api.js";
 import { PaletteRoles } from "./ThemeRoles.js";
 
 function ApplyTheme(Palette) {
@@ -41,6 +48,7 @@ export default function App() {
   const [ViewPath, SetViewPath] = useState("");
   const [ViewIsDirectory, SetViewIsDirectory] = useState(true);
   const [ViewFileType, SetViewFileType] = useState(null);
+  const [ViewNoteFilePath, SetViewNoteFilePath] = useState(null);
   const [CurrentDirectoryPath, SetCurrentDirectoryPath] = useState("");
   const [SidebarKey, SetSidebarKey] = useState(0);
   const [Settings, SetSettings] = useState(null);
@@ -104,6 +112,7 @@ export default function App() {
     SetViewPath(FilePath);
     SetViewIsDirectory(false);
     SetViewFileType(FileType);
+    SetViewNoteFilePath(null);
     SetCurrentDirectoryPath(GetParentPath(FilePath));
   }
 
@@ -111,6 +120,7 @@ export default function App() {
     SetViewPath(DirectoryPath);
     SetViewIsDirectory(true);
     SetViewFileType(null);
+    SetViewNoteFilePath(null);
     SetCurrentDirectoryPath(DirectoryPath);
   }
 
@@ -118,9 +128,34 @@ export default function App() {
     SetCurrentDirectoryPath(DirectoryPath);
   }
 
-  function HandleEntrySelect(EntryPath, IsDirectory, FileType) {
+  // A directory is opened the same way a file is - via its own note file -
+  // rather than by drilling into its listing. Browsing a directory's
+  // contents happens separately, through the sidebar tree.
+  function HandleSelectDirectoryNote(DirectoryPath, NoteName, NoteFileType) {
+    SetViewPath(DirectoryPath);
+    SetViewIsDirectory(false);
+    SetViewFileType(NoteFileType);
+    SetViewNoteFilePath(`${DirectoryPath}/${NoteName}`);
+    SetCurrentDirectoryPath(DirectoryPath);
+  }
+
+  async function OpenDirectoryNote(DirectoryPath, Note) {
+    if (Note) {
+      HandleSelectDirectoryNote(DirectoryPath, Note.Name, Note.FileType);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    try {
+      const Created = await EnsureDirectoryNote(ActiveRoot, DirectoryPath);
+      HandleSelectDirectoryNote(DirectoryPath, Created.Name, Created.FileType);
+    } catch (Error) {
+      window.alert(Error.message);
+    }
+  }
+
+  function HandleEntrySelect(EntryPath, IsDirectory, FileType, Note) {
     if (IsDirectory) {
-      HandleNavigateDirectory(EntryPath);
+      OpenDirectoryNote(EntryPath, Note);
     } else {
       HandleSelectFile(EntryPath, FileType);
     }
@@ -133,7 +168,11 @@ export default function App() {
   function HandleEntryRenamed(OldPath, NewPath, IsDirectory) {
     RefreshSidebar();
 
-    if (!ViewIsDirectory && ViewPath === OldPath) {
+    if (ViewNoteFilePath && ViewPath === OldPath) {
+      // Viewing this directory's own note - the server already renamed the
+      // note file to match, so just re-resolve it under the new path.
+      OpenDirectoryNote(NewPath, null);
+    } else if (!ViewIsDirectory && ViewPath === OldPath) {
       HandleSelectFile(NewPath, ViewFileType);
     } else if (ViewIsDirectory && ViewPath === OldPath) {
       HandleNavigateDirectory(NewPath);
@@ -178,6 +217,7 @@ export default function App() {
         CurrentDirectoryPath={CurrentDirectoryPath}
         CurrentUser={CurrentUser}
         OnSelectFile={HandleSelectFile}
+        OnSelectDirectory={OpenDirectoryNote}
         OnNavigateDirectory={HandleNavigateDirectory}
         OnBrowseDirectory={HandleBrowseDirectory}
         OnEntryRenamed={HandleEntryRenamed}
@@ -197,7 +237,7 @@ export default function App() {
               <Breadcrumb
                 RootName={ActiveRoot}
                 FilePath={ViewPath}
-                IsDirectory={ViewIsDirectory}
+                IsDirectory={ViewIsDirectory || Boolean(ViewNoteFilePath)}
                 OnNavigate={HandleNavigateDirectory}
               />
             ) : (
@@ -234,7 +274,7 @@ export default function App() {
           ) : (
             <PreviewPane
               RootName={ActiveRoot}
-              FilePath={ViewPath}
+              FilePath={ViewNoteFilePath || ViewPath}
               FileType={ViewFileType}
               OnNavigateLink={HandleSelectFile}
               ShowGitBlame={Settings ? Settings.ShowGitBlame : false}
@@ -242,7 +282,9 @@ export default function App() {
               StickyToolbar={Settings ? Settings.StickyToolbar : true}
             />
           )}
-          {!ViewIsDirectory && <TagPanel RootName={ActiveRoot} FilePath={ViewPath} />}
+          {!ViewIsDirectory && !ViewNoteFilePath && (
+            <TagPanel RootName={ActiveRoot} FilePath={ViewPath} />
+          )}
         </div>
       </div>
       {IsSettingsOpen && (

Frontend/src/Components/DirectoryPane.jsx

@@ -149,7 +149,9 @@ export default function DirectoryPane({
           <div
             className="DirectoryEntry"
             key={Entry.Name}
-            onClick={() => OnEntrySelect(JoinPath(Entry.Name), Entry.IsDirectory, Entry.FileType)}
+            onClick={() =>
+              OnEntrySelect(JoinPath(Entry.Name), Entry.IsDirectory, Entry.FileType, Entry.Note)
+            }
           >
             <span className="TreeIcon">
               {Entry.IsDirectory

Frontend/src/Components/SettingsPanel.jsx

@@ -323,6 +323,11 @@ export default function SettingsPanel({
             <Switch Checked={Settings.ShowHiddenFolders} OnChange={(Event) => UpdateField("ShowHiddenFolders", Event.target.checked)} />
           </div>
 
+          <div className="SettingsRowInline">
+            <label className="SettingsLabel">Show directory note files (.sv_*)</label>
+            <Switch Checked={Settings.ShowSvFiles} OnChange={(Event) => UpdateField("ShowSvFiles", Event.target.checked)} />
+          </div>
+
           <div className="SettingsRowInline">
             <label className="SettingsLabel">Show breadcrumbs</label>
             <Switch Checked={Settings.ShowBreadcrumbs} OnChange={(Event) => UpdateField("ShowBreadcrumbs", Event.target.checked)} />

Frontend/src/Components/Sidebar.jsx

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ function TreeNode({
   SelectedFile,
   CurrentDirectoryPath,
   OnSelectFile,
+  OnSelectDirectory,
   OnNavigateDirectory,
   OnBrowseDirectory,
   OnEntryRenamed,
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@ function TreeNode({
     OnBrowseDirectory(FullPath);
 
     if (NavigateIntoDirectories) {
-      OnNavigateDirectory(FullPath);
+      OnSelectDirectory(FullPath, Entry.Note);
     }
   }
 
@@ -156,6 +157,7 @@ function TreeNode({
               SelectedFile={SelectedFile}
               CurrentDirectoryPath={CurrentDirectoryPath}
               OnSelectFile={OnSelectFile}
+              OnSelectDirectory={OnSelectDirectory}
               OnNavigateDirectory={OnNavigateDirectory}
               OnBrowseDirectory={OnBrowseDirectory}
               OnEntryRenamed={OnEntryRenamed}
@@ -213,6 +215,7 @@ export default function Sidebar({
   CurrentDirectoryPath,
   CurrentUser,
   OnSelectFile,
+  OnSelectDirectory,
   OnNavigateDirectory,
   OnBrowseDirectory,
   OnEntryRenamed,
@@ -319,6 +322,7 @@ export default function Sidebar({
             SelectedFile={SelectedFile}
             CurrentDirectoryPath={CurrentDirectoryPath}
             OnSelectFile={OnSelectFile}
+            OnSelectDirectory={OnSelectDirectory}
             OnNavigateDirectory={OnNavigateDirectory}
             OnBrowseDirectory={OnBrowseDirectory}
             OnEntryRenamed={OnEntryRenamed}