How to hide sound blocks for devices that are not present? (bluetooth/USB headsets, etc)

[ashleyghooper]

I use multiple sound sinks during a user session, for example I use headsets sometimes.

I was using a sound block generated from the below Nix code, which covers all sinks:

           {
             block = "sound";
             driver = "pulseaudio";
             format = " $output_name{$volume|N/A}";
             name = "alsa_output.usb-Logitech_Logitech_USB_Headset-00.analog-stereo";
             mappings = {
               "alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo" = "🔈";
               "alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.pro-output-3" = "🔈";
               "alsa_output.usb-Logitech_Logitech_USB_Headset-00.analog-stereo" = "🎧";
               "bluez_output.F4_B6_88_76_30_85.1" = "🎧";
               "bluez_sink.F4_B6_88_76_30_85.a2dp_sink" = "🎧";
               "bluez_sink.F4_B6_88_76_30_85.handsfree_head_unit" = "🎧";
               "bluez_sink.F4_B6_88_76_30_85.*" = "🎧";
             };
           }

With the above, I can only adjust sound for the built-in sound card, so I split into multiple blocks:

            {
              block = "sound";
              driver = "pulseaudio";
              format = " $output_name{$volume|N/A}";
              name = "alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo";
              mappings = {
                "alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.*" = "🔈";
              };
            }
            {
              block = "sound";
              driver = "pulseaudio";
              format = " $output_name{$volume|N/A}";
              name = "alsa_output.usb-Logitech_Logitech_USB_Headset-00.analog-stereo";
              mappings = {
                "alsa_output.usb-Logitech_Logitech_USB_Headset-00.analog-stereo" = "🎧";
                "bluez_output.F4_B6_88_76_30_85.1" = "🎧";
                "bluez_sink.F4_B6_88_76_30_85.*" = "🎧";
              };
            }
            {
              block = "sound";
              driver = "pulseaudio";
              format = " $output_name{$volume|N/A}";
              name = "bluez_output.F4_B6_88_76_30_85.1";
              mappings = {
                "bluez_output.F4_B6_88_76_30_85.1" = "🎧";
                "bluez_sink.F4_B6_88_76_30_85.*" = "🎧";
              };
            }

Now I can adjust the volume, but I don't want to show the blocks for the 'pluggable' sinks when they aren't available. I see if_command but that doesn't seem to account for plugging in a sink during a session, but rather runs only on startup of the status bar.

Is there a way to do this?

(Also, you can see from my config mappings that would not be possible for the device name - it doesn't seem to be possible to use a wildcard for name - is that something that could be supported? Can log a feature request if so).

[Bryan Malyn]

What I do is not specify a name at all and have a cmd assigned to the sound block that cycles the active sink. That way I can always see and change the active sink's volume.

I did a quick skim, it looks like a regex name could be supported.

[ashleyghooper]

Thank you, cycling the active sink is actually something I didn't think of and would save space on my bar.

So I'd just need one sound block and wouldn't need a regex for name, if I understand correctly.

[Bryan Malyn]

Exactly!

This is my config:

[[block]]
block = "sound"
format = " $icon $output_name "
[[block.click]]
button = "left"
action = "toggle_mute"
[[block.click]]
button = "right"
cmd = "nextSink.awk"

This is the script I use to cycle the sinks: https://github.com/bim9262/dotfiles/blob/main/bin/executable_nextSink.awk

[ashleyghooper]

Here is another example in bash.