Complex multi machine init setup: suggestions on improving the Lisp code

Question

I'm trying to configure my org based init file to work on 2 different machines where some of my org file would be accessed remotely. For example I want to define within the same config different org capture based on which machine I'm currently on (hostname).

I have this initial code:

(when (string= system-name "home")

(add-to-list 'org-capture-templates
'("z" "web capture " item
         (file+headline "/home/zeltak/org/files/web/wbookmarks.org" "Temporary Links")
         "%?\nEntered on %U\n \%i\n %a"))
)


(when (string= system-name "work")

(add-to-list 'org-capture-templates
'("z" "web capture " item
         (file+headline "/sshx:work:~/org/files/wbookmarks.org" "Temporary Links")
         "%?\nEntered on %U\n \%i\n %a"))
)

I have 30 captures like this where I have to reproduce for both machines. I am sure there is a more intelligent way to do this and am looking for suggestions. Perhaps define a Path variable that changes based on machine?

Answer 1

I think your idea is fine:

(if (string= system-name "home")
    (setq my-org-path "/home/zeltak/org/files/")
  (setq my-org-path "/sshx:work:~/org/files/"))

(add-to-list 'org-capture-templates
             '("z" "web capture " item
               (file+headline (expand-file-name "web/wbookmarks.org" my-org-path) "Temporary Links")
               "%?\nEntered on %U\n \%i\n %a"))

If you're only going to use my-org-path in the context of setting the org-capture-templates list, you could isolate it in a let form:

(let ((my-org-path 
       (if (string= system-name "home")
           "/home/zeltak/org/files/"
         "/sshx:work:~/org/files/")))

  (add-to-list 'org-capture-templates
               '("z" "web capture " item
                 (file+headline (expand-file-name "web/wbookmarks.org" my-org-path) "Temporary Links")
                 "%?\nEntered on %U\n \%i\n %a")))

This has the advantage of not polluting your global name space with my-org-path if you're not going to use it after loading your config. Probably not a big deal either way.