docs : add explanation of what is unisync

also add an example

.gitignore

@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 poetry.lock
 __pycache__
+docs/build

docs/Makefile

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# Minimal makefile for Sphinx documentation
+#
+
+# You can set these variables from the command line, and also
+# from the environment for the first two.
+SPHINXOPTS    ?=
+SPHINXBUILD   ?= sphinx-build
+SOURCEDIR     = source
+BUILDDIR      = build
+
+# Put it first so that "make" without argument is like "make help".
+help:
+	@$(SPHINXBUILD) -M help "$(SOURCEDIR)" "$(BUILDDIR)" $(SPHINXOPTS) $(O)
+
+.PHONY: help Makefile
+
+# Catch-all target: route all unknown targets to Sphinx using the new
+# "make mode" option.  $(O) is meant as a shortcut for $(SPHINXOPTS).
+%: Makefile
+	@$(SPHINXBUILD) -M $@ "$(SOURCEDIR)" "$(BUILDDIR)" $(SPHINXOPTS) $(O)

docs/make.bat

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+@ECHO OFF
+
+pushd %~dp0
+
+REM Command file for Sphinx documentation
+
+if "%SPHINXBUILD%" == "" (
+	set SPHINXBUILD=sphinx-build
+)
+set SOURCEDIR=source
+set BUILDDIR=build
+
+%SPHINXBUILD% >NUL 2>NUL
+if errorlevel 9009 (
+	echo.
+	echo.The 'sphinx-build' command was not found. Make sure you have Sphinx
+	echo.installed, then set the SPHINXBUILD environment variable to point
+	echo.to the full path of the 'sphinx-build' executable. Alternatively you
+	echo.may add the Sphinx directory to PATH.
+	echo.
+	echo.If you don't have Sphinx installed, grab it from
+	echo.https://www.sphinx-doc.org/
+	exit /b 1
+)
+
+if "%1" == "" goto help
+
+%SPHINXBUILD% -M %1 %SOURCEDIR% %BUILDDIR% %SPHINXOPTS% %O%
+goto end
+
+:help
+%SPHINXBUILD% -M help %SOURCEDIR% %BUILDDIR% %SPHINXOPTS% %O%
+
+:end
+popd

docs/source/conf.py

@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+# Configuration file for the Sphinx documentation builder.
+#
+# For the full list of built-in configuration values, see the documentation:
+# https://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/usage/configuration.html
+
+# -- Project information -----------------------------------------------------
+# https://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/usage/configuration.html#project-information
+
+project = 'unisync'
+copyright = '2026, Paul Retourné'
+author = 'Paul Retourné'
+release = '0.1.0'
+
+# -- General configuration ---------------------------------------------------
+# https://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/usage/configuration.html#general-configuration
+
+extensions = [
+    'sphinx.ext.autodoc',
+    'sphinx.ext.viewcode',
+    'sphinx.ext.napoleon',
+    'sphinx.ext.todo'
+        ]
+
+templates_path = ['_templates']
+exclude_patterns = []
+
+
+
+# -- Options for HTML output -------------------------------------------------
+# https://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/usage/configuration.html#options-for-html-output
+
+#html_theme = 'alabaster'
+html_theme = 'sphinx_rtd_theme'
+html_static_path = ['_static']
+
+autodoc_docstring_signature = True

docs/source/example.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+.. _example_how_it_works:
+
+Example of how unisync works
+============================
+
+Let's say you have the following structure::
+
+        $ tree .
+        .
+        ├── big_file
+        └── folder
+            ├── file
+            └── other_file
+
+If you only want to synchronise `folder` and its content on your laptop the following will be automatically generated::
+
+        $ tree .
+        .
+        ├── big_file -> ../.data/big_file
+        └── folder
+            ├── file
+            └── other_file
+
+`big_file` is now a symbolic link and by mounting the remote directory you can still seemlessly access `big_file` through the network.

docs/source/index.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+.. unisync documentation master file, created by
+   sphinx-quickstart on Sun Jan  4 15:02:58 2026.
+   You can adapt this file completely to your liking, but it should at least
+   contain the root `toctree` directive.
+
+Documentation for unisync
+=========================
+
+Unisync is a data synchronising tool built around `unison`_ and expending on it.
+
+Unisync tries to solve two problems that are often solved separately but never together :
+
+* Keeping your data synchronised between multiple machines (through a central server), examples of this are rsync and of course unison.
+* Being able to access and edit files stored on your server without having to download them, the gui interface of nextcloud for example.
+* And of course I want to be able to do all of this without ever having to leave my terminal.
+
+Unisync solves this problem by placing each file on your local machine but with only the selected files and folders being physically present on your drive,
+the others are replaced by symbolic links pointing to a directory that is mounted from your server.
+
+See this 
+:ref:`example_how_it_works`.
+
+.. _unison: https://github.com/bcpierce00/unison
+
+.. toctree::
+   :maxdepth: 2
+   :caption: Contents:
+
+   example
+   modules
+

docs/source/modules.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+unisync
+=======
+
+.. toctree::
+   :maxdepth: 4
+
+   unisync

docs/source/unisync.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+unisync package
+===============
+
+Submodules
+----------
+
+unisync.argparser module
+------------------------
+
+.. automodule:: unisync.argparser
+   :members:
+   :show-inheritance:
+   :undoc-members:
+
+unisync.config module
+---------------------
+
+.. automodule:: unisync.config
+   :members:
+   :show-inheritance:
+   :undoc-members:
+
+unisync.defaults module
+-----------------------
+
+.. automodule:: unisync.defaults
+   :members:
+   :show-inheritance:
+   :undoc-members:
+
+unisync.errors module
+---------------------
+
+.. automodule:: unisync.errors
+   :members:
+   :show-inheritance:
+   :undoc-members:
+
+unisync.main module
+-------------------
+
+.. automodule:: unisync.main
+   :members:
+   :show-inheritance:
+   :undoc-members:
+
+unisync.paths module
+--------------------
+
+.. automodule:: unisync.paths
+   :members:
+   :show-inheritance:
+   :undoc-members:
+
+unisync.runners module
+----------------------
+
+.. automodule:: unisync.runners
+   :members:
+   :show-inheritance:
+   :undoc-members:
+
+unisync.synchroniser module
+---------------------------
+
+.. automodule:: unisync.synchroniser
+   :members:
+   :show-inheritance:
+   :undoc-members:
+
+Module contents
+---------------
+
+.. automodule:: unisync
+   :members:
+   :show-inheritance:
+   :undoc-members:

pyproject.toml

@@ -20,3 +20,10 @@ packages = [{include = "unisync", from = "src"}]
 [build-system]
 requires = ["poetry-core>=2.0.0,<3.0.0"]
 build-backend = "poetry.core.masonry.api"
+
+[dependency-groups]
+docs = [
+    "sphinx (>=9.1.0,<10.0.0)",
+    "sphinx-rtd-theme (>=3.0.2,<4.0.0)",
+]
+

src/unisync/defaults.py

@@ -15,4 +15,4 @@ DEFAULT_SERVER_PORT: int = 22
 DEFAULT_ROOTS_LOCAL: str = str(Path("~/files").expanduser())
 # DEFAULT_ROOTS_REMOTE: str = ""
 
-DEFAULT_MISC_CACHE_DIR_PATH: Path = Path("~/.unisync").expanduser()
+DEFAULT_MISC_CACHE_DIR_PATH: str = "~/.unisync"

src/unisync/main.py

@@ -21,11 +21,11 @@ def main():
     elif os.path.isfile(config_path):
         config = load_config(config_path)
     else:
-        # TODO replace the next line with something to do if no config file is found
+        # TODO: replace the next line with something to do if no config file is found
         config = load_config(config_path)
         pass
 
-    # TODO make the command line arguments work and override the config options
+    # TODO: make the command line arguments work and override the config options
 
     synchroniser = Synchroniser(
             config.roots.remote,

src/unisync/runners.py

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ def unisync_sync(synchroniser:Synchroniser, paths_manager:PathsManager):
     synchroniser.sync_files(paths_manager.get_paths_to_sync())
     synchroniser.sync_links(paths_manager.get_paths_to_sync())
     
-    # TODO check the config options and do or don't do the following
+    # TODO: check the config options and do or don't do the following
     synchroniser.update_links()
     #synchroniser.mount_remote_dir()
 

src/unisync/synchroniser.py

@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 # Copyright (C) 2025-2026 Paul Retourné
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
 
+"""Exports the Synchroniser class.
+
+This class is used to perform all the actions that require a connection to
+the remote.
+"""
+
 import subprocess
 import os
 import sys
@@ -14,9 +20,37 @@ from unisync.errors import RemoteMountedError, InvalidMountError
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 class Synchroniser:
+    """Synchroniser used to synchronise with a server.
+
+    It is used to perform every action needing a connection to the remote.
+    Create an ssh connection.
+    Perform the various synchronisation steps (files, links).
+    Update the links on the remote.
+    Mount the remote directory.
+    Close the ssh connection.
+
+    Attributes:
+        remote: The directory to synchronise to on the remote.
+        local: The directory to synchronise from locally.
+        user: The user on the remote server.
+        ip: The ip of the remote server.
+        port: The ssh port on the remote.
+        args_bool:
+            A list of boolean arguments for unison.
+            They will be passed directly to unison when calling it.
+            For example : auto will be passed as -auto
+        args_value:
+            Same as args_bool but for key value arguments.
+            Will be passed to unison as "-key value".
+        ssh_settings:
+            Settings to pass to the underlying ssh connection.
+            Currently unused.
+    """
 
     def __init__(self, remote:str, local:str, user:str, ip:str,
                  port:int=22, args_bool:list=[], args_value:dict={}, ssh_settings:dict={}):
+        """Initialises an instance of Synchroniser.
+        """
         self.remote_dir:str = remote
         self.local:str = local
         self.args_bool:list[str] = args_bool 
@@ -27,14 +61,20 @@ class Synchroniser:
         self.remote_port:int = port
     
     def create_ssh_master_connection(self, control_path:str="~/.ssh/control_%C", connection_timeout:int=60) -> int:
-        """
+        """Creates an ssh master connection.
-        Creates an ssh master connection so the user only has to authenticate once to the remote server.
+
-        The subsequent connections will be made through this master connection which speeds up connecting.
+        It is used so the user only has to authenticate once to the remote server.
-        @control_path: Set the location of the ssh control socket
+        The subsequent connections will be made through this master connection
-        @connection_timeout:
+        which speeds up connnection.
+        The users only have to enter their password once per synchronisation.
+
+        Args:
+            control_path: Set the location of the ssh control socket
+            connection_timeout:
                 Time given to the user to authenticate to the remote server.
                 On slow connections one might want to increase this.
-        Returns 0 on success.
+        Returns:
+            An error code (0 success, 1 TimeoutExpired, 2 KeyboardInterrupt).
         """
         self.control_path = os.path.expanduser(control_path)
         command = [
@@ -46,6 +86,7 @@ class Synchroniser:
                 "-p", str(self.remote_port)
                 ]
         master_ssh = subprocess.Popen(command)
+        # TODO: Raise an exception instead of changing the return value
         try:
             ret_code = master_ssh.wait(timeout=connection_timeout)
         except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
@@ -61,8 +102,10 @@ class Synchroniser:
 
 
     def close_ssh_master_connection(self) -> int:
-        """
+        """Closes the ssh master connection.
-        Close the ssh master connection.
+
+        Returns:
+            The return code of the ssh call.
         """
         command = [
                 "/usr/bin/ssh",
@@ -75,8 +118,14 @@ class Synchroniser:
         return close.wait()
 
     def sync_files(self, paths:list, force:bool=False) -> int:
-        """
+        """Synchronises the files.
-        Synchronises the files.
+
+        Args:
+            paths: List of paths to synchronise.
+            force: Force the changes from remote to local.
+
+        Returns:
+            The return code of sync.
         """
         return self.sync(
                 f"ssh://{self.remote_user}@{self.remote_ip}/{self.remote_dir}/.data",
@@ -86,8 +135,13 @@ class Synchroniser:
                 )
 
     def sync_links(self, ignore:list) -> int:
-        """
+        """Synchronises the links, they must exist already.
-        Synchronises the links, they must exist already.
+
+        Args:
+            ignore: List of paths to ignore.
+
+        Returns:
+            The return code of sync.
         """
         return self.sync(
                 f"ssh://{self.remote_user}@{self.remote_ip}/{self.remote_dir}/links",
@@ -97,17 +151,20 @@ class Synchroniser:
 
     def sync(self, remote_root:str, local_root:str,
              paths:list=[], ignore:list=[], force:bool=False) -> int:
-        """
+        """Performs the synchronisation by calling unison.
-        Perform the synchronisation by calling unison.
+
-        @remote_root: The remote root, must be a full root usable by unison.
+        Args:
-        @local_root: The local root, must be a full root usable by unison.
+            remote_root: The remote root, must be a full root usable by unison.
-        @paths: List of paths to synchronise
+            local_root: The local root, must be a full root usable by unison.
-        @ignore: List of paths to ignore
+            paths: List of paths to synchronise
+            ignore: List of paths to ignore
                 The paths and everything under them will be ignored.
                 If you need to ignore some specific files use the arguments.
-        @force: Force all changes from remote to local.
+            force: Force all changes from remote to local.
                 Used mostly when replacing a link by the file.
-        Returns: the unison return code see section 6.11 of the documentation
+
+        Returns:
+            the unison return code see section 6.11 of the documentation
         """
         command = [ "/usr/bin/unison", "-root", remote_root, "-root", local_root ]
         for arg in self.args_bool:
@@ -140,12 +197,13 @@ class Synchroniser:
         return ret_code
 
     def update_links(self, background:bool=True):
-        """
+        """Updates the links on the remote.
-        Update the links on the remote.
+
         First calls cleanlinks to remove deadlinks and empty directories.
         Then calls lndir to create the new links.
+
         Args:
-        - background: controls if the update is done in the background or waited for
+            background: controls if the update is done in the background or waited for.
         """
 
         link_update_script = (f"cd {self.remote_dir}/links && "
@@ -173,13 +231,14 @@ class Synchroniser:
             print("Done")
 
     def mount_remote_dir(self):
-        """
+        """Mounts the remote directory to make the local links work.
-        Mount the remote directory to make the local links work.
+
-        This is achieved using sshfs.
+        This is achieved using sshfs which may fail.
-        Raise:
+
-        - RemoteMountedError: The .data directory is already a mount point
+        Raises:
-        - InvalidMountError: .data is either not a directory or not empty
+            RemoteMountedError: The .data directory is already a mount point.
-        - subprocess.CalledProcessError: An error occured with sshfs
+            InvalidMountError: .data is either not a directory or not empty.
+            subprocess.CalledProcessError: An error occured with sshfs.
         """
         # Get the absolute path to the correct .data directory resolving symlinks
         path_to_mount:Path = Path(f"{self.local}/../.data").resolve()