The Lazarus IDE stores all its configuration in a specific folder that can be manipulated for different purposes, but generally as a backup. This folder stores adjustments to our IDE that we usually make after installation, but it also stores created templates, applications added in tools and much more.
While fine tuning the configuration is great, we need to be practical and not waste time repeating the same settings for whatever reason, so it's useful to know how to save and reuse Lazarus IDE settings made earlier.
The location of the configuration folder can vary from place to place, but the default is usually:
On Windows:
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Lazarus
On Linux the folder can vary from place to place depending on the installation method you used:
Installation via distro repository: $HOME/.lazarus
Installation via GIT: $HOME/.lazarus
Compilation via FPCUpDeluge: $HOME/fpcupdeluxe/config_lazarus/
However, if you run Lazarus with the option –pcp=/folder/do/lazarus/configs, So it will be this identified folder that stores the configuration. As you can see, the Lazarus IDE is quite flexible about the location of its configuration and it is wise of us to take advantage of that, how? Generally keeping more than one installation of the same in different folders or computers and taking advantage of shared configurations. Perhaps having a baseline configuration that will suit any Lazarus and then making additional adjustments for the desired purpose. All this helps a lot to avoid wasting time with settings.
I consider it a good practice before a series of configurations/adjustments to save the backup of our configuration by saving the indicated folder in a .zip file and after consolidating the configuration then saving it again.
If you found it a bit complicated then watch the video below: