Add --root global argument. Fixes #899.

components/site/src/lib.rs

@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ pub struct Site {
 
 impl Site {
     /// Parse a site at the given path. Defaults to the current dir
-    /// Passing in a path is only used in tests
+    /// Passing in a path is used in tests and when --root argument is passed
     pub fn new<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P, config_file: &str) -> Result<Site> {
         let path = path.as_ref();
         let mut config = get_config(path, config_file);

docs/content/documentation/getting-started/cli-usage.md

@@ -50,12 +50,17 @@ You can override the default output directory `public` by passing another value
 $ zola build --output-dir $DOCUMENT_ROOT
 ```
 
-You can also point to a config file other than `config.toml` like so (note that the position of the `config` option is important):
+You can point to a config file other than `config.toml` like so (note that the position of the `config` option is important):
 
 ```bash
 $ zola --config config.staging.toml build
 ```
 
+You can also process a project from a different directory with the `root` flag. If building a project 'out-of-tree' with the `root` flag, you may want to combine it with the `output-dir` flag. (Note that like `config`, the position is important):
+```bash
+$ zola --root /path/to/project build
+```
+
 By default, drafts are not loaded. If you wish to include them, pass the `--drafts` flag.
 
 ## serve

src/cli.rs

@@ -6,6 +6,14 @@ pub fn build_cli() -> App<'static, 'static> {
         .author(crate_authors!())
         .about(crate_description!())
         .setting(AppSettings::SubcommandRequiredElseHelp)
+        .arg(
+            Arg::with_name("root")
+                .short("r")
+                .long("root")
+                .takes_value(true)
+                .default_value(".")
+                .help("Directory to use as root of project")
+        )
         .arg(
             Arg::with_name("config")
                 .short("c")

src/cmd/build.rs

@@ -1,17 +1,18 @@
-use std::env;
+use std::path::Path;
 
 use errors::Result;
 use site::Site;
 
 use crate::console;
 
 pub fn build(
+    root_dir: &Path,
     config_file: &str,
     base_url: Option<&str>,
     output_dir: &str,
     include_drafts: bool,
 ) -> Result<()> {
-    let mut site = Site::new(env::current_dir().unwrap(), config_file)?;
+    let mut site = Site::new(root_dir, config_file)?;
     site.set_output_path(output_dir);
     if let Some(b) = base_url {
         site.set_base_url(b.to_string());

src/cmd/check.rs

@@ -1,18 +1,18 @@
-use std::env;
-use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::path::{Path,PathBuf};
 
 use errors::Result;
 use site::Site;
 
 use crate::console;
 
 pub fn check(
+    root_dir: &Path,
     config_file: &str,
     base_path: Option<&str>,
     base_url: Option<&str>,
     include_drafts: bool,
 ) -> Result<()> {
-    let bp = base_path.map(PathBuf::from).unwrap_or_else(|| env::current_dir().unwrap());
+    let bp = base_path.map(PathBuf::from).unwrap_or_else(|| PathBuf::from(root_dir));
     let mut site = Site::new(bp, config_file)?;
     // Force the checking of external links
     site.config.enable_check_mode();

src/cmd/serve.rs

@@ -158,14 +158,15 @@ fn rebuild_done_handling(broadcaster: &Option<Sender>, res: Result<()>, reload_p
 }
 
 fn create_new_site(
+    root_dir: &Path,
     interface: &str,
     port: u16,
     output_dir: &str,
     base_url: &str,
     config_file: &str,
     include_drafts: bool,
 ) -> Result<(Site, String)> {
-    let mut site = Site::new(env::current_dir().unwrap(), config_file)?;
+    let mut site = Site::new(root_dir, config_file)?;
 
     let base_address = format!("{}:{}", base_url, port);
     let address = format!("{}:{}", interface, port);
@@ -190,6 +191,7 @@ fn create_new_site(
 }
 
 pub fn serve(
+    root_dir: &Path,
     interface: &str,
     port: u16,
     output_dir: &str,
@@ -201,7 +203,7 @@ pub fn serve(
 ) -> Result<()> {
     let start = Instant::now();
     let (mut site, address) =
-        create_new_site(interface, port, output_dir, base_url, config_file, include_drafts)?;
+        create_new_site(root_dir, interface, port, output_dir, base_url, config_file, include_drafts)?;
     console::report_elapsed_time(start);
 
     // Setup watchers
@@ -443,6 +445,7 @@ pub fn serve(
                                     "-> Themes changed. The whole site will be reloaded.",
                                 );
                                 site = create_new_site(
+                                    root_dir,
                                     interface,
                                     port,
                                     output_dir,
@@ -457,6 +460,7 @@ pub fn serve(
                             ChangeKind::Config => {
                                 console::info("-> Config changed. The whole site will be reloaded. The browser needs to be refreshed to make the changes visible.");
                                 site = create_new_site(
+                                    root_dir,
                                     interface,
                                     port,
                                     output_dir,
@@ -504,6 +508,7 @@ pub fn serve(
                                     "-> Themes changed. The whole site will be reloaded.",
                                 );
                                 site = create_new_site(
+                                    root_dir,
                                     interface,
                                     port,
                                     output_dir,
@@ -518,6 +523,7 @@ pub fn serve(
                             (ChangeKind::Config, _) => {
                                 console::info("-> Config changed. The whole site will be reloaded. The browser needs to be refreshed to make the changes visible.");
                                 site = create_new_site(
+                                    root_dir,
                                     interface,
                                     port,
                                     output_dir,

src/main.rs

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+use std::env;
+use std::path::PathBuf;
 use std::time::Instant;
 
 use utils::net::{get_available_port, port_is_available};
@@ -10,6 +12,10 @@ mod prompt;
 fn main() {
     let matches = cli::build_cli().get_matches();
 
+    let root_dir = match matches.value_of("root").unwrap() {
+        "." => env::current_dir().unwrap(),
+        path => PathBuf::from(path),
+    };
     let config_file = matches.value_of("config").unwrap();
 
     match matches.subcommand() {
@@ -27,6 +33,7 @@ fn main() {
             let start = Instant::now();
             let output_dir = matches.value_of("output_dir").unwrap();
             match cmd::build(
+                &root_dir,
                 config_file,
                 matches.value_of("base_url"),
                 output_dir,
@@ -70,6 +77,7 @@ fn main() {
             let base_url = matches.value_of("base_url").unwrap();
             console::info("Building site...");
             match cmd::serve(
+                &root_dir,
                 interface,
                 port,
                 output_dir,
@@ -90,6 +98,7 @@ fn main() {
             console::info("Checking site...");
             let start = Instant::now();
             match cmd::check(
+                &root_dir,
                 config_file,
                 matches.value_of("base_path"),
                 matches.value_of("base_url"),