# File lib/powerbar.rb, line 139
  def scope
    scope_hash = [settings.force_mode,state.total].hash
    return @state.scope unless @state.scope.nil? or scope_hash != @state.scope_hash
    state.scope_at = [
      settings.force_mode || ($stdout.isatty ? :tty : :notty),
      :unknown == state.total ? :infinite : :finite
    ]
    state.scope = state.settings
    state.scope_at.each do |s|
      begin
        state.scope = state.scope[s]
      rescue NoMethodError
        raise StandardError, "Invalid configuration: #{state.scope_at.join('.')} "+
                             "(Can't resolve: #{state.scope_at[state.scope_at.index(s)-1]})"
      end
    end
    state.scope_hash = scope_hash
    state.scope
  end