Tags: dotfiles

In my ongoing quest to explore a variety of ways of managing config files, I believe I have found a way that is attractively simple.

In this article, I offer an approach for managing dotfiles in a modular way. I find a modular approach important because only some config files are useful in all contexts, while others are unique to a specific environment.…

We can make life easier by using Git to store and version configuration files that reside in a system’s home directory (aka “dotfiles”). But how do we do so selectively and non-invasively, so that only the desired files are committed to version control? This article explores one such method: using a “bare” git repo to track the files.

Configuration files that reside in your home directory are both precious and dynamic. Given this, storing them in a version control system like Git makes good sense. Due to concerns around complexity, security, and cleanliness, though, no one wants to manage all files in their home directory with version control. Let’s explore how to manage just the important configuration files, also known as “dotfiles”, by selectively committing only the desired files to version control.