ericst's dotfiles

A Python-based dotfiles management system that creates symlinks from configuration files in this repository to their expected locations in your home directory.

Prerequisites

• Python 3 (any recent version)
• Unix-like system (Linux, macOS)
• Write permissions to your home directory

Quick Start

# Install essential shell configuration
./dotfiles.py essential

# Install multiple packages
./dotfiles.py git nvim essential

# Force installation (overwrite existing files)
./dotfiles.py -f essential

# Get help
./dotfiles.py -h

Available Packages

essential

Core shell configuration including:

• bashrc - Enhanced bash configuration with better history, safety aliases, and navigation helpers
• inputrc - Readline configuration for improved command-line editing
• bashrc.d/ - Modular bash configuration directory with toolbox support

git

Git configuration:

• gitconfig - Global git settings and aliases

nvim

Neovim configuration with Lua:

• init.lua - Main Neovim entry point
• lua/ericst/ - Custom Lua configuration modules
• snippets/ - Custom code snippets for various languages
• Includes plugin management via lazy.nvim

ghostty

Ghostty terminal emulator configuration:

• config - Main Ghostty configuration
• Desktop entries - Application launchers for regular and workbox modes

wezterm

WezTerm terminal emulator configuration:

• wezterm.lua - Complete WezTerm configuration

coding-agent

AI coding assistant configuration:

• CLAUDE.md - Claude Code configuration and guidelines
• AGENTS.md - OpenCode agent configuration

Usage Examples

Basic Installation

# Install just the essentials
./dotfiles.py essential

# Add git configuration
./dotfiles.py git

# Set up complete development environment
./dotfiles.py essential git nvim

Advanced Usage

# Force overwrite existing configurations
./dotfiles.py -f nvim

# Preview changes without executing
./dotfiles.py --dry-run essential

# Check what's installed
./dotfiles.py --status

# List available packages
./dotfiles.py --list

# Install with automatic yes to prompts
./dotfiles.py -f -y essential

# Install everything
./dotfiles.py essential git nvim ghostty wezterm coding-agent

Command Line Options

• -f, --force - Force installation, overwriting existing files
• -l, --list - List available packages with descriptions
• -s, --status - Show installation status of all packages
• -n, --dry-run - Preview changes without executing them
• -y, --yes - Automatically answer yes to all prompts (for automation)
• -h, --help - Show help message

How It Works

The system uses Python scripts to create symlinks from files in this repository to their target locations:

1. Each package is a directory under packages/
2. Each package contains an install.toml file that defines what to link using TOML format
3. The main dotfiles.py script processes packages and creates symlinks
4. Existing files are protected unless --force is used

Link Functions

• link(source, target) - Create a single symlink
• link_files_recursively(source_dir, target_dir) - Recursively link all files in a directory

Troubleshooting

Permission Denied

# Make sure the script is executable
chmod +x dotfiles.py

File Already Exists

# Use force mode to overwrite
./dotfiles.py -f package_name

# Or manually remove the conflicting file
rm ~/.bashrc
./dotfiles.py essential

Package Not Found

# List available packages
./dotfiles.py --list

# Check installation status
./dotfiles.py --status

# Make sure you're in the dotfiles directory
cd /path/to/dotfiles
./dotfiles.py package_name

Inspiration

This system was inspired by:

• Manage your dotfiles like a boss
• troydm/central

The goal was to create a simple, local script without external gem dependencies.