Managing Linux dotfiles kept in $HOME (git bare repo)

Dotfiles_backup.md

I have recently come accross with a new solution to one of my biggest headaches in any linux system and it is to manage the nightmareof the dot files. I have previously used stow in order to mantain the symbolic links, but there is a much better solution using git bare repositories.

1. Creating the repository

1. Create a git bare repository with the following line

    mkdir $HOME/.dotfiles
    git init --bare $HOME/.dotfiles

2. Create an alias for a better managing of the configuration

    alias dc='/usr/bin/git --git-dir=$HOME/.dotfiles/ --work-tree=$HOME'

It should be highlighted that you can put it in your .bashrc or the file you use for your alias, in my case $HOME/.config/aliasrc

3. Disable the tacking of any single file

   dc config --local status.showUntrackedFiles no

4. You can use it in a normal basis with config and keywords like "add, delete, status, checkout, ...". Remember to add a remote repositoryy with this lines

   dc remote add origin <remote-url>
   dc push -u origin master

For example you can create a diferent configuration in different branches for each machine that you have.

2. Restore a configuration

1. Prevent weird circular dependencies

echo ".dotfiles" >> .gitignore 

2. Clone the remote repository

git clone --bare <remote-git-repo-url> $HOME/.dotfiles 

3. Restore the alias and configuration of tracking

alias dc='/usr/bin/git --git-dir=$HOME/.dotfiles --work-tree=$HOME'
dc config --local status.showUntrackedFiles no

4. Proceed to checkout

dc checkout