chezmoi helps you manage your personal configuration files (dotfiles, like ~/.gitconfig) across multiple machines.

Mainly act as wrapper around git and the management of a special repo dedicated to .config files. All regular git command are available when steping inside the chezmoi repo which is accessible with chezmoi cd.

chezmoi vs Stow

# chezmoi ~

• A dedicated dotfile manager with features for templating, encryption, multi-host config, and more.
• Designed specifically for managing personal config across machines.
• Maintains a source state (a repo you version control) and applies that safely to your home directory.

# GNU Stow 🔗

• A symlink farm manager (not dotfiles-specific).
• Manages sets of files by placing them in separate directories and symlinking them into a target directory.
• Great for organizing local configuration, packages, or any grouped files using symlinks.

How To ACTUALLY Manage Dotfiles with Stow - Full Guide + Git Workflow

# Install

$ nix profile add nixpkgs#chezmoi

# Quickstart

$ chezmoi init
$ chezmoi add ~/.bashrc
$ chezmoi -v apply

# Git Sync

Leverage a git repo to syncronize everything Create a dotfile repo on github and attach it to chezmoi

$ chezmoi cd
$ git remote add origin git@github.com:yduf/dotfiles.git
# and push

# Multi-Host

Use the Git repo to share and synchronize these config accross multiple computers. Reference the repo when setting up the new computer.

$ chezmoi init git@github.com:yduf/dotfiles.git
$ chezmoi diff
$ chezmoi apply -v