dotfm

A simple dotfiles manager written in Rust.

Features

• Initialize Repository: Create a new dotfm repository to manage your dotfiles
• Add Files: Track dotfiles by copying them to the repository (or moving and symlinking)
• Remove Files: Stop managing files and restore them to their original locations
• Push Files: Deploy your dotfiles from the repository to their target locations (copy or symlink)
• Pull Files: Update your repository with the latest changes from your local dotfiles
• Diff Files: Check that your configuration matches your deployed dotfiles
• Package Management: Declare system packages with install commands and dependency tracking
• TOML Configuration: Configuration file for easy editing and version control

Installation

cargo build --release

The binary will be available at target/release/dotfm.

Usage

Initialize a new dotfiles repository

dotfm init

Use --force to initialize in a non-empty directory:

dotfm init --force

Add a file to the repository

Add a file (copies it to the repository):

dotfm add ~/.bashrc

Add a file and create a symlink (moves it to the repository):

dotfm add ~/.bashrc --link

Specify a custom name for the managed file:

dotfm add ~/.config/nvim/init.vim --name nvim-init

Remove a file from management

dotfm remove bashrc

This will restore the file to its original location (overwriting local changes with the repo version) and stop managing it.

To stop managing a file without restoring (keeping your local version):

dotfm remove bashrc --no-restore

Push dotfiles

Deploy files from the repository to your system (copies by default):

dotfm push

Use --force to overwrite existing files:

dotfm push --force

Use --link to use symlinks instead of copying:

dotfm push --link

Pull dotfiles

Update the repository with changes from your local files:

dotfm pull

Pull specific files only:

dotfm pull bashrc vimrc

Diff dotfiles

Diff your repository against local dotfiles:

dotfm diff bashrc

Configuration

The configuration is stored in dotfm.toml in your repository root. Example:

name = "dotfiles"
author = "dotfm"

[files]
bashrc = "~/.bashrc"
vimrc = "~/.vimrc"

[packages.pacman]
install_cmd = "sudo pacman -S"
dependencies = ["neovim", "git", "zsh"]
optional = ["fastfetch"]

[packages.apt]
install_cmd = "sudo apt install"
dependencies = ["build-essential"]
optional = ["neofetch"]

Package Management

dotfm can track system packages alongside your dotfiles, making it easy to set up a new system.

Add a package manager

dotfm package manager add pacman "sudo pacman -S"
dotfm package manager add apt "sudo apt install"

Remove a package manager

dotfm package manager remove apt

Add packages

Add a required dependency:

dotfm package add neovim pacman

Add an optional package:

dotfm package add fastfetch pacman --optional

Remove packages

dotfm package remove neovim pacman
dotfm package remove fastfetch pacman --optional

Install packages

Install all required packages from all managers:

dotfm package install

Install from specific package managers:

dotfm package install pacman apt

Include optional packages:

dotfm package install --optional

Planned (or thinking about it)

• dotfm diff <name>: Compare deployed file vs repo version

  • --tool <TOOL> flag for external diff tools

• dotfm list: Lists all managed files, packages, etc

• Template variables: Variable substitution in config files

  • Built-in: {{ USER }}, {{ HOSTNAME }}, {{ OS }}, ...
  • Custom variables in dotfm.toml
  • dotfm push --render to process templates

• Machine profiles: Context-specific configurations

  • [profiles.laptop], [profiles.work], etc.
  • Override variables, files, and packages per profile
  • dotfm push --profile laptop

• Hooks: Run scripts at lifecycle events

  • pre_push, post_push, pre_pull, post_pull
  • Per-file or global hooks

• Remote repository support: Bootstrap from a git URL

  • ?dotfm clone <URL> - Clone and setup dotfiles repo
  • ?dotfm git-push - Commit and push changes