dotbot

Install dotfiles with config

$ dotbot -c [install.conf.yaml]

$ dotbot -d [~/dotfiles] -c [install.conf.yaml]

$ dotbot -v -c [install.conf.yaml]

$ dotbot -p [plugin.py] -c [install.conf.yaml]

dotbot [options] -c config

Dotbot is a tool for bootstrapping dotfiles. It automates the process of setting up a new machine by creating symlinks, running shell commands, and performing other configuration tasks defined in a YAML or JSON file.
Configuration files define directives like link (create symlinks), shell (run commands), create (make directories), and clean (remove broken symlinks). Dotbot is typically included as a git submodule in dotfiles repositories.

-c, --config-file file

Configuration file (YAML or JSON).

Base directory for dotfiles.

Load plugin module.

Enable verbose output.

Suppress almost all output.

Disable colored output.

Show version.

Requires Python 3. Symlink creation may require appropriate permissions. Existing files at link destinations are not overwritten by default. Plugin system allows extensions but adds complexity.

Dotbot was created by Anish Athalye in 2014 as a simple, self-contained tool for dotfiles management. It was designed to be included as a git submodule, making dotfiles repositories self-bootstrapping without external dependencies beyond Python.

stow(1), chezmoi(1), yadm(1), ln(1)