dotfiles

What are dotfiles? Why are they important? Here are my opinions about dotfiles.

Files prefixed with a period (hence the name) that are responsible for configuring system programs. A mastery of dotfiles allows for an enhanced experience when interfacing with the digital landscape.

After years of using frankenstein dotfiles, from gurus, friends, and elsewhere… I decided it was time to write my own dotfiles from scratch. I spent a significant amount of time reading articles and github repositories on the subject. But then it hit me, it always does. It’s one of those hard truths, a true truth but a hard truth nonetheless.

Start small.

Developing dotfiles

Let the process do the work, do not work against the process.

The process is tricky to master. What I am describing really applies to developing any software project. I believe understanding this process now will save time in the future and dotfiles should be among the first serious project a software engineer maintains.

Atlas

The Primordial Titan who carried the weight of the heavens on his back.

Atlas is the name I gave to my dotfiles github repository. Just to add a bit of lore and flavor.

Conclusion

Some people will take dotfiles more seriously than I do, others less.

Keep in mind that as time goes on it is natural for software and configurations to evolve. Take it slow and don’t put so much pressure on figuring out preference, let the preference come to you and then update and save the dotfile.