Dotfiles & Setup

Personal dotfiles + bootstrap scripts for setting up a new macOS machine with my preferred apps and configs.

Quick install (bootstrap)

Run the setup script:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dadigu/dotfiles/main/setup/init.sh)"

Review before running (recommended)

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dadigu/dotfiles/main/setup/init.sh | less

Note: This script installs software, applies macOS defaults, and may prompt for input. Some changes require a logout/restart and some apps require manual privacy approvals.

GNU Stow

I use GNU Stow to symlink dotfiles:

cd ~/dotfiles
stow <package-name>

Useful commands:

• Dry run (see what would happen):

  stow --no --verbose=2 <package-name>

• Restow (apply changes to an already-stowed package):

  stow --restow <package-name>

• Unstow:

  stow --delete <package-name>

Available packages

• aerospace
• ghostty
• lazygit
• leader-key¹
• nvim
• sketchybar
• skhd
• tmux
• vim
• wezterm
• yabai
• yazi
• zellij
• zsh

Post-install manual steps (macOS)

Some things can’t (or shouldn’t) be fully automated:

• yabai / skhd
  • System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility
  • Enable for the relevant binaries/apps you use to launch them (Terminal/iTerm2, yabai, skhd).
• Docker Desktop
  • Launch Docker Desktop once to complete setup.
• Login/setup apps
  • 1Password, Raycast/Alfred, VPN, browsers, etc.

Karabiner-Elements

If you use the Karabiner config in this repo:

cd karabiner
npm install
npm run build

Macbook reinstall checklist

• Commit and push changes in all Git repos
• Review Git stashes and convert important ones to patch files
• Backup important documents not synced to iCloud/Drive
• Backup app data that doesn’t sync automatically
• Export critical data from local databases
• Backup SSH keys (~/.ssh) and config (~/.ssh/config)
• Backup GPG keys (if used)
• Confirm 2FA/authenticator backups (if applicable)
• Verify password manager vault is fully synced
• Note down/licenses for paid apps (if not account-based)

Troubleshooting

Homebrew installed but brew not found

Open a new terminal session, or run:

if [ -x /opt/homebrew/bin/brew ]; then
    eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"
elif [ -x /usr/local/bin/brew ]; then
    eval "$(/usr/local/bin/brew shellenv)"
fi

Stow conflicts / “existing file” errors

Preview first:

stow --no --verbose=2 <package-name>

Then move/backup conflicting files and re-run stow.

Footnotes

1. Change config directory to ~/.config/leader-key in app settings ↩