How to manage dotfiles in bare git repository

This note was created on 5/10/2023
This note was last edited on 6/26/2023

=== Start from scratch ===
1. Initiate bare git repository in your $HOME:
   > git init --bare ~/.dotfiles --initial-branch linux

2. Configure alias in your ".bashrc" or ".zshrc":
   ~~~
   alias dotfiles="/usr/bin/git --git-dir=$HOME/.dotfiles/ --work-tree=$HOME"
   ~~~

3. Hide files we are not explicitly tracking:
   > dotfiles config --local status.showUntrackedFiles no

4. Check status of repository:
   > dotfiles status

5. Configure remote repository:
   > dotfiles remote add origin *git-repo-url*

6. Add files to repository, commit and push to remote:
   > dotfiles add ~/.config/someapp1/settings.json
   > dotfiles commit -m "Initial commit"
   > dotfiles push origin linux

=== Load dotfiles on a new system ===
> git clone --bare *git-repo-url* ~/.dotfiles --branch *branch-for-your-os*
> git --git-dir=$HOME/.dotfiles/ --work-tree=$HOME checkout linux
> dotfiles config --local status.showUntrackedFiles no

=== Tips ===
Fetch other dotfiles/branch for different setup/OS:
> dotfiles fetch origin macos:macos

Check difference between GNU/Linux and Apple macOS dotfiles:
> dotfiles diff macos linux

Add files to current dotfiles from other dotfiles/branch:
> dotfiles checkout linux -- ~/.config/someapp2/settings.json