How to manage dotfiles in bare git repository

This note was created on 2023-05-10
This note was last edited on 2023-06-26

=== 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