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Comment by zests | Hacker News Reader

Here's a guide using a git bare repository: https://www.atlassian.com/git/tutorials/dotfiles

I try to use Drew DeVault's method [1], which is similar, but it seems much more straightforward. It uses a regular git repository in $HOME, a .gitignore file that is just a `*` so that it ignores all files and you have to force add the files that you want.

As a disclaimer I have to say I have never migrated my system to another one or even shared my config, so unforeseen problems may appear.

[1] https://drewdevault.com/2019/12/30/dotfiles.html

I use this method as well, but instead of force adding files, I use an inverted .gitinore.

    *
    !/.bashrc
    !/.config/
    !/.config/monitors.xml

This lets me quickly quickly detect changes in my working dir while still explicitly adding each tracked file.

The one issue I've had with this is that ripgrep will use the gitignore so without an extra option most any search in any folder under $HOME will turn up empty

I've been using this (lightly) for a couple years, and I've been happy with it.

Me too. It's good enough.

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