dot.py 1.6.0

dot.py is a minimalist python script for managing dotfiles via symbolic links.

dot.py

dot.py is a minimalist one-file python script for managing dotfiles via symbolic links. Inspired by bashdot, it supports multiple profiles and customizable file templates with variables. No external dependencies, just python 3.10+.

Quick Start

1. Install and run with dot.py below

   pip install dot.py
   

   or use uv

   uvx --python 3.10 --from dot-py dot.py -h
   

   or download the script directly and run with ~/dot.py below

   wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vincentqb/dot.py/main/dot.py -O ~/dot.py && chmod u+x ~/dot.py
   

2. Create your initial profile. For example, you can create a directory called default.

   mkdir default
   

3. Add any files you would like linked into your home when this profile is linked.

   mv ~/.bashrc default/bashrc
   

4. Link the profile. When you link, dot.py prepends a dot, in front of the original file name, to the linked file. Below, default/bashrc will be linked to ~/.bashrc.

   dot.py link default
   

5. You can safely re-run to link newly added files. Store this profile in a cloud drive or source control. Repeat for additional profiles.

Templates

Values which need to be set in a file when dot.py is run can be placed in a template.

1. Append .template to any files which should be rendered. For example, assume you have a file default/bashrc.template containing:

   export SECRET_KEY=$ENV_SECRET_KEY
   

2. The rendered files will be created in the same directory, and have .template replaced with .rendered. In the example, you can run the following to set the value ENV_SECRET_KEY when linking the default profile.

   env ENV_SECRET_KEY=test1234 dot.py link default
   

3. The rendered file will be linked into the home with the .rendered suffix removed and a dot prepended. In the example, this will result in the rendered file default/bashrc.rendered being created and linked to ~/.bashrc with the below contents.

   export SECRET_KEY=test1234
   

4. Be sure to include **/*.rendered in .gitignore if you put your dotfiles into a git repository.

Development

For linting, building and testing, see the workflow.