Dotfiles

Personal dotfiles managed with GNU Stow.

Structure

dotfiles/
├── zsh/                    # Zsh shell configuration
│   ├── .zshrc
│   ├── .zshenv
│   ├── .zprofile
│   ├── .p10k.zsh
│   ├── .zsh_custom_aliases
│   ├── .zsh_custom_functions
│   └── .secrets            # Gitignored
├── git/                    # Git configuration
│   ├── .gitconfig
│   └── .gitmessage
├── npm/                    # NPM configuration
│   └── .npmrc
├── ssh/                    # SSH configuration
│   └── .ssh/config
├── cursor/                 # Cursor IDE settings
│   ├── settings.json
│   ├── keybindings.json
│   ├── snippets/
│   └── setup.sh
├── alfred/                 # Alfred preferences & workflows
│   ├── Alfred.alfredpreferences/
│   └── setup.sh
├── macos/                  # macOS system preferences
│   ├── dock.sh
│   ├── finder.sh
│   ├── keyboard.sh
│   ├── screenshots.sh
│   └── spotlight.sh
├── fonts/                  # Custom fonts (Anonymous Pro)
├── Brewfile                # Homebrew dependencies
└── bootstrap.sh            # New machine setup script

Installation

Prerequisites

• macOS (Apple Silicon)
• Git (comes with Xcode Command Line Tools)

Quick Start (New Machine)

# One-liner to bootstrap everything
git clone https://github.com/chrishuman0923/dotfiles.git ~/projects/dotfiles && ~/projects/dotfiles/bootstrap.sh

The bootstrap script will:

• Install Homebrew (if needed)
• Install all dependencies from Brewfile (CLI tools, apps, VS Code extensions)
• Install custom fonts (Anonymous Pro)
• Create symlinks for all dotfiles via stow
• Set up Node.js (latest LTS) via fnm
• Enable corepack for pnpm/yarn
• Configure macOS settings (Dock, Finder, keyboard, screenshots, Spotlight)
• Configure apps (Cursor, Alfred)

Manual Installation

# Clone the repo
git clone https://github.com/chrishuman0923/dotfiles.git ~/projects/dotfiles
cd ~/projects/dotfiles

# Install all dependencies from Brewfile
brew bundle

# Create symlinks
stow -t ~ zsh git npm ssh

# Setup Node (latest LTS)
eval "$(fnm env)"
fnm install --lts && fnm default lts-latest
corepack enable

# Run macOS and app setup scripts
./macos/dock.sh
./macos/finder.sh
./macos/keyboard.sh
./macos/screenshots.sh
./macos/spotlight.sh
./cursor/setup.sh
./alfred/setup.sh

Uninstall (remove symlinks)

cd ~/projects/dotfiles
stow -D -t ~ zsh git npm ssh

macOS Settings

The macos/ scripts configure system preferences:

Script	What it does
dock.sh	Auto-hide, minimum size, magnification, genie effect, only Finder/Settings/Trash
finder.sh	Show hidden files, extensions, path bar, list view, disable .DS_Store on network
keyboard.sh	Fast key repeat, disable auto-correct/capitalize/smart quotes
screenshots.sh	Save to ~/Screenshots as PNG, disable shadows
spotlight.sh	Rebind to option+space (frees cmd+space for Alfred)

App Configuration

Alfred

After bootstrap, complete Alfred setup:

1. Powerpack: Open Alfred Preferences → Powerpack → Enter your license
2. Hotkey: Set to cmd+space in Preferences → General
3. Sync: Set folder to ~/Alfred.alfredpreferences in Preferences → Advanced → Syncing

Your workflows and preferences are stored in alfred/Alfred.alfredpreferences/.

Cursor

Settings, keybindings, and snippets are symlinked automatically:

• ~/Library/Application Support/Cursor/User/settings.json
• ~/Library/Application Support/Cursor/User/keybindings.json
• ~/Library/Application Support/Cursor/User/snippets/

Features

Node Version Management (fnm)

• Auto-switch: Automatically switches Node version when:
  • cd into a folder with .nvmrc or .node-version
  • Opening a new terminal tab in a project directory
  • Installs missing versions automatically
• Fast: Written in Rust, ~40x faster than nvm
• Corepack enabled: pnpm/yarn versions automatically prepared per-project via package.json

When you enter a directory with a packageManager field in package.json, the correct version is automatically downloaded and activated:

"packageManager": "pnpm@9.15.0"

The version management hook is optimized for performance with directory and package manager caching to avoid redundant work.

Modern CLI Tools

Command	Tool	Description
ls, ll, la, lt	eza	Better ls with icons, git status
cat, catp	bat	Syntax-highlighted file viewing
find	fd	Faster, simpler find
z <path>	zoxide	Smart cd that learns your habits
git diff, git log	delta	Syntax-highlighted git diffs
lg	lazygit	Terminal UI for git

Git Aliases

Alias	Command
g	git
gs	git status
gd	git diff
gds	git diff --staged
ga	git add
gc	git commit
gcm	git commit -m
gp	git push
gl	git pull
gco	git checkout
gcb	git checkout -b
gb	git branch
glog	git log --oneline --graph
gst	git stash
gstp	git stash pop

pnpm Aliases

Alias	Command
p	pnpm
pi	pnpm install
pa	pnpm add
pad	pnpm add -D
prm	pnpm remove
px	pnpm dlx
pd	pnpm dev
pb	pnpm build
pt	pnpm test
pex	pnpm exec

SSH Setup

After running bootstrap, set up your SSH key for GitHub:

New Machine (key stored in 1Password)

1. Open 1Password and find your SSH key

2. Copy the private key to ~/.ssh/:

   # Create the file and paste your private key
   nano ~/.ssh/id_github
   
   # Set correct permissions
   chmod 600 ~/.ssh/id_github

3. Add to macOS keychain:

   ssh-add --apple-use-keychain ~/.ssh/id_github

4. Test the connection:

   ssh -T git@github.com

First Time Setup (no existing key)

1. Generate a new Ed25519 key:

   ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -f ~/.ssh/id_github -C "your_email@example.com"

2. Add to macOS keychain:

   ssh-add --apple-use-keychain ~/.ssh/id_github

3. Copy public key:

   pbcopy < ~/.ssh/id_github.pub

4. Add to GitHub: Settings → SSH and GPG keys → New SSH key
5. Save private key to 1Password for backup/sync

Secrets

Secrets are stored in zsh/.secrets which is:

• Symlinked to ~/.secrets
• Sourced by .zshenv
• Gitignored (never committed)

To set up secrets on a new machine:

touch ~/projects/dotfiles/zsh/.secrets
chmod 600 ~/projects/dotfiles/zsh/.secrets
cd ~/projects/dotfiles && stow -R -t ~ zsh
# Add your tokens/keys to the file

Customization

• Shell aliases: Edit zsh/.zsh_custom_aliases
• Shell functions: Edit zsh/.zsh_custom_functions
• Prompt theme: Run p10k configure or edit zsh/.p10k.zsh
• Cursor settings: Edit cursor/settings.json
• macOS prefs: Edit scripts in macos/

Managing Dependencies

The Brewfile contains all Homebrew dependencies:

• CLI tools (bat, eza, fd, fnm, fzf, etc.)
• Applications (1Password, Alfred, Cursor, Docker, etc.)
• VS Code/Cursor extensions

To update the Brewfile after installing new packages:

# Generate a new Brewfile from currently installed packages
brew bundle dump --force --file=~/projects/dotfiles/Brewfile

To install everything from the Brewfile:

cd ~/projects/dotfiles
brew bundle