Chezmoi

Chezmoi is the foundation of my dotfiles management system, providing powerful capabilities for managing configuration across multiple machines.

What is Chezmoi?

Chezmoi is a dotfiles manager that helps you maintain consistent configuration across multiple machines, with strong support for:

• Templating (different settings on different machines)
• Encryption (for sensitive information)
• Cross-platform compatibility (Linux, macOS, Windows)
• Powerful scripting for automation

At its core, Chezmoi maintains a source directory (typically ~/.local/share/chezmoi) that stores the desired state of your dotfiles. It then uses this source to manage the actual files in your home directory, ensuring they match your defined configurations.

Why I Chose Chezmoi

After experimenting with multiple dotfiles management approaches, I settled on Chezmoi for these key reasons:

1. Template-Based Configuration

Chezmoi excels at handling machine-specific configurations. Using Go’s templating system, I can maintain a single set of dotfiles with conditional sections that adapt based on:

• Operating system
• Hostname
• User
• Environment variables
• File existence
• And more

This means I can use identical source files across all my systems, but each machine gets appropriately customized configurations.

2. Built-in Security

Sensitive information like API keys and private server details need protection. Chezmoi integrates with password managers and encryption tools, allowing me to:

• Store encrypted secrets within my dotfiles repository
• Automatically decrypt files during deployment
• Keep sensitive data secure even in public repositories

3. Scriptable Workflows

Chezmoi provides robust scripting capabilities through:

• .chezmoiscripts - Run automatically during updates
• Hooks for pre/post operations
• Shell-agnostic scripting support

This allows for complex setup operations that go beyond simple file copying, such as:

• Installing required packages
• Setting system preferences
• Creating necessary directories
• Bootstrapping development environments

4. Git Integration

As a Git-centric tool, Chezmoi naturally integrates with version control workflows:

• Easy synchronization between machines
• Clean history of configuration changes
• Branching for experimental configurations
• Seamless remote repository management

5. Non-Destructive Operations

Chezmoi’s approach is safe and non-destructive:

• Preview changes before applying
• Automatic backups of modified files
• Selective application of changes
• Easy rollbacks when needed

6. Cross-Platform Support

My computing environment spans macOS, Linux, and Windows+WSL systems. Chezmoi works consistently across all of these platforms, allowing me to maintain a unified configuration strategy.

Alternatives I Considered

Before settling on Chezmoi, I evaluated several other dotfiles management approaches:

Tool/Method	Why I Didn’t Choose It
Bare Git Repository	Lacks templating, requires manual handling of machine-specific configs
GNU Stow	Limited templating capabilities, no built-in security features
Homesick/Homeshick	Less flexible for complex configurations, weaker cross-platform support
Dotbot	Less mature ecosystem, more configuration required
Shell Scripts	High maintenance, difficult to ensure idempotence
Ansible	Overly complex for personal dotfiles, steeper learning curve

How I Use Chezmoi

My dotfiles workflow centers around several key Chezmoi features:

Templating for OS-Specific Configuration

{{- if eq .chezmoi.os "darwin" }}
# macOS specific configurations
{{- else if eq .chezmoi.os "linux" }}
# Linux specific configurations
{{- end }}

External Data Integration

I use Chezmoi’s data sources to pull in external information that shapes my configurations:

.chezmoi.yaml.tmpl

data:
  email: "{{ (index . "email") }}"
  git:
    name: "{{ (index . "name") }}"
  hostname: "{{ .chezmoi.hostname }}"

Encrypted Secrets

Sensitive data is stored securely using encryption:

chezmoi add --encrypt ~/.config/some_service/credentials.json

Automated Scripts

Complex setup operations are handled by scripts that run during application:

~/.local/share/chezmoi/run_once_install-packages.sh.tmpl

#!/bin/bash

# This script runs when Chezmoi applies changes
{{ if eq .chezmoi.os "darwin" -}}
# Install macOS packages
brew bundle --file=~/Brewfile
{{ else if eq .chezmoi.os "linux" -}}
# Install Linux packages
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y {{ .packages.apt | join " " }}
{{ end -}}

Getting Started with Chezmoi

For those new to Chezmoi, here’s a quick reference to common commands:

# Initialize Chezmoi with your dotfiles
chezmoi init https://github.com/username/dotfiles.git

# See what changes would be made
chezmoi diff

# Apply changes to your home directory
chezmoi apply

# Add a file to Chezmoi management
chezmoi add ~/.bashrc

# Edit a file managed by Chezmoi
chezmoi edit ~/.bashrc

# Update from remote repository and apply changes
chezmoi update

Chezmoi documentation Visit the official Chezmoi documentation for more

Why Chezmoi Makes Sense for Dotfiles Management

Managing dotfiles isn’t just about backing up configuration files—it’s about creating a reproducible, adaptable system that works across different environments. Chezmoi addresses this holistic challenge with an approach that:

• Respects differences between machines while maintaining core consistency
• Secures sensitive information without compromising convenience
• Automates setup beyond simple file placement
• Evolves cleanly as your needs and preferences change
• Integrates well with other tools and workflows

For my needs, Chezmoi strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and power—providing a robust foundation for dotfiles management without unnecessary complexity.