Quick Look Into Dotfiles

How I Set Up My Laptop

I used to think dotfiles were something only configuration maximalists and Vim wizards cared about. That changed after one of my trainees reintroduced me to the idea—this time with actual use cases and a sense of purpose.

Now I use dotfiles for everything. My laptop was the perfect excuse to refine and automate the full setup process.

This is a breakdown of how my dotfiles work and how you can fork and adapt them to suit your own workflow.

What Are Dotfiles?

Dotfiles are a way to recreate your entire development environment with a single command. You run a script, and in a few minutes, your terminal, tools, OS preferences, workspace folders, SSH keys, and development tools are configured exactly how you want them.

The same environment. Every time.

No more "day zero" confusion. Just boot, run, and code.

Setup Flow Overview

My dotfiles automate the following steps:

1. Initial Checks

Determine system architecture
Self-update the dotfiles repository
Prompt and validate sudo privileges

2. Developer Essentials

Install Xcode and Command Line Tools
Install Rosetta for Apple Silicon if necessary

3. Shell & Terminal Setup

Creates symbolic links for .zshrc and other dotfiles. Configures:

Common aliases and exports
Zsh plugins using Zinit
- lukechilds/zsh-nvm: Lightweight Node.js version manager
- zdharma-continuum/history-search-multi-word: Better fuzzy search
- zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions: Fish-like autosuggestions
- zdharma-continuum/fast-syntax-highlighting: Syntax highlighting
- starship/starship: Prompt theming engine

4. Shared XDG Configuration

Creates shared configuration folders using the XDG spec. Example configs are copied (not symlinked) to allow per-system customization.

5. Application Installation

Uses a Homebrew Bundle to install:

CLI tools
GUI applications via Cask
Developer fonts
Visual Studio Code extensions

6. macOS Customization

Runs custom scripts to apply:

Sensible macOS system defaults
App Store application installations
Dock and desktop behavior tweaks

For more on macOS defaults, see macos-defaults.com.

7. Workspace Setup

Creates required folders (Projects, Playground, etc.)
Installs Node.js LTS using NVM
Installs global Node.js tools via Volta
Synchronizes SSH keys from iCloud

8. System Updates

Final step checks for system and software updates.

Why Bother?

Because having a consistent, working environment lets you focus on what matters. Dotfiles:

Reduce onboarding time
Improve system reliability
Prevent environment drift
Encourage automation and script literacy

You don’t need to remember which plugins you used or how your terminal looked—you codify it once and re-use it forever.

Toolbox Analogy

Imagine you're a carpenter. Every time you get project, you throw your tools into a bag with no labels and no compartments.

Dotfiles are your organized toolbox: every tool in its place, ready when you need it.

Gotchas and Advice

Stick with iTerm2 or Terminal. Don’t fall for YouTube S-tier terminal hype.
Don’t overcomplicate with too many plugins or customizations.
Keep secrets and machine-specific config separate.
Test each part of the script in isolation before combining.

Want to Try It?

The repo is public. Fork it, clone it, or copy what you need:

https://github.com/salttis/dotfiles

If it helps, drop a star or open a pull request.

git clone https://github.com/salttis/dotfiles ~/.dotfiles
cd ~/.dotfiles
./run.sh

Quick Look Into Dotfiles — How I Set Up My Laptop