dotfiles/README.md

Dotfiles

Personal, Arch-oriented user dotfiles and support scripts for shells, window management, applications, and package lists. This repository is a collection of machine-specific configuration, not a general-purpose installer.

Status and scope

There is no authoritative root installation, linking, backup, overwrite, or rollback script. Do not infer one: review and apply only the individual files appropriate to a machine. Some filenames use ##class.arch_* suffixes to distinguish machine classes. The repository also includes a nested README for the custom/vendored st terminal under .config/st/; it documents that component, not installation of this repository.

Several scripts assume Arch tooling and root access. Some repository scripts contain machine-specific connection details; do not publish, copy, or document such values. Use local, private configuration for hosts, addresses, accounts, and credentials.

Prerequisites

• An Arch-based system for the supplied pacman/yay package workflows.
• The package manager or helper required by the script being considered (pacman and/or yay).
• Desktop/session tools matching the chosen configuration (for example X11/XMonad-related files where applicable).
• Root access only for the system-changing scripts described below.

Package and service policy lives under system-config/ and is applied through Decman. Review system-config/README.md, the active host profile, and a dry run before changing system state.

Safe review and user-level configuration

Start by reviewing the intended files and any machine-class variants. Typical areas are:

• .zshrc, .bashrc, .terminal_aliases, .tmux.conf, and .p10k.zsh — shell and terminal setup.
• .config/ — desktop and application configuration.
• .scripts/ — optional shell, network, virtual-environment, and update helpers.
• system-config/ — Decman-managed packages, system files, selected user configuration, and service manifests.

Back up existing configuration before manually placing or linking a file. No test suite is provided; validate a change in the relevant shell/session or application and keep a rollback copy of the previous configuration.

System-changing configuration

system-config/ is the source of truth for managed packages, system files, selected user configuration, and enabled services. Use its review-first wrapper:

./system-config/decman verify
./system-config/decman dry-run

Warning: system-wide, potentially disruptive operation. ./system-config/decman apply changes packages, system files, boot artifacts, and services. Run it only after reviewing a dry run. No root-level bootstrap or rollback command exists.

Custom st terminal

The nested .config/st/README.md documents its own make and sudo make install workflow. Those commands build/install only that terminal component, may modify the system, and are not a bootstrap procedure for all dotfiles.