ditto-dots 0.1.0

A dotfile manager that transforms your dev environment
ditto-dots-0.1.0 is not a library.

Rust License: MIT Status

A Dotfile manager CLI built as a Rust learning project with Claude Code as a coding partner (using the learning-opportunities skill).

All core logic was hand-typed. Tests and documentation were generated.

Extends upon GNU Stow functionality with support for hook setup. And has pretty spinners.

Install

cargo install --path .

Usage

Set up a new machine:

ditto init git@github.com:you/dotfiles.git   # clone + link everything
ditto init <URL> --packages shell git         # only link what you need

Link and unlink:

ditto link                    # symlink all packages
ditto link shell ssh          # just these two
ditto link --force            # overwrite conflicts (backs up first)
ditto unlink ssh              # remove symlinks, restore originals
ditto unlink --all            # tear it all down

Bring an existing file under management:

ditto add ~/.zshrc --package shell   # move into repo, replace with symlink

See what's going on:

ditto status                  # linked, broken, untracked -- at a glance
ditto diff                    # what changed since you linked?

Config

A ditto.toml at the root of your dotfiles repo. That's the whole system.

[settings]
backup_dir = ".ditto-backup"

[packages.shell]
files = [
  { src = "shell/zshrc", target = "~/.zshrc" },
]

[packages.shell.hooks]
post_link = "source ~/.zshrc"

[packages.ssh]
files = [
  { src = "ssh/", target = "~/.ssh/" },
]

[packages.ssh.hooks]
post_link = "chmod 700 ~/.ssh && chmod 600 ~/.ssh/id_*"

[packages.iterm2]
platforms = ["macos"]
files = [
  { src = "iterm2/com.googlecode.iterm2.plist", target = "~/Library/Preferences/com.googlecode.iterm2.plist" },
]

Packages group related files. Each can have platform filters and pre/post hooks for both linking and unlinking.

Why ditto?

Feature How it works
Package-based Group files logically -- shell, git, ssh -- link what you need
Hooks Run commands after linking (reload shell, fix permissions)
Automatic backup Conflicts are backed up before overwriting, restored on unlink
Dry run --dry-run on any command to preview before committing
No templating Same config everywhere -- just symlinks, done right

Global Flags

--dry-run       Preview without making changes
--verbose       Show detailed output
--no-color      Disable colored output
--config <PATH> Use a specific ditto.toml

Status

Ditto is a work in progress. The project structure and core utilities are in place; command implementations are actively being built. macOS and Linux only.

License

MIT