Initialize repository with old config

README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+# Dotfiles
+
+**Dotfiles for [@dominikdoerr](https://fosstodon.org/@dominikdoerr)**
+
+Dotfiles are user-specific configuration files. They are called dotfiles, because on linux most configuration files start with a dot (like .bashrc) to mark them as hidden. To be able to migrate or restore those configuration files without much hassle they can be committed to a git repository. Now they can quickly be installed on every system with internet access.
+
+These are the configuration files for my linux setup (running Debian on a Thinkpad X230). Feel free to use this as inspiration or starting point for your own setup. I try to comment my settings as much as possible (as I tend to forget the more obscure settings on a regular basis). 
+
+---
+
+## Install these dotfiles onto a new system
+
+If you are using bash, the alias will be included in the .bash_aliases file. Add this alias to your shell configuration file, if you use another shell.
+
+```
+alias dotfiles='/usr/bin/git --git-dir=$HOME/.dotfiles/ --work-tree=$HOME'
+```
+
+Clone this repository as a bare repository into your home folder.
+
+```
+git clone --bare https://gitlab.com/dominikdoerr/dotfiles $HOME/.dotfiles
+
+# Checkout the repository to add the files to your home folder.
+# Make sure to set the alias for your shell first.
+# This command may fail, if you have files already present (like a .bashrc). Move or delete these files and run the command again.
+dotfiles checkout
+
+# Set the flag to only track explicitly added files.
+dotfiles config --local status.showUntrackedFiles no
+```
+
+Now you are set up and can use your own dotfiles.
+
+---
+
+## How to create your own dotfiles
+
+Maybe you want to create your own dotfiles but start from scratch instead of cloning and modifying this repository. My setup basically follows this [guide from Atlassian](https://www.atlassian.com/git/tutorials/dotfiles).
+
+
+```
+# Create a separate folder for git to track the files
+git init --bare $HOME/.dotfiles
+
+# Add an alias for your shell (I use bash).
+# As I am using aliases a lot, I use a separate file instead of adding it to the .bashrc.
+# We use this alias instead of the regular git command.
+echo "alias dotfiles='/usr/bin/git --git-dir=$HOME/.dotfiles/ --work-tree=$HOME'" >> $HOME/.bash_aliases
+
+# Set a flag to only show explicitly added files.
+# Otherwise git will try to track all the files in our home directory.
+# Note that we already use our alias. You have to source your alias file first or restart your shell to make this work.
+dotfiles config --local status.showUntrackedFiles no
+```
+
+Now you can manage your dotfiles with git using the new alias. Just use 'dotfiles' instead of 'git'. For example:
+
+```
+dotfiles status
+dotfiles add .bash_aliases
+dotfiles commit -m "Add aliases file for bash"
+dotfiles push
+```
+
+---
+
+## Questions and contact
+
+Got questions or feedback? Please do get in touch. I'm always looking for improvements and am happy to help if I can.
+
+* [Visit my website](https://dominikdoerr.de)
+* [Write me an email](mailto:foss@dominikdoerr.de)
+* [Get in touch on Mastodon](https://fosstodon.org/@dominikdoerr)