Simple git bare repo guide (dotfiles)

1. Creation of the repo

git init --bare $HOME/.dot

This creates the “git folder”, which only has git files, your dotfiles won’t be put in it. In this case I name it ".dotfiles" making it hidden on my home directory because of the period. You may change the location of the folder if you prefer, but if you do, remember to modify it accordingly on the next commands.

2. Shell aliases

If you don’t know about them learn them first, and also the concept of shells. The “dot” alias could be any word you want, “dot” is the alias name that I chose to do stuff with my git bare repo.

Practical example: When I use the bare repo I type dot add file to add a file to the repo, I type dot commit message to create a commit message and dot push to push my changes to Gitlab/hub.

2.1 Create alias for bash:

alias dot='/usr/bin/git --git-dir=$HOME/$USER//.dot --work-tree=$HOME'

Remember: If you changed the git bare repo folder location you have to change it on the alias as well.

2.2 Create alias for fish

alias dot='/usr/bin/git --git-dir=$HOME/$USER//.dot --work-tree=/$HOME'

Remember: If you changed the git bare repo folder location you have to change it on the alias as well.

3. Configuration for your bare repo

This command is pretty much personal preference, what this command does is not taking into account the files that have not been added to the repo on your home directory, this serves to unclutter the dot status aliased command.

dot config --local status.showUntrackedFiles no

If you don’t understand the purpose of it you can ignore it and come back later to it, no big deal.

4. How to use the git bare repo you just created

You did it!

If your aliased command is not called dot take that into account when running these commands and replace accordingly.

4.1 Adding files

dot add file.example dot add -u (for changes within previously added directories)

4.2 Committing the changes

dot commit -m "Name of commit"

4.3 Pushing the changes

dot push https://gitlab/hub.com/user/repo.git

4.3.1 Alternatively if you have ssh configured with gitlab/github/etc

Which I highly recommend! dot push