# Yadm Dotfiles Setup Notes

## Overview
Successfully configured yadm (Yet Another Dotfiles Manager) to manage personal dotfiles while preserving Arch Linux system functionality.

## Setup Process

### 1. Initial Yadm Installation and Clone
- ✅ Installed yadm: `pacman -S yadm`
- ✅ Cloned personal dotfiles repository: `yadm clone git@gitlab.com:akrejczinger/dotfiles.git`
- ✅ Created backup of existing dotfiles before merge: `~/dotfiles-backup/20250730_142945/`

### 2. Dotfiles Merge Strategy
Rather than force-overwriting local files, manually merged each configuration file to preserve both:
- **Arch Linux system functionality** (session management, package integration)
- **Personal customizations** (themes, keybindings, development tools)

### 3. Files Successfully Merged

#### Shell Configuration
- **`.bashrc`**: Enhanced with yadm aliases, functions, and development tools
- **`.bash_profile`**: Added poetry PATH export
- **`.bash_logout`**: Replaced with yadm version (console clearing for privacy)
- **`.zshrc`**: Comprehensive setup with vi-mode, custom functions, 293-line config
- **`.profile`**: Merged X11/touchpad config with environment setup

#### System Integration
- **`.xinitrc`**: Combined Arch session management with colemak keyboard layout
- **XFCE configs**: Enhanced window manager settings while preserving customizations

### 4. Arch-Specific Optimizations
- **Linuxbrew disabled**: Commented out in all files (using pacman/AUR instead)
- **Session management preserved**: Kept Arch's comprehensive xinitrc.d integration
- **Performance optimizations**: Set `vblank_mode=xpresent` for better AMD graphics performance
- **Window manager enhancements**: Added `restore_on_move`, `zoom_pointer` features

### 5. Submodule Management
- ✅ Resolved phantom `.config/nvm` submodule reference issue
- ✅ Successfully initialized all valid submodules:
  - `.config/awesome` - AwesomeWM configuration
  - `.config/nvim` - Neovim setup (updated to latest main branch)
  - `.config/ranger/plugins/ranger_devicons` - File manager icons
  - `.tmux/plugins/tpm` - Tmux Plugin Manager

### 6. Configuration Highlights

#### Development Tools
- **Zsh with vi-mode**: Enhanced terminal experience with custom keybindings
- **Git integration**: Custom functions (`fshow`, `vimgit`) for improved workflow
- **Archive extraction**: Universal `ex()` function for all archive types
- **Theme switching**: `light_theme`/`dark_theme` functions

#### System Customization
- **Keyboard**: Colemak layout with custom xmodmap
- **Theme**: Greybird-dark with Papirus-Maia icons
- **Font**: Noto Sans 10 with proper font rendering settings
- **Cursor**: xcursor-breeze theme

#### Security & Privacy
- **Console clearing**: Automatic screen clear on logout
- **SSH hardening**: Comprehensive security settings documented
- **Firewall configuration**: Planned fail2ban integration

## Current State
- ✅ All dotfiles merged and committed to yadm repository
- ✅ Submodules properly initialized and updated
- ✅ Development environment fully functional
- ✅ Arch system integration preserved
- ✅ Personal customizations active

## Next Steps
- Network configuration and static IP setup
- Dynamic DNS configuration for remote access
- Self-hosted service deployment preparation

## Lessons Learned
1. **Manual merge approach** was correct - prevented loss of Arch-specific functionality
2. **Submodule cleanup** required removing phantom references from git index
3. **Platform-specific adjustments** (disabling linuxbrew) are essential for Arch
4. **Comprehensive backups** saved the day when conflicts arose

## Commands Reference
```bash
# Yadm basic operations
yadm status
yadm add <file>
yadm commit -m "message"

# Submodule management
yadm submodule update --init --recursive
yadm submodule update --remote

# Remove phantom submodule
yadm rm --cached <submodule-path>
```