homelab/yadm-setup-notes.md

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

# 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>