dots

My macOS dotfiles, managed with GNU stow. A Nord-themed terminal setup: zsh + a native (subprocess-free) prompt, tmux, vim, ghostty, and git.

Layout

.
├── apple/      # macOS — Brewfile, terminal theme, reference screenshots
├── ghostty/    # ghostty terminal config        → ~/.config/ghostty
├── git/        # .gitconfig + global gitignore   → ~
├── tmux/       # .tmux.conf (Nord status line)   → ~
├── vim/        # .vimrc (vim-plug, Nord)         → ~
├── zsh/        # .zprofile (env) + .zshrc        → ~
├── alfred/      # Alfred preferences (sync folder)
├── misc/        # reference material — Makefile templates, keyboard (VIA) configs
├── bootstrap.sh # fresh Mac → fully configured, one command
├── install.sh   # stow everything + clone zsh plugins
├── macos.sh     # macOS system prefs as code (defaults write)
└── uninstall.sh

Setup

Fresh machine — one command

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ankitsxchdeva/dots/main/bootstrap.sh | bash

bootstrap.sh installs Homebrew (+ Xcode CLT) if missing, clones this repo to ~/.dots, backs up any conflicting dotfiles, runs brew bundle and install.sh, then offers to apply macos.sh. It's safe to re-run.

Manual

1. git clone git@github.com:ankitsxchdeva/dots.git ~/.dots
2. cd ~/.dots && sh install.sh

install.sh symlinks the configs into place and clones the zsh plugins (zsh-syntax-highlighting, zsh-autosuggestions). Vim plugins auto-install on first launch via vim-plug (or run vim +PlugInstall +qa).

The zsh config is split: ~/.zprofile holds environment (PATH, EDITOR, toolchain homes) so it is inherited by every shell, and ~/.zshrc holds the interactive bits (aliases, functions, prompt, completion, plugins). If you already have a hand-written ~/.zprofile, remove it before re-stowing so stow can link this one in: rm ~/.zprofile && sh install.sh.

macOS

Menu paths below are for System Settings on macOS 26 (Tahoe). On older releases the panes are named the same but live under "System Preferences".

Homebrew & packages

1. Install Homebrew — this also installs the Xcode Command Line Tools (or run xcode-select --install yourself).
2. Run install.sh (above).
3. Install packages: brew bundle --file=apple/Brewfile.
   • The Brewfile flags which casks are work-only vs. personal — comment out the ones you don't want before bundling.

System settings — scripted

macos.sh scripts the system preferences (defaults write) so you don't have to click through System Settings. Run it directly or let bootstrap.sh offer it:

cd ~/.dots && ./macos.sh

It sets, among others: Dock auto-hide at smallest size, menu-bar auto-hide, Finder (path/status bar, list view, folders-on-top, show hidden), natural scrolling off, tap-to-click, fast key repeat (no press-and-hold), Caps Lock → Control, screenshots as PNG in ~/Documents (matching the scrot alias), and Google DNS on Wi-Fi. The screenshots in apple/finder/ and apple/general/keyboard/ are now verification — your machine should match them after running the script.

Manual leftovers

A few things macOS won't let a script set reliably — macos.sh prints these as a checklist at the end:

• Displays → Night Shift… → schedule Sunset to Sunrise.
• Karabiner-Elements (brew install --cask karabiner-elements): swap backslash ⇄ delete (see karabiner.png) and hide its menu-bar icon.
• Caps Lock → Control is applied immediately via hidutil, but resets on reboot — for a permanent remap, also set it in Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts… → Modifier Keys.
• Trim the rest of the menu bar to taste (⌘-drag items out / toggle per-app in Control Center).

Apps

• Magnet — install from the App Store; window-snap configs are in apple/magnet/.
• Alfred — set its preferences (sync) folder to ~/.dots/alfred/.
• MonitorControl (brew install --cask monitorcontrol) — control external display brightness/volume from the menu bar.
• Firefox:
  • Sign in / sync, then add the extensions you want and remove the bundled ones.
  • Enable Compact density (Customize Toolbar… → Density → Compact).
  • Default zoom 80% (Settings → General → Zoom).
  • Bookmarks toolbar → Never Show.
  • Settings → Search → uncheck Suggestions from sponsors; turn off sponsored shortcuts on the new-tab page.

Network

• macos.sh sets Google DNS (8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4) on Wi-Fi. For Ethernet or other services, set it under Network → … → Details… → DNS.