GitHub

Dotfiles & Shell

OpenBoot configures your shell environment and can link your dotfiles — so your personal setup follows you to any Mac.

Shell Configuration

OpenBoot sets up Zsh with Oh-My-Zsh automatically:

  • Plugins: git, zsh-autosuggestions, zsh-syntax-highlighting
  • Theme: A clean, informative prompt
  • Aliases: Common shortcuts for developer workflows

If you already have Oh-My-Zsh installed, OpenBoot merges its plugin recommendations without overwriting your existing config.

After installation, restart your terminal or run source ~/.zshrc to pick up the new configuration.

Skipping Shell Setup

If you manage your shell config yourself:

openboot --shell skip

Dotfiles

If you keep your config files in a Git repo (.zshrc, .gitconfig, .vimrc, etc.), OpenBoot can clone and link them automatically.

How It Works

  1. Set a dotfiles repo URL in your config (via the dashboard or config JSON)
  2. During install, OpenBoot clones the repo to ~/.dotfiles
  3. Files are symlinked into your home directory using GNU Stow

Dotfiles Modes

Control how OpenBoot handles dotfiles with the --dotfiles flag:

ModeWhat it does
cloneClone the repo to ~/.dotfiles
linkClone and symlink with stow
skipDon’t touch dotfiles
openboot --dotfiles link
openboot --dotfiles skip

Setting Up Your Dotfiles Repo

Don’t have a dotfiles repo yet? Here’s the minimum structure that works with stow:

~/.dotfiles/
├── git/
│   └── .gitconfig
├── zsh/
│   └── .zshrc
└── vim/
    └── .vimrc

Each top-level directory is a “package.” When stowed, the contents are symlinked one level up — so git/.gitconfig becomes ~/.gitconfig.

OpenBoot provides a starter dotfiles template you can fork and customize.

macOS Preferences

OpenBoot applies a curated set of developer-friendly macOS settings. These are all reversible system preferences — nothing destructive.

What Gets Configured

Global

  • Show all file extensions
  • Always show scrollbars
  • Disable auto-correct and auto-capitalization
  • Fast key repeat rate and short repeat delay

Finder

  • Show path bar and status bar
  • Default to list view
  • No warning when changing file extensions
  • Show hidden files

Dock

  • Keep Dock visible (no autohide by default)
  • Hide recent applications
  • Set icon size
  • Use scale effect for minimize

Screenshots

  • Save to ~/Screenshots
  • PNG format
  • Disable shadow

Other

  • Safari developer menu enabled
  • TextEdit defaults to plain text
  • Time Machine won’t prompt for new backup disks

Skipping macOS Preferences

If you prefer your current settings:

openboot --macos skip

See Config Options for the complete list of macOS preferences you can configure.