# Application Configuration Management

This document explains how application configurations are managed in this dotfiles repository.

## Strategy Overview

We use a hybrid approach:
1. **Direct file management** for simple configs (.npmrc, .ssh/config)
2. **Custom backup scripts** for complex macOS apps (LaunchBar, Hazel, Bartender)
3. **Mackup** as an optional automated solution

## Configuration Locations

### Simple Configs (Symlinked)
- `.npmrc` → `~/dotfiles/.npmrc`
- `.ssh/config` → `~/dotfiles/ssh/config` (template)

### macOS Application Configs
- **LaunchBar**: `~/Library/Application Support/LaunchBar/`
- **Hazel**: `~/Library/Application Support/Hazel/`
- **Bartender**: `~/Library/Preferences/com.surteesstudios.Bartender.plist`

## Backup Methods

### Method 1: Manual Script (Recommended)
```bash
# Run the backup script
~/dotfiles/macos-apps/backup-app-configs.sh
```

This script:
- Backs up LaunchBar configuration and custom actions
- Exports Hazel rules database
- Saves Bartender preferences
- Converts plists to readable XML format

### Method 2: Mackup (Automated)
```bash
# First time setup
mackup backup

# On new machine
mackup restore
```

Mackup advantages:
- Automatic detection of supported apps
- Creates symlinks for live sync
- Supports 300+ applications

## SSH Config

We maintain a template at `~/dotfiles/ssh/config.example` with:
- Sanitized host configurations
- Best practice settings
- Examples for common scenarios

**Never commit**:
- Private keys
- Actual hostnames/IPs
- Usernames
- Sensitive paths

## NPM Configuration

The `.npmrc` file includes:
- Author defaults for `npm init`
- Performance optimizations
- Security settings
- Registry configuration (if needed)

## Restore Process

### Quick Restore
1. Install applications via Homebrew:
   ```bash
   brew bundle install
   ```

2. Restore configs:
   ```bash
   # NPM
   ln -sf ~/dotfiles/.npmrc ~/.npmrc
   
   # SSH (edit first!)
   cp ~/dotfiles/ssh/config.example ~/.ssh/config
   chmod 600 ~/.ssh/config
   
   # macOS apps
   ~/dotfiles/macos-apps/restore-app-configs.sh
   ```

### Using Mackup
```bash
# After installing apps
mackup restore
```

## Adding New Applications

To add config management for a new app:

1. **Find config location**:
   ```bash
   find ~/Library -name "*AppName*" -type d
   ```

2. **Add to backup script** or configure Mackup

3. **Document** the process here

## Troubleshooting

- **Permissions issues**: Some apps need to be quit before restoring
- **License/authorization**: Most apps need re-activation after restore
- **Preferences cache**: May need to `killall cfprefsd` after restoring plists
- **Mackup conflicts**: Check `~/.mackup/` for conflicting symlinks