dotfiles/APP_CONFIGS.md

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)

# 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)

# 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:

   brew bundle install
   

2. Restore configs:

   # 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

# After installing apps
mackup restore

Adding New Applications

To add config management for a new app:

1. Find config location:

   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