Git-native dotfiles management that doesn't suck.
Move your dotfiles to ~/.config/lnk, symlink them back, and use Git like normal. That's it.
lnk init
lnk add ~/.vimrc ~/.bashrc
lnk push "setup"# Quick install (recommended)
curl -sSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/yarlson/lnk/main/install.sh | bash# Homebrew (macOS/Linux)
brew tap yarlson/lnk
brew install lnk# Manual download
wget https://github.com/yarlson/lnk/releases/latest/download/lnk-$(uname -s | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')-amd64
chmod +x lnk-* && sudo mv lnk-* /usr/local/bin/lnk# From source
git clone https://github.com/yarlson/lnk.git && cd lnk && go build . && sudo mv lnk /usr/local/bin/# Fresh start
lnk init
# With existing repo
lnk init -r git@github.com:user/dotfiles.git# Add files/directories
lnk add ~/.vimrc ~/.config/nvim ~/.gitconfig
# Check status
lnk status
# Sync changes
lnk push "updated vim config"
lnk pullBefore: ~/.vimrc (file)
After: ~/.vimrc -> ~/.config/lnk/.vimrc (symlink)
Your files live in ~/.config/lnk (a Git repo). Lnk creates symlinks back to original locations. Edit files normally, use Git normally.
You could git init ~/.config/lnk and manually symlink everything. Lnk just automates the tedious parts:
- Moving files safely
- Creating relative symlinks
- Handling conflicts
- Tracking what's managed
lnk init -r git@github.com:you/dotfiles.git
lnk add ~/.bashrc ~/.vimrc ~/.gitconfig
lnk push "initial setup"lnk init -r git@github.com:you/dotfiles.git
lnk pull # auto-creates symlinksvim ~/.vimrc # edit normally
lnk status # check what changed
lnk push "new plugins" # commit & pushlnk init [-r remote]- Create repolnk add <files>- Move files to repo, create symlinkslnk rm <files>- Move files back, remove symlinkslnk status- Git status + sync infolnk push [msg]- Stage all, commit, pushlnk pull- Pull + restore missing symlinks
- Single binary (~8MB, no deps)
- Relative symlinks (portable)
- XDG compliant (
~/.config/lnk)
| Tool | Complexity | Why choose it |
|---|---|---|
| lnk | Minimal | Just works, no config, Git-native |
| chezmoi | High | Templates, encryption, cross-platform |
| yadm | Medium | Git power user, encryption |
| dotbot | Low | YAML config, basic features |
| stow | Low | Perl, symlink only |
Q: What if I already have dotfiles in Git?
A: git clone your-repo ~/.config/lnk && lnk add ~/.vimrc (adopts existing files)
Q: How do I handle machine-specific configs?
A: Git branches, or just don't manage machine-specific files with lnk
Q: Windows support?
A: Symlinks work on Windows 10+, but untested
Q: Production ready?
A: I use it daily. It won't break your files. API might change (pre-1.0).
git clone https://github.com/yarlson/lnk.git
cd lnk
make deps # Install golangci-lint
make check # Runs fmt, vet, lint, testWhat we use:
- Runtime deps: Only
cobra(CLI framework) - Test deps:
testifyfor assertions - Build pipeline: Standard Makefile with quality checks
Before submitting:
make check # Runs all quality checks + testsAdding features:
- Put integration tests in
test/integration_test.go - Use conventional commits:
feat:,fix:,docs: