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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Distro hoppers, how do you manage your config files? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 year ago by jackofalltrades@lemmy.ml to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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I am currently trying to keep track of my config files in a repo to be able to get the configa back together easily if/when I change distro, but I am not sure if that's the best way or if I should be using some tool to help me since I some programs keep preferences in other directories other then $HOME (at least I think so). Can you guys share with me your must used/trusted simple process for this?

Thank you and specially thanks to everyone who is being helpful in this community for the past few weeks, I've learned much and got some very useful tips from the comments in my posts and in other people posts too.

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[–] RickyRigatoni@lemmy.ml 34 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I manage them by not. My configs are gone when I wipe my drive and I simply recreate them from memory. Things get forgotten, new things get changed. Holding on to the past too tightly will make you unable to leave it.

[–] flubba86@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I've struggled to put in words my stance on this, but you said it well. If I backed up my configs, I would get stuck doing things the exact same way for ever. If I backed up my configs I'd be still using Vim with Vungle plugins, now I use Neovim with Packer plugins. I would be still using urxvt with powerline-status bar, now I use Alacritty with starship status. I'd be still using my old favourite Inconsolata font, now I use Fantasque for everything.

There are always newer (and sometimes better) and certainly different ways of tweaking your PC to suit your needs. If you hold on too tight to your old configs, you might miss out on discovering the next cool thing to enhance your experience.

Note: there are of course some home dir things I definitely keep backed up that are irreplaceable, like SSH private keys, GPG keyrings and private keystores, and even my Firefox profile directory.