Skip to main content

Dotfiles Tool Questionnaire

Introduction​

Choosing the right dotfile management tool depends on your specific needs, environment, and experience level. This questionnaire will help you decide between GNU Stow (simple, lightweight) and chezmoi (feature-rich, multi-machine).

Answer the questions below honestly—there are no wrong answers. Your responses will guide you toward the tool that best fits your workflow.

Your Environment​

1. What operating systems do you use?

  • macOS only
  • Linux only
  • Both macOS and Linux
  • Windows (and/or WSL)

2. How many machines do you manage dotfiles across?

  • Just one
  • 2-3 machines
  • 4 or more machines

3. Do your machines have different architectures? (e.g., x86_64, ARM, Apple Silicon)

  • No, all the same
  • Yes, some differences
  • Unsure

Your Experience Level​

4. How comfortable are you with git?

  • Not comfortable; prefer GUI tools or minimal git interaction
  • Somewhat comfortable; basic operations are fine
  • Very comfortable; I use advanced git features regularly

5. Have you used templating languages before? (Go templates, Jinja2, etc.)

  • No, never
  • Yes, but not regularly
  • Yes, regularly in my work

6. How comfortable are you with the command line?

  • Beginner; I prefer GUIs and minimal terminal use
  • Intermediate; comfortable with common commands
  • Advanced; I spend most time in the terminal

Your Needs​

7. Do you need to manage secrets/credentials in your dotfiles? (API keys, tokens, passwords)

  • No, my configs don't include secrets
  • Yes, and I want them encrypted
  • Yes, but I keep them separate from dotfiles

8. Do you need different configurations per machine? (e.g., work vs personal, different shells)

  • No, all machines have identical configs
  • Somewhat; minor differences per machine
  • Yes, significant differences between machines

9. Do you want auto-install capability? (Homebrew, apt packages as part of setup)

  • No, I manage packages separately
  • Maybe; would be nice but not essential
  • Yes, fully automated setup is important

10. Which of these tools do you use? (select all that apply)

  • neovim/vim
  • tmux
  • zsh/bash
  • git
  • ssh
  • Other shells or terminal tools

11. How often do you change your dotfiles?

  • Rarely; my setup is stable
  • Monthly or less frequently
  • Weekly or more frequently

Your Preferences​

12. Tool philosophy: what appeals to you more?

  • A. Simple, lightweight tool with minimal dependencies
  • B. Comprehensive tool with built-in solutions for common problems

13. State management: what do you prefer?

  • A. Plain git repo with symlinks (transparent, easy to inspect)
  • B. Tool-managed state with abstraction (cleaner, less to manage)

14. Is encryption important to you?

  • No, not necessary
  • Nice to have, but not essential
  • Very important for my use case

Scoring Guide​

Mostly A answers?​

GNU Stow is likely your best fit. Stow is simple, lightweight, and transparent. You manage a plain git repository with symlinks—no hidden state, no special syntax. Perfect if you want minimal overhead and enjoy direct git control.

Mostly B answers?​

chezmoi is likely your best fit. chezmoi offers templates, encryption, machine-specific configs, and hooks for automation. Ideal if you manage multiple machines with different needs and want a polished, feature-complete solution.

Mixed answers?​

You might benefit from both tools' features. Consider your top 2-3 priorities (encryption? multi-machine? simplicity?) and let that guide your choice.

Next Steps​

Once you've answered the questions above, you have two paths forward:

  • Quick start? Check [[dotfiles-beginner-guide]] for side-by-side setup instructions for both tools.
  • Deep dive? Explore [[dotfiles-deep-dive]] for comprehensive coverage, best practices, and advanced patterns.

Ready to commit? Once you've decided on GNU Stow or chezmoi, let me know and I'll create a personalized in-depth user guide tailored to your specific setup and needs!

Next Steps

Once you've answered the questions above, you have two paths forward:

  • Quick start? Check [[dotfiles-beginner-guide]] for side-by-side setup instructions for both tools.
  • Deep dive? Explore [[dotfiles-deep-dive]] for comprehensive coverage, best practices, and advanced patterns.
  • Chose Chezmoi? Jump to [[chezmoi-beginner-guide|Chezmoi Beginner Guide]] for a dedicated getting-started guide, then [[chezmoi-deep-dive|Chezmoi Deep Dive]] for templates, encryption, and multi-machine strategies.

Ready to commit? Once you've decided on GNU Stow or chezmoi, let me know and I'll create a personalized in-depth user guide tailored to your specific setup and needs!