Lnk
Dev tools
dotfiles manager
SHOW HN2025
75points
57comments
#957of 3,837 in 2025
Top 25%of 2025 by points
How HN took it
CuriousMostly questions and neutral comments
0 positive, 6 neutral or asking, 0 mixed, 5 critical, out of 11 comments about the project. Thread score -0.36.
Idea: 0 for, 5 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Commenters say GNU Stow plus Git works well for them
From 2 comments
I have managed my dotfiles in git for over a decade, and I have never needed anything else than git and GNU stow. I organize dotfiles in a few modules, and then I stand in the…
dmacvicar on HNSame for me. I don’t remember a problem with dotfiles. I’m sure there were ones that maybe I got used to. I also use it for ~/bin scripts. There the limitations are more…
keybored on HN
Objections
Machine-specific differences are not handled by simple dotfile managers
From 1 comment
My main gripe with dotfile managers (including lnk) is that they assume a uniform environment. I haven't found one that doesn't make this fundamendal assumption. Some scenarios…
m000 on HN
Dotfiles often contain secrets that are hard to manage safely
From 2 comments
There are so many secrets spread across dot files. Is it possible to encrypt and store them in remote and de-encrypt when it’s pulled to local machines?
wanderingmind on HNThat moves the problem to "how do we securely manage shared keys." And it adds "how safe are those encrypted secrets [edit: changed from "keys" to more general language] that are…
drewcoo on HN
Requests
Warn about secrets when adding files
From 1 comment
I have a feature suggestion: When you ‘lnk add’ a file, check it for patterns that might indicate it contains a secret, and warn the user if indications of a secret are found.…
efitz on HN
Support per-host or per-machine config differences
From 1 comment
My main gripe with dotfile managers (including lnk) is that they assume a uniform environment. I haven't found one that doesn't make this fundamendal assumption. Some scenarios…
m000 on HN
Questions
How is this different from GNU Stow?
From 1 comment
How is this different from GNU stow?
peterhadlaw on HN
How is it simpler than chezmoi?
From 1 comment
Seems very similar (but less mature) to Chezmoi. How is Chezmoi too complex for your use case? I'm puzzled
denysvitali on HN
Alternatives named
GNU Stow
From 2 comments
How is this different from GNU stow?
peterhadlaw on HNI have managed my dotfiles in git for over a decade, and I have never needed anything else than git and GNU stow. I organize dotfiles in a few modules, and then I stand in the…
dmacvicar on HN
chezmoi
From 2 comments
I switched over to chezmoi a few years ago - previously had been managing a "main" (macOS) and "Ubuntu" branch for dots. turned out to be a huge pain especially once I ran into…
amar1729 on HNSeems very similar (but less mature) to Chezmoi. How is Chezmoi too complex for your use case? I'm puzzled
denysvitali on HN
Bare git repo in home directory
From 3 comments
Another approach that avoids symlinks and avoids a git repo in $HOME (i.e. everything is a subdir of that git repo) is to use the option "git-dir" to clone into a subdir, e.g.…
NicolaiS on HNI have been using the "bare git at $HOMEDIR"[0] approach for several years. Benefits: 1. no extra tools. 2. one off task for setting up the git repo and alias…
nrvn on HNI like the method I saw on atlassian and haven’t needed any other option. Clone to a bare repo and make your home directory the git home. Then I can easily edit the files and…
hk1337 on HN
YADM
From 1 comment
Check out YADM which allows you to link files based on criteria such as hostname.
philjackson on HN
Dotter
From 1 comment
Check out https://github.com/SuperCuber/dotter
SuperCuber on HN