merge branch 'master' of github.com:RichiH/vcsh

[code/vcsh.git] / README.md

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4f7c27af3eee9344640ce09988117ccb8f671684..57f56ed773586ae1becf75c2549d694b1c179041 100644 (file)
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,17 +1,17 @@
-vcsh - Version Control System for $HOME (based on git)
+vcsh - Version Control System for $HOME - multiple Git repositories in $HOME

 
 
 
 

-# Index #
+# Index

 
 1. [30 second howto](#30-second-howto)
 2. [Introduction](#introduction)
 
 1. [30 second howto](#30-second-howto)
 2. [Introduction](#introduction)

-3. [Overview](#overview)
-4. [Getting Started](#getting-started)
-5. [Usage](#usage)
+3. [Usage Exmaples](#usage-examples)
+4. [Overview](#overview)
+5. [Getting Started](#getting-started)

 6. [Contact](#contact)
 
 
 6. [Contact](#contact)
 
 

-# 30 second howto #
+# 30 second howto

 
 While it may appear that there's an overwhelming amount of documentation and
 while the explanation of the concepts behind `vcsh` needs to touch a few gory
 
 While it may appear that there's an overwhelming amount of documentation and
 while the explanation of the concepts behind `vcsh` needs to touch a few gory


@@ -23,23 +23,22 @@ Let's say you want to version control your `vim` configuration:
     vcsh vim add ~/.vimrc ~/.vim
     vcsh vim commit -m 'Initial commit of my Vim configuration'
     # optionally push your files to a remote
     vcsh vim add ~/.vimrc ~/.vim
     vcsh vim commit -m 'Initial commit of my Vim configuration'
     # optionally push your files to a remote

-    vcsh vim remote add origin REMOTE
-    vcsh vim push origin master:master
+    vcsh vim remote add origin <remote>
+    vcsh vim push -u origin master
+    # from now on you can push additional commits like this
+    vcsh vim push

 
 If all that looks a _lot_ like standard `git`, that's no coincidence; it's
 a design feature.
 
 
 If all that looks a _lot_ like standard `git`, that's no coincidence; it's
 a design feature.
 

-Once you get familiar with `vcsh`, it's strongly suggested that you look
-into more advanced usage scenarios, especially on how to manage your
-`vcsh` and other repositories with [mr][mr].

 
 

+# Introduction

 
 

-# Introduction #
-
-[vcsh][vcsh] allows you to maintain several git repositories in one single
+[vcsh][vcsh] allows you to maintain several Git repositories in one single

 directory. They all maintain their working trees without clobbering each other
 directory. They all maintain their working trees without clobbering each other

-or interfering otherwise. By default, all git repositories maintained via
-`vcsh` are stored in `$HOME` but you can override this setting if you want to.
+or interfering otherwise. By default, all Git repositories maintained via
+`vcsh` store the actual files in `$HOME` but you can override this setting if
+you want to.

 All this means that you can have one repository per application or application
 family, i.e. `zsh`, `vim`, `ssh`, etc. This, in turn, allows you to clone
 custom sets of configurations onto different machines or even for different
 All this means that you can have one repository per application or application
 family, i.e. `zsh`, `vim`, `ssh`, etc. This, in turn, allows you to clone
 custom sets of configurations onto different machines or even for different


@@ -48,23 +47,51 @@ For example, you may not need to have your `mplayer` configuration on a server
 or available to root and you may want to maintain different configuration for
 `ssh` on your personal and your work machines.
 
 or available to root and you may want to maintain different configuration for
 `ssh` on your personal and your work machines.
 

-`vcsh` was designed with [mr][mr] in mind so you might want to install that, as
-well.
+A lot of modern UNIX-based systems offer packages for `vcsh`. In case yours
+does not read `INSTALL.md` for install instructions or `PACKAGING.md` to create
+a package, yourself. If you do end up packaging `vcsh` please let us know so we
+can give you your own packaging branch in the upstream repository.

 
 

-Read `INSTALL.md` and `PACKAGING.md` for instructions specific to your operating
-system.
+## Talks

 
 

+Some people found it useful to look at slides and videos explaining how `vcsh`
+works instead of working through the docs.
+All slides, videos, and further information can be found
+[on the author's talk page][talks].

 
 

-## Talks ##

 
 

-Some people found it useful to look at slides and videos explaining how `vcsh`
-works instead of working through the docs, first.
-They can all be found [on the author's talk page][talks].
+# Usage Examples
+
+There are three different ways to interact with `vcsh` repositories; this
+section will only show the simplest and easiest way.
+Certain more advanced use cases require the other two ways, but don't worry
+about this for now. If you never even bother playing with the other two
+modes you will still be fine.
+`vcsh enter` and `vcsh run`  will be covered in later sections.
+
+
+| Task                                                  | Command                                           |
+| ----------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
+| _Initialize a new repository called "vim"_            |   `vcsh init vim`                                 |
+| _Clone an existing repository_                        |   `vcsh clone <remote> <repository_name>`         |
+| _Add files to repository "vim"_                       |   `vcsh vim add ~/.vimrc ~/.vim`                  |
+|                                                       |   `vcsh vim commit -m 'Update Vim configuration'` |
+| _Add a remote for repository "vim"_                   |   `vcsh vim remote add origin <remote>`           |
+|                                                       |   `vcsh vim push origin master:master`            |
+|                                                       |   `vcsh vim branch --track master origin/master`  |
+| _Push to remote of repository "vim"_                  |   `vcsh vim push`                                 |
+| _Pull from remote of repository "vim"_                |   `vcsh vim pull`                                 |
+| _Show status of changed files in all repositories_    |   `vcsh status`                                   |
+| _Pull from all repositories_                          |   `vcsh pull`                                     |
+| _Push to all repositories_                            |   `vcsh push`                                     |

 
 
 # Overview
 
 
 
 # Overview
 

-## Comparison to Other Solutions ##
+## From zero to vcsh
+
+You put a lot of effort into your configuration and want to both protect and
+distribute this configuration.

 
 Most people who decide to put their dotfiles under version control start with a
 single repository in `$HOME`, adding all their dotfiles (and possibly more)
 
 Most people who decide to put their dotfiles under version control start with a
 single repository in `$HOME`, adding all their dotfiles (and possibly more)


@@ -77,17 +104,27 @@ flexibility to check out only certain repositories on different hosts. The
 downsides of this approach are the necessary manual steps of cloning and
 symlinking the individual repositories.
 
 downsides of this approach are the necessary manual steps of cloning and
 symlinking the individual repositories.
 

-`vcsh` takes this second approach one step further. It expects
-single-purpose repositories and stores them in a hidden directory (similar
-to `~/.dotfiles`). However, it does not create symbolic links in `$HOME`; it
-puts the actual files right into `$HOME`.
+`vcsh` takes this approach one step further. It enables single-purpose
+repositories and stores them in a hidden directory. However, it does not create
+symbolic links in `$HOME`; it puts the actual files right into `$HOME`.
+
+As `vcsh` allows you to put an arbitrary number of distinct repositories into
+your `$HOME`, you will end up with a lot of repositories very quickly.
+
+To manage both `vcsh` and other repositories, we suggest using [mr](mr). `mr`
+takes care of pulling in and pushing out new data for a variety of version
+control systems.
+
+`vcsh` was designed with [mr][mr], a tool to manage Multiple Repositories, in
+mind and the two integrate very nicely. `mr` has native support for `vcsh`
+repositories and to `vcsh`, `mr` is just another configuration to track.
+This make setting up any new machine a breeze. It takes literally less than
+five minutes to go from standard installation to fully set up system

 
 

-Furthermore, by making use of [mr][mr], it makes it very easy to enable/disable
-and clone a large number of repositories. The use of `mr` is technically
-optional (see section 4.3), but it will be an integral part of the proposed
-system that follows.
+This is where `mr` comes in. While the use of `mr` is technically
+optional, but it will be an integral part of the proposed system that follows.

 
 

-## Default Directory Layout ##
+## Default Directory Layout

 
 To illustrate, this is what a possible directory structure looks like.
 
 
 To illustrate, this is what a possible directory structure looks like.
 


@@ -123,7 +160,7 @@ To illustrate, this is what a possible directory structure looks like.
         |-- .mrconfig
         `-- .mrtrust
 
         |-- .mrconfig
         `-- .mrtrust
 

-### available.d ###
+### available.d

 
 The files you see in $XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/mr/available.d are mr configuration files
 that contain the commands to manage (checkout, update etc.) a single
 
 The files you see in $XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/mr/available.d are mr configuration files
 that contain the commands to manage (checkout, update etc.) a single


@@ -136,12 +173,12 @@ this repository and fork your own.
 
     [$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/vcsh/repo.d/zsh.git]
     checkout = vcsh clone 'git://github.com/RichiH/zshrc.git' zsh
 
     [$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/vcsh/repo.d/zsh.git]
     checkout = vcsh clone 'git://github.com/RichiH/zshrc.git' zsh

-    update   = vcsh run zsh git pull
-    push     = vcsh run zsh git push
-    status   = vcsh run zsh git status
-    gc       = vcsh run zsh git gc
+    update   = vcsh zsh pull
+    push     = vcsh zsh push
+    status   = vcsh zsh status
+    gc       = vcsh zsh gc

 
 

-### config.d ###
+### config.d

 
 $XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/mr/available.d contains *all available* repositories. Only
 files/links present in mr/config.d, however, will be used by mr. That means
 
 $XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/mr/available.d contains *all available* repositories. Only
 files/links present in mr/config.d, however, will be used by mr. That means


@@ -149,33 +186,30 @@ that in this example, only the zsh, gitconfigs, tmux and vim repositories will
 be checked out. A simple `mr update` run in $HOME will clone or update those
 four repositories listed in config.d.
 
 be checked out. A simple `mr update` run in $HOME will clone or update those
 four repositories listed in config.d.
 

-### ~/.mrconfig ###
+### ~/.mrconfig

 
 Finally, ~/.mrconfig will tie together all those single files which will allow
 you to conveniently run `mr up` etc. to manage all repositories. It looks like
 this:
 
     [DEFAULT]
 
 Finally, ~/.mrconfig will tie together all those single files which will allow
 you to conveniently run `mr up` etc. to manage all repositories. It looks like
 this:
 
     [DEFAULT]

-    jobs = 5
-    # Use if your mr does not have vcsh support in mainline, yet
-    include = cat /usr/share/mr/vcsh

     include = cat ${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}/mr/config.d/*
 
     include = cat ${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}/mr/config.d/*
 

-### repo.d ###
+### repo.d

 
 $XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/vcsh/repo.d is the directory where all git repositories which
 are under vcsh's control are located. Since their working trees are configured
 to be in $HOME, the files contained in those repositories will be put in $HOME
 directly.
 
 $XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/vcsh/repo.d is the directory where all git repositories which
 are under vcsh's control are located. Since their working trees are configured
 to be in $HOME, the files contained in those repositories will be put in $HOME
 directly.

-Of course, [mr] [1] will work with this layout if configured according to this
+Of course, [mr] [mr] will work with this layout if configured according to this

 document (see above).
 
 vcsh will check if any file it would want to create exists. If it exists, vcsh
 will throw a warning and exit. Move away your old config and try again.
 Optionally, merge your local and your global configs afterwards and push with
 document (see above).
 
 vcsh will check if any file it would want to create exists. If it exists, vcsh
 will throw a warning and exit. Move away your old config and try again.
 Optionally, merge your local and your global configs afterwards and push with

-`vcsh run foo git push`.
+`vcsh foo push`.

 
 

-## Moving into a New Host ##
+## Moving into a New Host

 
 To illustrate further, the following steps could move your desired
 configuration to a new host.
 
 To illustrate further, the following steps could move your desired
 configuration to a new host.


@@ -184,10 +218,8 @@ configuration to a new host.
    example: `vcsh clone git://github.com/RichiH/vcsh_mr_template.git mr`
 2. Choose your repositories by linking them in config.d (or go with the default
    you may have already configured by adding symlinks to git).
    example: `vcsh clone git://github.com/RichiH/vcsh_mr_template.git mr`
 2. Choose your repositories by linking them in config.d (or go with the default
    you may have already configured by adding symlinks to git).

-3. Make sure the line 'include = cat /usr/share/mr/vcsh' in .mrconfig points
-   to an existing file
-4. Run mr to clone the repositories: `cd; mr update`.
-5. Done.
+3. Run mr to clone the repositories: `cd; mr update`.
+4. Done.

 
 Hopefully the above could help explain how this approach saves time by
 
 
 Hopefully the above could help explain how this approach saves time by
 


@@ -198,7 +230,7 @@ Hopefully the above could help explain how this approach saves time by
 If you want to give vcsh a try, follow the instructions below.
 
 
 If you want to give vcsh a try, follow the instructions below.
 
 

-# Getting Started #
+# Getting Started

 
 Below, you will find a few different methods for setting up vcsh:
 
 
 Below, you will find a few different methods for setting up vcsh:
 


@@ -206,9 +238,9 @@ Below, you will find a few different methods for setting up vcsh:
 2. The Steal-from-Template Way
 3. The Manual Way
 
 2. The Steal-from-Template Way
 3. The Manual Way
 

-### The Template Way ###
+### The Template Way

 
 

-#### Prerequisites ####
+#### Prerequisites

 
 Make sure none of the following files and directories exist for your test
 (user). If they do, move them away for now:
 
 Make sure none of the following files and directories exist for your test
 (user). If they do, move them away for now:


@@ -225,15 +257,22 @@ the template will be stored.
 
     apt-get install mr
 
 
     apt-get install mr
 

-#### Install vcsh ####
+### Install vcsh

 
 

-#### Debian ####
+#### Debian

 
 

-If you are using Debian Squeeze, you will need to enable backports
+If you are using Debian Squeeze, you will need to enable backports.
+From Wheezy onwards, you can install it directly:

 
     apt-get install vcsh
 
 
     apt-get install vcsh
 

-#### Arch Linux ####
+#### Gentoo
+
+To install vcsh in Gentoo Linux just give the following command as root:
+
+    emerge dev-vcs/vcsh
+
+#### Arch Linux

 
 vcsh is availabe via [AUR](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=54164)
 and further documentation about the use of AUR is available
 
 vcsh is availabe via [AUR](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=54164)
 and further documentation about the use of AUR is available


@@ -246,27 +285,21 @@ and further documentation about the use of AUR is available
     makepkg -s
     pacman -U vcsh*.pkg.tar.xz
 
     makepkg -s
     pacman -U vcsh*.pkg.tar.xz
 

-#### From source ####
-
-If your version of mr is older than version 1.07, make sure to put
-
-    include = cat /usr/share/mr/vcsh
-
-into your .mrconfig .
+#### From source

 
     # choose a location for your checkout
 
     # choose a location for your checkout

-    cd $HOME

     mkdir -p ~/work/git
     mkdir -p ~/work/git

+    cd ~/work/git

     git clone git://github.com/RichiH/vcsh.git
     cd vcsh
     git clone git://github.com/RichiH/vcsh.git
     cd vcsh

-    ln -s vcsh /usr/local/bin                       # or add it to your PATH
+    sudo ln -s vcsh /usr/local/bin                       # or add it to your PATH

     cd
 
     cd
 

-#### Clone the Template ####
+#### Clone the Template

 
     vcsh clone git://github.com/RichiH/vcsh_mr_template.git mr
 
 
     vcsh clone git://github.com/RichiH/vcsh_mr_template.git mr
 

-#### Enable Your Test Repository ####
+#### Enable Your Test Repository

 
     mv ~/.zsh   ~/zsh.bak
     mv ~/.zshrc ~/zshrc.bak
 
     mv ~/.zsh   ~/zsh.bak
     mv ~/.zshrc ~/zshrc.bak


@@ -275,7 +308,7 @@ into your .mrconfig .
     cd
     mr up
 
     cd
     mr up
 

-#### Set Up Your Own Repositories ####
+#### Set Up Your Own Repositories

 
 Now, it's time to edit the template config and fill it with your own remotes:
 
 
 Now, it's time to edit the template config and fill it with your own remotes:
 


@@ -285,17 +318,17 @@ Now, it's time to edit the template config and fill it with your own remotes:
 And then create your own stuff:
 
     vcsh init foo
 And then create your own stuff:
 
     vcsh init foo

-    vcsh run foo git add -f bar baz quux
-    vcsh run foo git remote add origin git://quuux
-    vcsh run foo git commit
-    vcsh run foo git push
+    vcsh foo add bar baz quux
+    vcsh foo remote add origin git://quuux
+    vcsh foo commit
+    vcsh foo push

 
     cp $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/mr/available.d/mr.vcsh $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/mr/available.d/foo.vcsh
     vim $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/mr/available.d/foo.vcsh # add your own repo
 
 Done!
 
 
     cp $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/mr/available.d/mr.vcsh $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/mr/available.d/foo.vcsh
     vim $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/mr/available.d/foo.vcsh # add your own repo
 
 Done!
 

-### The Steal-from-Template Way ###
+### The Steal-from-Template Way

 
 You're welcome to clone the example repository:
 
 
 You're welcome to clone the example repository:
 


@@ -307,7 +340,7 @@ Look around in the clone. It should be reasonably simple to understand. If not,
 poke me, RichiH, on Freenode (query) or OFTC (#vcs-home).
 
 
 poke me, RichiH, on Freenode (query) or OFTC (#vcs-home).
 
 

-### The Manual Way ###
+### The Manual Way

 
 This is how my old setup procedure looked like. Adapt it to your own style or
 copy mine verbatim, either is fine.
 
 This is how my old setup procedure looked like. Adapt it to your own style or
 copy mine verbatim, either is fine.


@@ -346,9 +379,9 @@ mr is used to actually retrieve configs, etc
     ~ % mr -j 5 up
 
 
     ~ % mr -j 5 up
 
 

-# Usage #
+# mr usage ; will be factored out & rewritten

 
 

-### Keeping repositories Up-to-Date ###
+### Keeping repositories Up-to-Date

 
 This is the beauty of it all. Once you are set up, just run:
 
 
 This is the beauty of it all. Once you are set up, just run:
 


@@ -357,27 +390,22 @@ This is the beauty of it all. Once you are set up, just run:
 
 Neat.
 
 
 Neat.
 

-### Making Changes ###
+### Making Changes

 
 After you have made some changes, for which you would normally use `git add`
 and `git commit`, use the vcsh wrapper (like above):
 
 
 After you have made some changes, for which you would normally use `git add`
 and `git commit`, use the vcsh wrapper (like above):
 

-    vcsh run foo git add -f bar baz quux
-    vcsh run foo git commit
-    vcsh run foo git push
-
-By the way, you'll have to use -f/--force flag with git-add because all files
-will be ignored by default. This is to show you only useful output when running
-git-status. A fix for this problem is being worked on.
+    vcsh foo add bar baz quux
+    vcsh foo commit
+    vcsh foo push

 
 

-### Using vcsh without mr ###
+### Using vcsh without mr

 
 

-vcsh encourages you to use [mr] [1]. It helps you manage a large number of
+vcsh encourages you to use [mr][mr]. It helps you manage a large number of

 repositories by running the necessary vcsh commands for you. You may choose not
 to use mr, in which case you will have to run those commands manually or by
 other means.
 
 repositories by running the necessary vcsh commands for you. You may choose not
 to use mr, in which case you will have to run those commands manually or by
 other means.
 

-#### A Few Examples ####

 
 To initialize a new repository: `vcsh init zsh`
 
 
 To initialize a new repository: `vcsh init zsh`
 


@@ -386,9 +414,9 @@ To clone a repository: `vcsh clone ssh://<remote>/zsh.git`
 To interact with a repository, use the regular Git commands, but prepend them
 with `vcsh run $repository_name`. For example:
 
 To interact with a repository, use the regular Git commands, but prepend them
 with `vcsh run $repository_name`. For example:
 

-    vcsh run zsh git status
-    vcsh run zsh git add -f .zshrc
-    vcsh run zsh git commit
+    vcsh zsh status
+    vcsh zsh add .zshrc
+    vcsh zsh commit

 
 Obviously, without mr keeping repositories up-to-date, it will have to be done
 manually. Alternatively, you could try something like this:
 
 Obviously, without mr keeping repositories up-to-date, it will have to be done
 manually. Alternatively, you could try something like this:


@@ -398,7 +426,7 @@ manually. Alternatively, you could try something like this:
     done
 
 
     done
 
 

-# Contact #
+# Contact

 
 There are several ways to get in touch with the author and a small but committed
 community around the general idea of version controlling your (digital) life.
 
 There are several ways to get in touch with the author and a small but committed
 community around the general idea of version controlling your (digital) life.