doc/vcsh.1.ronn: Use new tagline

[code/vcsh.git] / README.md

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6c59618b139efe2bb7909ae658bc3afb89b58ae5..e4383f51f0a2ce9cb7ca017886051b942afd110a 100644 (file)
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,59 +1,113 @@
-vcsh - manage and sync config files via git
+vcsh - Version Control System for $HOME (based on git)
+

 
 # Index #
 
 
 # Index #
 

-1. Introduction
-2. Overview
-3. Getting Started
-4. Usage
+1. [30 second howto](#30-second-howto)
+2. [Contact](#contact)
+3. [Introduction](#introduction)
+4. [Overview](#overview)
+5. [Getting Started](#getting-started)
+6. [Usage](#usage)
+
+
+# 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
+details of `git` internals, getting started with vcsh is extremely simple.
+
+Let's say you want to version control your `vim` configuration:
+
+    vcsh init vim
+    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
+
+If all that looks a _lot_ like standard `git`, that's no coincidence, but
+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].
+
+
+# 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.

 
 

-# 1 Introduction #
+* IRC: #vcs-home on irc.oftc.net

 
 

-vcsh allows you to have several git repositories, all maintaining their working
-trees in $HOME without clobbering each other. That, in turn, means you can have
-one repository per config set (zsh, vim, ssh, etc), picking and choosing which
-configs you want to use on which machine.
+* Mailing list: [http://lists.madduck.net/listinfo/vcs-home][vcs-home-list]

 
 

-vcsh was designed with [mr] [1] in mind so you might want to install that, as
+* Pull requests or issues on [https://github.com/RichiH/vcsh][vcsh]
+
+
+# Introduction #
+
+[vcsh][vcsh] allows you to maintain several git repositories in one single
+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.
+All that 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
+users; picking and mixing which configurations you want to use where.
+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.
+
+`vcsh` was designed with [mr][mr] in mind so you might want to install that, as

 well.
 
 well.
 

-Read INSTALL.md for detailed setup instructions.
+Read <INSTALL.md> and <PACKAGING.md> for instructions specific to your operating
+system.

 
 The following overview will try to give you an idea of the use cases and
 
 The following overview will try to give you an idea of the use cases and

-advantages of vcsh. See sections 3 and 4 for detailed instructions and
+advantages of `vcsh`. See sections 3 and 4 for detailed instructions and

 examples.
 
 examples.
 

-# 2 Overview
+## Talks ##
+
+Some people found it useful to look at slides and videos explaining how `vcsh`
+works.
+They can all be found [on the author's talk page][talks].

 
 

-## 2.1 Comparison to Other Solutions ##
+
+# Overview
+
+## Comparison to Other Solutions ##

 
 Most people who decide to put their dotfiles under version control start with a
 
 Most people who decide to put their dotfiles under version control start with a

-**single repository in $HOME**, adding all their dotfiles (and possibly more)
+single repository in <$HOME>, adding all their dotfiles (and possibly more)

 to it. This works, of course, but can become a nuisance as soon as you try to
 manage more than one host.
 
 The next logical step is to create single-purpose repositories in, for example,
 to it. This works, of course, but can become a nuisance as soon as you try to
 manage more than one host.
 
 The next logical step is to create single-purpose repositories in, for example,

-~/.dotfiles and to create **symbolic links in $HOME**. This gives you the
+<~/.dotfiles> and to create symbolic links into <$HOME>. This gives you the

 flexibility to check out only certain repositories on different hosts. The
 downsides of this approach are the necessary manual steps of cloning and
 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. It will probably become a nuisance when
-you try to manage more than two hosts.
+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 $HOME**.
+`vcsh` takes this second approach one step further. It expects
+single-purpose repositories and stores them in a hidden directory (similar
+to <~/.dotfiles>). However, it does not create symbolic links in <$HOME>; it
+puts the actual files right into <$HOME>.

 
 

-Furthermore, by making use of [mr] [1], it makes it very easy to enable/disable
-and clone a large number of repositories. The use of mr is technically optional
-(see 3.4), but it will be an integral part of the proposed system that follows.
+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.

 
 

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

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

-        |-- .config
+        |-- $XDG_CONFIG_HOME (defaults to $HOME/.config)

         |   |-- mr
         |   |   |-- available.d
         |   |   |   |-- zsh.vcsh
         |   |-- mr
         |   |   |-- available.d
         |   |   |   |-- zsh.vcsh


@@ -71,6 +125,7 @@ To illustrate, this is what a possible directory structure looks like.
         |   |       |-- tmux.vcsh       -> ../available.d/tmux.vcsh
         |   |       `-- vim.vcsh        -> ../available.d/vim.vcsh
         |   `-- vcsh
         |   |       |-- tmux.vcsh       -> ../available.d/tmux.vcsh
         |   |       `-- vim.vcsh        -> ../available.d/vim.vcsh
         |   `-- vcsh

+        |       |-- config

         |       `-- repo.d
         |           |-- zsh.git  -----------+
         |           |-- gitconfigs.git      |
         |       `-- repo.d
         |           |-- zsh.git  -----------+
         |           |-- gitconfigs.git      |


@@ -78,41 +133,37 @@ To illustrate, this is what a possible directory structure looks like.
         |           `-- vim.git             |
         |-- [...]                           |
         |-- .zshrc   <----------------------+
         |           `-- vim.git             |
         |-- [...]                           |
         |-- .zshrc   <----------------------+

-        |-- .gitignore
+        |-- .gitignore.d
+        |   `-- zsh

         |-- .mrconfig
         `-- .mrtrust
 
 ### available.d ###
 
         |-- .mrconfig
         `-- .mrtrust
 
 ### available.d ###
 

-The files you see in ~/.config/mr/available.d are mr configuration files that
-contain the commands to manage (checkout, update etc.) a single repository.
-vcsh repo configs end in .vcsh, git configs end in .git, etc. This is optional
-and your preference. For example, this is what a zsh.mrconfig with read-only
-access to my zshrc repo looks likes. I.e. in this specific example, push can
-not work.
-
-    [$HOME/.config/vcsh/repo.d/zsh.git]
-    checkout = vcsh clone 'git://github.com/RichiH/zshrc.git'
-    update   = vcsh run bash git pull
-    push     = vcsh run bash git push
-    status   = vcsh run bash git status
-    gc       = vcsh run bash git gc
+The files you see in $XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/mr/available.d are mr configuration files
+that contain the commands to manage (checkout, update etc.) a single
+repository. vcsh repo configs end in .vcsh, git configs end in .git, etc. This
+is optional and your preference. For example, this is what a zsh.vcsh
+with read-only access to my zshrc repo looks likes. I.e. in this specific
+example, push can not work as you will be using the author's repository. This
+is for demonstration, only. Of course, you are more than welcome to clone from
+this repository and fork your own.
+
+    [$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

 
 ### config.d ###
 
 
 ### config.d ###
 

-~/.config/mr/available.d contains *all available* repositories. Only
+$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
 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.
 
 files/links present in mr/config.d, however, will be used by mr. That means
 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.
 

-### repo.d ###
-
-~/.config/vcsh/repo.d is the directory into which vcsh clones the git
-repositories. Since their working trees are configured to be in $HOME, the
-files contained in those repositories will be put in $HOME directly (see .zshrc
-above).
-

 ### ~/.mrconfig ###
 
 Finally, ~/.mrconfig will tie together all those single files which will allow
 ### ~/.mrconfig ###
 
 Finally, ~/.mrconfig will tie together all those single files which will allow


@@ -121,25 +172,37 @@ this:
 
     [DEFAULT]
     jobs = 5
 
     [DEFAULT]
     jobs = 5

-    include = cat ~/.config/mr/config.d/*
+    # 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/*
+
+### 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.
+Of course, [mr] [1] 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
 `vcsh run foo git push`.
 
 
 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`.
 

-## 2.3 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.
 
 1. Clone the mr repository (containing available.d, config.d etc.); for
 
 To illustrate further, the following steps could move your desired
 configuration to a new host.
 
 1. Clone the mr repository (containing available.d, config.d etc.); for

-   example: `vcsh clone git://github.com/RichiH/vcsh_mr_template.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).
 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. Run mr to clone the repositories: `cd; mr update`.
-4. Done.
+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.

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


@@ -149,7 +212,8 @@ 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.
 

-# 3 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:
 


@@ -157,50 +221,81 @@ 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
 

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

 
 

-#### 3.1.1 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:
 

-* ~/.gitignore
+* ~/.gitignore.d

 * ~/.mrconfig
 * ~/.mrconfig

-* ~/.config/mr/available.d/mr.vcsh
-* ~/.config/mr/available.d/zsh.vcsh
-* ~/.config/mr/config.d/mr.vcsh
-* ~/.config/vcsh/repo.d/mr.git/
+* $XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/mr/available.d/mr.vcsh
+* $XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/mr/available.d/zsh.vcsh
+* $XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/mr/config.d/mr.vcsh
+* $XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/vcsh/repo.d/mr.git/

 
 All of the files are part of the template repository, the directory is where
 the template will be stored.
 
 
 All of the files are part of the template repository, the directory is where
 the template will be stored.
 

-    apt-get install mr               # this is optional, but highly recommended
+    apt-get install mr
+
+#### Install vcsh ####
+
+#### Debian ####
+
+If you are using Debian Squeeze, you will need to enable backports
+
+    apt-get install 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
+[on Arch's wiki](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Arch_User_Repository).

 
 

-#### 3.1.2 Clone the Template ####
+    cd /var/abs/local/
+    wget https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/vc/vcsh-git/vcsh-git.tar.gz
+    tar xfz vcsh-git.tar.gz
+    cd vcsh-git
+    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 .
+
+    # choose a location for your checkout
+    cd $HOME

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

-    cd !$
-    git clone git://github.com/RichiH/vcsh.git vcsh
+    git clone git://github.com/RichiH/vcsh.git

     cd vcsh
     cd vcsh

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

     cd
     cd

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

 
 

-#### 3.1.3 Enable Your Test Repository ####
+#### Clone the Template ####
+
+    vcsh clone git://github.com/RichiH/vcsh_mr_template.git mr
+
+#### Enable Your Test Repository ####

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

-    cd ~/.config/mr/config.d/
+    cd $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/mr/config.d/

     ln -s ../available.d/zsh.vcsh .  # link, and thereby enable, the zsh repository
     cd
     mr up
 
     ln -s ../available.d/zsh.vcsh .  # link, and thereby enable, the zsh repository
     cd
     mr up
 

-#### 3.1.4 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:
 

-    vim .config/mr/available.d/mr.vcsh
-    vim .config/mr/available.d/zsh.vcsh
+    vim $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/mr/available.d/mr.vcsh
+    vim $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/mr/available.d/zsh.vcsh

 
 And then create your own stuff:
 
 
 And then create your own stuff:
 


@@ -210,22 +305,24 @@ And then create your own stuff:
     vcsh run foo git commit
     vcsh run foo git push
 
     vcsh run foo git commit
     vcsh run foo git push
 

-    cp .config/mr/available.d/mr.vcsh .config/mr/available.d/foo.vcsh
-    vim .config/mr/available.d/foo.vcsh # add your own repo
+    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!
 
 
 Done!
 

-### 3.2 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:
 

-    git clone git://github.com/RichiH/vcsh_mr_template.git
+    vcsh clone git://github.com/RichiH/vcsh_mr_template.git mr
+    # make sure 'include = cat /usr/share/mr/vcsh' points to an exiting file
+    vim .mrconfig

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

-### 3.3 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.


@@ -242,7 +339,7 @@ copy mine verbatim, either is fine.
 Grab my mr config. see below for details on how I set this up
 
     vcsh clone ssh://<remote>/mr.git
 Grab my mr config. see below for details on how I set this up
 
     vcsh clone ssh://<remote>/mr.git

-    cd ~/.config/mr/config.d/
+    cd $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/mr/config.d/

     ln -s ../available.d/* .
 
 
     ln -s ../available.d/* .
 
 


@@ -250,7 +347,9 @@ mr is used to actually retrieve configs, etc
 
     ~ % cat ~/.mrconfig
     [DEFAULT]
 
     ~ % cat ~/.mrconfig
     [DEFAULT]

-    include = cat ~/.config/mr/config.d/*
+    # adapt /usr/share/mr/vcsh to your system if needed
+    include = cat /usr/share/mr/vcsh
+    include = cat $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/mr/config.d/*

     ~ % echo $XDG_CONFIG_HOME
     /home/richih/.config
     ~ % ls $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/mr/available.d # random selection of my repos
     ~ % echo $XDG_CONFIG_HOME
     /home/richih/.config
     ~ % ls $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/mr/available.d # random selection of my repos


@@ -261,9 +360,10 @@ mr is used to actually retrieve configs, etc
     ~ % cd
     ~ % mr -j 5 up
 
     ~ % cd
     ~ % mr -j 5 up
 

-# 4 Usage #

 
 

-### 4.1 Keeping repositories Up-to-Date ###
+# Usage #
+
+### 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:
 


@@ -272,7 +372,7 @@ This is the beauty of it all. Once you are set up, just run:
 
 Neat.
 
 
 Neat.
 

-### 4.1 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):


@@ -285,9 +385,9 @@ 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.
 
 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.
 

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

 
 

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


@@ -312,8 +412,8 @@ manually. Alternatively, you could try something like this:
         vcsh run $repo git pull;
     done
 
         vcsh run $repo git pull;
     done
 

-----------
-
-mr can be found at: [http://kitenet.net/~joey/code/mr/][1]

 
 

-[1]: http://kitenet.net/~joey/code/mr/ (http://kitenet.net/~joey/code/mr/)
+[mr]: http://kitenet.net/~joey/code/mr/
+[talks]: http://richardhartmann.de/talks/
+[vcsh]: https://github.com/RichiH/vcsh
+[vcs-home-list]: http://lists.madduck.net/listinfo/vcs-home