PACKAGING.md: Major rewrite

[code/vcsh.git] / README.md

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@@ -1,66 +1,93 @@
-vcsh - manage config files in $HOME via fake bare git repositories
+vcsh - Version Control System for $HOME (based on git)
+

 
 # Index #
 
 
 # Index #
 

-1. Contact
-2. Introduction
-3. Overview
-4. Getting Started
-5. Usage
+1. [30 second howto](#30-second-howto)
+2. [Introduction](#introduction)
+3. [Overview](#overview)
+4. [Getting Started](#getting-started)
+5. [Usage](#usage)
+6. [Contact](#contact)

 
 

-# 1 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.
+# 30 second howto #

 
 

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

 
 

-* Mailing list: http://lists.madduck.net/listinfo/vcs-home
+    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

 
 

-* Pull requests or issues on https://github.com/RichiH/vcsh
+If all that looks a _lot_ like standard `git`, that's no coincidence; it's
+a design feature.

 
 

-# 2 Introduction #
+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].

 
 

-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.

 
 

-vcsh was designed with [mr] [1] in mind so you might want to install that, as
+# 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 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
+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.
+
+
+## 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].

 
 

-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
-examples.

 
 

-# 3 Overview
+# Overview

 
 

-## 3.1 Comparison to Other Solutions ##
+## 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 4.3), 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.

 
 

-## 3.2 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.
 


@@ -130,6 +157,8 @@ this:
 
     [DEFAULT]
     jobs = 5
 
     [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/*
 
 ### repo.d ###
     include = cat ${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}/mr/config.d/*
 
 ### repo.d ###


@@ -146,7 +175,7 @@ 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`.
 
 Optionally, merge your local and your global configs afterwards and push with
 `vcsh run foo git push`.
 

-## 3.3 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.
 
 To illustrate further, the following steps could move your desired
 configuration to a new host.


@@ -168,7 +197,8 @@ 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.
 

-# 4 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:
 


@@ -176,9 +206,9 @@ 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
 

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

 
 

-#### 4.1.1 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:


@@ -195,19 +225,48 @@ the template will be stored.
 
     apt-get install mr
 
 
     apt-get install mr
 

-#### 4.1.2 Clone the Template ####
+#### 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).
+
+    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
     cd $HOME
     mkdir -p ~/work/git

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

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

+
+#### 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
 

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

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


@@ -216,7 +275,7 @@ the template will be stored.
     cd
     mr up
 
     cd
     mr up
 

-#### 4.1.4 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:
 


@@ -236,7 +295,7 @@ And then create your own stuff:
 
 Done!
 
 
 Done!
 

-### 4.2 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:
 


@@ -248,7 +307,7 @@ 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).
 
 

-### 4.3 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.


@@ -286,9 +345,10 @@ mr is used to actually retrieve configs, etc
     ~ % cd
     ~ % mr -j 5 up
 
     ~ % cd
     ~ % mr -j 5 up
 

-# 5 Usage #

 
 

-### 5.1 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:
 


@@ -297,7 +357,7 @@ This is the beauty of it all. Once you are set up, just run:
 
 Neat.
 
 
 Neat.
 

-### 5.1 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):


@@ -310,7 +370,7 @@ 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.
 

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

 
 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
 
 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


@@ -337,8 +397,20 @@ 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]
+# 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.
+
+* IRC: #vcs-home on irc.oftc.net
+
+* Mailing list: [http://lists.madduck.net/listinfo/vcs-home][vcs-home-list]
+
+* Pull requests or issues on [https://github.com/RichiH/vcsh][vcsh]
+

 
 

-[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