# dotfiles-development

> Use when working in this dotfiles repository - modifying shell configs, SSH, neovim, or scripts. Covers symlink architecture, agent selection, and permission model.

- Author: James Prial
- Repository: JamesPrial/skills
- Version: 20260122030845
- Stars: 0
- Forks: 0
- Last Updated: 2026-02-06
- Source: https://github.com/JamesPrial/skills
- Web: https://mule.run/skillshub/@@JamesPrial/skills~dotfiles-development:20260122030845

---

---
name: dotfiles-development
description: Use when working in this dotfiles repository - modifying shell configs, SSH, neovim, or scripts. Covers symlink architecture, agent selection, and permission model.
---

# Dotfiles Development

## Symlink Architecture

```
~/.dotfiles -> <repo>               # Primary anchor (points to repo root)
~/.zshrc                            # Bootstrap file (sources ~/.dotfiles/zshrc)
~/.ssh/config -> ~/.dotfiles/ssh/config
~/.config/nvim -> ~/.dotfiles/nvim
~/.claudescripts -> ~/.dotfiles/claudescripts
```

All paths resolve through `~/.dotfiles`. Scripts find the repo via:
```bash
DOTFILES_DIR="$(readlink -f "$HOME/.dotfiles")"
```

## Agent Selection

```dot
digraph agent_selection {
    "Task type?" [shape=diamond];
    "Git operation?" [shape=diamond];
    "GitHub/Actions?" [shape=diamond];
    "Writing script?" [shape=diamond];

    "git-ops (Haiku)" [shape=box];
    "gh-cli-expert (Sonnet)" [shape=box];
    "bash-script-architect + bash-tdd-architect (parallel)" [shape=box];
    "devops-infra-lead (Sonnet)" [shape=box];
    "No agent needed" [shape=box];

    "Task type?" -> "Git operation?";
    "Git operation?" -> "git-ops (Haiku)" [label="yes"];
    "Git operation?" -> "GitHub/Actions?" [label="no"];
    "GitHub/Actions?" -> "gh-cli-expert (Sonnet)" [label="yes"];
    "GitHub/Actions?" -> "Writing script?" [label="no"];
    "Writing script?" -> "bash-script-architect + bash-tdd-architect (parallel)" [label="yes"];
    "Writing script?" -> "devops-infra-lead (Sonnet)" [label="infra/CI work"];
    "Writing script?" -> "No agent needed" [label="config edit"];
}
```

| Agent | Model | Use For |
|-------|-------|---------|
| `git-ops` | Haiku | **All git operations** - commits, branches, status. Isolates git context from main conversation. |
| `bash-script-architect` | Haiku | Writing/debugging bash scripts |
| `bash-tdd-architect` | inherit | TDD for bash scripts - runs **IN PARALLEL** with `bash-script-architect` |
| `gh-cli-expert` | Sonnet | GitHub Actions failures, PR management, gh CLI |
| `devops-infra-lead` | Sonnet | Infrastructure, CI/CD, system admin |

**Important:** For committing changes, use the `git-ops` agent (not generic skills). It keeps git output isolated from the main context window.

**TDD for Scripts:** When writing or modifying bash scripts, launch `bash-tdd-architect` **IN PARALLEL** with `bash-script-architect`. The TDD agent designs behavior-driven tests BEFORE seeing implementation, ensuring true test-first development.

## Wrapper Scripts (claudescripts/)

| Script | Model | Purpose |
|--------|-------|---------|
| `push` | Haiku | Quick commit/push with conventional commits |
| `ghcli` | Sonnet | GitHub CLI operations |
| `support` | Opus | Bash debugging with web search |

Accessed via `~/.claudescripts` symlink (in PATH).

## Adding New Configurations

1. **Add file** to repo root (no dot prefix in name)
2. **Add chmod** line to `bin/dotfiles-fix-perms`:
   - Scripts/dirs: `chmod 700`
   - Config files: `chmod 600`
3. **Add symlink** (if needed) to `setup_symlinks()` in `bin/dotfiles-install`

## Permission Model

| Type | Permission | Example |
|------|------------|---------|
| Directories | 700 | `nvim/`, `bin/` |
| Scripts | 700 | `bin/dotfiles-install`, `bin/dotfiles-sync` |
| Config files | 600 | `zshrc`, `ssh/config` |

Git hooks auto-fix permissions on pulls via `bin/dotfiles-fix-perms`.

## Testing Changes

```bash
source ~/.zshrc                      # Reload shell config
./bin/dotfiles-install               # Safe to re-run (idempotent)
ls -la                               # Verify permissions
```

## Common Mistakes

| Mistake | Fix |
|---------|-----|
| Adding dot prefix to files | Use `zshrc` not `.zshrc` - symlinks add the dot |
| Forgetting fix-perms | Every new file needs a chmod line in `bin/dotfiles-fix-perms` |
| Wrong permission value | Scripts=700, configs=600 |
| Editing ~/.zshrc directly | Edit `zshrc` at repo root - bootstrap file just sources it |
| Hardcoding paths | Use `$HOME/.dotfiles` or resolve via symlink |

## Key Files

- `bin/dotfiles-install` - Bootstrap, symlinks, dependencies
- `bin/dotfiles-fix-perms` - Permission management
- `bin/dotfiles-sync` - Pull and fix permissions
- `CLAUDE.md` - Repository overview
- `bin/CLAUDE.md` - Scripts documentation