What is yadm?
yadm (Yet Another Dotfiles Manager) wraps Git to manage dotfiles directly in your home directory. Unlike other tools, yadm doesn't require moving files or creating symlinks - your dotfiles stay where they are, and yadm tracks them with Git. Built-in features include encryption via GPG (for sensitive files like SSH keys), alternate files for different systems (different configs for Mac vs Linux), and bootstrap scripts for automating new machine setup. For developers who think in Git, yadm feels natural. Standard Git commands work (`yadm add`, `yadm commit`, `yadm push`), and you can use any Git host as your dotfiles remote. The encryption feature is particularly valuable for keeping secrets in the same repo.
Pros
- Just Git with extras
- No symlinks needed
- GPG encryption built-in
- Alternate file support
- Bootstrap scripts
- Familiar Git workflow
Cons
- Bare repo can be confusing
- Less templating than chezmoi
- GPG setup required for encryption