Dotfiles

Personal fresh-machine bootstrap for exactly two targets:

• Ubuntu 24.04 with Cinnamon
• Kubuntu 26.04 installed from its ISO with KDE Plasma

The steps below rebuild either machine; commands are run from the repository root unless stated otherwise.

Fresh-machine runbook

1. Clone and bootstrap

sudo apt-get install -y git
git clone https://github.com/kuator/dotfiles.git "$HOME/dotfiles"
cd "$HOME/dotfiles"
./scripts/setup.sh

This is the only automatic entry point. It rejects other Ubuntu release/desktop combinations before making changes, asks for sudo normally, installs the base APT packages and Zinit, links the tracked configuration, installs Mise-managed tools including Kanata and Bob's Neovim nightly, and applies the tracked desktop keyboard settings. It is safe to rerun: an existing destination is moved to <name>-old, and setup stops rather than overwriting an existing backup.

Run every remaining command only after scripts/setup.sh succeeds.

2. Configure the operating system and login

Disable Snap before installing Firefox, then apply the remaining system and shell changes:

./scripts/optional/system/disable-snap.sh
./scripts/optional/shell/configure-bash-xdg.sh
./scripts/optional/shell/set-default-zsh.sh
./scripts/optional/system/configure-kanata.sh
./scripts/optional/system/configure-ssh-xdg.sh
./scripts/optional/system/disable-sudo-admin-flag.sh

The final script applies the legacy home-marker fix on Ubuntu 24.04 and exits without changing anything under Kubuntu 26.04's sudo-rs.

Close every Codex process, then install Codex with its home under $XDG_DATA_HOME. The script also migrates an existing ~/.codex:

./scripts/optional/shell/install-codex.sh

Install the Appgate Debian package before installing the XDG wrapper. For example, from the directory containing the package:

sudo dpkg -i AppGate-SDP-client.deb
cd "$HOME/dotfiles"
./scripts/optional/system/configure-appgate-xdg.sh

The Appgate wrapper uses a private fake home under $XDG_DATA_HOME; the system service and running VPN client remain vendor software.

3. Log out or reboot

Reboot before continuing. This activates the new login shell, Kanata group membership, system keyboard configuration, and any display-manager changes.

After logging in, configs/system/keyboard is the source of truth for layouts and switching. Cinnamon applies it through X11 and KDE derives its keyboard configuration from the same file.

4. Configure desktop applications

Install the shared terminal font:

./scripts/optional/desktop/install-ubuntu-mono-nerd-font.sh

Ubuntu 24.04 Cinnamon

Import the GNOME Terminal profile, then apply the LightDM home-cleanup changes used by this machine:

./scripts/optional/desktop/import-gnome-terminal-profile.sh
./scripts/optional/desktop/lightdm/configure-xauthority.sh
./scripts/optional/desktop/lightdm/patch-binary.sh

Kubuntu 26.04 KDE

Use Kubuntu's installed KDE terminal and display manager. Do not run the GNOME Terminal or LightDM scripts; the bootstrap has already written KDE's keyboard and repeat settings.

Shared applications

Install Firefox after Snap has been disabled:

./scripts/optional/firefox/install.sh

Launch Firefox once so it creates a default profile, then close Firefox and run:

./scripts/optional/firefox/configure-profile.sh
./scripts/optional/firefox/patch-keybindings.sh
./scripts/optional/firefox/configure-new-tab.sh

Install New Tab Override and Vimium through Firefox Add-ons. In New Tab Override, select Custom URL, enter http://127.0.0.1:8766/blank.html, and enable focusing the website instead of the address bar. In Vimium, set New tab URL to Browser's default new tab page. Firefox requires these extension changes to be made manually.

The new-tab service binds only to 127.0.0.1. Firefox updates replace omni.ja, so rerun firefox/patch-keybindings.sh after an update if the custom browser shortcuts stop working.

Install Valve's Steam package and the fixsteam fake-home launcher:

./scripts/optional/desktop/install-steam.sh

The script preserves the existing library in $XDG_DATA_HOME/Steam and installs fixsteam under $XDG_DATA_HOME/fixsteam. Run steam once afterwards so fixsteam can create its fake home and desktop launcher. Steam remains outside the automatic bootstrap.

5. Restore Japanese study tools

Install Anki, link mpv configuration, install mpvacious, and check the Anki add-on manifest:

./scripts/optional/japanese/setup.sh

Paste any printed codes into Anki → Tools → Add-ons → Get Add-ons, then restart Anki. After add-on 1045800357 exists, restore its optional 2.5 GiB local-audio collection:

./scripts/optional/japanese/download-yomitan-audio.sh

The torrent and archive stay in ${XDG_CACHE_HOME:-$HOME/.cache}/dotfiles/yomitan-audio; the main bootstrap never starts this download.

The eight selected Yomitan dictionary ZIPs are carried directly in japanese/yomitan/dictionaries/. If an archive is missing, restore it from the manifest:

./scripts/optional/japanese/download-yomitan-dictionaries.sh

In Yomitan, import the numbered archives from japanese/yomitan/dictionaries/, then import japanese/yomitan/settings.json from Settings → Backup → Import Settings. Follow japanese/yomitan/README.md to apply the tracked order to the currently selected profile.

Finally, start Anki with AnkiConnect enabled and update or create the official Japanese Sentences note type with the local compatibility changes:

./scripts/optional/japanese/update-japanese-sentences.sh

Restart Anki afterward so AJT Japanese refreshes its injected CSS and JavaScript.

6. Verify the machine

./tests/bootstrap.sh
nvim --version
mise doctor
test ! -e "$HOME/.appgate" && echo 'Appgate home is clean'

On Ubuntu 24.04 Cinnamon/X11, also run setxkbmap -query. On Kubuntu 26.04, run kreadconfig6 --file kxkbrc --group Layout --key LayoutList. The first command above is the repository regression suite; the others are quick checks of installed tools and machine-level changes.

Repository map

Configurations and study resources

• configs/home/profile defines the login environment, XDG locations, and user-tool paths and is linked to ~/.profile.
• configs/xdg/ contains application configuration linked into $XDG_CONFIG_HOME, grouped by application. Notable exceptions handled specially by the linker are Codium's files and the global ty.toml.
• configs/system/keyboard is the single tracked source for the system, Cinnamon, KDE, IBus, and live X11 keyboard layout; configs/gnome-terminal/profile.dconf is imported rather than linked.
• docs/ergonomic-keyboard.md records the ergonomic-keyboard requirements, shortlist, and current recommendation.
• docs/todo.md tracks setup that still requires an external account or private recovery material.
• japanese/anki/addons.txt is the named AnkiWeb add-on manifest.
• japanese/yomitan/dictionaries.txt, japanese/yomitan/settings.json, and japanese/yomitan/sort-dictionaries.js define the selected dictionaries, exported settings, and active-profile order.
• japanese/anime/ contains older subtitle timing tools and source-specific data; it is not part of bootstrap.

Automatic bootstrap

• scripts/setup.sh is the only entry point.
• scripts/bootstrap/install-packages.sh installs Ubuntu packages.
• scripts/bootstrap/link-configs.sh backs up and links tracked configuration.
• scripts/bootstrap/install-mise.sh installs Mise-managed CLI tools and Bob's Neovim nightly.
• scripts/bootstrap/configure-desktop.sh derives desktop keyboard settings from configs/system/keyboard.

Manual setup

Nothing under scripts/optional/ runs automatically. Several scripts use sudo, alter installed software, or require an application to be open or closed.

Script	Purpose
desktop/import-gnome-terminal-profile.sh	Imports the tracked GNOME Terminal profile.
desktop/install-steam.sh	Installs Valve's Steam package and fixsteam fake-home launcher.
desktop/install-ubuntu-mono-nerd-font.sh	Downloads and installs UbuntuMono Nerd Font.
desktop/lightdm/configure-xauthority.sh	Stores LightDM Xauthority data outside the home root.
desktop/lightdm/patch-binary.sh	Patches LightDM to move .xsession-errors; use only with LightDM.
firefox/configure-new-tab.sh	Enables the localhost-only tracked new-tab page service.
firefox/configure-profile.sh	Links Firefox preferences and content CSS into its default profile.
firefox/install.sh	Installs Firefox from the Mozilla Team PPA.
firefox/patch-keybindings.sh	Rebuilds Firefox's omni.ja with the custom shortcuts.
japanese/download-yomitan-audio.sh	Downloads, caches, and installs the optional local-audio collection.
japanese/download-yomitan-dictionaries.sh	Restores missing dictionary archives from the tracked manifest.
japanese/setup.sh	Installs Anki and mpvacious and reports missing Anki add-ons.
japanese/update-japanese-sentences.sh	Fetches upstream Japanese Sentences, applies compatibility patches, and updates it through AnkiConnect.
shell/configure-bash-xdg.sh	Makes system Bash startup and history use XDG locations.
shell/install-codex.sh	Installs Codex through Mise-managed npm with an XDG data home and migrates an existing ~/.codex; Codex must be closed.
shell/set-default-zsh.sh	Interactively changes the login shell to Zsh.
system/configure-appgate-xdg.sh	Installs the Appgate fake-home wrapper with dpkg-divert.
system/configure-kanata.sh	Configures Linux groups, udev, and uinput, then enables the tracked Kanata user service.
system/configure-ssh-xdg.sh	Makes all OpenSSH clients use the tracked XDG config and migrates host keys.
system/disable-snap.sh	Removes Snap while preserving user data and prevents its reinstallation.
system/disable-sudo-admin-flag.sh	Prevents classic sudo from creating its home marker; safely does nothing under sudo-rs.

Wrapper

• bin/appgate gives the vendor Appgate client a private fake home.
• bin/codium launches VSCodium with its XDG data directory.
• bin/fd exposes Ubuntu's fdfind executable under its upstream fd name.
• bin/rg makes ripgrep share the ignore file used by fd.
• bin/steam launches the optional fixsteam installation from its XDG data path.

Test

• tests/bootstrap.sh checks links, environment settings, desktop configuration, wrappers, migrations, and documented scripts.
• tests/python-environment.sh checks the venv-based uv and ty project environment.
• tests/update-japanese-sentences.sh exercises note-type download, patching, and AnkiConnect behavior with local fakes.
• tests/yomitan-sort-dictionaries.js checks dictionary ordering without Yomitan.

Downloaded/vendor content

• japanese/anki/addons21/ contains downloaded Anki add-ons and is intentionally ignored; japanese/anki/addons.txt is the reproducible source list.
• japanese/yomitan/dictionaries/ contains the eight Git-tracked importable archives. Their internals are third-party data and are not documented here.
• configs/xdg/mpv/scripts/mpvacious/ is the installed upstream mpvacious checkout. japanese/setup.sh installs the pinned release and reapplies the intentional menu-line-length mutation.

Maintenance rule

Put general declarative configuration under configs/ and Japanese study resources under japanese/. Put automatic fresh-machine work under scripts/bootstrap/ and call it from scripts/setup.sh; put destructive, optional, application-dependent, or machine-level work under the matching scripts/optional/ responsibility folder. Add a regression check when behavior—not just data—changes.