machine-profiles

# machine-profiles

Guide to using dotfile-sync profiles for machine-specific configuration.

## What Profiles Are

Profiles let different machines use different subsets of your dotfiles. For example:
- Work MacBook: company SSH config, work tool configs
- Home Linux: gaming tools, personal projects
- Both machines: zshrc, gitconfig, nvim config

## Creating a Profile

```bash
dfs profile create work-mac
dfs profile create home-linux
```

## Adding Files to a Profile

```bash
# Files added with --profile are only linked on machines using that profile
dfs add ~/.config/work-vpn/config --profile work-mac
dfs add ~/.config/company-ssh/config --profile work-mac

# Files added without --profile go to 'common' (linked everywhere)
dfs add ~/.zshrc
dfs add ~/.gitconfig
```

## Applying a Profile

On a new machine or when switching profiles:

```bash
# Apply profile (links common + this profile's files)
dfs profile apply work-mac

# Bootstrap a new machine with a specific profile
dfs init --clone git@github.com:user/dotfiles.git --profile work-mac
```

## Profile File Structure

Profiles are stored in the dotfiles repo at `profiles/<name>.json`:

```json
{
  "name": "work-mac",
  "description": "work MacBook configuration",
  "files": [
    "home/.config/work-vpn/config",
    "home/.config/company-ssh/config"
  ]
}
```

## Listing Profiles

```bash
dfs profile list
```

Output shows all profiles with file counts and marks the currently active profile with `*`.

## Common Profile

All files tracked without a `--profile` flag belong to the `common` profile. These files are always linked regardless of which machine profile is active.

## Workflow Example

```bash
# On work machine: set up profiles
dfs profile create work-mac
dfs add ~/.zshrc                              # common - on all machines
dfs add ~/.gitconfig                          # common
dfs add ~/.config/work-vpn/config --profile work-mac
dfs push

# On home Linux: clone and apply different profile
dfs init --clone git@github.com:user/dotfiles.git --profile home-linux
# Only common files linked; work-mac files skipped
```