# yadm-dev/yadm

Yet Another Dotfiles Manager

Repository: https://github.com/yadm-dev/yadm
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/yadm
Homepage: https://yadm.io/
Language: Python
License: GPL-3.0
License Family: copyleft
Topics: yadm, dotfile-manager, dotfiles, gpg, encryption, commandline, git, bash, manager, jinja2, template, dot-files, dotfile-management, dotfiles-macos, dotfiles-linux, dotfiles-automation, multiple-machines, symlink-alternative, hooks, bootstrap
Last push: 2026-04-13T23:43:24+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 67/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 77, release rhythm 35, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 4068, "days_push": 142, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: no_releases
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 6403, forks 201 (observed 2026-08-28T04:09:43.164402+00:00)

## What it is
yadm is a Git-based command-line tool for managing dotfiles, keeping configuration files in place in $HOME while tracking them in a single repository. It adds OS/host-specific alternate files, Jinja-style templates, GPG/OpenSSL encryption of sensitive files, custom bootstrap scripts, and pre/post hooks on top of standard Git workflows.

## Use cases
- manage dotfiles with git
- sync shell and editor configs across machines
- keep ssh keys encrypted in a dotfiles repo
- use different config files per OS or hostname
- restore my environment on a new computer
- version control files in my home directory
- automate setup after cloning dotfiles

## When to choose
- you already know Git and want dotfiles management with zero new mental model
- you need per-OS, per-distro, or per-host variants of the same config file
- you want to track secrets like SSH keys in your repo with encryption
- you want files to stay in $HOME instead of symlinked from a separate directory
- you need custom post-clone setup steps or hooks around any command

## When to avoid
- you only need simple symlink-based dotfile linking without alternates or encryption
- you want a declarative, non-Git configuration manager like Nix or GNU Stow with a different workflow
- you are not comfortable with Git concepts like branching, merging, and rebasing
- you need to manage system-wide configs outside your home directory

## Facets
- artifact type: cli-tool
- maturity: stable
- function: version-control, cryptography, configuration-management, developer-tools, cli, file-system, security
- domain: developer-tools, version-control, self-hosted, privacy
- platform: cli, cross-platform, windows, bsd
- tags: dotfiles, dotfiles-manager, git-wrapper, gnu-privacy-guard, gpg-encryption, file-templating, jinja2-templates, symlink-alternates, bootstrap-scripts, hooks, multiple-machines, config-sync, bash, python, openwrt, homebrew, apt, pacman, git-based, config-backup, command-line, linux, macos

## Member repositories
- yadm-dev/yadm (main) score 67

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:09:43.164402+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-29T17:45:00.449015+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/yadm-dev/yadm (fetched 2026-08-28T04:09:43.164402+00:00, sha 110225035229)
  - homepage: https://yadm.io/ (fetched 2026-08-29T08:41:57.440297+00:00, sha e772d918217b)
  - site_page: https://yadm.io/docs/install (fetched 2026-08-29T08:41:57.449565+00:00, sha cc3984270b20)
  - site_page: https://yadm.io/docs/overview (fetched 2026-08-29T08:41:57.451453+00:00, sha 6819eb57c80b)
  - site_page: https://yadm.io/docs/alternates (fetched 2026-08-29T08:41:57.453337+00:00, sha b55239912d58)
  - site_page: https://yadm.io/docs/encryption (fetched 2026-08-29T08:41:57.455704+00:00, sha ecc772f9b857)
  - site_page: https://yadm.io/docs/bootstrap (fetched 2026-08-29T08:41:57.457611+00:00, sha 2d8f512bf643)
  - site_page: https://yadm.io/docs/hooks (fetched 2026-08-29T08:41:57.459521+00:00, sha 0ee0edf0a56b)
  - site_page: https://yadm.io/docs/faq (fetched 2026-08-29T08:41:57.461252+00:00, sha 9568ba211e27)
  - site_page: https://yadm.io/docs/examples (fetched 2026-08-29T08:41:57.464775+00:00, sha dba719553319)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.