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Getting Started

Once you’ve completed the installation, this guide will help you get familiar with the configured environment and custom tools.

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Essential Commands

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Custom Utilities

Your dotfiles include several custom commands available in ~/.local/bin:

update

Updates all packages including yay, doom, and zinit plugins
update

status

Displays a comprehensive system summary
status
status -h  # Show help

stot

Dotfile management wrapper around GNU Stow
stot -l .config/nvim     # Link config
stot -c etc/pacman.conf  # Copy system file

pass

Generates secure 42-character passwords
pass

color

Tests terminal color capabilities
color

PATH

Displays $PATH in readable format
PATH

radio

Stream internet radio using mpv
radio

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i3 Window Manager

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Workspace Layouts

The i3 configuration includes predefined workspace layouts:
1

Workspace 1: Browser

Dedicated to Firefox for web browsing
2

Workspace 2: Development

┌──────────────┬──────────────┐
│              │    kitty     │
│  VS Code     ├──────────────┤
│              │    kitty     │
└──────────────┴──────────────┘
3

Workspace 8: Media

┌──────────────┬──────────────┐
│   Spotify    │    kitty     │
└──────────────┴──────────────┘
4

Workspace 9: Documents

┌──────────────┬──────────────┐
│   Zathura    │    kitty     │
└──────────────┴──────────────┘
5

Workspace 10: Research

Firefox with Workona for tab management

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Managing Layouts

# Save current workspace N layout
i3-save-tree --workspace N > ~/dotfiles/.config/i3/layouts/N.json
Layouts define window positions and sizes. After restoring a layout, open the applications in the same order they were saved.

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Zsh Shell Features

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Plugin Highlights

1

Autosuggestions

Type a command and see suggestions from your history. Press → to accept.
git sta  # → suggests: git status
2

Syntax Highlighting

Commands turn green when valid, red when invalid — before you press Enter.
3

History Search

Start typing a command and use ↑/↓ to search matching commands from history.
git<↑>  # Cycles through all git commands in history
4

Fuzzy Finding (fzf)

Press Ctrl+R for interactive command history search:
# Type partial command, fuzzy search through history
^R > docker
Press Ctrl+T to fuzzy search files in current directory.
5

Forgit

Interactive git commands with previews:
ga   # Interactive git add with diffs
glo  # Interactive git log viewer
gd   # Interactive git diff

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Application Workflows

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Terminal: Kitty

Ctrl+Shift+T      # New tab
Ctrl+Shift+Q      # Close tab
Ctrl+Shift+Right  # Next tab
Ctrl+Shift+Left   # Previous tab

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File Manager: Ranger

Ranger is a terminal-based file manager with vim-like keybindings.
ranger  # Launch file manager

# Navigation
h  # Go to parent directory
j  # Move down
k  # Move up
l  # Open file/directory

# Operations
yy  # Copy
dd  # Cut
pp  # Paste
dD  # Delete

# Search
/   # Search forward
?   # Search backward
n   # Next result
N   # Previous result

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Application Launcher: Rofi

# Configured in i3, typically bound to Mod+d
rofi -show drun  # Application launcher
rofi -show calc  # Calculator mode

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Screenshots: Flameshot

flameshot gui     # Launch screenshot tool
flameshot full    # Capture full screen
flameshot screen  # Capture current monitor

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Dotfile Management

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Making Changes

1

Edit Configuration

Edit files in the ~/dotfiles repository:
nvim ~/dotfiles/.config/i3/config
nvim ~/dotfiles/home/.zshrc
2

Changes Take Effect Immediately

Since files are symlinked, changes are immediately reflected:
# Reload i3 configuration
i3-msg reload

# Reload zsh configuration
source ~/.zshrc
3

Commit Your Changes

Track your dotfile modifications with git:
cd ~/dotfiles
git add .
git commit -m "Update i3 keybindings"
git push

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Adding New Configurations

1

Add File to Repository

# Copy new config to dotfiles
cp ~/.config/newapp/config ~/dotfiles/.config/newapp/
2

Update sync.sh

Add the stot command to ~/dotfiles/sync.sh:
echo 'stot -l .config/newapp' >> ~/dotfiles/sync.sh
3

Run Sync

sh ~/dotfiles/sync.sh

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Tips and Tricks

The stot wrapper provides cleaner output and simplified syntax compared to GNU Stow.
# Instead of:
stow -d ~/dotfiles -t ~ .config/nvim

# Use:
stot -l .config/nvim
The radio command uses mpv to stream internet radio stations.
radio
Customize stations by editing the radio script in ~/dotfiles/bin/radio.
Generate secure passwords on the fly:
pass
# Generates: xK9mP2nQ8vL5wR3jT7hF6dG4sA1cE0yU9iO8pM7nB6vC5x
Instead of echo $PATH, use the custom formatter:
PATH
# Outputs each directory on a new line

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Next Steps

Customize i3

Explore ~/dotfiles/.config/i3/config to customize keybindings, colors, and behavior

Extend Zsh

Add more plugins in ~/dotfiles/.config/zsh/plugins.zsh

Configure Polybar

Modify your status bar in ~/dotfiles/.config/polybar/config

Theme Rofi

Customize appearance in ~/dotfiles/.config/rofi/config.rasi
Remember to commit and push your changes to keep your dotfiles backed up and synchronized across machines.

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