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The cd command launches a shell in the chezmoi source directory, making it easy to work with your dotfiles using standard shell commands.

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Usage

chezmoi cd [path]

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Description

The cd command starts a new shell session in your chezmoi source directory (typically ~/.local/share/chezmoi). This is useful for performing version control operations, bulk edits, or other file management tasks. When you exit the shell, you return to your original directory. The environment variable CHEZMOI_SUBSHELL=1 is set in the launched shell, which you can use in your shell prompt or scripts to indicate you’re in a chezmoi subshell.

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Arguments

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path
string
Optional path to open. If provided, chezmoi will:
  • Open the source directory if the path is the destination directory
  • Open the corresponding source path if the path is a managed file
  • If not specified, opens the root of the source directory

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Configuration

Configure the shell to use in your config file: 
[cd]
    command = "zsh"
    args = ["-i"]
If not configured, chezmoi uses your current shell (from the SHELL environment variable).

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Examples

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Open the source directory

chezmoi cd
Opens a shell in ~/.local/share/chezmoi. 
chezmoi cd ~/.bashrc
Opens a shell in the directory containing dot_bashrc in the source directory.

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Use with git commands

$ chezmoi cd
$ git status
$ git add .
$ git commit -m "Update dotfiles"
$ git push
$ exit

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Make bulk changes

$ chezmoi cd
$ find . -name "*.sh" -exec chmod +x {} \;
$ git add .
$ git commit -m "Make all scripts executable"
$ exit
$ chezmoi apply

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Terminal Output

$ chezmoi cd
$ pwd
/home/username/.local/share/chezmoi
$ ls
dot_bashrc  dot_vimrc  dot_gitconfig.tmpl
$ exit
$

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Shell Prompt Integration

You can modify your shell prompt to indicate when you’re in a chezmoi subshell:

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Bash

if [ -n "$CHEZMOI_SUBSHELL" ]; then
    PS1="(chezmoi) $PS1"
fi

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Zsh

if [[ -n "$CHEZMOI_SUBSHELL" ]]; then
    PROMPT="(chezmoi) $PROMPT"
fi

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Fish

if set -q CHEZMOI_SUBSHELL
    function fish_prompt
        echo -n "(chezmoi) "
        # your normal prompt here
    end
end

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Common Workflows

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Version control operations

chezmoi cd
git status
git add .
git commit -m "Update config"
git push
exit

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Search and replace across files

chezmoi cd
sed -i 's/old-value/new-value/g' dot_*
git diff
exit
chezmoi apply

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Review recent changes

chezmoi cd
git log --oneline -10
git show HEAD
exit

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Tips

The cd command is particularly useful when you need to:
  • Perform git operations (commit, push, pull)
  • Use advanced text processing tools (sed, awk, grep)
  • Make bulk changes to multiple files
  • Review file permissions and attributes
  • Work with files that aren’t easily accessible via chezmoi commands
Remember to run chezmoi apply after making changes in the source directory if you want those changes reflected in your home directory.

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Alternative Approaches

Instead of using cd, you can also: 
# Direct git operations
chezmoi git status
chezmoi git commit -m "message"
chezmoi git push

# Edit files directly
chezmoi edit ~/.bashrc

# Use environment variable
cd $CHEZMOI_SOURCE_DIR
  • edit - Edit specific files in the source directory
  • apply - Apply changes after modifying source files

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