wtf is dotfiles?

geerlingguy/dotfiles is a collection of personal configuration files that help save a few thousand keystrokes a day by customizing how a computer behaves. Instead of repeatedly typing the same long commands or manually adjusting settings, these files set up shortcuts and preferences that make everyday work faster. At a high level, "dotfiles" are hidden files on a computer that store user preferences for things like the terminal, text editors, and other tools. This repository gathers those files in one place so they can be easily shared across machines. The author uses macOS, so the configurations are guaranteed to work on a Mac, but he notes that many of them also work fine on Linux servers. Someone who would use this includes developers or power users who spend a lot of time in the terminal and want to streamline their workflow. For example, if you find yourself typing the same lengthy commands over and over, a dotfile can create a short alias so you only type a word or two. The author also points to a separate project called his Mac Development Ansible Playbook, which can set up a brand-new Mac from scratch and automatically install dotfiles like these as part of the process. The README itself is quite sparse and doesn't go into detail about which specific shortcuts or configurations are included. What is notable is the minimalist philosophy, the author describes the collection as intentionally lean rather than overloaded with features, aiming to trim unnecessary typing without adding complexity.