dot_config/setup.sh

#!/bin/bash
# outcome: replace existing dot files with symlinks pointing to new version controlled files

# setup folder pointers and target files

dir=~/linux_user_setup
backup=~/linux_user_setup_restore
files=".bashrc .vimrc .tmux.conf .psqlrc"

# create the resore directory if it doesn't already exist

if [ ! -d $backup ]
then
    mkdir $backup
fi

# loop through each target file, move it and create a symlink to the replacements

for file in $files 
do
    #if the file is not a symlink the just _move_ it, otherwise _copy_ the linked file
    if [ ! -L $file ];
    then
        echo "moving $file to $backup"
        mv ~/$file $backup
        echo "snapping $file to be a new symlink to version controlled file in $dir"
        ln -s $dir/$file ~/$file
    else
        # if the target file is a symlink, copy the linked file
        cp $(readlink -f $file) $backup
    fi
done