Workstation Bootstrap

Automated app installer for personal workstation setup using Python (with Homebrew or Miniforge/Mamba as package manager).

Features

• Batch install of CLI/dev tools via Python (using Homebrew or Miniforge/Mamba as package manager)
• Auto-detect and install Git on major Linux distributions
• Install by list: minimal, optional, or full
• Smart package manager selection based on environment

Repository Layout

workstation-bootstrap/
├── README.md
├── install.py             # Entry point
├── app_lists              # App lists (*.txt)
│   ├── minimal.txt          # Base set: vim, fzf, yazi, ...
│   ├── optional.txt         # Extras: tmux, lazygit, neovim
│   └── commands.json        # Command mappings
├── core                   # Environment, package managers, registry
│   ├── app.py
│   ├── context.py
│   └── manager.py
└── utils                  # Git check/installer
    ├── check_git.py
    └── check_git.sh

Quick Start

git clone https://github.com/HongmingLiang/workstation-bootstrap.git
cd workstation-bootstrap

# Auto mode + minimal set
python3 install.py --mode auto --app-list minimal

# Install everything from all list files
python3 install.py --mode auto --app-list full

Installation

Modes and Selection Logic

• auto: chooses brew if sudo is available, otherwise mamba
• brew: uses Homebrew if present; installs it if missing
• mamba: installs Miniforge if missing, then uses an environment named apps

Arguments

• --mode {auto,brew,miniforge}: default auto
• --app-list {minimal,optional,full}: required; full installs all lists
• --force-reinstall: reinstall even if command already exists in PATH
• --custom-bin-path <path>: custom Mamba binary path when using miniforge

Examples

# Auto mode + minimal set
python3 install.py --mode auto --app-list minimal

# Install everything from all list files
python3 install.py --mode auto --app-list full

# Force reinstall optional set via miniforge
python3 install.py --mode miniforge --app-list optional --force-reinstall

# Use custom Mamba path with miniforge mode
python3 install.py --mode miniforge --app-list minimal --custom-bin-path /custom/mamba

How It Works

1. Ensures Git is available (utils/check_git.py supports Debian/Fedora/Arch/Alpine/SUSE)
2. Detects environment (core/context.py) to decide package manager
3. Loads apps from app_lists/*.txt (ignores blank lines and comments)
4. Skips already installed apps unless --force-reinstall is used
5. Package managers:
   • Homebrew: brew install
   • Miniforge (Mamba): installs Miniforge if missing, creates apps env, installs there, and tries to symlink binaries into ~/.local/bin

Update & Maintain

To add more apps:

1. Append package names to the desired *.txt list in app_lists/
2. Rerun the installer: python3 install.py --mode auto --app-list <list-name>

Troubleshooting

Issue	Fix
Git not auto-installed	Install via your distro's package manager, then rerun the app installer
Miniforge install fails	Check network and rerun; verify mamba binary path if using --custom-bin-path