How do you keep track of all apps you install and their configurations?

perishthethought@lemm.ee to Linux@lemmy.ml – 99 points –

Earlier this year, I built a new PC and it's running Ubuntu. I've been installing various apps and configuring them since then. Now, I realize I don't have any way of knowing what I would want to reinstall, if I (for instance) lost this drive somehow.

How do you keep track of what you've installed/ your favorite apps?

Separately, how can I backup the configurations I'm using right now.

Thanks!

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+1, essential ones I keep in GitHub repository (like zsh, tmux, xdefaults configs with no personal data). With makefile that makes symlinks. This is the easiest way to sync zsh config between my personal and work machines.

Rest is just in a backup.

Do you have an example of a generalise makefile that does that? Or does it need to be customise per configuration?

On my GitHub repo. Needs to be customized, but you should get the idea.

Maybe there is a way to write it better, I'm no makefile expert ;)