Ballin Scripts

Back up your dotfiles and update your macOS development environment

ballin-scripts helps developers maintain repeatable, inspectable macOS development environments. It snapshots shell and Git configuration, Homebrew package lists, editor settings, and local tool state, then automates routine updates.

What it does

• ballin backup snapshots local development-environment state to a configured secret GitHub Gist.
• ballin update runs configured maintenance tasks such as Homebrew upgrades, Node.js/npm updates, macOS and App Store updates, self-updates, and backups.

Installation

The installer adds command shims, configures the backup Gist, and guides you through missing setup. For the smoothest first run, have Node.js LTS, Homebrew, and an authenticated GitHub CLI available.

Run the install script:

bash <(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/JBallin/ballin-scripts/main/install.sh)

Example output

ballin update output depends on installed tools and enabled integrations.

$ ballin update

==> Updating Homebrew packages

==> Cleaning up Homebrew packages

==> Checking Homebrew installation
Your system is ready to brew.

==> Updating App Store apps

==> Installing macOS updates

==> Backing up development environment
✔ zprofile
✔ zshrc
...
✔ vs_settings
✔ mas

New Mac setup

On a new Mac, install ballin-scripts and create or adopt the backup Gist. Use existing snapshots as a rebuild reference.

ballin-scripts makes rebuilds more repeatable and auditable, but it is not a full disk backup or one-command restore system.

Commands

Command	Purpose
ballin	Shows available commands and common usage.
ballin doctor	Checks the managed environment.
ballin backup	Updates snapshots in the configured backup Gist.
ballin backup open	Opens the configured backup Gist.
ballin backup read <file>	Prints a backed-up file from the Gist.
ballin update	Runs configured update tasks.
ballin config	Reads and updates local Ballin settings.
ballin self-update	Updates the local checkout and refreshes installed commands and configuration.
ballin uninstall	Removes installed command shims and the local checkout.

Privacy and security

Backups are stored in a configured secret GitHub Gist. Secret Gists are unlisted, but anyone with the URL can view them. Treat the Gist URL and snapshots as sensitive.

ballin-scripts is not a secrets manager; review snapshots before sharing the Gist URL or making the Gist public.

Documentation

See the documentation for Node.js setup, update settings, optional integrations, and managed capabilities.