New Start is built on top of [Arch GNU/Linux](https://www.archlinux.org/) and consists of my [dotfiles](dotfiles/), [install scripts](install/), [help files](help/), and [custom software](src/).
1. [Linux is not an operating system](https://www.gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html). All the so-called "Linux" distributions are actually distributions of [GNU/Linux](https://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-users-never-heard-of-gnu.html).
2. [Arch GNU/Linux is rolling-release](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Arch_Linux). There is no such thing as having to install a new version of Arch.
3. [Free software gives you complete control over your computing](https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html). If something doesn't work, it's more often than not user error.
4. [Keep it simple](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimalism_(computing)). At the end of the day, you only need to use your computer for a few specific tasks, such as listening to music, writing software, sending messages, and using the internet. [Don't overcomplicate things](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KISS_principle).
This system is different from your traditional point-click system. There is no such thing as "clicking the close button" here, or clicking anything for that matter.
I know how frustrating it is to see a setup and not have access to the dotfiles. I also know how frustrating it is to go through dotfiles with default config settings everywhere or dotfiles with little to no documentation at all.
My goal here is simple: use as few config settings as possible required to make everything work, and document the settings that I do use. Your "config" file shouldn't be a `man` page!
The install scripts let you install the entire operating system and dotfiles with a simple command. Note that you should not run this on your actual computer. The install script is meant to be used with the Arch ISO. Simply run:
Help files are a way for me to keep track of all the useful commands I learn about certain software. They're compiled in easy-to-read files so I don't have to search the same thing over and over.
- [`commands.md`](help/commands.md) - The majority of terminal commands I use on a daily basis
- [`git.md`](help/git.md) - There's a lot more to Git than you think (no pun intended)
- [`gpg.md`](help/gpg.md) - Everything you need to know about GPG
- [`profanity.md`](help/profanity.md) - A primer on using XMPP with Profanity
- [`vim.md`](help/vim.md) - A complete reference to everything I know (and find worth mentioning) about vim
If you want to improve the help files or other parts of New Start then please file an issue first. Pull requests are accepted, but I'd prefer if you made an issue first!
