Dotfiles Optimizer – Main Orchestrator

Coordinate comprehensive analysis and optimization of dotfiles with intelligent, context-aware recommendations.

Purpose

This skill orchestrates the complete dotfiles optimization workflow: analyzing configurations, identifying issues, recommending improvements, and optionally applying fixes. It specializes in the user’s specific dotfiles structure located at /Users/kriscard/.dotfiles, which includes modular zsh configuration, Neovim, Tmux, Git multi-config setup, and Catppuccin Macchiato theming.

When to Use

Activate this skill when users request:

• General optimization (“optimize my dotfiles”, “improve my shell”)
• Security audits (“check for exposed credentials”, “audit my configs”)
• Performance improvements (“make my shell faster”, “speed up zsh startup”)
• Modern tool recommendations (“what CLI tools should I use”)
• Configuration analysis (“analyze my setup”, “check my tmux config”)

Workflow

Follow this orchestration workflow when activated:

1. Determine Scope

Context-aware scoping: Analyze what the user is currently working on or explicitly requested:

• If user is editing a specific config file (e.g., .zshrc, tmux.conf):

  • Focus analysis on that component and related files
  • Example: Editing .zshrc → analyze shell configuration (zsh.d/, aliases, functions)

• If user requests specific component (e.g., “optimize my zsh”):

  • Scope to that component only
  • Components: shell (zsh), editor (nvim), multiplexer (tmux), git, terminal (kitty/ghostty)

• If user requests general optimization:

  • Analyze entire dotfiles structure
  • Prioritize critical issues first, then component-by-component

Configuration loading: Check for user settings in .claude/dotfiles-optimizer.local.md:

• Default path: /Users/kriscard/.dotfiles
• User can override with dotfiles_path field in frontmatter
• User can disable proactive warnings with enable_proactive_warnings: false

2. Invoke Analysis Agent

Call the dotfiles-analyzer agent to perform deep analysis:

Invoke dotfiles-analyzer agent with:
- Scope: [determined above]
- Depth: deep (2-3 minute comprehensive analysis)
- Focus areas: security, performance, modern tools, configuration patterns

The agent will:

• Parse configuration files
• Check for security issues (exposed credentials, insecure permissions)
• Identify performance bottlenecks (startup time, lazy loading opportunities)
• Suggest modern CLI tool alternatives
• Validate configuration patterns against best practices

3. Reference Best Practices

Consult the dotfiles-best-practices skill for knowledge about:

• Modern CLI tools and their benefits
• Shell performance optimization techniques
• Security patterns for credential management
• Configuration organization strategies
• Git workflow improvements

Use this knowledge to enhance the analyzer’s findings with context and rationale.

4. Generate Prioritized Recommendations

Organize findings into three priority levels:

🔴 Critical Issues

• Security vulnerabilities (exposed API keys, passwords, tokens)
• Insecure file permissions (should be 600/700 for sensitive files)
• Breaking configuration errors
• Data loss risks

🟡 Recommended Improvements

• Performance optimizations (lazy loading, startup time)
• Modern tool suggestions (eza instead of ls)
• Better configuration patterns (modular organization)
• Missing best practices (git signing, env templates)

🟢 Optional Enhancements

• Aesthetic improvements (themes, prompts)
• Nice-to-have features (additional plugins)
• Alternative approaches (different tools)
• Advanced configurations

Output format:

## Analysis Results for [Scope]

🔴 Critical Issues (N)
  - Issue 1 with location and remediation
  - Issue 2 with location and remediation

🟡 Recommended Improvements (N)
  - Improvement 1 with rationale and benefit
  - Improvement 2 with rationale and benefit

🟢 Optional Enhancements (N)
  - Enhancement 1 with description
  - Enhancement 2 with description

5. Offer to Apply Fixes

After presenting recommendations:

For Critical Issues:

• Strongly recommend immediate fixes
• Offer to apply automatically with user confirmation
• Explain risks of not fixing

For Recommended Improvements:

• Ask which improvements user wants to apply
• Can apply all, selected, or none
• Provide implementation guidance

For Optional Enhancements:

• Present as “nice-to-haves”
• User can request specific ones
• Don’t push for these

Application workflow:

Ask: "Which fixes would you like to apply?"
Options:
- All critical issues (recommended)
- All recommended improvements
- Specific items (let me choose)
- None (just wanted the analysis)

If user chooses to apply:

• Use Read tool to examine current configs
• Use Edit tool to make precise changes
• Create backups before modifying
• Explain each change as it’s made
• Validate changes don’t break syntax

6. Integration with Existing Tools

The user has an existing dotfiles CLI script at /Users/kriscard/.dotfiles/dotfiles. Complement this tool:

This plugin provides:

• Intelligent analysis and recommendations
• Security scanning
• Best practice validation
• Modern tool suggestions

The dotfiles script provides:

• Installation automation (dotfiles init)
• Health checks (dotfiles doctor)
• Syncing (dotfiles sync)
• Backup management (dotfiles backup)

Recommendation: When user needs to run init, sync, or backup operations, suggest using their existing dotfiles script. Focus this plugin on analysis and optimization guidance.

Component-Specific Analysis

Shell (Zsh)

Analyze the modular configuration in zsh/zsh.d/:

• 00-env.zsh – Environment variables (check for exposed credentials)
• 10-options.zsh – Shell options (validate settings)
• 20-completions.zsh – Completion system (check for performance)
• 30-plugins.zsh – Plugin loading (identify slow plugins, suggest lazy loading)
• 40-lazy.zsh – Lazy loading patterns (validate implementation)
• 50-keybindings.zsh – Key mappings (check for conflicts)
• 60-aliases.zsh – Aliases (suggest modern tool alternatives)
• 70-functions.zsh – Functions (optimize complex functions)
• 80-integrations.zsh – External integrations (validate configurations)
• 99-local.zsh.example – Local overrides (check for security)

Key checks:

• Startup time profiling (should be <500ms)
• Plugin lazy loading opportunities
• Modern aliases (eza, bat, fd, ripgrep, zoxide)
• Secure environment variable handling

Editor (Neovim)

Analyze .config/nvim/:

• LSP configurations (validate server setups)
• Plugin management (check for outdated or conflicting plugins)
• Performance (startup time, lazy loading)
• Keybindings (identify conflicts)

Multiplexer (Tmux)

Analyze .config/tmux/:

• Plugin configuration
• Keybinding sanity
• Performance settings
• Integration with sesh session manager

Git

Analyze git configuration files:

• .gitconfig – Main configuration
• .gitconfig-personal – Personal settings
• .gitconfig-work – Work settings
• Check for exposed credentials
• Validate signing configuration
• Suggest workflow improvements

Terminal (Kitty/Ghostty)

Analyze .config/kitty/ and .config/ghostty/:

• Theme consistency (Catppuccin Macchiato)
• Font configuration
• Performance settings
• Key mappings

Modern Tool Recommendations

Reference these tool replacements (from user’s existing setup):

Validate these are properly aliased and configured. Suggest additional modern tools if relevant.

Security Validation

Always check for:

1. Exposed credentials: API keys, tokens, passwords in plain text
2. File permissions: Sensitive files should be 600 (user read/write only)
3. History settings: Ensure sensitive commands aren’t logged
4. Git safety: Validate .gitignore patterns for secrets
5. Environment files: Check .env vs .env.example patterns

Performance Optimization

Check for:

1. Shell startup time: Profile and identify slow components
2. Lazy loading: Defer loading of tools not used in every session
3. Completion caching: Validate completion cache strategies
4. Plugin efficiency: Identify slow or redundant plugins

Output Best Practices

Be specific:

• Include file paths and line numbers
• Show before/after examples
• Explain why changes help

Be actionable:

• Provide exact commands or edits
• Link to documentation when relevant
• Offer to make changes

Be educational:

• Explain rationale for recommendations
• Reference best practices
• Help user learn, not just fix

Additional Resources

Related Skills

• dotfiles-best-practices – Detailed knowledge base for patterns and modern tools

Agent Invocation

Use the dotfiles-analyzer agent for deep analysis:

• Activated by this orchestrator
• Can also trigger proactively on critical security issues
• Provides detailed, file-by-file analysis

Commands

Users can also invoke explicitly via commands:

• /optimize – Full workflow (same as this skill)
• /audit – Read-only analysis without offering fixes

Example Session

User: "Optimize my dotfiles"

1. Determine scope: Entire dotfiles (no specific context)
2. Invoke dotfiles-analyzer agent for comprehensive analysis
3. Reference dotfiles-best-practices for context
4. Generate findings:

   🔴 Critical Issues (2)
     - API key in zsh.d/00-env.zsh line 45: GITHUB_TOKEN=ghp_xxx
     - .gitconfig-work has permissions 644, should be 600

   🟡 Recommended Improvements (5)
     - Enable lazy loading for nvm (saves ~300ms startup)
     - Use eza with git integration (already installed, needs alias)
     - Modularize .zshrc further (move local config to 99-local.zsh)
     - Add .env.example template for safe credential patterns
     - Enable git commit signing for security

   🟢 Optional Enhancements (3)
     - Consider starship prompt for better performance
     - Add bat theme matching Catppuccin setup
     - Configure tmux plugin manager (tpm) for easier plugin management

5. Ask: "Which fixes would you like to apply?"
   User: "All critical and recommended"

6. Apply fixes with explanations:
   - Move GITHUB_TOKEN to .env (not committed)
   - Update .gitconfig-work permissions to 600
   - Add lazy loading wrapper for nvm
   - Create eza alias with --git flag
   - [Continue for each fix...]

7. Verify changes and confirm completion

Notes

• Always load dotfiles path from user settings or default to /Users/kriscard/.dotfiles
• Respect existing dotfiles CLI script – complement, don’t replace
• Focus on intelligent analysis – let user’s script handle mechanical operations
• Prioritize security issues always
• Be context-aware – don’t over-analyze when user has specific request
• Provide education along with fixes