CodeAccelerate++ Bootstrap: Cross-Platform Dotfiles for C++ Developers

CodeAccelerate++ Bootstrap is a collection of dotfiles and installation scripts managed by chezmoi and powered by pixi. It is designed primarily for C++ developers working from the command line. However, even if you’re not a C++ developer, you may find CodeAccelerate++ Bootstrap useful as a foundation for setting up your own terminal-centric workstation. Check out the features section to see if CodeAccelerate++ Bootstrap might be right for you!

CodeAccelerate++ Bootstrap currently targets Windows and Linux, but it should be easy to adapt for macOS by modifying the Linux-specific sections.

Who is This For?

Developers

For developers who work primarily from the terminal, whether by choice or due to a role requiring remote workstations. I started as the latter, but now I can’t imagine working any other way after putting so much effort into these dotfiles.

Those Exploring Terminal-Centric Development

If you’re interested in a terminal-centric workflow, CodeAccelerate++ Bootstrap is a great way to dive in. A terminal-first setup offers unmatched flexibility, especially with a tool like Neovim, which shines not only in remote workflows but also in its low memory footprint, speed, and powerful editing features inspired by Vim.

Neovim’s editing style has a learning curve, but once you get comfortable with it, it transforms how you think about code. Vim’s modal editing allows you to navigate, edit, and manipulate text at lightning speed with minimal reliance on the mouse. Many developers find themselves wanting Neovim everywhere once they’ve experienced its efficiency and flow.

In my own journey, I initially relied on CLion and appreciated its features, but once I shifted to Neovim for a terminal-centric experience, I was sold. For remote development, Neovim’s thin client nature is a game-changer: it connects seamlessly over SSH, allowing you to work directly on remote machines without sync delays or bloated GUIs. Even on local setups, Neovim provides an environment that’s not only responsive but highly customizable, making it a flexible “IDE” replacement.

Whether you're testing the waters of terminal-based development or looking for a robust setup for Neovim on Windows and Linux, these dotfiles aim to make it all just work.

Neovim Users on Windows

Getting Neovim to work seamlessly on Windows can be a hassle. With these dotfiles, your Linux Neovim setup will also just work on Windows!

Features

• Rootless, cross-platform package management via pixi
• Uniform shell experience using Nushell
• GCC toolchains for both Windows and Linux
• Zellij multiplexer (Linux-only for now)
• Latest versions of essential developer tools (e.g., CMake, Python, Git, Ninja)
• Fully-featured Neovim “IDE” for C++ development based on LazyVim:
  • LSP configurations for C++, CMake, Lua, Bash, and more
  • Support for locally hosted AI autocomplete and chat via Copilot and CodeCompanion
  • If you don't have Copilot, not to worry! AI features can be enabled by locally hosting AI models via TabbyML. More docs on this coming soon!
  • Visual debugging for C++
  • LaTeX/Markdown support
  • Code linting and more!

Note on WIP

While CodeAccelerate++ Bootstrap is “ready-to-go,” it’s still a work-in-progress. I’m currently transitioning everything to a unified Nushell environment, and there may still be configurations, such as kitty.conf, that rely on fish. Additionally, as the configs settle, there may be small bugs, broken components, or undocumented features. I’m finalizing some aspects and will document them over time.

See the home directory in the repo for all files that will be installed; modify as needed.

Prerequisites

OS-Agnostic

Just pixi!

curl -fsSL https://pixi.sh/install.sh | bash
source ~/.bashrc

Windows-Only

Scoop fills in the gaps for tools not installable via pixi. I'd also recommend installing the VS 2022 C++ Build Tools, though it isn’t required, as the GCC toolchain will compile all Neovim plugins.

Installation

mkdir -p ~/.local/share
git clone https://github.com/NAGAGroup/CodeAccelerate-Bootstrap.git ~/.local/share/chezmoi
cd ~/.local/share/chezmoi
# bash
bash bootstrap.sh
# pwsh
cmd \C bootstrap.bat

Enabling the Development Environment

Because pixi exposes executables in a way that can break some packages, only nu is exposed. In order to access all the installed tools, launch nu as it will add all the tools to the path.

nu

First Neovim Launch

On the first launch, Neovim will install all specified plugins, which may involve substantial compilation. Ensure you’re not within a project-specific pixi environment to avoid conflicts, as Neovim will use the environment's compiler toolchain for plugins, potentially causing issues if the environment changes.