---
name: "rcrc"
section: "5"
platform: "linux"
package: "rcm"
version: "1.3.4-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/rcrc"
---

# rcrc(5)

configuration for rcm

## NAME

**rcrc** – configuration for rcm

## SYNOPSIS

X=" *a*  *b*  *c*"

## DESCRIPTION

The rcm dotfile manager can be configured using a *.rcrc* file in your home directory. This location can be changed by setting the *RCRC* environment variable. The format is POSIX shell. It is sourced in by the [lsrc(1)](/lsrc/1.md), [mkrc(1)](/mkrc/1.md), [rcdn(1)](/rcdn/1.md), and [rcup(1)](/rcup/1.md) programs.

It supports these variables:

- *COPY\_ALWAYS*

  always copy files that match the listed globs, never symlink them.

- *DOTFILES\_DIRS*

  the source directories for dotfiles. The first in the list is the source to which dotfiles created using [mkrc(1)](/mkrc/1.md) are installed. The default value is *~/.dotfiles*

- *EXCLUDES*

  a space-separated list of exclude patterns. Exclude patterns are explained in detail in [lsrc(1)](/lsrc/1.md) under the section EXCLUDE PATTERN.

- *HOSTNAME*

  the hostname for this computer. This is normally computed using the [hostname(1)](/hostname/1.md) command, but this command is non-standard and can prove unreliable. The *HOSTNAME* variable forces a known hostname.

- *TAGS*

  the default tags.

- *SYMLINK\_DIRS*

  a space-separated list of patterns. Directories matching a pattern are symlinked instead of descended. Patterns are explained in detail in [lsrc(1)](/lsrc/1.md) under the section EXCLUDE PATTERN.

- *UNDOTTED*

  a space separated list of patterns. Files matching this pattern will be symlinked without a leading dot. If a file is also in *SYMLINK\_DIRS*, then the directory will be symlinked without a leading dot. Patterns are explained in detail in [lsrc(1)](/lsrc/1.md) under the section EXCLUDE PATTERN.

## FILES

*~/.rcrc*

## EXAMPLES

```
COPY_ALWAYS="ssh/id_* weechat/* netrc"
```

```
COPY_ALWAYS="*"
```

```
DOTFILES_DIRS="/home/mike/.dotfiles /usr/share/dotfiles"
```

```
EXCLUDES="irbrc *:*emacs* dotfiles:python*"
```

```
HOSTNAME="eggplant"
```

```
TAGS="freebsd development email git laptop gmail notmuch"
```

```
SYMLINK_DIRS="zprezto texmf"
```

```
UNDOTTED="texmf"
```

## SEE ALSO

[lsrc(1)](/lsrc/1.md), [mkrc(1)](/mkrc/1.md), [rcdn(1)](/rcdn/1.md), [rcup(1)](/rcup/1.md), [rcm(7)](/rcm/7.md)

## AUTHORS

**rcrc** is maintained by Mike Burns ⟨*mburns@thoughtbot.com*⟩ and *thoughtbot:* **http://thoughtbot.se**

## BUGS

We only expand tilde inside *DOTFILES\_DIRS* and not inside any patterns. For more notes on the caution you should exercise around patterns, see the BUGS section of [lsrc(1)](/lsrc/1.md).