Applications Configuration

The applications.yaml file defines all installable applications, development tools, databases, and system utilities. This is the primary configuration file that determines what software DevEx will manage in your environment.

File Location

# Default configuration
~/.local/share/devex/config/applications.yaml

# User override (higher priority)
~/.devex/applications.yaml

File Structure

applications:
  development:     # Development tools and utilities
    - name: string
      # ... application definition
      
  databases:       # Database systems
    - name: string
      # ... application definition
      
  system_tools:    # System utilities
    - name: string
      # ... application definition
      
  optional:        # Optional applications
    - name: string
      # ... application definition

Application Definition Schema

Each application can have the following fields:

Required Fields

Field	Type	Description
`name`	`string`	Unique application identifier
`description`	`string`	Human-readable description
`category`	`string`	Application category for grouping

Optional Fields

Field	Type	Default	Description
`default`	`bool`	`false`	Install by default
`dependencies`	`string[]`	`[]`	Required applications
`tags`	`string[]`	`[]`	Tags for filtering
`priority`	`int`	`50`	Installation priority (1-100)
`desktop_environments`	`string[]`	`["all"]`	Supported desktop environments

Platform-Specific Configuration

Each application can define platform-specific installation methods:

Linux Configuration

linux:
  install_method: apt
  install_command: package-name
  uninstall_command: package-name
  
  # APT repository configuration
  apt_sources:
    - key_source: "https://example.com/key.gpg"
      key_name: "/etc/apt/keyrings/app.gpg"
      source_repo: "deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/app.gpg] https://repo.example.com stable main"
      source_name: "/etc/apt/sources.list.d/app.list"
      require_dearmor: true
  
  # Platform requirements
  platform_requirements:
    - os: "ubuntu"
      versions: ["20.04", "22.04", "24.04"]
    - os: "debian"
      versions: ["11", "12"]

macOS Configuration

macos:
  install_method: brew        # Primary method
  install_command: package-name
  cask: true                  # Use brew cask for GUI apps
  
  # Mac App Store
  install_method: mas
  install_command: "1234567890"  # App Store ID
  
  # Direct download
  install_method: dmg
  download_url: "https://example.com/app.dmg"
  
  # Alternative installation methods
  alternatives:
    - install_method: macports
      install_command: package-name

Windows Configuration

windows:
  install_method: winget
  install_command: Publisher.ApplicationName
  
  # Chocolatey
  install_method: chocolatey
  install_command: package-name
  
  # Scoop
  install_method: scoop
  install_command: package-name
  bucket: main  # main, extras, versions
  
  # Direct installer
  install_method: installer
  download_url: "https://example.com/setup.exe"
  silent_args: "/S /NCRC"  # Silent installation arguments

Advanced Application Features

Pre and Post Installation Scripts

applications:
  development:
    - name: docker
      linux:
        install_method: apt
        install_command: docker-ce
        
        # Run before installation
        pre_install:
          - shell: "sudo apt-get update"
          - shell: "sudo apt-get install -y ca-certificates curl gnupg"
          
        # Run after installation
        post_install:
          - shell: "sudo systemctl enable docker"
          - shell: "sudo usermod -aG docker $USER"
          - shell: "echo 'Docker installed successfully'"

Configuration File Management

applications:
  development:
    - name: vscode
      config_files:
        # Copy configuration files
        - source: "~/.local/share/devex/assets/vscode/settings.json"
          destination: "~/.config/Code/User/settings.json"
          backup: true  # Backup existing file
          
        # Template-based configuration
        - template: "~/.local/share/devex/templates/vscode.conf"
          destination: "~/.config/Code/User/keybindings.json"
          variables:
            theme: "Tokyo Night"
            font_size: 14

Service Management

applications:
  databases:
    - name: postgresql
      linux:
        install_method: apt
        install_command: postgresql-14
        
        # Service configuration
        service:
          name: postgresql
          enabled: true  # Enable at boot
          started: true  # Start after installation
          
        # Service validation
        service_check:
          command: "systemctl is-active postgresql"
          expected: "active"

Version Management

applications:
  development:
    - name: node
      # Use mise for version management
      install_method: mise
      install_command: node@lts  # or node@18.17.0
      global: true  # Set as global default
      
      # Version constraints
      version_constraint: ">=18.0.0 <21.0.0"
      
      # Multiple versions
      versions:
        - "18.17.0"  # LTS
        - "20.5.1"   # Current
        - "21.0.0"   # Latest

Application Categories

Development Tools

Version Control

git, mercurial, svn

Editors

vscode, vim, neovim, emacs

Containers

docker, podman, kubernetes

Build Tools

make, cmake, gradle, maven

Example configuration:

applications:
  development:
    - name: git
      description: "Distributed version control system"
      category: "Version Control"
      default: true
      priority: 10  # Install early
      
    - name: docker
      description: "Container platform"
      category: "Containers"
      default: true
      dependencies: ["curl", "gnupg"]
      
    - name: vscode
      description: "Visual Studio Code"
      category: "Editors"
      default: false
      desktop_environments: ["gnome", "kde", "xfce"]

Databases

applications:
  databases:
    - name: postgresql
      description: "Advanced open source database"
      category: "Databases"
      default: false
      
      linux:
        install_method: apt
        install_command: postgresql-14
        post_install:
          - shell: "sudo -u postgres createuser --superuser $USER"
          
    - name: redis
      description: "In-memory data structure store"
      category: "Databases"
      service:
        name: redis-server
        enabled: true

Optional Applications

applications:
  optional:
    - name: slack
      description: "Team communication platform"
      category: "Communication"
      default: false
      desktop_environments: ["gnome", "kde", "xfce"]
      
      linux:
        install_method: flatpak
        install_command: com.slack.Slack
        
      macos:
        install_method: brew
        install_command: slack
        cask: true
        
      windows:
        install_method: winget
        install_command: SlackTechnologies.Slack

Dependency Management

Direct Dependencies

applications:
  development:
    - name: docker-compose
      dependencies:
        - docker  # Must be installed first
        
    - name: kubectl
      dependencies:
        - curl    # Required for download

Conditional Dependencies

applications:
  development:
    - name: vscode
      optional_dependencies:
        - git     # Enhanced Git integration
        - docker  # Docker extension support
        - python  # Python development

Dependency Resolution

DevEx automatically:

Analyzes dependency graph
Determines installation order
Detects circular dependencies
Handles missing dependencies

Desktop Environment Compatibility

applications:
  development:
    - name: gnome-tweaks
      desktop_environments: ["gnome", "unity"]
      
    - name: konsole
      desktop_environments: ["kde"]
      
    - name: terminal
      desktop_environments: ["all"]  # Works everywhere

Real-World Examples

Complex Application with Multiple Install Methods

applications:
  development:
    - name: neovim
      description: "Hyperextensible Vim-based text editor"
      category: "Editors"
      default: false
      tags: ["editor", "vim", "terminal"]
      
      linux:
        # Primary method: Package manager
        install_method: apt
        install_command: neovim
        
        # Alternative: Build from source
        alternatives:
          - install_method: source
            git_repo: "https://github.com/neovim/neovim"
            build_commands:
              - "make CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release"
              - "sudo make install"
            dependencies: ["cmake", "build-essential"]
            
          - install_method: appimage
            download_url: "https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/latest/download/nvim.appimage"
            
      macos:
        install_method: brew
        install_command: neovim
        
      windows:
        install_method: winget
        install_command: Neovim.Neovim
        
      # Post-installation setup
      post_install:
        - shell: "mkdir -p ~/.config/nvim"
        - file:
            source: "~/.local/share/devex/assets/nvim/init.vim"
            destination: "~/.config/nvim/init.vim"

Application with Service and Configuration

applications:
  databases:
    - name: postgresql
      description: "PostgreSQL database server"
      category: "Databases"
      
      linux:
        install_method: apt
        install_command: postgresql-14
        
        apt_sources:
          - key_source: "https://www.postgresql.org/media/keys/ACCC4CF8.asc"
            source_repo: "deb http://apt.postgresql.org/pub/repos/apt $(lsb_release -cs)-pgdg main"
            
        service:
          name: postgresql
          enabled: true
          started: true
          
        post_install:
          # Create user and database
          - shell: "sudo -u postgres createuser --superuser $USER"
          - shell: "sudo -u postgres createdb $USER"
          
          # Configure authentication
          - file:
              content: |
                local   all   all                     trust
                host    all   all   127.0.0.1/32      trust
                host    all   all   ::1/128           trust
              destination: "/etc/postgresql/14/main/pg_hba.conf"
              sudo: true
              
          # Restart service
          - shell: "sudo systemctl restart postgresql"
        
        # Validation
        validation:
          - command: "psql -c 'SELECT version();'"
            expected_pattern: "PostgreSQL 14"

Best Practices

Application Configuration Best Practices:

Use descriptive names - Application names should be recognizable
Include descriptions - Help users understand what each app does
Set appropriate defaults - Mark essential tools as default: true
Define dependencies - Ensure proper installation order
Test on target platforms - Verify installation methods work
Provide alternatives - Multiple installation methods increase reliability

Validation

Validate your applications configuration:

# Validate syntax and schema
devex config validate applications

# Check specific application
devex config validate --app docker

# Test installation (dry-run)
devex install docker --dry-run

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

# Problem: Dependency not found
applications:
  development:
    - name: app
      dependencies: ["missing-dep"]

# Solution: Ensure dependency is defined
applications:
  development:
    - name: missing-dep
      # ... definition
    - name: app
      dependencies: ["missing-dep"]

Environment Configuration - Programming languages and tools
Configuration Validation - Validating your configurations
Platform Support - Platform-specific details
CLI Reference: Add/Remove - Managing applications

The applications.yaml file is the core of DevEx's package management. A well-structured applications configuration ensures reliable, reproducible development environment setup across different machines and team members.

Applications Configuration

Applications ConfigurationCopy Anchor Link

File LocationCopy Anchor Link

File StructureCopy Anchor Link

Application Definition SchemaCopy Anchor Link

Required FieldsCopy Anchor Link

Optional FieldsCopy Anchor Link

Platform-Specific ConfigurationCopy Anchor Link

Linux ConfigurationCopy Anchor Link

macOS ConfigurationCopy Anchor Link

Windows ConfigurationCopy Anchor Link

Advanced Application FeaturesCopy Anchor Link

Pre and Post Installation ScriptsCopy Anchor Link

Configuration File ManagementCopy Anchor Link

Service ManagementCopy Anchor Link

Version ManagementCopy Anchor Link

Application CategoriesCopy Anchor Link

Development ToolsCopy Anchor Link

Version Control

Editors

Containers

Build Tools

DatabasesCopy Anchor Link

Optional ApplicationsCopy Anchor Link

Dependency ManagementCopy Anchor Link

Direct DependenciesCopy Anchor Link

Conditional DependenciesCopy Anchor Link

Dependency ResolutionCopy Anchor Link

Desktop Environment CompatibilityCopy Anchor Link

Real-World ExamplesCopy Anchor Link

Complex Application with Multiple Install MethodsCopy Anchor Link

Application with Service and ConfigurationCopy Anchor Link

Best PracticesCopy Anchor Link

ValidationCopy Anchor Link

TroubleshootingCopy Anchor Link

Common IssuesCopy Anchor Link

Related DocumentationCopy Anchor Link

On this page

Applications Configuration

File Location

File Structure

Application Definition Schema

Required Fields

Optional Fields

Platform-Specific Configuration

Linux Configuration

macOS Configuration

Windows Configuration

Advanced Application Features

Pre and Post Installation Scripts

Configuration File Management

Service Management

Version Management

Application Categories

Development Tools

Databases

Optional Applications

Dependency Management

Direct Dependencies

Conditional Dependencies

Dependency Resolution

Desktop Environment Compatibility

Real-World Examples

Complex Application with Multiple Install Methods

Application with Service and Configuration

Best Practices

Validation

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Related Documentation