Environment Configuration

The environment.yaml file manages development environment essentials: programming languages through mise, font installations, and shell configurations. This configuration ensures consistent tooling across development machines.

File Location

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

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

File Structure

programming_languages:
  - name: string          # Language/runtime name
    description: string   # Description of the language
    category: string      # "Programming Languages"
    install_method: string # Installation method (mise)
    install_command: string # Version specification
    # ... additional fields

fonts:
  - name: string          # Font name
    method: string        # Installation method
    url: string          # Download URL (if applicable)
    destination: string   # Installation path
    # ... font-specific options

shell: []                 # Shell configurations (extensible)

Programming Languages

DevEx uses mise for managing programming language versions. This provides consistent, project-aware version management across all languages.

Language Definition Schema

Field	Type	Required	Description
`name`	`string`	Yes	Language identifier
`description`	`string`	Yes	Human-readable description
`category`	`string`	Yes	Always "Programming Languages"
`install_method`	`string`	Yes	Always "mise"
`install_command`	`string`	Yes	Version specification
`uninstall_command`	`string`	Yes	Uninstall identifier
`default`	`bool`	No	Install by default (false)
`dependencies`	`string[]`	No	Required dependencies

Version Specifications

programming_languages:
  - name: Python
    install_command: 'python@3.11.7'  # Pinned stable version
    
  - name: Go
    install_command: 'go@1.21.6'      # Pinned stable version
    
  - name: Rust
    install_command: 'rust@1.75.0'    # Pinned stable version

Supported Languages

Web Development

Node.js, Deno, Bun

Systems Programming

Rust, Go, Zig

Enterprise

Java, C#

Scripting

Python, Ruby, Elixir

Complete Language Examples

programming_languages:
  # JavaScript/TypeScript ecosystem
  - name: Node.js
    description: 'Node.js runtime'
    category: 'Programming Languages'
    install_method: 'mise'
    install_command: 'node@lts'
    uninstall_command: 'node'
    default: false
    dependencies:
      - 'mise'
      
  - name: Deno
    description: 'A modern runtime for JavaScript and TypeScript'
    category: 'Programming Languages'
    install_method: 'mise'
    install_command: 'deno@latest'
    uninstall_command: 'deno'
    default: false
    dependencies:
      - 'mise'
      
  - name: Bun
    description: 'A fast all-in-one JavaScript runtime'
    category: 'Programming Languages'
    install_method: 'mise'
    install_command: 'bun@latest'
    uninstall_command: 'bun'
    default: false
    dependencies:
      - 'mise'

  # Systems programming
  - name: Rust
    description: 'Rust programming language'
    category: 'Programming Languages'
    install_method: 'mise'
    install_command: 'rust@latest'
    uninstall_command: 'rust'
    default: false
    dependencies:
      - 'mise'
      
  - name: Go
    description: 'Go programming language'
    category: 'Programming Languages'
    install_method: 'mise'
    install_command: 'go@latest'
    uninstall_command: 'go'
    default: false
    dependencies:
      - 'mise'

  # Functional programming
  - name: Elixir
    description: 'Dynamic, functional language for maintainable applications'
    category: 'Programming Languages'
    install_method: 'mise'
    install_command: 'elixir@latest'
    uninstall_command: 'elixir'
    default: false
    dependencies:
      - 'mise'
      - 'erlang'  # Elixir runs on Erlang VM
      
  - name: Erlang
    description: 'Programming language for massively scalable soft real-time systems'
    category: 'Programming Languages'
    install_method: 'mise'
    install_command: 'erlang@latest'
    uninstall_command: 'erlang'
    default: false
    dependencies:
      - 'mise'

Font Management

DevEx manages programming fonts and system fonts through multiple installation methods.

Font Schema

Field	Type	Required	Description
`name`	`string`	Yes	Font display name
`method`	`string`	Yes	Installation method
`url`	`string`	Conditional	Download URL (for url method)
`destination`	`string`	Conditional	Installation directory
`extract_path`	`string`	No	Path within archive to extract

Font Installation Methods

fonts:
  - name: 'Cascadia Mono'
    method: 'url'
    url: 'https://github.com/ryanoasis/nerd-fonts/releases/latest/download/CascadiaMono.zip'
    destination: '~/.local/share/fonts'
    
  - name: 'iA Writer Mono'
    method: 'url'
    url: 'https://github.com/iaolo/iA-Fonts/archive/refs/heads/master.zip'
    extract_path: 'iA-Fonts-master/iA Writer Mono/Static'
    destination: '~/.local/share/fonts'

Recommended Programming Fonts

Version Pinning for Fonts: For production or team environments, consider pinning font URLs to specific releases instead of using "latest" for better reproducibility:

url: 'https://github.com/ryanoasis/nerd-fonts/releases/download/v3.1.1/CascadiaMono.zip'

fonts:
  # Nerd Fonts (with programming symbols)
  - name: 'Cascadia Mono'
    method: 'url'
    url: 'https://github.com/ryanoasis/nerd-fonts/releases/latest/download/CascadiaMono.zip'
    destination: '~/.local/share/fonts'
    
  - name: 'JetBrains Mono'
    method: 'url'
    url: 'https://github.com/ryanoasis/nerd-fonts/releases/latest/download/JetBrainsMono.zip'
    destination: '~/.local/share/fonts'
    
  - name: 'Fira Code'
    method: 'url'
    url: 'https://github.com/ryanoasis/nerd-fonts/releases/latest/download/FiraCode.zip'
    destination: '~/.local/share/fonts'

  # System fonts
  - name: 'SF Mono'           # macOS system font
    method: 'system'
    platforms: ['macos']
    
  - name: 'Consolas'          # Windows system font
    method: 'system'
    platforms: ['windows']

Shell Configuration

The shell section is currently extensible and ready for future shell configurations like themes, plugins, and prompt customizations.

Current Structure

shell: []  # Empty array - ready for extension

Planned Shell Features

Shell Themes: Oh My Zsh, Starship, and Oh My Posh configurations

Shell Plugins: Auto-completion, syntax highlighting, history

Environment Variables: Development-specific environment setup

Aliases and Functions: Common development shortcuts

Future Shell Configuration

# Planned shell configuration structure
shell:
  - name: 'starship'
    type: 'prompt'
    config_file: '~/.config/starship.toml'
    theme: 'tokyo-night'
    
  - name: 'zsh-autosuggestions'
    type: 'plugin'
    install_method: 'git'
    repo: 'https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions'
    
  - name: 'dev-aliases'
    type: 'aliases'
    aliases:
      ll: 'ls -la'
      gc: 'git commit'
      gp: 'git push'

Version Management with Mise

DevEx leverages mise for unified version management across all programming languages.

Project-Level Version Control

# Create .mise.toml in project root
echo 'node = "18.17.0"' >> .mise.toml
echo 'python = "3.11.0"' >> .mise.toml

# Mise automatically switches versions when entering directory
cd my-project  # Automatically uses Node 18.17.0 and Python 3.11.0

Global vs Project Versions

# Set global defaults (used outside projects)
mise use --global node@lts
mise use --global python@3.11
mise use --global go@latest

# View global versions
mise list

Real-World Examples

Full-Stack JavaScript Development

programming_languages:
  - name: Node.js
    description: 'Node.js runtime'
    category: 'Programming Languages'
    install_method: 'mise'
    install_command: 'node@lts'
    uninstall_command: 'node'
    default: true
    dependencies:
      - 'mise'
      
  - name: Deno
    description: 'Modern JavaScript/TypeScript runtime'
    category: 'Programming Languages'
    install_method: 'mise'
    install_command: 'deno@latest'
    uninstall_command: 'deno'
    default: false
    dependencies:
      - 'mise'

fonts:
  - name: 'JetBrains Mono'
    method: 'url'
    url: 'https://github.com/ryanoasis/nerd-fonts/releases/latest/download/JetBrainsMono.zip'
    destination: '~/.local/share/fonts'

Data Science Environment

programming_languages:
  - name: Python
    description: 'Python programming language'
    category: 'Programming Languages'
    install_method: 'mise'
    install_command: 'python@3.11'  # Stable for data science
    uninstall_command: 'python'
    default: true
    dependencies:
      - 'mise'
      
  - name: R
    description: 'R statistical language'
    category: 'Programming Languages'
    install_method: 'mise'
    install_command: 'r@latest'
    uninstall_command: 'r'
    default: false
    dependencies:
      - 'mise'

fonts:
  - name: 'Source Code Pro'
    method: 'url'
    url: 'https://github.com/ryanoasis/nerd-fonts/releases/latest/download/SourceCodePro.zip'
    destination: '~/.local/share/fonts'

Systems Programming Setup

programming_languages:
  - name: Rust
    description: 'Rust systems programming language'
    category: 'Programming Languages'
    install_method: 'mise'
    install_command: 'rust@latest'
    uninstall_command: 'rust'
    default: true
    dependencies:
      - 'mise'
      
  - name: Go
    description: 'Go programming language'
    category: 'Programming Languages'
    install_method: 'mise'
    install_command: 'go@latest'
    uninstall_command: 'go'
    default: true
    dependencies:
      - 'mise'
      
  - name: Zig
    description: 'Zig systems programming language'
    category: 'Programming Languages'
    install_method: 'mise'
    install_command: 'zig@latest'
    uninstall_command: 'zig'
    default: false
    dependencies:
      - 'mise'

fonts:
  - name: 'Cascadia Mono'
    method: 'url'
    url: 'https://github.com/ryanoasis/nerd-fonts/releases/latest/download/CascadiaMono.zip'
    destination: '~/.local/share/fonts'

Best Practices

Environment Configuration Best Practices:

Use LTS versions - For production-focused environments
Pin specific versions - For team consistency
Install Nerd Fonts - Better terminal experience with symbols
Leverage mise project configs - Per-project version management
Test font rendering - Ensure fonts work in your terminal/editor
Document team standards - Share environment configs across team

Team Environment Standardization

# Shared team environment configuration
programming_languages:
  # Standardize on specific versions for consistency
  - name: Node.js
    install_command: 'node@18.17.0'  # Pinned for team
    default: true
    
  - name: Python
    install_command: 'python@3.11.0' # Pinned for team
    default: true

fonts:
  # Consistent programming font across team
  - name: 'JetBrains Mono'
    method: 'url'
    url: 'https://github.com/ryanoasis/nerd-fonts/releases/latest/download/JetBrainsMono.zip'
    destination: '~/.local/share/fonts'

Validation and Testing

Validate Environment Configuration

# Validate environment.yaml syntax
devex config validate environment

# Test programming language installation (dry-run)
devex install python --dry-run

# Verify mise is working
mise --version

# Check installed languages
mise list

# Test font installation
fc-list | grep -i "jetbrains"  # Linux

Troubleshooting

# Mise not found
curl https://mise.run | sh
echo 'eval "$(mise activate bash)"' >> ~/.bashrc

# Clear mise cache
mise cache clear

# Rebuild mise shims
mise reshim

# Check mise configuration
mise doctor

Applications Configuration - Application installation
System Configuration - Git, SSH, and terminal settings
Platform Support - Platform-specific considerations
CLI Reference: Install - Installation commands

The environment.yaml configuration ensures consistent development tooling across machines and team members. Combined with mise's project-aware version management, it provides a robust foundation for any development environment.

Environment Configuration

Environment ConfigurationCopy Anchor Link

File LocationCopy Anchor Link

File StructureCopy Anchor Link

Programming LanguagesCopy Anchor Link

Language Definition SchemaCopy Anchor Link

Version SpecificationsCopy Anchor Link

Supported LanguagesCopy Anchor Link

Web Development

Systems Programming

Enterprise

Scripting

Complete Language ExamplesCopy Anchor Link

Font ManagementCopy Anchor Link

Font SchemaCopy Anchor Link

Font Installation MethodsCopy Anchor Link

Recommended Programming FontsCopy Anchor Link

Shell ConfigurationCopy Anchor Link

Current StructureCopy Anchor Link

Planned Shell FeaturesCopy Anchor Link

Future Shell ConfigurationCopy Anchor Link

Version Management with MiseCopy Anchor Link

Project-Level Version ControlCopy Anchor Link

Global vs Project VersionsCopy Anchor Link

Real-World ExamplesCopy Anchor Link

Full-Stack JavaScript DevelopmentCopy Anchor Link

Data Science EnvironmentCopy Anchor Link

Systems Programming SetupCopy Anchor Link

Best PracticesCopy Anchor Link

Team Environment StandardizationCopy Anchor Link

Validation and TestingCopy Anchor Link

Validate Environment ConfigurationCopy Anchor Link

TroubleshootingCopy Anchor Link

Related DocumentationCopy Anchor Link

On this page

Environment Configuration

File Location

File Structure

Programming Languages

Language Definition Schema

Version Specifications

Supported Languages

Complete Language Examples

Font Management

Font Schema

Font Installation Methods

Recommended Programming Fonts

Shell Configuration

Current Structure

Planned Shell Features

Future Shell Configuration

Version Management with Mise

Project-Level Version Control

Global vs Project Versions

Real-World Examples

Full-Stack JavaScript Development

Data Science Environment

Systems Programming Setup

Best Practices

Team Environment Standardization

Validation and Testing

Validate Environment Configuration

Troubleshooting

Related Documentation