makesymlinks.sh

#!/bin/bash
############################
# This script creates symlinks from the home directory to any desired dotfiles in ~/.dotfiles
############################

########## Variables

# dotfiles directory
dir=~/.dotfiles
# old dotfiles backup directory
olddir=~/.dotfiles_old
# list of files/folders to symlink in homedir
files="config gitconfig"

##########

# create dotfiles_old in homedir
echo -n "Creating $olddir for backup of any existing dotfiles in ~ ..."
mkdir -p $olddir
echo "done"

# change to the dotfiles directory
echo -n "Changing to the $dir directory ..."
cd $dir
echo "done"

# move any existing dotfiles in homedir to dotfiles_old directory, then create symlinks from the homedir to any files in the ~/dotfiles directory specified in $files
for file in $files; do
    echo "Moving any existing dotfiles from ~ to $olddir"
    mv ~/.$file $olddir
    echo "Creating symlink to $file in home directory."
    ln -s $dir/$file ~/.$file
done