diff --git a/.github/CODEOWNERS b/.github/CODEOWNERS
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..93c1e31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/CODEOWNERS
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# learn more: https://docs.github.com/en/repositories/managing-your-repositorys-settings-and-features/customizing-your-repository/about-code-owners
+
+* @lewxdev
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5bf4285
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+name: 🚀 Create new release on GitHub
+on:
+  push:
+
+permissions:
+  contents: write
+
+jobs:
+  publish:
+    runs-on: macos-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: oven-sh/setup-bun@v1
+
+      - run: |
+          bun install
+          bun run build
+          echo "dotfiles=dist/dotfiles" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
+      - env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+        run: |
+          gh release create v$($dotfiles --version) $dotfiles --generate-notes \
+            --prerelease=${{ github.ref != 'refs/heads/main' }} \
+            --target=${{ github.ref }}
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..845ab9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+# based on the githhub/node.gitignore template
+# see: https://github.com/github/gitignore/blob/main/Node.gitignore
+
+# builds
+dist
+out
+*.tgz
+
+# dependencies
+node_modules
+
+# environment
+.env
+.env.*.local
+.env.local
+
+# logs
+logs
+*.log
+*-debug.log*
+*-error.log*
+
+# miscellaneous
+.cache
+.temp
+.DS_Store
+
+# runtime
+pids
+*.pid
+*.seed
+*.pid.lock
+
+# eslint cache
+.eslintcache
+
+# npm cache
+.npm
+
+# repl history
+.node_repl_history
+
+# typescript cache
+*.tsbuildinfo
+
+# addons
+# see: https://nodejs.org/api/addons.html
+build/Release
+
+# reports
+# see: https://nodejs.org/api/report.html
+report.[0-9]*.[0-9]*.[0-9]*.[0-9]*.json
diff --git a/.husky/commit-msg b/.husky/commit-msg
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..1a71a3c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.husky/commit-msg
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env zsh
+
+bun run commitlint --edit $1
diff --git a/.vscode/extensions.json b/.vscode/extensions.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d1164c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.vscode/extensions.json
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+{
+	"recommendations": [
+		"biomejs.biome",
+		"bmalehorn.shell-syntax",
+		"github.vscode-github-actions",
+		"joshbolduc.commitlint",
+		"streetsidesoftware.code-spell-checker",
+		"yoavbls.pretty-ts-errors"
+	]
+}
diff --git a/.vscode/settings.json b/.vscode/settings.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e34623a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.vscode/settings.json
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{
+	"editor.defaultFormatter": "biomejs.biome",
+	"editor.codeActionsOnSave": {
+		"quickfix.biome": "explicit",
+		"source.organizeImports.biome": "explicit"
+	}
+}
diff --git a/LICENSE.md b/LICENSE.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cd37869
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# The MIT License (MIT)
+
+Copyright © 2021-Present, [lewxdev](https://github.com/lewxdev)
+
+Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of
+this software and associated documentation files (the “Software”), to deal in
+the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to
+use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of
+the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so,
+subject to the following conditions:
+
+The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+
+THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED “AS IS”, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS
+FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR
+COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER
+IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN
+CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ddff7e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+```
+     __     __  ____ __
+ ___/ /__  / /_/ _(_) /__ ___
+/ _  / _ \/ __/ _/ / / -_|_-<
+\_,_/\___/\__/_//_/_/\__/___/
+```
+
+# @lewxdev/dotfiles
+
+This repository consists of infrequently updated personal configurations,
+dotfiles, and scripts for a macOS-based environment. It provides the following:
+
+- a CLI as a [single-file executable](https://bun.sh/docs/bundler/executables)
+  that walks through a configurable installation process
+- a one-time installation script that adds the `dotfiles` CLI to the PATH
+
+Although I cannot guarantee it will work for you, feel free to build on and
+learn from this setup. If you have any questions or suggestions, please open an
+issue.
+
+## Usage
+
+When installing for the first time, run the following command:
+
+```shell
+curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/lewxdev/dotfiles/main/install.zsh | zsh
+```
+
+After installation, you can run the `dotfiles` CLI to manage your dotfiles:
+
+```shell
+dotfiles --help
+```
+
+## Development
+
+```shell
+# install dependencies
+bun install
+```
+
+```shell
+# invoke the CLI
+bun start
+```
+
+```shell
+# build the executable
+bun run build
+```
+
+```shell
+# update CLI installation
+# note: this may prompt you for your password
+bun run update
+```
diff --git a/biome.json b/biome.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4cf6225
--- /dev/null
+++ b/biome.json
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+{
+	"$schema": "node_modules/@biomejs/biome/configuration_schema.json",
+	"organizeImports": {
+		"enabled": true
+	},
+	"files": {
+		"ignoreUnknown": true
+	},
+	"formatter": {
+		"indentStyle": "tab"
+	},
+	"linter": {
+		"rules": {
+			"recommended": true
+		}
+	},
+	"vcs": {
+		"enabled": true,
+		"clientKind": "git",
+		"defaultBranch": "main",
+		"useIgnoreFile": true
+	}
+}
diff --git a/bun.lockb b/bun.lockb
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..e56384e
Binary files /dev/null and b/bun.lockb differ
diff --git a/cli.ts b/cli.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4278396
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+import { $ } from "bun";
+import { program } from "commander";
+
+import packageJson from "@/package.json";
+
+const LOCAL_PATH = "~/projects/dotfiles";
+const REMOTE_PATH = packageJson.repository.url;
+
+program
+	.name("dotfiles")
+	.description(`a CLI to manage ${packageJson.description}`)
+	.version(packageJson.version);
+
+program
+	.command("install")
+	.description("run the configurable installation script")
+	.action(async () => {
+		try {
+			// check if local repository exists
+			await $`test -d ${LOCAL_PATH}`;
+		} catch {
+			// create if local repository is missing
+			await $`git clone ${REMOTE_PATH} ${LOCAL_PATH}`;
+		}
+	});
+
+await program.parseAsync();
diff --git a/install.zsh b/install.zsh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b8ccb57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/install.zsh
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env zsh
+
+# get the latest release from GitHub
+# TODO: update version to latest release before merging
+echo "downloading the dotfiles CLI..."
+curl -fsSL -o /usr/local/bin/dotfiles https://github.com/lewxdev/dotfiles/releases/download/v2.0.0/dotfiles
+
+# make the file executable
+echo "completing installation..."
+chmod +x /usr/local/bin/dotfiles
+
+if ! command -v dotfiles &> /dev/null; then
+  echo "error: dotfiles is not installed, try again or install manually"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+# post installation message
+echo "
+     __     __  ____ __
+ ___/ /__  / /_/ _(_) /__ ___
+/ _  / _ \/ __/ _/ / / -_|_-<
+\_,_/\___/\__/_//_/_/\__/___/ v$(dotfiles --version)
+
+successfully installed the dotfiles CLI 🎉
+
+next steps:
+  1. run 'dotfiles install'
+  2. edit '~/projects/dotfiles'
+
+see 'dotfiles --help' for more"
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5f7c4f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+{
+	"name": "@lewxdev/dotfiles",
+	"version": "2.0.0",
+	"description": "personal configurations, dotfiles, and scripts for a macOS-based environment",
+	"license": "MIT",
+	"author": "J. Lewis (https://lewx.dev)",
+	"module": "cli.ts",
+	"type": "module",
+	"repository": {
+		"type": "git",
+		"url": "https://github.com/lewxdev/dotfiles.git"
+	},
+	"scripts": {
+		"start": "bun run cli.ts",
+		"build": "bun build cli.ts --compile --minify --outfile dist/dotfiles",
+		"update": "bun run build && sudo mv dist/dotfiles /usr/local/bin",
+		"prepare": "husky",
+		"format": "biome format --write .",
+		"lint": "biome lint ."
+	},
+	"dependencies": {
+		"commander": "^12.1.0"
+	},
+	"devDependencies": {
+		"@biomejs/biome": "1.7.3",
+		"@commitlint/cli": "^19.3.0",
+		"@commitlint/config-conventional": "^19.2.2",
+		"@tsconfig/bun": "latest",
+		"@tsconfig/strictest": "^2.0.5",
+		"@types/bun": "latest",
+		"husky": "^9.0.11",
+		"lint-staged": "^15.2.5",
+		"typescript": "^5.4.5"
+	},
+	"commitlint": {
+		"extends": ["@commitlint/config-conventional"]
+	},
+	"lint-staged": {
+		"*": "biome format --write",
+		"*.ts": "biome lint --apply"
+	}
+}
diff --git a/tsconfig.json b/tsconfig.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0832493
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tsconfig.json
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+	"extends": ["@tsconfig/bun", "@tsconfig/strictest"],
+	"compilerOptions": {
+		"baseUrl": ".",
+		"paths": {
+			"@/*": ["./*"]
+		}
+	}
+}