Besides the obvious per package requirements, the main thing you need is either GNU Stow or XStow.

$ git clone https://github.com/mtomwing/dotfiles.git ~/dotfiles
$ cd ~/dotfiles
$ stow <package name>

1. Initialize and update any git submodules

$ git submodule init
$ git submodule update

2. Create necessary VIM folders

$ mkdir -p ~/.vim/{backups,swaps,undo}

• make sure vim has clipboard support mode compiled
• tmux-yank needs xclip and xsel