Debian Setup Guide - Al Andalus

Introduction

This is my personal guide to setting up Debian Linux (Bookworm) with a customized GNOME desktop environment. Below are the steps I follow to configure connectivity, appearance, performance, and software after a fresh installation.

Initial Setup

  • Connect to WiFi: Use the network manager in GNOME to connect to your WiFi network.
  • Bluetooth PC Speakers: Put speakers in pair mode, then go to GNOME Settings > Bluetooth to pair and connect.
  • Num Lock On: Enable Num Lock on boot (set in BIOS or via numlockx on in a startup script).

Appearance Customization

  • Wallpaper: Set a custom wallpaper via GNOME Settings > Background.
  • Icons, Cursor, and Legacy Applications: Use the default Adwaita icons or your preferred theme in GNOME Tweaks > Appearance.

GNOME Settings Adjustments

  • Performance and Dark Modes: Enable via Quick Settings.
  • Hot Corner: Disable in GNOME Settings > Multitasking > Hot Corner.
  • Power Settings: Adjust Screen Blank, Automatic Suspend, and Power Button Behavior in GNOME Settings > Power.
  • Privacy Settings:
    • Disable Location Services (GNOME Settings > Privacy > Location Services).
    • Disable Automatic Screen Lock and Lock Screen Notifications (GNOME Settings > Privacy > Screen).
  • Rhythmbox Notifications: Disable popups in GNOME Settings > Notifications > Applications > Rhythmbox.
  • Refresh Rate: Set to "74.97 Hz" in GNOME Settings > Displays.
  • Disable GNOME Animations: Disable in GNOME Settings > Accessibility.
  • User Picture: Set to ~/.face in GNOME Settings > Users.

Software Repositories

  • Disable CDROM Repo: Uncheck CDROM in Software & Updates > Other Software.
  • Edit /etc/apt/sources.list: Replace with: 
    deb https://deb.debian.org/debian/ bookworm main contrib non-free-firmware non-free
deb https://deb.debian.org/debian-security/ bookworm-security main contrib non-free-firmware non-free
deb https://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates main contrib non-free-firmware non-free
  • Update and Upgrade: Run sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y.

Time and Date

  • Time Format: Set to "AM/PM" in GNOME Settings > Date & Time.
  • Adjust Time/Date: Configure in GNOME Settings > Date & Time.
  • Sync Time: Run: 
    sudo timedatectl
timedatectl set-local-rtc 0

GNOME Tweaks

  • Suspend on Lid Close: Disable in GNOME Tweaks > General.
  • Over-Amplification: Enable in GNOME Tweaks > General.
  • Fonts: Set Hinting to "Full" and Antialiasing to "Subpixel" in GNOME Tweaks > Fonts.
  • Touchpad: Disable "Disable While Typing" in GNOME Tweaks > Keyboard & Mouse > Touchpad.
  • Mouse Click Emulation: Disable in GNOME Tweaks > Keyboard & Mouse.
  • Autostart Thunderbird: Add in GNOME Tweaks > Startup Applications.
  • Top Bar Clock: Enable "Day of Week" in GNOME Tweaks > Top Bar > Clock.
  • Titlebar Actions: Set middle-click to "Minimize" in GNOME Tweaks > Window Titlebars.
  • Titlebar Buttons: Enable both Maximize and Minimize in GNOME Tweaks > Window Titlebars.
  • Center New Windows: Enable in GNOME Tweaks > Windows.

Printer Setup

  • Add Printer: Use GNOME Settings > Printers to add your printer (for example, "TS3700").
  • Set as Default: Mark your printer as default.
  • Test Page: Print a test page from the printer options.

System Configuration

  • Set Hostname: Run sudo hostnamectl hostname eire.

GNOME Extensions

  • Install Extension Manager: Run sudo apt install gnome-shell-extension-manager.
  • Install Shell Extensions: Run sudo apt install gnome-shell-extension-appindicator gnome-shell-extension-dashtodock gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng gnome-shell-extension-no-annoyance gnome-shell-extension-tiling-assistant gnome-shell-extension-weather.
  • Auto Move Applications: In GNOME, move Firefox to Desktop 1 and Thunderbird to Desktop 2.
  • Dash to Dock Settings:
    • Position and Size: Enable "Show on all monitors", set Position to "Left", disable Intelligent Autohide, and set Fixed Icon Size to "Scroll to Reveal Other Icons".
    • Behavior: Set Click Action to "Focus, Minimize or App Spread" and Scroll Action to "Cycle Through Windows".
    • Appearance: Enable "Shrink the Dash", disable "Show Overview on Startup", use "Dots" for window counter indicators, and set a custom dash color with full opacity.
  • Desktop Icons NG (DING):
    • Set Size to "Small", disable Trash Can and External Drives display, align new icons to the Bottom-Right Corner, and disable Highlight Drop Place.
    • Shared with Nautilus: Enable "Show Hidden Files" and "Context Menu to Delete Permanently".
  • Other Extensions: Enable "No Annoyance v2", "Tiling Assistant", "Ubuntu AppIndicators", and "Workspace Indicator".
  • Extension Manager App & Browse: Install additional extensions such as "Extension List", "Clipboard History", "Unblank Lock Screen", "Add to Desktop", "Notifications Alert", "Todo.txt", and "Show Desktop Applet".
  • Clipboard History Settings: Enable saving favorites and selected text to history.
  • Show Desktop Applet: Set the button position to "Right" on the panel.
  • Extension List: Disable the Extension List in Extension Manager if not needed.
  • Alphabetical App Grid: Install via Extension Manager if desired.

Nautilus Adjustments

  • Icon Size: Use Ctrl + "-" to reduce icon sizes.
  • Preferences: In Nautilus, enable "Sort Folders Before Files" and "Create Link" from the Preferences menu.

Themes

  • Install Yaru: Run sudo apt install yaru-theme-gnome-shell yaru-theme-gtk yaru-theme-icon yaru-theme-sound.
  • Enable User Themes: Use the Extension Manager to enable user themes.
  • Switch to Yaru: In GNOME Tweaks > Appearance, set:
    • Cursor to "Yaru"
    • Icons to "Yaru-Red-Dark"
    • Shell to "Yaru-Blue-Dark"
    • Sound to "Yaru"
    • Legacy Applications to "Yaru-Blue-Dark"

Software Installation

  • Dconf Editor: Install with sudo apt install dconf-editor.
  • Calculator Fix: In Dconf Editor, set org.gnome.calculator.refresh-interval to "0".
  • Essential Tools: Run sudo apt install steam-devices neofetch weechat w3m python3-psutil plocate htop btop nala ttf-mscorefonts-installer default-jre preload libavcodec-extra libdvd-pkg youtubedl-gui -y.
  • Libdvdcss: Reconfigure with sudo dpkg-reconfigure libdvd-pkg.
  • Update Locate Index: Run sudo updatedb.
  • Speedtest: Run a speed test to verify your connection.
  • Nala Mirror Selection: Run sudo nala fetch to choose the fastest mirrors.
  • Creative Tools: Run sudo nala install bleachbit gimp gimp-data-extras inkscape vlc handbrake shotcut hexchat soundconverter audacity mpg123 brasero libreoffice gedit -y.

Default Applications

  • Set Defaults: In GNOME Settings > Default Applications, set:
    • Web to "Firefox ESR"
    • Mail to "Thunderbird"
    • Calendar to "Thunderbird"
    • Music to "Rhythmbox"
    • Video to "VLC"
    • Photos to "Image Viewer"

Firefox ESR Setup

  • Install the Bitwarden extension and sign into Firefox Sync for personalization.

GNOME Terminal

  • Set to 114 columns and 30 rows.
  • Use GNOME Dark theme with GNOME color palette.
  • Background: "#262626", Font: Monospace 12.

GRUB Configuration

  • Edit /etc/default/grub to include: 
    GRUB_TIMEOUT=0
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet mitigations=off"
  • Update GRUB with sudo update-grub.

Flatpak Setup

  • Install Flatpak: Run sudo nala install flatpak -y && sudo nala install gnome-software-plugin-flatpak -y and add Flathub with flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo, then reboot.
  • Install Warehouse: Install via GNOME Software.
  • Flatpak Apps via Warehouse: Install desired apps (for example, kruler, okular, eyedropper, and others).
  • Bitwarden Setup:
    • Configure to start on login, close to tray, and never timeout.
    • Copy the desktop file from Flatpak to ~/.config/autostart and adjust the Exec command to flatpak run com.bitwarden.desktop.

DEB Packages

  • Install Gdebi: Install from the repository.
  • Download and Install DEBs: Use Gdebi to install Chrome, Warp Terminal, VSCode, Vivaldi, and other packages.

VirtualBox Installation

  • Add Repository: 
    wget -O- -q https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox_2016.asc | sudo gpg --dearmour -o /usr/share/keyrings/oracle_vbox_2016.gpg
echo "deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/oracle_vbox_2016.gpg] http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian bookworm contrib" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/virtualbox.list
  • Install VirtualBox: Run sudo nala update && sudo nala install virtualbox-7.1.
  • Check Version: Run vboxmanage -v | cut -dr -f1.
  • Extension Pack: 
    wget https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/7.1.6/Oracle_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-7.1.6.vbox-extpack
sudo vboxmanage extpack install Oracle_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-7.1.6.vbox-extpack
vboxmanage list extpacks
    (Update version as needed.)
  • Add User to Group: Run sudo usermod -a -G vboxusers $USER.

Pika Backup

  • Restore backup to ~/temp/pika_restore and move selected files to your home directory.
  • Schedule: In Pika App, enable "Regularly Create Backups" and "Regularly Cleanup Archives" (set to daily). Then create a backup.

Thunderbird Configuration

  • Restore mail backup and review settings.
  • Add Startpage as the default search engine.
  • Disable all options under "Thunderbird Data Collection and Use" in Settings.
  • Choose new mail and chat notification sounds (WAV).
  • Extensions: Install Minimize on Close, uBlock Origin, Proton Calendar Toolbar Button, and Proton Mail Toolbar Button.
  • IRC Setup: Configure Libera Chat and OFTC (for example, connect to #debian on irc.oftc.net:6697) and disable auto-connect on start.
  • Theme: Set Thunderbird's theme to "Dark" under Add-ons & Themes.
  • Font & Colors: In Thunderbird Settings, enable "Use System Colors" and "Always underline links", and set "Override content colors" to "Always".

galternatives Configuration

  • Install galternatives: Run sudo apt install galternatives.
  • Set Alternatives:
    • gnome-www-browser: /usr/bin/firefox-esr
    • www-browser: /usr/bin/w3m
    • x-www-browser: /usr/bin/firefox-esr
    • desktop-grub: /usr/share/desktop-base/futureprototype-theme/grub/grub-16x9.png (follow with sudo update-grub)