https://wiki.debian.org/DontBreakDebian
Start with a minimal netinstall image. Fetch what you need from repos online later.
https://debian.mirror.digitalpacific.com.au/debian-cd/current/amd64/iso-cd/debian-13.0.0-amd64-netinst.iso
Repos are already as should be - skip
Do not use 'current-live':
Live iso load the the OS into memory and you can use it without installation. But changes you have made in this live environment are temporary. You can install, but apt-get repos will point to CD-ROM repository only.
login as user
> su -
> apt-get install sudo
> sudo adduser harald sudo
logout x2
login as user
> apt --help
> apt-get --help
apt is newer and combines apt-get, apt-cache, etc.
> sudo apt update
> sudo apt upgrade
> tasksel
-or-
> sudo tasksel --list-tasks
Example:
> sudo tasksel install desktop
To view contents of a tasksel package, for example :
> sudo tasksel --task-packages desktop
task-desktop
> sudo apt show task-desktop
* installs xserver, xorg
* installs one of Gnome, xfce, KDE (first one = default)
To install a specific flavour from cli:
> sudo tasksel install gnome-desktop
> sudo tasksel install kde-desktop
-or-
> sudo apt install task-desktop
> sudo apt install task-gnome-desktop
> sudo apt install task-kde-desktop
I started with KDE.
> sudo apt install task-kde-desktop
> sudo startx
Blank screen with mouse cursor.
Power cycle *sigh*
> sudo apt install task-gnome-desktop
> sudo reboot
Yep, switched to Gnome. Now how to switch back...
https://wiki.debian.org/DisplayManager
Note: this is not the same as desktop environment.
gdm3 is used by Gnome
sddm is used by KDE
To set a default display manager, just reconfigure one of the installed display managers:
> sudo dpkg-reconfigure gdm3
> sudo dpkg-reconfigure sddm
Both commands will display the same text-based menu where you can select a display manager.
You can tell which display manager is active as each displays a different graphical logon screen.
> sudo reboot
https://wiki.debian.org/DesktopEnvironment
If you want to switch desktop environment, there’s typically an option (like a gear icon or dropdown) that lets you choose between available desktop environments.
Gnome displays a gear symbol when you are about to enter the user password to switch to a different desktop environment.
If you reboot, the last selected desktop environment will be selected as the default.
There is no obvious way to switch from the command line, as you can switch graphically at any time during logon.
You cannot 'switch' desktop environment using tasksel as such; you can however unselect all but your desired desktop environment.
Note this does not remove the actual packages of anything unwanted.
To remove actual packages, use:
> sudo apt remove --purge gnome*
-or-
> sudo apt remove --purge kde*
You should then also remove any dependencies
> sudo apt autoremove
> sudo reboot
Neofetch is no longer in Trixie. fastfetch is popular. or screenfetch
> sudo apt install fastfetch screenfetch
> sudo apt install timeshift
Run from GUI. Timeshift is active and will run rsync snapshots at set intervals.
> sudo cp /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list.bak
> sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list
No changes required.
https://wiki.debian.org/NvidiaGraphicsDrivers
> sudo apt search nvidia-detect
Not available
> lspci -nn | egrep -i "3d|display|vga"
UHD Graphics 630
> sudo apt install nvidia-driver firmware-misc-nonfree
Does nothing, probably good enough as-is.
> apt list *nvidia*
firmware-nvidia-graphics
[...]
> sudo apt install blender gimp inkscape krita vlc wireshark
> sudo apt install git btop htop iotop iptraf-ng nmap tmux vnstat
> sudo apt install openssh-server -y
> sudo systemctl start ssh
> sudo systemctl enable ssh
> sudo systemctl status ssh
> sudo apt install fortunes cowsay
> fortune | cowsay
