Arch Linux + Xfce has been my desktop operating system of choice for a number of years now. The following documents how I install and configure Arch Linux — mainly just notes for myself so I can setup/rebuild a system very quickly.
- Base install:
- On x86, run through the standard installation process first.
- On an ARM system (like the Raspbery PI), see this site.
- set up ssh so you set up system over ssh connection
pacman -S opensshsystemctl start sshdsystemctl enable sshd
- set up sudo (allows normal user to run commands as root using sudo)
pacman -S sudovi /etc/sudoers- uncomment:
%wheel ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL
- uncomment:
sudo gpasswd -a <user> wheel- this allows
<user>to use sudo
- this allows
- log into your new system from another computer using ssh. This allows you to copy and paste commands from these instructions. Note, you must log in as a normal user, not root. Root login via ssh is disallowed for security reasons.
ssh <user>@<ip address>sudo su(become root user)
- Install commonly used packages:
pacman -Sy xfce4 xfce4-goodies xorg-server xorg-apps xorg-xinit xterm pulseaudio pavucontrol udisks2 udiskie bash-completion ttf-liberation ttf-bitstream-vera ttf-dejavu noto-fonts noto-fonts-emoji thunderbird chromium gimp inkscape git neovim go nautilus file-roller gvfs-mtp gvfs-gphoto2 stow tmux screen base-devel go wget rsync okular evince cups hplip system-config-printer libreoffice-fresh libreoffice-extension-texmaths hunspell hunspell-en_US sudo slim wmctrl docker keychain sshfs ansible net-tools lsof tcpdump wireshark jq kicad kicad-library kicad-library-3d easytag python-pip - Install video drivers (with
pacman -S)- x86/Nvidia (OSS):
xf86-video-nouveau - x86/Nvidia (proprietary):
nvidia - x86/Nvidia older cards (proprietary):
nvidia-390xx - rPI video:
xf86-video-fbturbo-git
- x86/Nvidia (OSS):
- Enable and start login manager:
systemctl enable slimsystemctl start slim- (note, slim is not really recommended any more, but other display managers are more work so I’ve not bothered yet)
- create
.xinitrcin every users home directory with the following contents:exec startxfce4
- Install yay (used to install packages from AUR repository):
wgethttps://aur.archlinux.org/cgit/aur.git/snapshot/yay.tar.gztar -xzvf yay.tar.gzcd yaymakepkg -is
yay ttf-courier-prime- this font is very nice for source code — change terminal to use this font
- no sudo for /usr/local:
sudo chown -R $USER/usr/local
- add your user name to standard groups
sudo gpasswd -a <user> lp- required for printing
sudo gpasswd -a <user> uucpsudo gpasswd -a <user> audiosudo gpasswd -a <user> videosudo gpasswd -a <user> docker
- Start neovim when I type
visudo ln -sf nvim /usr/bin/vi
- Set up dotfiles
git clone git@github.com:cbrake/dotfiles.gitcd dotfilesstow tmuxstow nvimstow screen
- Install stuff needed by neovim
vi:GoInstallBinaries
- configure Xfce preferences
- disable window preview when cycling: Settings->Window manager tweaks->show windows preview in place of icons when cycling
- don’t have windows changing workspaces. This keeps chromium windows from all ending up in workspace: Settings->Window Manager tweaks->Focus->when a window raises itself->do nothing
- Settings->Keyboard->Application Shortcuts:
- (move window to left half of screen) Super + G:
wmctrl -r :ACTIVE: -e 0,0,30,1280,1395 - (move window to right half of screen) Super + H:
wmctrl -r :ACTIVE: -e 0,1280,30,1280,1395 - (launch terminal) Super + Return:
dbus-launch gnome-terminal - (move workflowy to current desktop) Super + space:
wmctrl -R Workflowy
- (move window to left half of screen) Super + G:
- Settings->Window Manager:
- Previous workspace: Super + Left
- Next workspace: Super + Right
- Max window: Super + M
- Hide window: Super + N
- settings->Window Manager->Tweaks->Accessibility: Key used to grab and move windows: Super (super + left click moves windows, super + right click resizes windows)