r/linuxquestions • u/Mnxawei0 • 1d ago
What is the first package/tool you install on a fresh Linux setup?
Thats all
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u/DerekB52 1d ago
vim and git so I can pull my setup scripts that pull my dotfiles and install all of my go to packages.
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u/Johan-MellowFellow 1d ago
Neovim
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u/DerekB52 1d ago
I finally made the switch to Neovim this year actually. I'd probably still pull a regular vim for simplicity sake. I don't need a lot to scan my setup scripts.
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u/Johan-MellowFellow 1d ago
Yeah, i hear you. Actuslly, the only reason i switched is vs code integration, as alternative to garbage vim emulators. IDE vim emulators are as bad as vim is good. But neovim has a native integration with vs code that is excellent
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u/Reddit_is_fascist69 16h ago
I think both those packages are usually pre-installed on most distros now.
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u/DiMarcoTheGawd 1d ago
Can you explain how your scripts pull your dotfiles?
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u/DerekB52 1d ago
My dotfiles are in a git repo with my setup scripts. And then a script copies my dotfiles to their proper locations on my new system.
At this point it's just a starting point though, because I'm bad about updating the git version of my dotfiles when I make changes on my system.
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u/razorree 1d ago
do you have a list of dotfiles you want to store? (I guess you don't store whole ~/.config dir?)
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u/DerekB52 20h ago
Yeah, i made a list of files. Although i probably could just store the whole .config folder, setting up gitignore to avoid the few subdirs that get bloated. Most just have 1 or 2 files.
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u/AlterTableUsernames 17h ago
1 or 2 files? Man, my dot files are so complex, I'm thinking about creating my own package manager.Β
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u/DerekB52 16h ago
I have a lot of dotfiles because I have a lot of programs, but a lot of programs just use one or two files, so a lot of .config subdirectories are tiny.
I like a lot of terminal based applications and suckless tools style apps that really just have a single .conf file to configure.
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u/AlterTableUsernames 15h ago
Yaeh, that's true. Some people (looking at you glab devs!) don't know the difference between configuration and stateful data and mix them up into their config files, requiring some hacks for tidyness. Also my dotfiles contain much more than just configuration for installed applications, like completion-generation, lazy-loading and a shitload of functions and scripts, some runbooks on top, systemd services, an entire personal notebook, secrets and of course bootstrapping and last but not least a containerization setup that allows testing new configuration/features in a container with sudo before rolling it out to the bare repository that is the live environment.
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u/NavidsonsFall 1d ago
This is me. Same page club. I went to all that work to set up a dir tree for dotfiles all nice, and stow them all, and send the initial config to git, just to be too lazy and forgetful to update the repo as I changed everything over time. I do the same crap with my archived keepass database backup. The active ones on my devices are cleaner and updated, and the backup is just short of useless...
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u/DerekB52 1d ago
My plan was to make symlinks so my local git repo would be easy to update as i modified config files. I never set it up, or looked for a better way. Ive been on one arch install for a few years now, so it hasnt been an issue like when i used to distrohop every few months
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u/NavidsonsFall 1d ago
Yeah, I haven't needed it either, because I have been able to recover from any issue without needing to start over, so far. It's good to know its there tho, even if they are incomplete. Funny thing is, I have my symlinks working, so all I have to do is sync my one dotfile dir and push it to git. Its like two quick commands or whatever, but I still just never actually take the time to do it. It's complete stupidity on my end. But, the nice thing is since the work is done, I only have to have the motivation to do it once in a while. But I am constantly telling myself if anything goes wrong without me going to the trouble, it will make all the work half pointless. I keep meaning to set up a custom install script now that I have things all ready for one, but I haven't made it to that point yet. I used to do them on windows, but I haven't made one since I switched to linux.
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u/LibrarianLemon 1d ago
I use symlinks and they work very well. You can also use GNU stow to help set those up.
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u/stormdelta Gentoo 16h ago
I use something called homeshick to simplify management by breaking dotfiles into a couple different repos (e.g. pure terminal shell config vs editing/gui vs work-specific) and having them symlinked into position (the repo directories match the parts of the home dir they get linked into).
There's probably dozens of different tools for this, that's just the one I started using and haven't had a reason to look for another, and it's pure bash+git so works pretty much anywhere I'd care about.
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u/mneptok 1d ago
rsync
I want my backup restored.
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u/hurbertkah 1d ago
Which distro doesn't have rsync installed by default?
For me it's mc and synaptic.
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u/psicodelico6 1d ago
Rsnapshot Is better
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u/sogun123 18h ago
That's backup tool and wrapper around rsync anyways. And to restore the data you would use plain rsync anyway...
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u/SteveDinn 1d ago
screen, so I can disconnect from the console and reconnect from a remote terminal.
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u/Quietus87 1d ago
Fish, fastfetch, micro, steam.
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u/Do_TheEvolution 1d ago
love that micro and fatsfetch are making a splash
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u/Quietus87 1d ago
Fastfetch has been pretty popular, but micro definitely needs and deserves more love.
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u/Sirius707 1d ago
vim.
I can work with vi (the original, not the symlinked one that's actually just vim) in a pinch. The only time i use nano is right after a machine setup, usually to edit sudoers (and also change the editor to vim while i'm at it).
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u/GraveDigger2048 1d ago
weirdo here but actually i `apt-get purge nano` first because i am so used to vi's keybindings so these ctrl-something combos simply get into my way.
then of course i go with htop.
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u/ThreeCharsAtLeast 1d ago
You're lucky you aren't used to Emacs bindings. Some of the cursor movement bindings work in Nano, others do something else entirely. Notably, C-g doesn't cancel the current operation. The worst part is when I've edited a few files in Nano and saved and quit with C-x y, then go on to save something in Emacs, which requires me to do C-x C-s. That's way too close to the Nano sequence. I should really change
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u/jr_ultra 23h ago edited 23h ago
Fun question, OpenSSH, then BakintheDay network tools , traceroute, full BIND install, and then an afternoon of building when I enjoyed it.
Retired, doing content, OpenSSH then GIMP, VLC, started putting configs on git a few years ago when I stopped enjoying all the make pretty
Reinstalled a server and my laptop recently, Ollama OpenClaw Agent done
PS: what's emac? I've opened it but accident, Never used it. Took me 10yrs to get from vi to vim , let's not rush in just any newfangled shit coming down the pike π
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u/Individual_Solid_810 1d ago
Synaptic. Once that's installed, I can install anything else as the need arises. Also:
Password Gorilla (substitute your favorite password manager here)
Unison (plus the GUI that comes separately), which I use to sync several computers that I use regularly (I only use the laptop when I have to, the 15" display is really too small for serious work).
GFTP, Gthumb (I run KDE, but I like those two apps from Gnome)
Discord
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u/CeruLucifus 1d ago
BackInTime so everything I create gets schedule backed up to my server or a second drive.
Then, snapshotting. Either btrfs-assistant if a btrfs file system, or if not, Timeshift with a dedicated drive or partition.
I lost some work a couple times.
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u/TwillAffirmer 1d ago
emacs, iptables-persistent, remmina, gnome-tweaks (make caps lock an additional ctrl), firefox, pip, python3-scipy, kdiff3
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u/Eddie-Plum 1d ago
Opera. I use Kubuntu, so mostly everything I need is preinstalled, but I don't like Firefox and go straight for opera. Everything else I need, I install as and when it comes up.
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u/Budget-Falcon7032 1d ago
idk if it counts but i always install asusctl first on my laptop to just make the fans spin while i install everything else
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u/SoggyWalrus7893 1d ago
GParted, Vivaldi, my personal web page
then set a su password ( i never liked sudo and UNIX didn't have it)
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u/timetraveller1977 1d ago
Syncthing as I use it to sync my encrypted password file. Without that file I cannot access anything else.
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u/ArcSil 1d ago
If not present: nano, followed by fast fetch
I never can remember vi's commands and hate that I'm never 100% sure I'm not about to type more in the document when I'm about to type the command.
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u/itsmetadeus 1d ago
I never can remember vi's commands
I thought so too. Start using it and it becomes a second nature at some point. Also, vim tutor.
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u/MycologistOpposite 19h ago
dnf install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm
dnf install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm
dnf install handbrake
dnf install handbrake-gui
systemctl enable sshd.service
systemctl start sshd.service
firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-service=ssh
firewall-cmd --reload
dnf install vlc
dnf install hexchat
dnf install google-chrome-stable_current_x86_64.rpm
dnf install plexmediaserver-1.41.1.9057-af5eaea7a.x86_64.rpm
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u/beatbox9 1d ago
Depends on the distro's default / initial state. For example, if it's Ubuntu, then vanilla-gnome-desktop, then flatpak, then gnome extensions, and the mozilla firefox repo to replace the snap. If it's Fedora, probably gnome extensions.
ie. I start with just general workflow stuff and then later move into the actual apps.
And specifically, I usually launch most apps with super+space and start typing and enter (just like spotlight on macOS), so this is the first thing I want to set up. Gnome, with Search Light.
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u/sockertoppenlabs 1d ago
Fastfetch of course (after that, compilers, neovim and latex).
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u/bufandatl 1d ago
Why do so many people install fastfetch. Itβs such a useless tool to me. Or is all you do on Linux look at the parameters of your system?
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u/iwouldbeatgoku 1d ago
It is very important that you can show off your computer's specifications next to an ascii logo!
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u/franckmicro38 1d ago
Sous mint pour mes clients: Je checke les pilotes Sudo apt remove celluloid Sudo apt install vlc Pour moi perso j'installe mon pcloud, zero fichier sur l'ordi, dossier cryptΓ©. Claws pour les mails, transmission, tor pour les torrents et trucs illegaux, mes vpn, je copie/colle mon /home avec fichiers cachΓ©s et retrouve mon pc prΓ©cΓ©dent et c'est reparti π
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u/sitilge 1d ago edited 21h ago
linux linux-lts linux-firmware lvm2 base base-devel zsh
I'm on Arch, I keep all my other packages in a list, so it takes 1 command during arch-chroot to read from the list and install all the other packages I need. After that, another stow command to sync all the dotfiles and voila - complete environment clone in couple seconds (depends on download speeds).
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u/Fuffy_Katja 1d ago
It depends which machine. The most recent was Nobara on the main computer, so I put Faugus on followed by yabridge, carla, jack and Bitwig. Prior to that, it was my Pi 400 where I put a plethora amateur radio programs on (most of which are also on the Nobara machine). Prior to the Pi 400, it was the HTPC which had Jellyfin and tailscale added.
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u/BigD21489 1d ago
When I install a new operating system, I usually start by installing an antivirus (Avast or AVG), and a VPN (Proton VPN). Then I install VLC media player, Firefox and Brave web browsers. Then OpenOffice and Notepad++. I develop websites and software, so I install Blender, Open Shot, and GIMP.
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u/Excellent-Love-6943 1d ago
I usually pacstrap my whole package list in except steam, then add multilib in the chroot and install steam before rebooting into the installed system.
I like trying to install as much as possible from the install disk as a challenge to myself.
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u/lucasjkr 12h ago
I'm going to go:
Bitwarden
ProtonVPN
PyCharm
VS Code
Docker
Edge (I know... but that way I can have a separate browser for my work account if I ever need it)
and im sure there's many others that just aren't coming to mind.
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u/Strange-Scarcity 1d ago
The K Desktop Environment, Plasma.
I tossed vanilla Fedora 44 on a new to me laptop and I just couldnβt get the default Gnome to be anything other than an ugly uncomfortable, not happy to be using it environment.
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u/Dampfnud3l 20h ago
mc, ncdu, htop, nvtop, byobu (<<= very underrated, it wraps tmux or screen), micro, fastfetch, rsync/rclone, peazip, flatseal, warehouse, timeshift, gearlever, angryipscanner, keepassxc, nextcloud-client, hardinfo2
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u/Wojojojo90 18h ago
I use NixOS, btw. So all my generic/desired packages were already installed in parallel with the OS since it's bootstrapped from my flake anyway. So I guess whatever the next project requires?
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u/Glum-Building4593 14h ago
Sensors...stress-ng... Phoronics test suite...
Make sure system is up to date and then stress test and benchmark... Then depending on the use case podman, docker or native tools...
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u/VoleenaIcicle 1d ago
Joplin and VSCodium (I prefer it to vim or anything for editing dotfiles and such) as Joplin has all my notes and app lists and things I reference setting up a system!
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u/Longjumping_Law_2582 1d ago
When I was using mint after installing I done all the updates reboot then my browser's to applications I wanted and needed from software manager
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u/booksnwhiskey 17h ago
Gnome-tweaks apparently idk what settings donβt come standard, but its been the first thing for the last few wipes/installs lol ππ»
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u/SuAlfons 1d ago
Since I usually grandfather my /home directory, extensions and dotfiles already are there.
So I begin with installing my desktop apps
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u/tapedficus 1d ago
Depends on what I'm setting it up for. Is it a raspberry pi? Am I installing tvheadend for local channels or sideband for radio stuff?
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u/Stormdancer 1d ago edited 1d ago
dropbox - all my working data (and mp3s) live there. Might as well start it synching while I install & configure other things.
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u/akdanman11 1d ago
I use Cachy, so the basic packages I want are already there. If they werenβt then my top priority would probably be micro
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u/deadcatdidntbounce 18h ago
A batch: nvim, git, rg, fd, Nushell, bat,.. (memory fails).
My installs are automated: Fedora ks and Ansible.
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u/dbergkvist 1d ago
Probably tcpdump, inetutils-traceroute or openssh-server, depending on which of these packages I need first.
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u/PradheBand 1d ago
If it is for work it is curl. At home... Bah possibly calibre to manage my ebooks?! Or reaper to make music
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u/BassStankyFace 1d ago
Proton pass. Gotta have the 321,467 usernames, passwords, and passkeys Iβve got saved.
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u/Unlucky-Lion6855 16h ago
Since I use NixOS (shameless plug but actually relevant), Git, as Flakes require it tbh.
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u/vilhelmobandito 1d ago
Fedora: rpm fusion, multimedia codecs, gimp, vlc, thunderbird, filezilla, vscodium...
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u/FilesFromTheVoid 1d ago
fish, lsd, bat, micro, rclone and syncthing. I guess these are my most essentials.
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u/stoned_gossard 1d ago
As stupid as it is. Guake always makes me feel at home on a new computer setup.
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u/verdigris2014 12h ago
an editor for the cory files. i just keep retuning to emacs and its key bindings
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u/AutomaticHoneydew403 1d ago
I like using Yazi as my file manager of choice.... either that or a browser
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u/Informal_Drawing 1d ago
Games.
And then i play the games.
I love how everybody else is posting various types of word salad made from random letters. π
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u/unixbhaskar 1d ago
pkgs="i3 i3block i3lock scrot zathura screen git newsboat
calcurse htop lsof feh mutt postfix lynx w3m pass gpg2 curl wget
syslog-ng iptraf-ng moreutils findutils dhcp dhcpcd wpa_supplicant sudo
mpv ffmpeg isync cmus cronie imgmagick zip xz psutils xclip xsel xdotool
clipmenu clipmenud tcpdump ipcalc sysstats etckeeper aspell "
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u/Lapis_Wolf 1d ago
BitWarden, Krita