Switching from macOS to Debian 9 (2018)

switching-from-macos-to-debian-may-2018-guide.md

Switching from macOS to Debian (September 2018 Guide)

I've been an Apple « fanboy » for almost 20 years now, but in the last few years everything Apple seems to take the wrong direction, my admiration for Apple transformed into irritation, sadness and despair. We've all put up with a lot of Apple's dick moves and screwed-up choices, but no more. It is time to leave Apple and take action, switching to what seems to be the most decent alternative for me : Debian. (Altough Elementary OS or Ubuntu would better suit most non power-user. This guide would still apply to them)

In this document (a work in progress) I'm going to list a few of the things that could bother you, switching from MacOS to Debian, and how to circumvent or fix them.

The installation process will not be covered, as it is explained in the official documentation. The gaming aspect will not be covered either, as the most obvious choice for that would be to have a decidated Windows system. I will mostly cover productivity features, and how to get back what made you so efficient on MacOS.

Exposé

How to get back "⌘-⇧" shortcut, that gave you an Exposé of your windows

• Define that shortcut in System settings -> Keyboard -> Shortcuts -> Windows -> Windows Overview

Closing a window

How to get back "⌘-W" shortcut, to close the active window

• Define that shortcut in System settings -> Keyboard -> Shortcuts -> Windows -> Close

Missing Finder icon in the dock

How to get back a « finder » icon, at the left extremity of the dock

• Go to the top left corner, search for the « Files » app, and move it to the left of the dock

Missing Trash icon in the dock

How to get back a trash icon, at the right extremity of the dock

• Create the following file ~/.config/plank/dock1/launchers/trash.dockitem with this contents

[PlankDockItemPreferences]
Launcher=docklet://trash

Switching to left and right spaces

How to get back CTRL-⇨ and CTRL-⇦ to switch to your right and left spaces

• Define those shortcut in System settings -> Keyboard -> Shortcuts -> Workspaces -> Switch to left/right

Taking screenshots

How to get back ⌘-⇧-3 and ⌘-⇧-4 shortcuts to take screenshots

• Define those shortcut in System settings -> Keyboard -> Shortcuts -> Screenshots -> Take a screenshot/Take a screenshot of an area

Connecting to a server

How to get back the ⌘-K shortcut to connect to a server

• I haven't found a workaround yet

Going to a specific folder

How to get back the ⌘-⇧-G to go to a specific folder in Finder

• CTRL-L

Going to the application folder

How to get back the ⌘-⇧-A to go to the application folder

• The "Windows" key (does somewhat the same)

Hiding the active application

How to get back ⌘-H to hide the currently focused application

• Define the shortcut in System settings -> Keyboard -> Shortcuts -> Windows -> Lower it will put the active window in the background

Sending a window to the dock

How to get back ⌘-M to minimize a window to the dock

• Define the shortcut in System settings -> Keyboard -> Shortcuts -> Windows -> Minimize

Navigating between words

How to get back the ALT-⇦ and ALT-⇨ to navigate from word to word in a text field

• CTRL (instead of ALT)

Going to the start and end of a line

How to get back the CTRL-A and CTRL-E to get to the start and end of a line in a text field

• I haven't found a workaround yet, as it only work it terminal

Connecting to an NFS share

How to get back the ⌘-K nfs://… to connect to a NFS sharepoint

• I haven't found a workaround yet

Going to an option in a list

How to go directly in an option in a list by typing its first letter(s)

• I haven't found a workaround yet

Enabling Filevault

How to encrypt your home folder

• This one actually has to be done at the installation, check the "encrypt home folder"

Interface/Theme

I recommend using

• GNOME
• Flat-Remix-GTK as (GTK+ theme)
• Paper (Icons pack)
• Cursor (Adwaita)

Software alternatives

macOS	Debian
Safari	Epiphany
Dock	Plank
iTunes	Noise*
Photos	Shotwell
Quicktime	Deepin Video
Mail	Geary
TextEdit	Scratch
Illustrator	InkScape
Photoshop	Gimp
Sketch	Dia
AppStore	Software
Maps	Maps
Activity Mo	System Monit

Softwares that exist natively on GNU/Linux

• VLC
• Terminal
• SublimeText,
• HandBrake
• Chromium
• Chrome
• Firefox
• LibreOffice
• VirtualBox
• Transmission

*From elementary OS (or deepin-music) As debian-stable seems to be lacking behing on numerous packages versions, I'd say you'd be better off running a debian-testing, to install apps from other OSes (such as those from Elementary OS)

I might provide a script that would set all those shortcuts automatically.

Sketch > Figma

Thanks, I'll try it out, and add it to the list !