[Void Linux + GNOME] void linux configuration from scrath with gnome de #linux #void #gnome

void_gnome.md

Void Linux + GNOME = ❤️

Quick Links

• Installation
• Network configuration - Part 1 (wpa_supplicant)
• Update the System
• Add non-free repository
• Install recommended packages
• Install development packages
• Desktop environment (GNOME)
• Enable required services
• Network configuration - Part 2 (Network Manager)
• Audio configuration (PulseAudio)
• Bluetooth configuration (BlueZ)
• Printing support configuration
• Cron configuration (cronie)
• Notebook Power Saving configuration
• Fonts installation
• Office suite (LibreOffice)
• Internet browser installation (Firefox)
• Media player (VLC)
• Backup software (Timeshift)
• Logging Daemon activation
• Profile Sync Daemon (PSD)
• Bash aliases

Optional

• Tilix (tiling terminal)
• Fzf (fuzzy finder)
• Zoxide (smarter cd command)
• Bat (cat clone with wings)
• Ripgrep (grep alternative)
• Exa (modern replacement for ‘ls’)
• Dust (intuitive version of du)
• Lazygit (git tui)
• Neovim + AstroNvim
• OctoXBPS (xbps frontend)
• VSV (Void Service Manager)
• Docker
• Flatpak
• Nix package manager
• Alternative Browser (Brave)
• Dconf Editor
• Nautilus embedded terminal
• Syncthing (peer-to-peer file synchronization)
• Sushi (Quick Look)
• Intel's Microcode
• Fonts, Theme, Icons, Cursor, Extensions, Wallpaper

Installation

Void Linux installation was done following the official guide.

Network configuration - Part 1 (wpa_supplicant)

1. Check the name of our interface:

   ip a

   In my case, “wlp3s0” is the name of the Wi-Fi interface.

2. Create a configuration file to connect to Wi-Fi:

   sudo vi /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant-wlp3s0.conf

   Write these lines into the file and then save it:

   ctrl_interface=DIR=/run/wpa_supplicant
   update_config=1

3. Add the information about your wireless network to the file:

   wpa_passphrase SSID PASSWORD >> /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant-wlp3s0.conf

4. Enable dhcpd and wpa_supplicant

    sudo ln -s /etc/sv/dhcpcd /var/service
   
    sudo ln -s /etc/sv/wpa_supplicant /var/service
   
    sudo sv up dhcpcd
   
    sudo sv up wpa_supplicant

5. Run this last command:

   wpa_supplicant -B -i wlp1s0 -c /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant-wlp3s0.conf

6. To check your connection run:

    ping google.com

Update the System

• sudo xbps-install -Suv

Add non-free repository

• sudo xbps-install -Rs void-repo-nonfree 

Install recommended packages

• sudo xbps-install curl wget git xz unzip zip nano vim gptfdisk xtools mtools mlocate ntfs-3g fuse-exfat bash-completion linux-headers gtksourceview4 ffmpeg mesa-vdpau mesa-vaapi htop

Install development packages

• sudo xbps-install autoconf automake bison m4 make libtool flex meson ninja optipng sassc

Desktop environment (GNOME)

1. Install the X Window System:

   sudo xbps-install xorg

2. Install desktop environment:

   sudo xbps-install gnome

3. Install display manager

   sudo xbps-install gdm

   Enable gdm service:

   sudo ln -s /etc/sv/gdm /var/service

4. Install xdg utilites:

   sudo xbps-install -Rs xdg-desktop-portal xdg-desktop-portal-gtk xdg-user-dirs xdg-user-dirs-gtk xdg-utils

5. Install gnome-browser-connector (prevously known as chrome-gnome-shell):

   sudo xbps-install gnome-browser-connector

Enable required services

1. Install dbus:

   sudo xbps-install -y dbus

   Enable dbus service:

   sudo ln -s /etc/sv/dbus /var/service

2. Install elogind:

   sudo xbps-install -y elogind

   Enable elogind service:

   sudo ln -s /etc/sv/elogind /var/service

Network configuration - Part 2 (Network Manager)

1. Install Network Manager:

   sudo xbps-install NetworkManager NetworkManager-openvpn NetworkManager-openconnect NetworkManager-vpnc NetworkManager-l2tp

2. Enable Network Manager service:

   sudo ln -sv /etc/sv/NetworkManager /var/service

   Before enabling the NetworkManager daemon, disable any other network management services, such as dhcpcd, wpa_supplicant.

Audio configuration

• Install PulseAudio:

  sudo xbps-install pulseaudio pulseaudio-utils pulsemixer alsa-plugins-pulseaudio

  Had some issues with pipewire, maybe will give a try in the future...

Bluetooth configuration

1. Install BlueZ:

   sudo xbps-install bluez

2. Enable Bluetooth service:

   sudo ln -sv /etc/sv/bluetoothd /var/service

3. Add user to the group:

   sudo useradd -G bluetooth ${USER}

Printing support configuration

1. Install CUPS:

   sudo xbps-install cups cups-pk-helper cups-filters foomatic-db foomatic-db-engine

2. Enable CUPS service:

   sudo ln -sv /etc/sv/cupsd /var/service

3. Optional:
   • Epson Printer:

     sudo xbps-install -Rs epson-inkjet-printer-escpr imagescan iscan-data

   • HP Printer:

     sudo xbps-install -Rs hplip-gui

   • Canon Printer:

     sudo xbps-install -Rs cnijfilter2

   • Brother Printer:

     sudo xbps-install -Rs brother-brlaser

     # SANE scanner driver for brscan3-compatible Brother scanners
     sudo xbps-install brother-brscan3
     
     # SANE scanner driver for brscan4-compatible printers	
     sudo xbps-install brother-brscan4	
     
     # CUPS wrapper driver for the brother DCP-197C printer/scanner
     sudo xbps-install brother-dcp197c-cupswrapper	
     
     # LPR driver for the brother DCP-197C printer/scanner 
     sudo xbps-install brother-dcp197c-lpr	

Cron configuration

1. Install cronie:

   sudo xbps-install -y cronie

2. Enable cronie service:

   sudo ln -sv /etc/sv/cronie /var/service

Notebook Power Saving configuration

1. Install TLP and PowerTop:

   sudo xbps-install tlp tlp-rdw powertop

2. Enable TLP service:

   sudo ln -sv /etc/sv/tlp /var/service

Fonts installation

1. Install Noto fonts:

   sudo xbps-install -Rs noto-fonts-emoji noto-fonts-ttf noto-fonts-ttf-extra

2. Install microsoft fonts:

   git clone https://github.com/void-linux/void-packages
   cd void-packages
   ./xbps-src binary-bootstrap
   echo "XBPS_ALLOW_RESTRICTED=yes" >> etc/conf

   Installation:

   ./xbps-src pkg -f msttcorefonts
   xi msttcorefonts

Office suite

• Install LibreOffice:

  sudo xbps-install libreoffice-writer libreoffice-calc libreoffice-impress libreoffice-draw libreoffice-math libreoffice-base libreoffice-gnome libreoffice-i18n-en-US

Internet browser installation

1. Install Firefox:

   sudo xbps-install firefox firefox-i18n-en-US

2. Set better font for firefox:

   sudo ln -s /usr/share/fontconfig/conf.avail/70-no-bitmaps.conf /etc/fonts/conf.d/
   sudo xbps-reconfigure -f fontconfig

Media player

• Install VLC Media Player:

  sudo xbps-install vlc

Backup software

• Install Timeshift:

  sudo xbps-install timeshift

Logging Daemon activation

• By default, Void comes with no logging daemon:

  sudo xbps-install -Rs socklog-void
  sudo ln -s /etc/sv/socklog-unix /var/service/
  sudo ln -s /etc/sv/nanoklogd /var/service/

Profile Sync Daemon (PSD)

• PSD is a service that symlinks & syncs browser profile directories to RAM, thus reducing HDD/SSD calls & speeding up browsers. You can get it from here. This helps Firefox & Chromium reduce ram usage.

  git clone https://github.com/madand/runit-services
  cd runit-services
  sudo mv psd /etc/sv/
  sudo ln -s /etc/sv/psd /var/service/
  sudo chmod +x etc/sv/psd/*

Bash aliases

1. Create bash aliases:

   sudo nano ~/.bash_aliases

2. Add this script:

   alias xu='sudo xbps-install xbps && sudo xbps-install -Suv'
   alias xin='sudo xbps-install'
   alias xr='sudo xbps-remove -Rcon'
   alias xl='xbps-query -l'
   alias xf='xl | grep'
   alias xs='xbps-query -Rs'
   alias xd='xbps-query -x'
   alias clrk='sudo vkpurge rm all && sudo rm -rf /var/cache/xbps/*'
   alias halt='sudo halt'
   alias poweroff='sudo poweroff'
   alias reboot='sudo reboot'
   alias shutdown='sudo shutdown'

3. Open bash config file:

   sudo nano ~/.bashrc

4. Add this line:

   if [ -f ~/.bash_aliases ]; then 
       . ~/.bash_aliases;
   fi

5. In the end:

   source ~/.bashrc

Optional

Tilix

1. Tiling terminal emulator

   sudo xbps-install tilix

2. To use in quake mode (wayland not supported), create custom shortcut and add this command:

   tilix --quake

Fzf

• A command-line fuzzy finder

  git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/junegunn/fzf.git ~/.fzf
  ~/.fzf/install

Zoxide

1. zoxide is a smarter cd command, inspired by z and autojump:

   sudo xbps-install -S zoxide

2. Add this to your configuration (usually ~/.bashrc):

   eval "$(zoxide init bash)"

Bat

1. A cat(1) clone with wings:

   sudo xbps-install -Su bat

2. Add alias to the previously create bash_aliases file:

   alias cat='bat'

Ripgrep

1. Grep alternative:

   sudo xbps-install -Su ripgrep

2. Add alias to the previously create bash_aliases file:

   alias grep='rg'

Exa

1. A modern replacement for ‘ls’:

   sudo xbps-install -Su exa

2. Add alias to the previously create bash_aliases file:

   alias ls='exa --icons'

Dust

1. A more intuitive version of du in rust:

   sudo xbps-install -Su dust

2. Add alias to the previously create bash_aliases file:

   alias du='dust'

Lazygit

• Simple terminal UI for git commands:

  sudo xbps-install -Su lazygit

Neovim + AstroNvim

1. Install Neovim:

   sudo xbps-install -Su neovim

2. Install AstroNvim:

   git clone https://github.com/AstroNvim/AstroNvim ~/.config/nvim
   nvim +PackerSync

OctoXBPS

• XBPS front end

  sudo xbps-install -S octoxbps

VSV

• Manage and view runit services:

  sudo xbps-install vsv 

Docker

1. Install docker:

   sudo xbps-install -Su docker

2. Enable required services:

   sudo ln -s /etc/sv/containerd /var/service
   sudo ln -s /etc/sv/docker /var/service

3. Add user to group:

   sudo groupadd docker
   sudo usermod -aG docker ${USER}

4. Set respective permissions:

   sudo chown "$USER":"$USER" /home/"$USER"/.docker -R
   sudo chmod g+rwx "$HOME/.docker" -R

Flatpak

1. Install Flatpak:

   sudo xbps-install -S flatpak

2. Add the Flathub repository:

   flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

3. Restart.

Nix package manager

1. Install Nix:

   sudo xbps-install -Sy nix

2. Activate Nix Daemon:

   sudo ln -s /etc/sv/nix-daemon /var/service/
   source /etc/profile

3. Add channels:

   # Unstable 
   nix-channel --add https://nixos.org/channels/nixpkgs-unstable unstable
   # NixOS 22.05
   nix-channel --add https://nixos.org/channels/nixos-22.05 nixpkgs
   # Update channels 
   nix-channel --update
   # List channels
   nix-channel --list 

4. To see installed applications in the launcher create a symlink to Nix applications directory:

   sudo ln -s "$HOME/.nix-profile/share/applications" "$HOME/.local/share/applications/nix-env"

Alternative Browser (Brave)

• Install Brave browser using nix:

  nix-env -iA nixpkgs.brave

Dconf Editor

• Applications internal settings viewer and editor:

  sudo xbps-install dconf-editor

Nautilus embedded terminal

1. Install dependencies:

   sudo xbps-install python3 python3-pip python3-psutil

2. Install Nautilus Terminal:

   sudo xbps-install nautilus-python

3. Check that the extension is properly installed:

   nautilus-terminal --check
   python3 -m nautilus_terminal --check

4. If everything is OK, the output should be:

   Nautilus Python: Installed
   Nautilus Terminal Extension: Installed
   

5. To edit extension configs run:

   dconf-editor /org/flozz/nautilus-terminal

Syncthing

1. Install Syncthing:

   sudo xbps-install -Rs syncthing 

2. Starting Syncthing automatically when system starts:

   sudo cp /usr/share/applications/syncthing-start.desktop ~/.config/autostart/

Gnome Sushi

1. File previewer for the GNOME desktop (macOS Quick Look):

   sudo xbps-install -Rs sushi 

Intel's Microcode

1. Install Intel's Microcode:

   sudo xbps-install -Rs intel-ucode 

2. Reconfigure your kernel, according your kernel name:

   sudo xbps-reconfigure -f linux<kernel_version>

   To find your Linux kernel version, you can use

   sudo xbps-query -l | grep linux

Fonts, Theme, Icons, Cursor, Extensions, Wallpaper

System Fonts:

• Interface Text: Inter Regular
• Document Text: Inter Regular
• Monospace Text: JetBrains Mono Regular
• Legacy Window Titles: Inter Medium

Terminal Font: ShureTechMono Nerd Font Mono Regular

Prompt Theme Engine: Oh My Posh

Theme: Fluent GTK Theme (use --icon void flag to replace Activities with Void icon)

Icons: Fluent Icon Theme (color Grey)

Cursor: Borealis Cursors

Wallpaper: VOID LINUX

Extensions:

• AppIndicator and KStatusNotifierItem Support
• Bluetooth Quick Connect
• Clipboard History or Pano - Clipboard Manager (Dependencies: sudo xbps-install libgda gsound)
• Color Picker
• Dash to Dock
• Disconnect Wifi
• Easy Docker Containers
• Espresso
• Frippery Move Clock
• Mute/Unmute
• No Overview at Startup
• Notification Banner Position
• Printers
• Resource Monitor
• Sound Output Device Chooser
• Status Area Horizontal Spacing
• Syncthing Icon
• Tiling Assistant
• Toggle Night Light
• Top Panel Workspace Scroll
• Transparent Window Moving
• Tweaks & Extensions in System Menu
• User Themes
• Window Is Ready - Notification Remover

I hope you don't mind me asking, but does xorg need to be installed if I intend to use a wayland only system? Would there be any issues I would run into otherwise?

@SpaceCheeseWizard: In case it helps: I did not install xorg for my wayland void setup that followed most of the above for setting up a gnome desktop. Works well so far.

@raw-bin Perfect. That's percisely what I wanted to know. Thank you.

Man you really did a great job. Thanks for that!

And though I'm a bit too late, no you don't need xorg for wayland.

you can do either or both at the same time.