README.md

debfix — dot-files and tweaks

Tweaks for Debian (or derivative) GNU/Linux distribution

This repository consists mostly of dot-files for a swell Xfce-based experience and some administrative scripts that increase the performance and convenience of GNU/Linux as a desktop environment. In other words, this repository should contain all that is needed to turn a vanilla Debian Xfce install (or similar, YMMV) into my and mom's favorite OS.

It it comprised of two parts:

• user configuration dot-files
• debfix.py script for system-wide tweaks

Any feedback, suggestions, bugs, fixes, requests and ideas are welcome!

Debfix System Tweaks

Using the 'template' files in debfix directory, debfix.py script sequentially prompts the user to:

• (performance)
  • defer all DPkg triggers until the end of installation process, when installing packages with apt
  • set 'noatime' flag on all /etc/fstab mounts (—is it OK to set it on ALL mounts?)
  • mount /tmp as tmpfs (in /etc/fstab) with increased size=2G (—is it better to set TMP_SIZE in /etc/default/tmpfs??)
  • apply sysctl optimizations (for a desktop workstation)
    • also increase sampling_down_factor of ondemand CPU governor
• (convenience)
  • set a neat ( Debian only ) sources.list (including deb-multimedia.org)
  • set nice default Synaptic config (should be part of dot-files if it weren't /root's)
  • enable tapping and edge scrolling for touchpads (by xorg.conf rule)
  • add usbfs mount to /etc/fstab for VirtualBox (—seems like not needed anymore, sometimes?)
  • add user to fuse group
  • fix resume from hibernation issues
  • make 'global' sudo sessions (instead of per-tty) and fix gksu default sudo-mode bug
  • disable (blacklist) PC-speaker
  • install 'sections' of packages (defined in debfix/debfix-packages.conf)
    • track and pin the latest iceweasel-esr (only if 'mozilla' section is selected)
    • install appropriate VirtualBox Extension Pack (only if 'virtualbox' section is selected)
      • if you need a severely optimized, minimal WinXP VDI image (1.1GB), the password is —kind of like the Microsoft products— necessary evil.
  • install latest TeamViewer (currently with a low-risk but open symlink attack vector :-) )
  • install latest Skype

Further details revealed with inspection of related do_* functions in the script.

You can suppy -y or --assume-yes to the script to choose 'yes' (or other provided default) on all prompts. Unattended is hugely untested, though. :-)

About dot-files

You can easily copy the configuration dot-files to your $HOME with copy_dotfiles.py script. Files and directories starting with . thus hold:

• a neat and useful .bashrc with a nice $PS1 prompt
• some gathered .fonts
• some gathered scripts in .local/bin
• cross-session autostart (devilspie, tilda, disable tapping while typing, disable alert, ...)
• custom XDG user directories
• Xfce4 (currently gtk-2.0 only) and xfwm4 .themes (specifically, modified Xfce-orange and Microcurve), default gnome-human-icon-theme
• additional configuration is included for, but not limited to:
  • Audacious (..., yaxamp skin)
  • devilspie
    • hide audacious from taskbar (status icon in notification area is enough)
    • minimal-sized skype call windows
    • sticky Pidgin conversations, Firefox, and Geany
  • evince
  • Geany (config and nice dark syntax highlighting for some languages)
  • GiMP (a couple of custom keybinings)
  • IPython (default profile more shell-like & default __future__.division & scientific imports ...)
  • Mousepad (8px font)
  • Pidgin (prefs, custom smileys)
  • qBittorrent (lite interface & solid settings)
  • SpeedCrunch
  • Thunar (small icons, toolbar-style location, custom actions)
  • tilda: drop-down, quake-like terminal (set on (my) 'cedilla' key, above Tab)
  • Xfce4 (solid settings for novices (optional windows look) & pros)
  • xfce4-terminal (small font, large scrollback history, no auto scrolling)
  • Mozilla Firefox (and Iceweasel)
    • look & feel (window, context menu)
    • about:config prefs
    • extensions anyone should have:
      • Adblock Plus
      • Custom Buttons (have JavaScript-run buttons on your chrome)
      • dictionaries (Slovene, English)
      • Dictionary Lookup Extension
      • Greasemonkey
      • Image Zoom
      • keyconfig (to remap annoying Ctrl+Q etc.)
      • NoScript
      • Text Link
      • Textarea Cache (never again lose your lengthy forum post)
      • Tree Style Tab (for proper vertical hierarchical tabs)
      • X-notifier (for all of your Gmail et al. accounts)
      • for developers (Firebug, Links & Forms, TamperData, View Deps, View Frames, WebDeveloper)

Installation instructions

You can download the latest version in a .zip or .tar.gz format.

You unpack it with:

$ unzip master.zip   # or
$ tar -xvzf master.tar.gz

Then:

$ cd debfix-master
$ python copy_dotfiles.py   # to copy dot-files to your $HOME,   and
$ sudo python debfix.py     # to run the interactive tweaking script

It's best to run in a virtual terminal (Ctrl+Alt+Fn) with a display manager screen 'hanging' on Ctrl+Alt+F7 instead of in a single-user (root) session as there are more services ensuring everything goes smoothly. Please let me know if you experience any issues!

Screenshots

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