Void Linux + GNOME = 🤎

October 15, 2022

@nerdyslacker

Quick Links

Optional

Installation

Void Linux installation was done following the official guide.

Void_GNOME

Network configuration - Part 1 (wpa_supplicant)

Check the name of our interface:
```
ip a
```
In my case, “wlp3s0” is the name of the Wi-Fi interface.

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

Add the information about your wireless network to the file:

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

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

Run this last command:

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

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)

Install the X Window System:
```
sudo xbps-install xorg
```
Install desktop environment:
```
sudo xbps-install gnome
```

Install display manager

sudo xbps-install gdm

Enable gdm service:

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

Install xdg utilites:

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

Install gnome-browser-connector (prevously known as chrome-gnome-shell):
```
sudo xbps-install gnome-browser-connector
```

Enable required services

Install dbus:

sudo xbps-install -y dbus

Enable dbus service:

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

Install elogind:

sudo xbps-install -y elogind

Enable elogind service:

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

Network configuration - Part 2 (Network Manager)

Install Network Manager:

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

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

Install BlueZ:
```
sudo xbps-install bluez
```

Enable Bluetooth service:

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

Add user to the group:
```
sudo useradd -G bluetooth ${USER}
```

Printing support configuration

Install CUPS:

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

Enable CUPS service:
```
sudo ln -sv /etc/sv/cupsd /var/service
```

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

Install cronie:
```
sudo xbps-install -y cronie
```
Enable cronie service:
```
sudo ln -sv /etc/sv/cronie /var/service
```

Notebook Power Saving configuration

Install TLP and PowerTop:
```
sudo xbps-install tlp tlp-rdw powertop
```
Enable TLP service:
```
sudo ln -sv /etc/sv/tlp /var/service
```

Fonts installation

Install Noto fonts:

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

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

Install Firefox:

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

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

Create bash aliases:
```
sudo nano ~/.bash_aliases
```

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'

Open bash config file:
```
sudo nano ~/.bashrc
```

Add this line:

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

In the end:
```
source ~/.bashrc
```

Optional

Void_Tilix

Tilix

Tiling terminal emulator
```
sudo xbps-install tilix
```
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

zoxide is a smarter cd command, inspired by z and autojump:
```
sudo xbps-install -S zoxide
```
Add this to your configuration (usually ~/.bashrc):
```
eval "$(zoxide init bash)"
```

Bat

A cat(1) clone with wings:
```
sudo xbps-install -Su bat
```
Add alias to the previously create bash_aliases file:
```
alias cat='bat'
```

Ripgrep

Grep alternative:
```
sudo xbps-install -Su ripgrep
```
Add alias to the previously create bash_aliases file:
```
alias grep='rg'
```

Exa

A modern replacement for ‘ls’:
```
sudo xbps-install -Su exa
```
Add alias to the previously create bash_aliases file:
```
alias ls='exa --icons'
```

Dust

A more intuitive version of du in rust:
```
sudo xbps-install -Su dust
```
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

Install Neovim:
```
sudo xbps-install -Su neovim
```

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

Install docker:
```
sudo xbps-install -Su docker
```

Enable required services:

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

Add user to group:

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

Set respective permissions:

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

Flatpak

Install Flatpak:
```
sudo xbps-install -S flatpak
```

Add the Flathub repository:

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

Restart.

Nix package manager

Install Nix:
```
sudo xbps-install -Sy nix
```

Activate Nix Daemon:

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

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

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

Install dependencies:

sudo xbps-install python3 python3-pip python3-psutil

Install Nautilus Terminal:
```
sudo xbps-install nautilus-python
```

Check that the extension is properly installed:

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

If everything is OK, the output should be:

Nautilus Python: Installed
Nautilus Terminal Extension: Installed

To edit extension configs run:

dconf-editor /org/flozz/nautilus-terminal

Syncthing

Install Syncthing:
```
sudo xbps-install -Rs syncthing 
```

Starting Syncthing automatically when system starts:

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

Gnome Sushi

File previewer for the GNOME desktop (macOS Quick Look):
```
sudo xbps-install -Rs sushi 
```

Intel's Microcode

Install Intel's Microcode:
```
sudo xbps-install -Rs intel-ucode 
```
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

Void_Nautilus

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:

Karen Sarkissian

Void Linux + GNOME = 🤎