debian-optimal/README.md

debian-optimal

I often install Debian on laptops, notably during install parties.

Using a script to automate the installation process would spare me some hours of work.

I found a script made by Stéphane Gambus, thanks to his LinuxFr blog post that looks like what I'm searching for.

On this repository, I'll add/remove some parts of this script to do exactly what I want.

I do not guarantee I'll document everything, but I'll try to give out some details here.

Installation process

Manually

• Install Debian: configure partitioning, passwords (no root password)
• Install drivers, test all hardware (sound, camera, graphics, touchpad, wifi, ethernet)
• Install git and clone the repository

Automatically

• Firefox-install:
  • Install firefox in /opt/ (do not use apt, it will update by itself)
  • Install firefox.desktop in /usr/share/applications/
  • Remove Firefox ESR
• Firefox-config:
  • about:preferences:
    • General: Make default browser
    • Home: Uncheck Top Sites, Highlights, Snippets
    • Search: Google -> DuckDuckGo
    • One-click search engines: remove everything except DuckDuckGo and Wikipedia
    • Privacy: Uncheck "Ask to save logins"
    • Privacy: Uncheck "Allow Firefox to make personalized [...] run studies [...] send information to Mozilla [...]
  • Delete Firefox account-related crap, including Pocket.
    • geo.enabled = false, extensions.pocket.enabled = false
• Grub: Set GRUB_TIMEOUT to 1 instead of 5
• apt: install fish vim vlc thunderbird
• fish: chsh -s /usr/bin/fish
• GNOME:
  • Install and enable the following extensions: Disconnect wifi, Move clock, Topicons plus, User themes, Dashtodock
    • apt: gnome-shell-extension-disconnect-wifi gnome-shell-extension-dashtodock gnome-shell-extension-top-icons-plus gnome-shell-extension-move-clock
  • Topbar.batterypercentage = 1, Topbar.Clock.weekday = 1, Topbar.Clock.date = 1
  • Titlebars.buttons.Maximize = 1, Titlebars.buttons.Minimize = 1,
  • Install the following themes: Canta, Canta-light, Canta-light-compact, Canta-dark-compact
  • Set Canta-light-compact as Applications theme and Shell theme
• unattended-upgrades: configure automatic upgrades
• Remove Evolution, rhythmbox...

Automatically (TODO)

• Firefox:
  • Install Decentraleyes, uBlock Origin, HTTPS Everywhere
• Thunderbird: enable the menu bar, remove lightning
• wine: install and configure wine if necessary
• Default apps: set VLC as default
• Grammalecte: install in Firefox, Thunderbird, LibreOffice
• GNOME:
  • Install the following themes: Canta, Canta-light, Canta-light-compact, Canta-dark-compact
  • Automatically configure dashtodock
  • Enable User themes extension
• NetworkManager: randomize wifi macaddress
• Option: Remove all GNOME junk games

Manually (afterwards)

• Reorganize Favourite applications in the following order: Firefox, Thunderbird, Files, LibreOffice (not Libreoffice Writer) App library, Terminal.
• Make the user choose a theme among the installed themes
• Introduce Debian / GNOME to the user
• Introduce Thunderbird / help the user to configure their emails
• Set an appropriate background image for the future user

(Todo)