Daily driver guide: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 06:58, 11 September 2024

Many people think that Alpine is only made for containers and servers, but it is actually a general purpose distro which can definitely be used as a daily driver.

Alpine is extremely small, simple and resource-efficient, making it easy to customize.

Note: This guide assumes you have already installed a minimal Alpine system by following the Installation guide

Basics

Create a non-privileged user account for security reasons.
Learn the alpine package keeper basics or refer apk wiki for more details.
Ensure that community repository is enabled
Install graphics driver for your video hardware.
Install a desktop using Setup-desktop or manually install a desktop of your choice.
Install some fonts.
Setup PipeWire to manage your audio, if setup-desktop did not install it for your already or you installed your desktop environment manually.
Configure your Bluetooth, if you have one. Also check pipewire bluetooth, if needed.
Configure your printer.
Enable docs, so man pages are available.
To keep your system secure, regularly check and apply updates with the package manager.

Advanced

If you find busybox lacking in features or options, it is easy to get regular stuff working
Use Flatpak to add packages that are not in the repositories.
Install gcompat package to add a glibc compatability layer which lets you run glibc binaries as normal.
Secure your system by installing firewall software like awall or UFW.
Install a sandboxing application like AppArmor or Bubblewrap.
Learn basics of openrc, the alpine Linux init system or refer Open rc wiki
If You may want the rolling release version of Alpine Linux, enable the Edge repository.
You may want to enable the testing repository, as it provides a lot more applications.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Many people think that Alpine is only made for containers and servers, but it is actually a general purpose distro which can definitely be used as a daily driver.
+<!-- COMMENT FOR EDITORS
-Alpine is extremely small, simple and resource-efficient, making it easy to customize.
-{{Note|This guide assumes you have already installed a minimal Alpine system by following the [[Installation|Installation guide]]}}
+If you edit Post-Install,
-== General system changes ==
+Changes Made on this page also affects the Post-Install section of [[Installation|Installation guide]]. So, check that page too before making changes.
-=== Set up your own user ===
-When running <code>setup-alpine</code> there was an option to create a user.
-If you didn't make one, you can do it now:
-{{cmd|# adduser <username>}}
-Then, you need to give your user access to temporary root privileges:
+  * Consider that there are already [[Tutorials_and_Howtos#Post-Install]], [[Developer_Documentation#Package_management]] and the Handbook, please work towards reducing duplication and providing an overview, and maintaining topic details of considerable size on their own pages.
-{{cmd|# adduser <username> wheel}}
+  * Here, only the most relevant jumping off points are listed, not exact list duplicates!!!
-If you are using <code>doas</code> then it will most likely work instantly, if using <code>sudo</code> then you will need to follow the [[Setting_up_a_new_user#Creating_a_new_user|install instructions]]
+  * Keep short-list of links here, as overview to more detailed topic specific pages.
+  * Don't aggregate different topics at yet another place.
-=== Locking the root account ===
+-->
-To lock the root account you need to log into your account and then lock it using the <code>passwd</code> command:
-{{cmd|# passwd -l root}}
-=== Glibc compatability ===
+Many people think that Alpine is only made for containers and servers, but it is actually a general purpose distro which can definitely be used as a daily driver.
-Installing the <code>gcompat</code> package adds a compatability layer which (sometimes) lets you run binaries as normal:
-{{cmd|# apk add {{pkg|gcompat|arch=}}}}
-Another way is to use [[Flatpak]]. It is a program distribution technology which uses a universal package format that is compatible with any Linux system.
+Alpine is extremely small, simple and resource-efficient, making it easy to customize.
-== Install a Desktop Environment/Window Manager ==
+{{Note|This guide assumes you have already installed a minimal Alpine system by following the [[Installation|Installation guide]]}}
-The preferred way to install a Desktop Environment is by using the <code>setup-desktop</code> script:
-{{cmd|# setup-desktop}}
-If it does not have the Desktop Environment (or Window Manager) you want, [[Desktop environments and Window managers|follow the specific installation instructions for it]].
-After installation you should probably install some fonts (because some fonts may not be installed).
-This is a good set of fonts for most setups:
-{{cmd|# apk add {{pkg|font-terminus|arch=}} {{pkg|font-inconsolata|arch=}} {{pkg|font-dejavu|arch=}} {{pkg|font-noto|arch=}} {{pkg|font-noto-cjk|arch=}} {{pkg|font-awesome|arch=}} {{pkg|font-noto-extra|arch=}}}}
-== Securing your system ==
-=== Firewall ===
-There are two main options: [[How-To_Alpine_Wall|awall]] or [[Uncomplicated Firewall|UFW]].
-Please follow their wiki guide for installation and usage.
-=== Sandboxing ===
-The two choices are either [[AppArmor]] or [[Bubblewrap]].
-AppArmor is more convenient but has less control than Bubblewrap.
+==== Basics ====
-Bubblewrap is harder to work with but has more control than AppArmor.
+* Create a non-privileged [[Setting_up_a_new_user#Creating_a_new_user|user account]] for security reasons.
+* Learn the [https://docs.alpinelinux.org/user-handbook/0.1a/Working/apk.html alpine package keeper basics] or refer [[Alpine Package Keeper|apk wiki]] for more details.
+* Ensure that <code>community</code> repository is [[Repositories#Managing_repositories|enabled]]
+* Install [[graphics driver]] for your video hardware.
+* Install a desktop using [[Setup-desktop]] or manually install a [[Desktop environments and Window managers|desktop]] of your choice.
+* [[fonts#Installation|Install]] some [[fonts]].
+* Setup [[PipeWire]] to manage your audio, if setup-desktop did not install it for your already or you installed your desktop environment manually.
+* Configure your [[Bluetooth]], if you have one. Also check [[PipeWire#Bluetooth_audio|pipewire bluetooth]], if needed.
+* Configure your [[Printer_Setup|printer]].
+* Enable [[Alpine_Linux:FAQ#Why don't I have man pages or where is the 'man' command?|docs]], so man pages are available.
+* To keep your system secure, regularly [[Alpine_Linux_package_management#Upgrade_a_Running_System|check and apply updates]] with the package manager.
+==== Advanced ====
+* If you find busybox lacking in features or options, it is easy to [[How to get regular stuff working|get regular stuff working]]
+* Use [[Flatpak]] to add packages that are not in the [[Repositories#repositories|repositories]].
+* Install {{pkg|gcompat|arch=}} package to add a glibc compatability layer which lets you run [[Running glibc programs|glibc binaries]] as normal.
+* Secure your system by installing firewall software like [[How-To_Alpine_Wall|awall]] or [[Uncomplicated Firewall|UFW]].
+* Install a sandboxing application like [[AppArmor]] or [[Bubblewrap]].
+* Learn [https://docs.alpinelinux.org/user-handbook/0.1a/Working/openrc.html basics of openrc],   the alpine Linux init system or refer [[OpenRC|Open rc wiki]]
+* If You may want the rolling release version of Alpine Linux, [[Repositories#Managing_repositories|enable]] the [[Repositories#Edge|Edge]] repository.
+* You may want to [[Repositories#Managing_repositories|enable]] the [[Repositories#Testing|testing ]] repository, as it provides a lot more applications.
-Bubblewrap has a simpler GUI frontend called {{pkg|bubblejail|arch=}}. It is easier to use than Bubblewrap, but may sometimes be a little unstable.
+[[Category:Desktop]]
-When installing Bubblejail, you first need to install the dependencies listed [https://github.com/igo95862/bubblejail/blob/master/docs/distro_notes/alpine.md here].
+[[Category:Newbie]]