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 17: / Line 17: @@
 {{Note|This guide assumes you have already installed a minimal Alpine system by following the [[Installation|Installation guide]]}}
 ==== Basics ====
 * Create a non-privileged [[Setting_up_a_new_user#Creating_a_new_user|user account]] for security reasons.
@@ Line 22: / Line 23: @@
 * Ensure that <code>community</code> repository is [[Repositories#Managing_repositories|enabled]]
 * Install [[graphics driver]] for your video hardware.
-* Choose [[Setup-desktop|Quickstart Install]] or manual installation of a [[Desktop environments and Window managers|desktop environment]] of your choice.
+* 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.
@@ Line 28: / Line 29: @@
 * 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 (sometimes) lets you run binaries as normal.
+* 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]].