GNOME
Initial setup
Start by booting up Alpine (see these instructions on how to do that)
When you Alpine is up and running, do the initial setup.
# setup-alpine
# setup-xorg-base
Enable Community Repository
How to Enable the Community Repository
Installing packages
Install basic desktop system and gnome packages. As of right now, these are in the testing repo.
This might take a few minutes depending on your network speed.
# apk add gnome
If you want to you can also install additional GNOME apps for a more complete GNOME experience with:
# apk add gnome-apps
Setting up udev
You'll have to enable udev in order for GNOME to function properly.
# apk add udev
# rc-update add udev
# rc-update add udev-trigger
# rc-update add udev-settle
Setting up Xorg
Even when using GNOME Wayland you'll still need a setup Xorg for XWayland.
Video packages
$ apk search xf86-video
Then install the driver matching to your card, e.g. if you have an Intel iGPU:
# apk add xf86-video-intel
Also add the mesa-dri-swrast package:
# apk add mesa-dri-swrast
Input packages
Usually libinput is the best choice, as it's integrated best with GNOME and offers advanced functionality (e.g. palm rejection for touchpads).
# apk add xf86-input-libinput
Starting your desktop
Start GDM and login with your user. You need a user other than root for this to succeed, since GDM will refuse starting if no user accounts (meaning accounts with a UID >= 1000) are available.
rc-service gdm start
Once you have verified that it actually works you can make gdm start up at boot:
rc-update add gdm
Enabling terminal apps
If you want to use the gnome-terminal/other terminal applications you will need to install bash. If you want a typical bash setup also enable bash completion:
# apk add bash
# apk add bash-completion
Troubleshooting
If you are unable to login, check /var/log/gdm/greeter.log, there may be output there from X to indicate failed modules, etc.
If logging in from GDM returns to logging screen, try
# apk add bash
(bug report: #10953 sorry cannot link yet)