Revision as of 15:48, 1 August 2022

Prerequisites

Install AlpineLinux
Create a user account (optional but recommended)
Enable the Community repository
Install Xorg (no longer needed if installing GNOME through "setup-desktop")

Note: Wayland can be used but may be less stable and Gnome may still require Xorg

Installing packages

Install basic desktop system and gnome packages.

# setup-desktop gnome

It will take care of installing the basic packages and setting up the display manager.

If you want, you can install additional GNOME apps for a more complete GNOME experience with:

# apk add gnome-apps-extra

And even all of GNOME games with:

# apk add gnome-games-collection

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

Enabling GNOME Shell screen recording

For the embedded screen recording in GNOME Shell to work, you will need some additional packages:

# apk add pipewire pipewire-media-session gst-plugin-pipewire

Troubleshooting

If GDM does not start with no logs generated at /var/log/gdm, try setting up udev:

# setup-devd udev

If you are unable to log in, check /var/log/gdm/greeter.log, there may be info there from X that indicates failed modules, etc.

If logging in from GDM kicks you back to the login screen, try

# apk add bash

(bug report: #10953 sorry cannot link yet)

If GNOME Terminal doesn't start, add the following to /etc/locale.conf: LANG=en_US.UTF-8 and reboot.

If the on-screen keyboard shows up in GDM after installing other UIs such as Phosh, you need to disable it by opening the Accessibility menu (top right) when you are in the GDM login screen. You can disable the on-screen keyboard there. Or set org.gnome.desktop.a11y.applications screen-keyboard-enabled to false for the gdm user with dconf

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-= Initial setup =
-Start by booting up Alpine (see [[Installation|these]] instructions on how to do that)<BR>
-When you Alpine is up and running, do the initial setup.
-{{Cmd|setup-alpine}}
-= Install packages =
+= Prerequisites =
-Install basic desktop system and gnome packages.<BR>
-This might take a few minutes depending on your network speed.
-{{Cmd|apk add setup-xorg-base alpine-desktop gnome-base lxdm}}
-== Optional packages ==
+* [[Installation|Install]] AlpineLinux
-=== Video and Input packages ===
+* [[Setting_up_a_new_user#Creating_a_new_user|Create a user account]] (optional but recommended)
-You <u>might</u> also want to install a package suitable for your video chipset and input devices.<BR>
+* [[Repositories#Enabling_the_community_repository|Enable the Community repository]]
-For example, if you have an Sis video chipset install 'xf86-video-sis', for Intel video chipset install 'xf86-video-intel'.<BR>
+* [[Alpine_setup_scripts#setup-xorg-base|Install Xorg]] (no longer needed if installing GNOME through "setup-desktop")
-{{Cmd|apk add xf86-video-sis}}
-and / or
-{{Cmd|apk add xf86-input-synaptics}}
-Run 'apk search xf86-video*' to see available xf86-video packages.<BR>
+{{Note|[[Wayland]] can be used but may be less stable and Gnome may still require Xorg}}
-Run 'apk search xf86-input*' to see available xf86-input packages.<BR>
-=== acpid ===
+= Installing packages =
-If you installed your Alpine Linux as a VirtualBox or VMWare guest you might find it handy be able send ACPI shutdown.<BR>
-{{Cmd|rc-update add acpid}}
-= Configure xorg-server (optional) =
+Install basic desktop system and gnome packages.
-You can configure xorg-server and make your modifications
+{{Cmd|# setup-desktop gnome}}
-{{Cmd|Xorg -configure}}
-This will result in `/root/xorg.conf.new`. You can modify this file to fit your needs.<BR>
-(When finished modifying and testing the above configuration file, move it to `/etc/X11/xorg.conf` for normal usage.)
-== udev ==
+It will take care of installing the basic packages and setting up the display manager.
-Adding udev might help you with some finicky hardware like touchpads.
-{{Cmd|apk add udev
-/etc/init.d/udev start && /etc/init.d/udev-postmount start
-rc-update add udev sysinit
-rc-update add udev-postmount default
-}}
-Adding evdev might also be necessary, for example if the keyboard doesn't work in X...
-{{Cmd|apk add xf86-input-evdev}}
-= Create user accounts =
+If you want, you can install additional GNOME apps for a more complete GNOME experience with:
-Create a normal user account.
+{{Cmd|# apk add gnome-apps-extra}}
-{{Cmd|adduser ncopa}}
-Optionally, give that user sudo permissions in /etc/sudoers.
+And even all of GNOME games with:
+{{Cmd|# apk add gnome-games-collection}}
-= Start your desktop =
+= Enabling terminal apps =
-Start lxdm and log in with your new user.
+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:
-{{Cmd|rc-service lxdm start}}
+{{cmd|# apk add bash}}
+{{cmd|# apk add bash-completion}}
-Once you have verified that it actually works you can make lxdm start up at boot:
+= Enabling GNOME Shell screen recording =
-{{Cmd|rc-update add lxdm}}
+For the embedded screen recording in GNOME Shell to work, you will need some additional packages: {{cmd|# apk add pipewire pipewire-media-session gst-plugin-pipewire}}
 = Troubleshooting =
-If you are unable to login, check /var/log/lxdm.log, there may be output there from X to indicate failed modules, etc.
+If GDM does not start with no logs generated at /var/log/gdm, try setting up udev: {{cmd|# setup-devd udev}}
+If you are unable to log in, check /var/log/gdm/greeter.log, there may be info there from X that indicates failed modules, etc.
+If logging in from GDM kicks you back to the login screen, try {{cmd|# apk add bash}} (bug report: #10953 sorry cannot link yet)
+If GNOME Terminal doesn't start, add the following to /etc/locale.conf: LANG=en_US.UTF-8 and reboot.
+If the on-screen keyboard shows up in GDM after installing other UIs such as Phosh, you need to disable it by opening the Accessibility menu (top right) when you are in the GDM login screen. You can disable the on-screen keyboard there. Or set <code>org.gnome.desktop.a11y.applications screen-keyboard-enabled</code> to <code>false</code> for the <code>gdm</code> user with <code>dconf</code>
 [[Category:Desktop]]