debianNotes.md

Installation

The instructions below were based on debian's default installation options

Post installation

Add my user to the sudoers list (if needed)

/sbin/usermod -aG sudo <user>

# reboot after that...

Edit sources list

Adding contrib and non-free packages

Replace the whole contents of the file /etc/apt/sources.list with:

# Debian main repos
deb https://deb.debian.org/debian/ testing main contrib non-free
deb-src https://deb.debian.org/debian/ testing main contrib non-free

deb https://deb.debian.org/debian-security testing-security main contrib non-free
deb-src https://deb.debian.org/debian-security testing-security main contrib non-free

deb https://deb.debian.org/debian/ testing-updates main contrib non-free
deb-src https://deb.debian.org/debian/ testing-updates main contrib non-free

To maintain Debian on stable (recommended) replace all the above instances of testing for the release code name, for instance bullseye. The current code name can be queried by running the command below. Otherwise, Debian will point to testing:

lsb_release -cs

Update & upgrade debian

apt update && apt dist-upgrade

Edit Grub

Nvidia: There is a very good chance of bumping to an issue related with the nvidia-driver not being supported on the latest version of the kernel available on debianTesting. Therefore, after a kernel update if the nvidia-driver does not work properly at least there is a method to select the previous kernel version in a way that the selection will persist between reboots

Edit the file /etc/default/grub to add at the end the grub options below:

# extending the timeout so it has enough time to plug an external keyboard
# (useful when using a bluetooth keyboard as daily driver)
GRUB_TIMEOUT=10

# saving grub selection for next time
GRUB_DEFAULT=saved
GRUB_SAVEDEFAULT=true

# disabling the grub submenu that would list all kernel versions instead, making them 
# visible at the front selection
GRUB_DISABLE_SUBMENU=y

# removing all recovery mode entries from the grub menu (It's really rare when needed. Also,  
# this can be done through a live image too)
GRUB_DISABLE_RECOVERY=true

Reload the grub with the changes above

apt install grub2-common
sudo update-grub

Install nvidia-driver (if needed)

apt install nvidia-driver firmware-misc-nonfree

Finish

apt autoremove
sudo reboot

Gaming on Steam

Add steam

dpkg --add-architecture i386
apt update
apt install steam

Install nvidia driver libs for i386 (if needed)

apt install nvidia-driver-libs:i386

Setup Desktop

Run the gnome-prefs script (found on this repo)