Installing Linux Blog Post

Download an ISO of your favorite Linux distribution. If you already have Linux installed, use the dd command to properly install the ISO onto a USB.

If you’re using Windows, use the Windows Media Creation tool. You’ll have to get it from the Windows 10 download page. Use Apple’s Disk Utility to create a live USB drive on Mac.

You have to prepare your computer by using your esc key during boot up, to get into your bios and turn off secure boot and set it to boot from USB. Search the web for the exact instructions for your particular computer.

Once you’ve created a USB with a live Linux ISO on it, and set your computer up to boot from USB, put the USB in your computer and then restart it.

Your computer will either boot up with an instance of the operating system you installed on the USB, with a link to the installer; or it will start up directly at the beginning of the installation process.

Either way, go through the process, follow the directions. If you are not familiar with the process, then just use the defaults.

I used to set up duel boot systems, with Linux and Windows installed on the same computer, but after doing that a few times, I just erase the entire disk and install Linux, so I don’t end up with half of a computer.

Once you get Linux installed, use your package manager to find packages. I usually use the command line to actually install most of the programs I use. sudo apt install on KDE Neon and Pacman -S on Manjaro.

One of the first packages I install on Manjaro is Pamac, which gives me access to the Arch User Repository (AUR). Then, I use the pamac install command to install packages.

Gimp, Inkscape, Krita, Kdenlive, Kcolorchooser and SimpleScreenRecorder are some of the graphical tools I almost always install on a fresh Linux installation.

Then, I get ZSH installed, if it isn’t already installed. Use chsh to make it your default shell. Use which zsh to find the path to ZSH and then chsh to that path. You will have to restart your computer for your Konsole to start with ZSH as your default shell.

Once you get ZSH set as your default shell, install Oh-my-zsh. I’ve thought about using ZSH without Oh-my-zsh, but what’s the point of reinventing the wheel. I found a good looking prompt that I like and I edit my .zshrc file to get it to work the way I like it.

Here are some of the more important tweaks I set up to get my ZSH working the way I like it to.

# prompt before overwrite

alias rm='rm -i'
alias cp='cp -i'
alias mv='mv -i'

# some more ls aliases

alias ll='ls -lF'
alias la='ls -al'
alias li='ls -il'
alias l='ls -CF'

# configure history

export HISTSIZE=100000
export HISTFILESIZE=100000
export HISTFILE=~/.zhistory

setopt HIST_FIND_NO_DUPS
setopt inc_append_history
setopt share_histor

# ls colors

LS_COLORS=$LS_COLORS:'di=0;34:' ; export LS_COLORS

Once you get ZSH set up the way you like it, get Vim set up the way you like it. When I install a fresh Linux installation, I usually copy and paste my .zshrc and my .vimrc into the new computer.

You still have to install Oh-my-zsh from the Github repository and you have to use the command

vim +PluginInstall +qall

in ZSH and then :PluginUpdate in vim to get all your plugins to turn on.

" let Vundle manage Vundle, required
Plugin 'VundleVim/Vundle.vim'
Plugin 'tpope/vim-fugitive'
Plugin 'tpope/vim-surround'
"Plugin 'tpope/vim-commentary'
Plugin 'L9'
Plugin 'airblade/vim-gitgutter'
Plugin 'editorconfig/editorconfig-vim'
Plugin 'itchyny/lightline.vim'
Plugin 'junegunn/fzf'
Plugin 'junegunn/fzf.vim'
Plugin 'mattn/emmet-vim'
Plugin 'scrooloose/nerdtree'

are the plugins I use. Do your own research. I’m showing you my setup, to blaze a trail to help you get started.

Free enterprise is the whole point of free and open source software. Experiment. Develop your own set of tools. You’ll be using them a lot, from now on.

Peace be with you.

Similar Posts