DEV Community: Linuxallday

Fedora 43 Post-Install Guide: 10 Essential Things to Do After Installing

Linuxallday — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 01:05:43 +0000

Unlock the full potential of your new Fedora Workstation with these essential optimization steps, tested directly on our engineering lab hardware.

Congratulations on installing Fedora 43! You are now running one of the most advanced Linux operating systems available in late 2025. With the full transition to DNF5 as the default package manager and the polished GNOME 49 desktop environment, the experience is faster and smoother than ever.

However, Fedora adheres strictly to open-source principles, which means it ships without proprietary codecs, drivers, or certain popular software out of the box. As an engineer who relies on my workstation for everything from coding to multimedia, I consider a fresh installation “incomplete” until I’ve run through a specific set of configuration steps.

During my testing on the Lenovo ThinkPad P14s G5, I noticed that while the out-of-the-box experience is stable, enabling specific repositories and optimizing the DNF5 configuration drastically improves daily usability.

Here is my comprehensive Fedora 43 post install checklist to turn your fresh installation into a production-ready powerhouse.

1. Maximize DNF5 Speed Immediately

Fedora 43 uses DNF5 by default. It is significantly faster than its predecessor (DNF4), but the default configuration is still conservative regarding bandwidth usage. Before we install anything else, let’s unleash its full speed.

Open your terminal and edit the configuration file:

Bash

sudo nano /etc/dnf/dnf.conf

Add or modify the following line under the [main] section:

Ini, TOML

max_parallel_downloads=10

Note: This forces the package manager to download 10 packages simultaneously, saturating your bandwidth for faster updates.

Save with CTRL+O, Enter, and exit with CTRL+X. Now, perform the first system update:

Bash

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

2. Enable RPM Fusion Repositories

This is the most critical step in any Fedora 43 setup guide. RPM Fusion provides the packages that Fedora cannot ship due to licensing (like proprietary video codecs, Steam, and NVIDIA drivers).

Run this single command to enable both Free and Non-Free repositories:

Bash

sudo dnf install https://mirrors.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm https://mirrors.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm

After installation, update the app stream metadata to make these applications visible in GNOME Software:

Bash

sudo dnf groupupdate core

3. Install Essential Multimedia Codecs

By default, Fedora 43 may struggle with H.264, H.265 (HEVC), or AAC files. Since we have enabled RPM Fusion, we can now install the full ffmpeg stack and necessary GStreamer plugins.

On my test machine, this command fixed all video playback issues in Firefox and the default video player:

Bash

sudo dnf swap ffmpeg-free ffmpeg --allowerasing sudo dnf group upgrade multimedia --exclude=PackageKit-gstreamer-plugin sudo dnf group upgrade sound-and-video

Engineering Note: The --allowerasing flag is crucial here because it replaces the limited ffmpeg-free package installed by default.

4. Configure Flathub for Maximum App Availability

Fedora 43 comes with Flatpak installed, but it primarily points to the Fedora Flatpak registry. To get access to the latest versions of Discord, Spotify, Obsidian, and thousands of other apps, you need Flathub.

Enable the remote repository:

Bash

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

After this, a quick restart is recommended to ensure GNOME Software populates the new catalog correctly.

5. Update System Firmware

Linux hardware support in 2025 is phenomenal, largely thanks to the Linux Vendor Firmware Service (LVFS). On devices like my ThinkPad P14s, firmware updates for the BIOS, NVMe SSD, and docking station are delivered directly through the OS.

Check for available firmware updates:

Bash

sudo fwupdmgr get-updates sudo fwupdmgr update

If an update is found, the system will reboot and flash the firmware automatically. Ensure your laptop is plugged into power before doing this.

6. Install Mainstream Browsers (Chrome or Brave)

Firefox is excellent, but as a web developer or power user, you often need a Chromium-based browser. Thanks to the repositories we enabled, you don’t need to download an .rpm file manually from a website.

To install Google Chrome:

Enable the official Fedora third-party repo for Chrome (if not already enabled) and install:

Bash

sudo dnf install fedora-workstation-repositories sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled google-chrome sudo dnf install google-chrome-stable

To install Brave Browser (Privacy Focused):

Bash

sudo dnf install dnf-plugins-core sudo dnf config-manager --add-repo https://brave-browser-rpm-release.s3.brave.com/brave-browser.repo sudo rpm --import https://brave-browser-rpm-release.s3.brave.com/brave-core.asc sudo dnf install brave-browser

7. Optimize GNOME 49 with Tweaks and Extensions

GNOME 49 is beautiful, but I find the standard window management a bit limiting for heavy multitasking. The “Minimize” and “Maximize” buttons are missing by default.

First, install the Tweak tool:

Bash

sudo dnf install gnome-tweaks

Open Tweaks > Window Titlebars and toggle on the “Maximize” and “Minimize” buttons.

Next, I highly recommend installing Extension Manager (via Flathub) to easily browse and install extensions without using a web browser:

Bash

flatpak install flathub com.mattjakeman.ExtensionManager

My personal recommendations for extensions on Fedora 43:

Dash to Dock: Turns the dash into a permanent dock (macOS style).

AppIndicator / KStatusNotifierItem: Shows system tray icons for apps like Discord or Dropbox.

8. Set Up Gaming (Steam & Proton)

Gaming on Linux is a first-class experience in 2025. With RPM Fusion enabled, installing Steam is a one-liner:

Bash

sudo dnf install steam

Once installed, open Steam, go to Settings > Compatibility, and enable “Run other titles with: Proton Experimental”. This allows you to play virtually almost any Windows game on your Fedora machine.12

Check your Vu3lkan drivers:

If you are using an AMD or Intel GPU (like on my ThinkPad), ensure the Vulkan drivers are fully loaded:

Bash

sudo dnf install mesa-vulkan-drivers mesa-vulkan-drivers.i686

9. Configure System Backups with Timeshift

Rolling back a broken system is better than reinstalling it. While Fedora is stable, tinkering with system files always carries a risk.

Install Timeshift to take incremental snapshots of your system files:

Bash

sudo dnf install timeshift

Pro Tip: I configure Timeshift to take a daily boot snapshot. Since Fedora uses the Btrfs file system by default, snapshots are almost instant if you configure Timeshift to use Btrfs mode (though RSYNC mode is safer if you are not familiar with Btrfs subvolumes).

Clean Up the Cleanup

After all these installations, you likely have some cached data and unused dependencies lying around. DNF5 is smart, but a manual sweep is good hygiene.

Bash

sudo dnf autoremove sudo dnf clean all

Summary of My Test Configuration

To ensure these steps work flawlessly, I verified them on the following hardware:

Test Configuration:

    Device: Lenovo ThinkPad P14s G5

    CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H

    RAM: 32 GB DDR5

    OS: Fedora Workstation 43 (clean install)

    Kernel: 6.17+

Stop Googling Commands: The 3 Best AI Tools for Linux Help in 2025

Linuxallday — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 05:17:01 +0000

From writing complex Bash scripts to fixing broken drivers—here is my personal AI stack for managing my multi-boot systems.

We have all been there. You try to install a package, and suddenly your terminal spits out a wall of red text. “Dependency hell.” Or maybe you need to write a script to automate backups, but you can’t remember the exact syntax for rsync.

In the past, the solution was to spend 2 hours digging through old forum threads from 2013.

Today, I have a better workflow. As someone who manages a complex multiboot setup (Fedora, Debian, Manjaro, and Windows) across a ThinkPad P14s and a high-end desktop, I don’t memorize every single flag anymore. I use AI.

But not all AI models are created equal when it comes to Linux. Some hallucinate dangerous commands (sudo rm -rf / anyone?), while others are brilliant engineers.
Here are the 3 AI tools I actually trust with my system.

1. Claude 3.5 Sonnet (The “Coder”)

If you need to write a script, CLAUDE 3.5 SONNET is currently the undisputed king.

While ChatGPT is great for chatting, I’ve found that Claude understands logic and code structure significantly better. When I wanted to create a custom ZRAM setup script for my 64GB Desktop PC, Claude wrote flawless, commented code on the first try.

Best For: Writing Bash/Python scripts, configuring complex config files (like Nginx or systemd), and logic puzzles.

My Use Case: “Write a bash script that checks if my NVMe drive is above 80% usage and sends me a desktop notification.”

Why it wins: It rarely “hallucinates” non-existent command flags compared to other models.

2. ChatGPT (GPT-4o) (The “Explainer”)

CHATGPT remains the best “teacher.” It is incredibly good at taking a confusing error log and explaining exactly why it happened in plain English.

When my Manjaro installation broke after a hasty update (classic Arch moment), I simply copied the entire error log into ChatGPT. It instantly identified the conflict between two packages.

Best For: Debugging errors, explaining what a specific command does (before you run it!), and general questions.

Pro Tip: Before running a scary-looking command you found online, paste it into ChatGPT and ask: “Explain exactly what this command does step-by-step.” It’s a lifesaver for security.

3.Phind (The “Researcher”)

The problem with most AI models is that their knowledge is cut off at a certain date. Linux moves fast. Fedora releases a new version every 6 months.

PHIND is an AI search engine designed for developers. It is connected to the internet and—crucially—it cites its sources.

If I ask, “How to install the latest Nvidia drivers on Fedora 41,” Phind will actually look up the current RPM Fusion documentation and give me the up-to-date commands. ChatGPT might give me instructions for Fedora 35.

Best For: Finding up-to-date installation guides, checking compatibility, and finding the latest flags for modern software.

Why I use it: It links directly to the official documentation, so I can verify the info myself.

Bonus: ShellGPT (For the Terminal Purists)

If you hate leaving the terminal to open a browser, check out ShellGPT (sgpt). It’s a command-line tool that lets you ask AI questions directly in your terminal.

You can type:

Bash

sgpt "How do I find all files larger than 100MB in this folder?"

And it will give you the find command immediately. It’s a fantastic little tool I use on my laptop when I’m in “deep focus” mode and don’t want to switch windows.

You may also read:

7 Underrated Websites I Visit Daily Instead of Scrolling Social Media (2025 Edition)

Save Money in 2025: 5 Open Source Apps That Replaced Paid Software in My Workflow

The Legend Returns: Play 3D Space Cadet Pinball on Linux

Beyond the Basics: 7 Intermediate Linux Terminal Commands to Boost Your Workflow

Using AI doesn’t make you a “fake” Linux user. It makes you an efficient one.

Instead of wasting time memorizing syntax, I use these tools to solve problems faster so I can focus on what matters—whether that’s gaming on my RTX 5070 Ti or coding on my ThinkPad.

If you are just starting out and want to understand the basics before using AI, make sure to check my guide on BASIC LINUX TERMINAL COMMANDS.

Which AI tool is your favorite for coding or troubleshooting? Let me know in the comments below!

3 Must-Have GNOME Extensions to Instantly Boost Your Desktop

Linuxallday — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 13:07:12 +0000

The stock GNOME desktop is clean and minimalist... perhaps too minimalist for some. We cover the 3 must-have GNOME extensions that new and regular users should install right now.

The modern GNOME desktop is a masterclass in focused, minimalist design. It’s clean, elegant, and stays out of your way. But for many users, especially those coming from Windows, macOS, or other Linux desktops, this minimalism can feel… restrictive.

“Where is my dock?” “Where are my app tray icons?” “How can I see my CPU temperature?”

This is where the magic of the GNOME ecosystem comes in. Thanks to a massive library of extensions, you can mold the desktop to your exact needs. However, the extension library is vast, and it’s easy to get lost. We’ve cut through the noise to find the three truly must-have GNOME extensions that solve the most common frustrations and dramatically improve the default experience.

Before You Start: How to Install & Manage Extensions in 2025

Forget the old, clunky web browser plugins. Managing GNOME extensions is easier than ever. You have two excellent, modern options.

1. The ‘Extensions’ App (The Native Way)

Many modern distributions, like Fedora, now ship with the Extensions application pre-installed. You can simply open it to manage your currently installed extensions. To find new ones, you would still use the website, but this app handles the local management.

2. The ‘Extension Manager’ App (The Best Way)

This is the method we recommend for everyone. Extension Manager is a third-party application, available on Flathub, that provides a single, beautiful interface for browsing, searching, installing, and managing all extensions. It completely replaces the need to use a web browser.

You can get it from Flathub. If you have Flathub set up, one command is all you need:

Bash

flatpak install flathub com.mattjakeman.ExtensionManager

Once installed, all the extensions listed below can be found and installed with one click inside this app.

The 3 Must-Have GNOME Extensions for Every User

These plugins are the best GNOME plugins because they add crucial, everyday functionality that many users feel is missing from the default experience.

1. AppIndicator and KStatusNotifierItem Support

What it does: This is arguably the single most essential extension in the entire library. It brings back the system tray icon area (often called the “app indicator” or “status notifier” area) to your top panel.
Why you need it: By default, GNOME doesn’t show tray icons for most applications. This means apps that are designed to run in the background—like Discord, Steam, Slack, Dropbox, or your VPN client—have no icon. You can’t see their status or quickly access their menus. This extension fixes that immediately, restoring the functionality you expect from any modern desktop.

2. Dash to Dock

What it does: This extension takes GNOME’s “Dash” (the favorites bar you only see in the Activities Overview) and turns it into a permanent, highly-configurable dock, similar to what you’d find on macOS or Ubuntu.
Why you need it: The default GNOME workflow requires you to press the Super key (Windows key) to open the Activities Overview just to launch a new app or switch to an open one. For many, this is an inefficient extra step. Dash to Dock places your favorite and open applications right on the desktop, always visible and accessible with a single click. You can place it on the bottom, left, or right, change its size, and customize its appearance.
Pro-Tip: If you prefer a full panel (like Windows 11), a popular alternative is [DASH TO PANEL](https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/1160/dash-to-panel/). It merges the top bar and the dock into one single, unified panel.

3. Vitals

What it does: Vitals is a clean, comprehensive, and modern system monitoring extension. It places key statistics about your computer directly in your top panel.
Why you need it: Linux power users and regular users alike love to keep an eye on their system’s performance. Does GNOME provide any built-in, at-a-glance way to see your CPU temperature, fan speed, RAM usage, or network speed? No. Vitals does it all. It’s endlessly configurable—you can choose to see only your CPU temp or monitor a dozen different sensors. It’s the perfect tool for checking if a runaway process is lagging your machine or if your laptop is getting too hot.

You may also read:

    What Is GNOME? [A Deep Dive Into the Modern, Focused Desktop](https://linuxallday.com/what-is-gnome-a-deep-dive-into-the-modern-focused-desktop/)

How to Customize GNOME: A Word of Warning

While extensions are GNOME’s greatest strength, they can also be its greatest weakness.

**Updates Can Break Things**: When a major new version of GNOME is released (e.g., GNOME 47 -> 48), extension developers must update their code. If you rely on a dozen obscure extensions, you may find your desktop “broken” after a big system update, forcing you to wait until the developers catch up.
Performance: Running 30 extensions will use more RAM and CPU than running zero.

This is precisely why we recommend this “Top 3” list. By sticking to a few popular and well-maintained extensions like AppIndicator, Dash to Dock, and Vitals, you get all the benefits of customization with almost none of the risk. These developers are fast to update, and the performance impact is negligible.

Conclusion

Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re “using GNOME wrong.” The beauty of Linux is choice. By spending just five minutes installing these three must-have GNOME extensions, you can transform the default desktop from a spartan, minimalist environment into a powerful, productive, and personalized workstation that perfectly fits your workflow.

What are your personal must-have extensions? Did we miss a critical one? Share your top picks and recommendations in the comments below!