Void Linux + GNOME = 🤎 ️ ️

Karen Sargsyan — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 20:20:12 +0000

Optional

Tilix (tiling terminal)
Fzf (fuzzy finder)
Zoxide (smarter cd command)
Bat (cat clone with wings)
Ripgrep (grep alternative)
Exa (modern replacement for ‘ls’)
Dust (intuitive version of du)
Lazygit (git tui)
Neovim + AstroNvim
OctoXBPS (xbps frontend)
VSV (Void Service Manager)
Docker
Flatpak
Nix package manager
Alternative Browser (Brave)
Dconf Editor
Nautilus embedded terminal
Syncthing (peer-to-peer file synchronization)
Sushi (Quick Look)
Intel's Microcode
Fonts, Theme, Icons, Cursor, Extensions, Wallpaper

Installation

Void Linux installation was done following the official guide.

Network configuration - Part 1 (wpa_supplicant)

Check the name of our interface:
```
ip a
```
In my case, “wlp3s0” is the name of the Wi-Fi interface.

Create a configuration file to connect to Wi-Fi:

sudo vi /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant-wlp3s0.conf

Write these lines into the file and then save it:

ctrl_interface=DIR=/run/wpa_supplicant
update_config=1

Add the information about your wireless network to the file:

wpa_passphrase SSID PASSWORD >> /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant-wlp3s0.conf

Enable dhcpd and wpa_supplicant

sudo ln -s /etc/sv/dhcpcd /var/service

sudo ln -s /etc/sv/wpa_supplicant /var/service

sudo sv up dhcpcd

sudo sv up wpa_supplicant

Run this last command:

wpa_supplicant -B -i wlp1s0 -c /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant-wlp3s0.conf

To check your connection run:

   ping google.com

Update the System

sudo xbps-install -Suv

Add non-free repository

sudo xbps-install -Rs void-repo-nonfree

Install recommended packages

sudo xbps-install curl wget git xz unzip zip nano vim gptfdisk xtools mtools mlocate ntfs-3g fuse-exfat bash-completion linux-headers gtksourceview4 ffmpeg mesa-vdpau mesa-vaapi htop

Install development packages

sudo xbps-install autoconf automake bison m4 make libtool flex meson ninja optipng sassc

Desktop environment (GNOME)

Install the X Window System:
```
sudo xbps-install xorg
```
Install desktop environment:
```
sudo xbps-install gnome
```

Install display manager

sudo xbps-install gdm

Enable gdm service:

sudo ln -s /etc/sv/gdm /var/service

Install xdg utilites:

sudo xbps-install -Rs xdg-desktop-portal xdg-desktop-portal-gtk xdg-user-dirs xdg-user-dirs-gtk xdg-utils

Install gnome-browser-connector (prevously known as chrome-gnome-shell):
```
sudo xbps-install gnome-browser-connector
```

Enable required services

Install dbus:

sudo xbps-install -y dbus

Enable dbus service:

sudo ln -s /etc/sv/dbus /var/service

Install elogind:

sudo xbps-install -y elogind

Enable elogind service:

sudo ln -s /etc/sv/elogind /var/service

Network configuration - Part 2 (Network Manager)

Install Network Manager:

sudo xbps-install NetworkManager NetworkManager-openvpn NetworkManager-openconnect NetworkManager-vpnc NetworkManager-l2tp

Enable Network Manager service:
```
sudo ln -sv /etc/sv/NetworkManager /var/service
```
Before enabling the NetworkManager daemon, disable any other network management services, such as dhcpcd, wpa_supplicant.

Audio configuration

Install PulseAudio:
```
sudo xbps-install pulseaudio pulseaudio-utils pulsemixer alsa-plugins-pulseaudio
```
Had some issues with pipewire, maybe will give a try in the future...

Bluetooth configuration

Install BlueZ:
```
sudo xbps-install bluez
```

Enable Bluetooth service:

sudo ln -sv /etc/sv/bluetoothd /var/service

Add user to the group:
```
sudo useradd -G bluetooth ${USER}
```

Printing support configuration

Install CUPS:

sudo xbps-install cups cups-pk-helper cups-filters foomatic-db foomatic-db-engine

Enable CUPS service:
```
sudo ln -sv /etc/sv/cupsd /var/service
```
Optional:

Epson Printer:

  sudo xbps-install -Rs epson-inkjet-printer-escpr imagescan iscan-data

HP Printer:
```
  sudo xbps-install -Rs hplip-gui
```
Canon Printer:
```
  sudo xbps-install -Rs cnijfilter2
```

Brother Printer:

  sudo xbps-install -Rs brother-brlaser

  # SANE scanner driver for brscan3-compatible Brother scanners
  sudo xbps-install brother-brscan3
  # SANE scanner driver for brscan4-compatible printers 
  sudo xbps-install brother-brscan4 
  # CUPS wrapper driver for the brother DCP-197C printer/scanner
  sudo xbps-install brother-dcp197c-cupswrapper 
  # LPR driver for the brother DCP-197C printer/scanner 
  sudo xbps-install brother-dcp197c-lpr

Cron configuration

Install cronie:
```
sudo xbps-install -y cronie
```

Enable cronie service:

sudo ln -sv /etc/sv/cronie /var/service

Notebook Power Saving configuration

Install TLP and PowerTop:
```
sudo xbps-install tlp tlp-rdw powertop
```
Enable TLP service:
```
sudo ln -sv /etc/sv/tlp /var/service
```

Fonts installation

Install Noto fonts:

sudo xbps-install -Rs noto-fonts-emoji noto-fonts-ttf noto-fonts-ttf-extra

Install microsoft fonts:

git clone https://github.com/void-linux/void-packages
cd void-packages
./xbps-src binary-bootstrap
echo "XBPS_ALLOW_RESTRICTED=yes" >> etc/conf

Installation:

./xbps-src pkg -f msttcorefonts
xi msttcorefonts

Office suite

Install LibreOffice:

sudo xbps-install libreoffice-writer libreoffice-calc libreoffice-impress libreoffice-draw libreoffice-math libreoffice-base libreoffice-gnome libreoffice-i18n-en-US

Internet browser installation

Install Firefox:

sudo xbps-install firefox firefox-i18n-en-US

Set better font for firefox:

sudo ln -s /usr/share/fontconfig/conf.avail/70-no-bitmaps.conf /etc/fonts/conf.d/
sudo xbps-reconfigure -f fontconfig

Media player

Install VLC Media Player:
```
sudo xbps-install vlc
```

Backup software

Install Timeshift:
```
sudo xbps-install timeshift
```

Logging Daemon activation

By default, Void comes with no logging daemon:

sudo xbps-install -Rs socklog-void
sudo ln -s /etc/sv/socklog-unix /var/service/
sudo ln -s /etc/sv/nanoklogd /var/service/

Profile Sync Daemon (PSD)

PSD is a service that symlinks & syncs browser profile directories to RAM, thus reducing HDD/SSD calls & speeding up browsers. You can get it from here. This helps Firefox & Chromium reduce ram usage.
```
git clone https://github.com/madand/runit-services
cd runit-services
sudo mv psd /etc/sv/
sudo ln -s /etc/sv/psd /var/service/
sudo chmod +x etc/sv/psd/*
```

Bash aliases

Create bash aliases:
```
sudo nano ~/.bash_aliases
```

Add this script:

alias xu='sudo xbps-install xbps && sudo xbps-install -Suv'
alias xin='sudo xbps-install'
alias xr='sudo xbps-remove -Rcon'
alias xl='xbps-query -l'
alias xf='xl | grep'
alias xs='xbps-query -Rs'
alias xd='xbps-query -x'
alias clrk='sudo vkpurge rm all && sudo rm -rf /var/cache/xbps/*'
alias halt='sudo halt'
alias poweroff='sudo poweroff'
alias reboot='sudo reboot'
alias shutdown='sudo shutdown'

Open bash config file:
```
sudo nano ~/.bashrc
```

Add this line:

if [ -f ~/.bash_aliases ]; then 
    . ~/.bash_aliases;
fi

In the end:
```
source ~/.bashrc
```

Optional

Tilix

Tiling terminal emulator
```
sudo xbps-install tilix
```
To use in quake mode (wayland not supported), create custom shortcut and add this command:
```
tilix --quake
```

Fzf

A command-line fuzzy finder

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/junegunn/fzf.git ~/.fzf
~/.fzf/install

Zoxide

zoxide is a smarter cd command, inspired by z and autojump:
```
sudo xbps-install -S zoxide
```
Add this to your configuration (usually ~/.bashrc):
```
eval "$(zoxide init bash)"
```

Bat

A cat(1) clone with wings:
```
sudo xbps-install -Su bat
```
Add alias to the previously create bash_aliases file:
```
alias cat='bat'
```

Ripgrep

Grep alternative:
```
sudo xbps-install -Su ripgrep
```
Add alias to the previously create bash_aliases file:
```
alias grep='rg'
```

Exa

A modern replacement for ‘ls’:
```
sudo xbps-install -Su exa
```
Add alias to the previously create bash_aliases file:
```
alias ls='exa --icons'
```

Dust

A more intuitive version of du in rust:
```
sudo xbps-install -Su dust
```
Add alias to the previously create bash_aliases file:
```
alias du='dust'
```

Lazygit

Simple terminal UI for git commands:
```
sudo xbps-install -Su lazygit
```

Neovim + AstroNvim

Install Neovim:
```
sudo xbps-install -Su neovim
```

Install AstroNvim:

git clone https://github.com/AstroNvim/AstroNvim ~/.config/nvim
nvim +PackerSync

OctoXBPS

XBPS front end
```
sudo xbps-install -S octoxbps
```

VSV

Manage and view runit services:
```
sudo xbps-install vsv 
```

Docker

Install docker:
```
sudo xbps-install -Su docker
```

Enable required services:

sudo ln -s /etc/sv/containerd /var/service
sudo ln -s /etc/sv/docker /var/service

Add user to group:

sudo groupadd docker
sudo usermod -aG docker ${USER}

Set respective permissions:

sudo chown "$USER":"$USER" /home/"$USER"/.docker -R
sudo chmod g+rwx "$HOME/.docker" -R

Flatpak

Install Flatpak:
```
sudo xbps-install -S flatpak
```

Add the Flathub repository:

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

Restart.

Nix package manager

Install Nix:
```
sudo xbps-install -Sy nix
```

Activate Nix Daemon:

sudo ln -s /etc/sv/nix-daemon /var/service/
source /etc/profile

Add channels:

# Unstable 
nix-channel --add https://nixos.org/channels/nixpkgs-unstable unstable
# NixOS 22.05
nix-channel --add https://nixos.org/channels/nixos-22.05 nixpkgs
# Update channels 
nix-channel --update
# List channels
nix-channel --list

To see installed applications in the launcher create a symlink to Nix applications directory:

sudo ln -s "$HOME/.nix-profile/share/applications" "$HOME/.local/share/applications/nix-env"

Alternative Browser (Brave)

Install Brave browser using nix:
```
nix-env -iA nixpkgs.brave
```

Dconf Editor

Applications internal settings viewer and editor:
```
sudo xbps-install dconf-editor
```

Nautilus embedded terminal

Install dependencies:

sudo xbps-install python3 python3-pip python3-psutil

Install Nautilus Terminal:
```
sudo xbps-install nautilus-python
```

Check that the extension is properly installed:

nautilus-terminal --check
python3 -m nautilus_terminal --check

If everything is OK, the output should be:

Nautilus Python: Installed
Nautilus Terminal Extension: Installed

To edit extension configs run:

dconf-editor /org/flozz/nautilus-terminal

Syncthing

Install Syncthing:
```
sudo xbps-install -Rs syncthing 
```

Starting Syncthing automatically when system starts:

sudo cp /usr/share/applications/syncthing-start.desktop ~/.config/autostart/

Gnome Sushi

File previewer for the GNOME desktop (macOS Quick Look):
```
sudo xbps-install -Rs sushi 
```

Intel's Microcode

Install Intel's Microcode:
```
sudo xbps-install -Rs intel-ucode 
```
Reconfigure your kernel, according your kernel name:
```
sudo xbps-reconfigure -f linux<kernel_version>
```
To find your Linux kernel version, you can use
```
sudo xbps-query -l | grep linux
```

Fonts, Theme, Icons, Cursor, Extensions, Wallpaper

System Fonts:

Interface Text: Inter Regular
Document Text: Inter Regular
Monospace Text: JetBrains Mono Regular
Legacy Window Titles: Inter Medium

Terminal Font: ShureTechMono Nerd Font Mono Regular

Prompt Theme Engine: Oh My Posh

Theme: Fluent GTK Theme (use --icon void flag to replace Activities with Void icon)

Icons: Fluent Icon Theme (color Grey)

Cursor: Borealis Cursors

Wallpaper: VOID LINUX

Extensions:

AppIndicator and KStatusNotifierItem Support
Bluetooth Quick Connect
Clipboard History or Pano - Clipboard Manager (Dependencies: sudo xbps-install libgda gsound)
Color Picker
Dash to Dock
Disconnect Wifi
Easy Docker Containers
Espresso
Frippery Move Clock
Mute/Unmute
No Overview at Startup
Notification Banner Position
Printers
Resource Monitor
Sound Output Device Chooser
Status Area Horizontal Spacing
Syncthing Icon
Tiling Assistant
Toggle Night Light
Top Panel Workspace Scroll
Transparent Window Moving
Tweaks & Extensions in System Menu
User Themes
Window Is Ready - Notification Remover

DEV Community: Karen Sargsyan

Void Linux + GNOME = 🤎 ️ ️

Quick Links

Optional

Installation

Network configuration - Part 1 (wpa_supplicant)

Update the System

Add non-free repository

Install recommended packages

Install development packages

Desktop environment (GNOME)

Enable required services

Network configuration - Part 2 (Network Manager)

Audio configuration

Bluetooth configuration

Printing support configuration

Cron configuration

Notebook Power Saving configuration

Fonts installation

Office suite

Internet browser installation

Media player

Backup software

Logging Daemon activation

Profile Sync Daemon (PSD)

Bash aliases

Optional

Tilix

Fzf

Zoxide

Bat

Ripgrep

Exa

Dust

Lazygit

Neovim + AstroNvim

OctoXBPS

VSV

Docker

Flatpak

Nix package manager

Alternative Browser (Brave)

Dconf Editor

Nautilus embedded terminal

Syncthing

Gnome Sushi

Intel's Microcode

Fonts, Theme, Icons, Cursor, Extensions, Wallpaper