Xah Linux Box Configurations

Xah Lee, 2012-10-14, …, 2013-05-21

This page documents my personal linux setup. I write it down so that when i'm on a new box, i can use this page for install instructions or reminder.

Xfce Desktop and User Interface Tweak

Install xfce desktop. sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop. Reboot. 〔☛ Intro to Linux Window Manager ＆ Desktop Environment (Gnome, KDE, Xfce, xmonad, …)〕

the following are roughly from most important to less.

• Dvorak keyboard. 〔☛ Dvorak Keyboard Layout and My Experiences〕
• Set key repeat speed to 36 (fast). Repeat delay to 302 (short).

• Disable the menu access key in terminal (i.e. stop 【Alt+f】 from popping-up a menu). Also, stop F10 from showing menu. (In terminal preference.)
• Disable 【Alt+Space】 from popping-up menu. (in Window Manager preference)
• Set terminal scroll back to 9000 lines.

Less Important

• Turn off Workspace (set it to just 1). Turn off all ≈31 keys related to Workspace. (Linux Xfce Keybinding ⌨) (i need it for emacs! 〔☛ Emacs: How to Define Keys〕)
• Set Windows Manager theme (appearance) to “Default-4.6”.
• Set Desktop to have solid blank color. (no image)
• Turn off Screensaver.
• Tweak panels (aka taskbar, dock). Add a CPU gauge.

• Install Unicode 6 font. Unicode 6 Emoticons and Supporting Fonts

Mouse

• Set windows to auto-focus and auto-raise when mouse hovers over. (in Window Manager preference) 〔☛ Windows Auto Raise; Single Click to Open File〕
• Single click to open files and folders. (in File Manager preference)
• Swap mouse middle/right buttons. Swap Mouse Buttons: Right-Click ＆ Middle-Click for {Window, Linux}

• Swap Ctrl and Alt. Linux: Keyboard Layout, Keymapping, Keybinding, Tools ⌨
• set cycle windows from 【Alt+Tab ↹】 to F8
• set cycle windows reverse 【Alt+⇧ Shift+Tab ↹】 to F7
• set switch Window for same app to F10
• set close window 【Alt+F4】 to F9

Firefox

• Turn on mouse wheel scroll acceleration in Firefox. Turn on autoscroll. Swap Mouse Buttons: Right-Click ＆ Middle-Click for {Window, Linux}
• Set Firefox custome hotkeys. Customize Firefox Key Shortcuts.

Window Theme Preference

• Simple.
• Have border around window.
• Front window must stand out by color.
• No transparancies.
• Square corners, not rounded corners.
• No color gradient anywhere.
• Sample test: between 2 themes, if a screeshot of it in gif format is smaller, it is better.

Install Software

• sudo apt-get install build-essential (install essential build tools)
• sudo apt-get install emacs 〔☛ Xah Emacs Tutorial〕
• sudo apt-get install vim 〔☛ Emergency vi〕 〔☛ Ubuntu Linux: vim Location and Versions〕

• sudo apt-get install git 〔☛ git Tutorial〕
• sudo apt-get install subversion 〔☛ svn tutorial〕
• sudo apt-get install curl 〔☛ Linux Tutorial: rsync, wget, curl〕
• sudo apt-get install unison 〔☛ How to Use Unison for Syncing Files〕
• sudo apt-get install htop 〔☛ Linux: Monitor Processes, “top” Tutorial〕

• sudo apt-get install python3 〔☛ Python 3 Basics〕
• sudo apt-get install nodejs (JavaScript and server)
• sudo apt-get install python-pythonmagick (interface to ImageMagick)
• sudo apt-get install perl-doc (perl doc reader)
• sudo apt-get install php5-cli 〔☛ Xah's PHP Tutorial〕

• sudo apt-get install imagemagick 〔☛ ImageMagick/GraphicsMagick Tutorial〕
• sudo apt-get install optipng

• sudo apt-get install tree (tool to print dir as tree)
• sudo apt-get install openssh-server (for login to machine over ssh)

• sudo apt-get install mysql-server This will pause the install and popup for setting root password.〔☛ Linux: MySQL Basics〕
• sudo apt-get install apache2 (webserver)
• sudo apt-get install nginx (webserver)
• sudo apt-get install nginx-doc

• sudo apt-get install bash-doc 〔☛ Bash Manual in Chapters; Using Emacs for Reading Info; Info Keys〕
• sudo apt-get install wmctrl 〔☛ Linux: Keyboard Layout, Keymapping, Keybinding, Tools ⌨〕
• sudo apt-get install lynx
• sudo apt-get install colordiff

• sudo apt-get install moc 〔☛ Linux: Music Players〕
• sudo apt-get install feh 〔☛ Linux: Best Image Viewer for Random Slideshow of Subdirectories〕

Get my config from github and ErgoEmacs.

• https://github.com/xahlee
• http://code.google.com/p/ergoemacs/source/checkout

• Setup bash. 〔☛ Linux: Set Bash Shell Prompt to Color〕

• Build emacs 24.2 〔☛ Building Emacs on Linux — a Guide〕
• Optionally uninstall Ubuntu Unity.

other optional install

• How to Install Ruby; What's RVM, Gem, Rake, Bundler, RDoc, ri, irb?
• sudo apt-get install ocaml 〔☛ Xah's OCaml Tutorial〕
• sudo apt-get install scsh (Scheme Shell)
• sudo apt-get install clisp (Common Lisp)