Tweaks and tips for Debian. Themes and settings for GNOME included.
Download a netinst iso from Debian: https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/release/current/amd64/iso-cd/, file called debian-<version>-amd64-netinst.iso
Flash the netinst iso into USB flash stick with Fedora media writer or similar.
Use Graphical install to install Debian
Deselect any desktop selection and select standard system utilities
After successful installation login as root
NOTE: You may update to Debian 13 Trixie at this point
apt install sudo
adduser <user> sudo # Change user
sudo apt update
sudo apt install gnome-core -y
sudo apt purge ifupdown -y # Gnome uses Network Manager - Unnecessary package
sudo shutdown -r now
sudo nano /etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf
[ifupdown]
managed = true
sudo shutdown -r now
# Packages
# minimal
sudo apt install gnome-session nautilus gnome-terminal firefox-esr -y
# Minimal with additional packages
sudo apt install gnome-session nautilus gnome-terminal firefox-esr git wget curl flatpak gnome-software-plugin-flatpak fastfetch gnome-tweaks -y
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
sudo sed -i 's/bookworm/trixie/g' /etc/apt/sources.list
sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade --autoremove
systemd-analyze blame
# Unnecessary services to be disabled
# This service waits for internet connection before proceeding to login screen
# Disabling this don't cause any issues
systemctl disable NetworkManager-wait-online.service
sudo nano /etc/environment
FREETYPE_PROPERTIES="cff:no-stem-darkening=0 autofitter:no-stem-darkening=0"
sudo reboot
# Install tlp
apt update && apt install tlp
# If laptop is Thinkpad
apt install tp-smapi-dkms acpi-call-dkms
reboot
sudo apt install ufw -y
ufw status
ufw enable
### Change Swappiness
nano /etc/sysctl.conf
vm.swappiness=10
reboot
### Increase max map count
nano /etc/sysctl.conf
vm.max_map_count=524288
sysctl -p
Enable backports repository:
nano /etc/apt/sources.list
deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-backports main
apt update
apt install -t bookworm-backports mesa-vulkan-drivers -y
apt install -t bookworm-backports linux-image-amd64 -y
apt install -t bookworm-backports firmware-amd-graphics -y
cat /etc/systemd/logind.conf | grep Lid
nano /etc/systemd/logind.conf
# Uncomment these lines:
HandleLidSwitchExternalPower=ignore
HandleLidSwitchDocked=ignore
dconf dump /org/gnome/terminal/legacy/profiles:/ > gnome-terminal-profiles.dconf
dconf load /org/gnome/terminal/legacy/profiles:/ < gnome-terminal-profiles.dconf
rm gnome-terminal-profiles.dconf
reboot
dconf dump /org/cinnamon/ > cinnamon_settings.dconf
dconf load /org/cinnamon/ < cinnamon_settings.dconf
rm cinnamon_settings.dconf
reboot
dconf dump /org/gnome/ > gnome_settings.dconf
dconf load /org/gnome/ < gnome_settings.dconf
rm gnome_settings.dconf
reboot