Table of Contents
To easily find this page again just use either a search engine and search for “Make Debian fun again” and it will be one of the top results or use https://tinyurl.com/MakeDebianFun - either works fine. Email Peter (peter at allebone dot org) if you need help. He is a registered user here.
This is a site for Debian testing users to learn some additional things about Debian. If you need some guide that doesn't exist just ask and if someone can do it we will create one. You can email if need be. Also using Debian Testing really helps make the OS more polished if you are happy to submit bugs and help developers resolve them. This is the version that is the final line of defense before stable, so you can make a difference.
The objective of this kind of guide is to push the limits of what's possible on Debian and have fun learning while being part of the Debian Testing crowd.
I have also ensured when things did not work, instead of going and changing the instructions so you don't see what happened, I have instead corrected issues and problems so that you can fully see how to repair borked systems when need be. This should help you to troubleshoot better if in a situation where things break and need repair. The guide is for learning and its good to know how to fix things that are broken.
Also, anyone can contribute if you want. Its an open wiki so feel free. Also try to show different ways to do the same tasks from time to time not always the same way so everyone can see how many ways there are to do things under linux. Sometimes its nice to do things 'wrong' then show how to fix them as well, as it gives a better explanation as to what's happening and shows everyone how to recover from mistakes).
Debian Guide Starts Here
The Initial fun stuff - install (This leaves you with Debian Stable):
Step 1 : Find Media
Step 2: Actual Install
Step 3: Learn BTRFS subvolume fixes and install Timeshift
Some Extra Packages
Fix My System To Be Like The Guide Section (May have to do this prior to step 3)
Debian Testing Section Starts Here - The fun stuff continues after the install:
Upgrade
Install steps complete, misc steps from now on
Firefox
Firewall
Theme
Backup
Example Sources.list for Trixie
This is an example sources.list file for Debian Trixie in case you changed it
This is the basic section complete, just getting your basics right is great as you now have a secure, stable system to build on. You will be surprised how few problems you have when everything is done correctly to begin with. Once you are happy you can move onto the next section.
Main Section
Once you have the system setup with the basics like correct partitioning, @, @home, timeshift and deja dup for a daily backup of home, and it all nice and secure and how you want it, then here are some extra things you might or might not want to do but can be fun:
ZramSwap
Swappiness
Improving memory management on modern systems (AKA stopping "freezing" issues)
Virt-Manager
Overclocking For Games
SecureBoot
Visual Studio and other useful snaps
Enterprise/Server section
Here guides relating to server or business will exist. For example how to install Ubuntu LTS for a desktop dev in a work environment or how to install Debian Server (no GUI) etc.
Set CPU Scaling No GUI
Convert a Physical Machine to a Virtual Machine
Moving from Virt-Manager to Cockpit
Other Cool Stuff Section
Here guides relating to other cool stuff will be added such as a cool firewall like OpnSense or other cool things not related to the other sections.
Reattach to Disconnected SSH session
I want to make a usb key that boots with just the ISO of the distro I downloaded
Tune Ext4 to give you a bit more space
Maintaining a Testing install - Checking repositories/packages installed are clean
Convert BTRFS metadata to dup if not already setup that way
Add BTRFS no_holes filesystem feature if missing
Auditing a system for malicious items/malware etc
Notes
BTRFS Note
Secure Boot Note
Rolling Sid Note
QUESTIONS
