Fedora post installation guide

Welcome to my personal Fedora post installation guide. In this particular document, I try to describe most of steps I do after a clean install of this awesome Linux distribution. Ideas and suggestions were collected from different sources and also from personal experience. Use this guide at your own risk and have fun with Fedora! 😉

Note: This repository holds a fedora-postinstall.sh script that pretty much automates the steps set forth in this guide. But of course, do not run it without understanding what it actually does!

Upgrade the entire system

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh -y

Enable RPM Fusion

1. Free:

   sudo dnf install \
   https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm -y

2. Non-free:

   sudo dnf install \
   https://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm -y

Improve font rendering

sudo dnf install gnome-tweaks

Now, open this tool we have just installed and set subpixel antialising in the Fonts section. Alternatively, we can use the terminal to adjust such things:

1. Font antialiasing

   gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface font-antialiasing rgba

2. Font hinting

   gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface font-hinting slight

Configuring the GNOME text editor

1. Highlighting current line

   gsettings set org.gnome.TextEditor highlight-current-line true

2. Disabling restore session

   gsettings set org.gnome.TextEditor restore-session false

3. Showing grid

   gsettings set org.gnome.TextEditor show-grid true

4. Showing line numbers

   gsettings set org.gnome.TextEditor show-line-numbers true

5. Showing right margin

   gsettings set org.gnome.TextEditor show-right-margin true

6. Disabling spellcheck

   gsettings set org.gnome.TextEditor spellcheck false

Configuring the interface clock

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface clock-show-weekday true

Removable media

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.media-handling autorun-never true

Configuring touchpad

1. Enabling tap to click

   gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.peripherals.touchpad tap-to-click true

2. Enabling two finger scrolling

   gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.peripherals.touchpad two-finger-scrolling-enabled true

Configuring notifications

1. Disabling show banners

   gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.notifications show-banners false

2. Disabling show in lock screen

   gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.notifications show-in-lock-screen false

Technical problems

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.privacy report-technical-problems false

Configuring Nautilus

1. Setting default folder viewer

   gsettings set org.gnome.nautilus.preferences default-folder-viewer icon-view

2. Disabling image thumbnails

   gsettings set org.gnome.nautilus.preferences show-image-thumbnails never

Night light

gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.color night-light-enabled true

Configuring GNOME Software

1. Disabling download updates

   gsettings set org.gnome.software download-updates false

2. Disabling notify updates

   gsettings set org.gnome.software download-updates-notify false

Setting hostname

sudo hostnamectl hostname <your host name>

Removal of certain GNOME applications

sudo dnf remove gnome-calendar gnome-clocks gnome-characters \
gnome-contacts gnome-maps gnome-user-docs gnome-weather \
libreoffice* rhythmbox simple-scan totem gnome-boxes \
mediawriter

Enabling Flathub

1. Adding repository

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

2. Enabling repository

   flatpak remote-modify --enable flathub

My custom /opt directory structure

WHO=$(whoami)
sudo mkdir -p "/opt/$WHO"
sudo chown $WHO:$WHO "/opt/$WHO"
mkdir -p "/opt/$WHO/applications"
mkdir -p "/opt/$WHO/profile"
mkdir -p "/opt/$WHO/scripts"
mkdir -p "/opt/$WHO/stuff"
mkdir -p "/opt/$WHO/environments"
mkdir -p "/opt/$WHO/config"

Configuring bash

1. Updating .bashrc

   printf "\n# my personal configuration\nsource /opt/$WHO/scripts/bash.sh" | \
   tee --append /home/$WHO/.bashrc

2. Creating my personal bash configuration

   tee /opt/$WHO/scripts/bash.sh <<EOF
   # check if fortune exists and displays a message
   if [ -f /usr/bin/fortune ]; then
       /usr/bin/fortune
   fi
   
   # loads the aliases for this machine
   source /opt/$WHO/scripts/aliases.sh
   
   # loads the Rust config
   source /opt/$WHO/scripts/rust.sh
   
   # set the configuration and log settings for starship
   export STARSHIP_CONFIG=/opt/$WHO/config/starship/starship.toml
   export STARSHIP_LOG="error"
   
   # init starship prompt
   eval "\$(starship init bash)"
   EOF

3. Creating aliases

   MACHINENAME=<my machine name>
   tee /opt/$WHO/scripts/aliases.sh <<EOF
   # wrapper around some tools and commands I typically use in this computer
   function $MACHINENAME() {
       if [ "\$#" -ne 1 ]; then
       echo "Usage: $MACHINENAME <action>" >&2
       return 1
       fi
   
       case "\$1" in
           starship)
               sh -c "\$(curl -fsSL https://starship.rs/install.sh)" -- -b /home/$WHO/.local/bin -y
               ;;
           debris)
               bleachbit --preset --clean system.custom
               ;;
           declutter)
               bleachbit --preset --clean system.custom
               gio trash --empty
               shutdown -h now
               ;;
           tlmgr)
               tlmgr update --self --all
               ;;
           youtube)
               yt-dlp -U
               ;;
           sdk)
               source /opt/$WHO/scripts/sdk.sh
               ;;
           rust)
               rustup upgrade
               ;;
           reset-fp)
               find /home/$WHO/.var/app -maxdepth 1 -mindepth 1 \
               -not -name "org.keepassxc.KeePassXC" \
               -not -name "com.github.tchx84.Flatseal" \
               -type d -exec rm -rf "{}" \;
               find /run/user/$(id --user)/app -maxdepth 1 -mindepth 1 \
               -type d -exec rm -rf "{}" \;
               ;;
           flatpak)
               flatpak upgrade -y
               flatpak remove --unused
               ;;
           vim)
               vim -c "PlugUpgrade" -c "PlugUpdate" -c "q" -c "q"
               ;;
           *)
               echo "I don't know this action."
               ;;
       esac
   }
   
   # extracts a playlist from YouTube and creates a proper list
   function playlist() {
   if [ "\$#" -ne 2 ]; then
       echo "Usage: playlist <link> <title>" >&2
       return 1
       fi
       yt-dlp -f 18 "\$1" -o "\$2, part %(video_autonumber)s.%(ext)s"
   }
   EOF

Installing the starship prompt

mkdir -p "~/.local/bin"
sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://starship.rs/install.sh)" -- -b /home/$WHO/.local/bin -y
mkdir -p "/opt/$WHO/config/starship"
tee /opt/$WHO/config/starship/starship.toml <<EOF
[character]
success_symbol = "[➜](bold green)"
error_symbol = "[➜](bold red)"

[username]
show_always = true
format = "[\$user](\$style) at "
style_root = "bold red"
style_user = "bold yellow"

[hostname]
ssh_only = false
style = "bold blue"

[java]
style = "bold green"
EOF

Installing SDKman

1. Installing the binary

   export SDKMAN_DIR="/opt/$WHO/applications/sdkman" && \
   curl -s "https://get.sdkman.io?rcupdate=false" | bash

2. Creating the wrapper script

   tee /opt/$WHO/scripts/sdk.sh <<EOF
   # moving these lines to a single file to source it on demand
   export SDKMAN_DIR="/opt/$WHO/applications/sdkman"
   [[ -s "/opt/$WHO/applications/sdkman/bin/sdkman-init.sh" ]] && \
   source "/opt/$WHO/applications/sdkman/bin/sdkman-init.sh"
   EOF

Installing Rust

1. Preparing the environment

   mkdir -p "/opt/$WHO/environments/rust"
   export CARGO_HOME=/opt/$WHO/environments/rust/cargo
   export RUSTUP_HOME=/opt/$WHO/applications/rustup

2. Installing the binaries

   curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh

3. Writing the helper script

   tee /opt/$WHO/scripts/rust.sh <<EOF
   export CARGO_HOME=/opt/$WHO/environments/rust/cargo
   export RUSTUP_HOME=/opt/$WHO/applications/rustup
   export PATH=\${PATH}:\${CARGO_HOME}/bin
   EOF

Installing vim and neovim

1. Installing the binaries

   sudo dnf install vim neovim

2. Installing the plug-in manager for vim and neovim

   curl -fLo /home/$WHO/.vim/autoload/plug.vim \
   --create-dirs https://raw.githubusercontent.com/junegunn/vim-plug/master/plug.vim
   curl -fLo /home/$WHO/.local/share/nvim/site/autoload/plug.vim \
   --create-dirs https://raw.githubusercontent.com/junegunn/vim-plug/master/plug.vim

3. Creating configuration file for vim

   tee /home/$WHO/.vimrc <<EOF
   call plug#begin('~/.vim/plugged')
   
   Plug 'godlygeek/tabular'
   Plug 'itchyny/lightline.vim'
   Plug 'sheerun/vim-polyglot'
   Plug 'sainnhe/edge'
   Plug 'preservim/nerdtree'
   Plug 'psliwka/vim-smoothie'
   Plug 'mhinz/vim-startify'
   Plug 'tpope/vim-surround'
   Plug 'preservim/nerdcommenter'
   Plug 'luochen1990/rainbow'
   Plug 'teto/vim-listchars'
   Plug 'cohama/lexima.vim'
   Plug 'junegunn/vim-easy-align'
   
   call plug#end()
   
   set nocompatible
   
   filetype plugin indent on
   syntax on
   
   set autoindent
   set expandtab
   
   set softtabstop=4
   set shiftwidth=4
   set shiftround
   
   set backspace=indent,eol,start
   set hidden
   
   set incsearch
   set nohlsearch
   
   set ttyfast
   set lazyredraw
   
   set number
   set ruler
   
   set noshowmode
   set laststatus=2
   
   set background=dark
   if has('termguicolors')
       set termguicolors
   endif
   
   let g:edge_style = 'aura'
   let g:edge_enable_italic = 0
   let g:edge_disable_italic_comment = 1
   
   let g:lightline = {'colorscheme' : 'edge'}
   
   colorscheme edge
   
   let g:startify_fortune_use_unicode = 1
   let g:startify_custom_footer =
       \ ['', "   ooh vim", '']
   
   let g:rainbow_active = 0
   set viminfo=""
   EOF

4. Creating configuration file for neovim

   mkdir -p "/home/$WHO/.config/nvim"
   tee /home/$WHO/.config/nvim/init.vim <<EOF
   call plug#begin('~/.vim/plugged')
   
   Plug 'godlygeek/tabular'
   Plug 'itchyny/lightline.vim'
   Plug 'sheerun/vim-polyglot'
   Plug 'sainnhe/edge'
   Plug 'preservim/nerdtree'
   Plug 'psliwka/vim-smoothie'
   Plug 'mhinz/vim-startify'
   Plug 'tpope/vim-surround'
   Plug 'preservim/nerdcommenter'
   Plug 'luochen1990/rainbow'
   Plug 'teto/vim-listchars'
   Plug 'cohama/lexima.vim'
   Plug 'junegunn/vim-easy-align'
   Plug 'nvim-treesitter/nvim-treesitter'
   Plug 'Eandrju/cellular-automaton.nvim'
   
   call plug#end()
   
   set nocompatible
   
   filetype plugin indent on
   syntax on
   
   set autoindent
   set expandtab
   
   set softtabstop=4
   set shiftwidth=4
   set shiftround
   
   set backspace=indent,eol,start
   set hidden
   
   set incsearch
   set nohlsearch
   
   set ttyfast
   set lazyredraw
   
   set number
   set ruler
   
   set noshowmode
   set laststatus=2
   
   set background=dark
   if has('termguicolors')
       set termguicolors
   endif
   
   let g:edge_style = 'aura'
   let g:edge_enable_italic = 0
   let g:edge_disable_italic_comment = 1
   
   let g:lightline = {'colorscheme' : 'edge'}
   
   colorscheme edge
   
   let g:startify_fortune_use_unicode = 1
   let g:startify_custom_footer =
       \ ['', "   ooh vim", '']
   
   let g:rainbow_active = 0
   set viminfo=""
   EOF

Installing command line archiving tools

sudo dnf install p7zip p7zip-plugins unrar file-roller

Installing the latest Java SDK

sudo dnf install java-latest-openjdk java-latest-openjdk-jmods \
java-latest-openjdk-devel java-latest-openjdk-headless

Installing assorted useful tools

sudo dnf install ack bat hyperfine \
git-delta ffmpeg fdupes fortune-mod

Writing my git configuration

tee /home/$WHO/.gitconfig <<EOF
[user]
	name = $GITNAME
	email = $GITEMAIL
[core]
	editor = vim
	pager = delta
[push]
	default = simple
[interactive]
	diffFilter = delta --color-only
[delta]
	side-by-side = true
	line-numbers = true
EOF

Installing VSCodium

1. Adding RPM repository

   sudo tee /etc/yum.repos.d/vscodium.repo <<EOF
   [paulcarroty-vscodium-repo]
   name=Pavlo Rudyi's VSCodium repo
   baseurl=https://paulcarroty.gitlab.io/vscodium-deb-rpm-repo/rpms/
   enabled=1
   gpgcheck=1
   repo_gpgcheck=1
   gpgkey=https://gitlab.com/paulcarroty/vscodium-deb-rpm-repo/raw/master/pub.gpg
   metadata_expire=1h
   EOF

2. Installing the binary

   sudo dnf install codium

Installing Flatpak applications

flatpak install flathub com.github.tchx84.Flatseal
flatpak install flathub com.belmoussaoui.Authenticator
flatpak install flathub com.obsproject.Studio
flatpak install flathub com.rafaelmardojai.Blanket
flatpak install flathub com.skype.Client
flatpak install flathub io.mpv.Mpv
flatpak install flathub io.github.celluloid_player.Celluloid
flatpak install flathub org.audacityteam.Audacity
flatpak install flathub org.fedoraproject.MediaWriter
flatpak install flathub org.gimp.GIMP
flatpak install flathub org.inkscape.Inkscape
flatpak install flathub org.kde.kdenlive
flatpak install flathub org.keepassxc.KeePassXC
flatpak install flathub org.libreoffice.LibreOffice
flatpak install flathub org.qbittorrent.qBittorrent
flatpak install flathub fr.handbrake.ghb
flatpak install flathub org.gnome.Boxes
flatpak install flathub com.google.Chrome
flatpak install flathub io.dbeaver.DBeaverCommunity

Creating script for TeX Live

sudo tee /etc/profile.d/texlive.sh <<EOF
#!/bin/bash
pathmunge () {
    if ! echo \$PATH | /bin/grep -E -q "(^|:)\$1($|:)" ; then
        if [ "\$2" = "after" ] ; then
            PATH=\$PATH:\$1
        else
            PATH=\$1:\$PATH
        fi
    fi
}
pathmunge /opt/texbin
unset pathmunge
EOF

Installing Timidity++

sudo dnf install timidity++

Installing Distrobox

sudo dnf install distrobox

Installing GitHub and Gitlab helpers

sudo dnf install gh glab

Running DNF autoremove

sudo dnf autoremove

Removing unused Flatpak runtimes

flatpak remove --unused

Installing fonts

1. Downloading fonts

   FONTVERSION="v3.1.1"
   mkdir -p /home/$WHO/.local/share/fonts
   wget https://github.com/ryanoasis/nerd-fonts/releases/download/$FONTVERSION/CascadiaCode.zip
   unzip CascadiaCode.zip -d "/home/$WHO/.local/share/fonts/Caskaydia Cove"
   wget https://github.com/ryanoasis/nerd-fonts/releases/download/$FONTVERSION/FiraCode.zip
   unzip FiraCode.zip -d "/home/$WHO/.local/share/fonts/Fira Code"
   wget https://github.com/ryanoasis/nerd-fonts/releases/download/$FONTVERSION/FiraMono.zip
   unzip FiraMono.zip -d "/home/$WHO/.local/share/fonts/Fura Mono"
   wget https://github.com/ryanoasis/nerd-fonts/releases/download/$FONTVERSION/JetBrainsMono.zip
   unzip JetBrainsMono.zip -d "/home/$WHO/.local/share/fonts/JetBrains Mono"

2. Removing unused files

   find /home/$WHO/.local/share/fonts -type f \
   -not -name "*.ttf" \
   -not -name "*.otf" \
   -exec rm {} \;

3. Generating font cache

   fc-cache -fv /home/$WHO/.local/share/fonts

Installing YouTube downloader

wget https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/releases/latest/download/yt-dlp
mv yt-dlp /home/$WHO/.local/bin
chmod +x /home/$WHO/.local/bin/yt-dlp

TeX Live hints

After installing TeX Live, don't forget to create a symlink:

sudo ln -s /opt/$WHO/applications/texlive/<year>/bin/<arch> /opt/texbin

To be continued. 😉