Minimal Debian GNOME or Plasma sid install

hhh · 2026-05-12 21:44:49

-edit- For KDE, read the first four posts and then see...
https://forums.bunsenlabs.org/viewtopic … 37#p150837

Documenting my latest install.

I have an image, you should use the latest testing image...

https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/week … 64/iso-cd/

Install, configure your WiFi if you have it, don't choose any root passwords, don't choose a desktop environment just basic system utilities, boot into the new install.

Login, run 'sudo -i' for root access. I'm on WiFi, running 'ip a' showed the connection as Down, I hit the airplane key on my laptop 3 times and it came up in a few seconds. Then 'ip link set wlp0s20f3 up', in my case. Then 'nano /etc/apt/sources.list and disable everything but the first line, changing it from forky to sid and adding contrib and non-free. apt upgrade. 'apt install --no-install-recommends gdm3 gnome-control-center', then 'apt install xfce4-terminal gedit firefox'. Reboot.

Last edited by hhh (2026-05-13 22:03:56)

hhh · 2026-05-12 21:52:10

Windows key gives you an overview and lets you type to select, windows key twice fast shows you the installed apps that have desktop files. At this point it's not many.

Type "settings" then go to to Display and change scale down to 100%, click apply and "Keep changes". Unless you prefer things big.

hhh · 2026-05-12 21:56:01

"sudo apt install gnome-tweaks gnome-shell-extension-manager dconf-editor"

Windows key>type extens>open the manager>go to the Browse tab>search and install Dash to Panel

Go to Mouse and Touchpad in Settings and turn off the ridiculous reverse scrolling (switch from Natural to Traditional).

Windows key>"tweak" to open gnome-tweaks>Windows and enable the minimize and maximize buttons under Titlebar.

Install htop, looking good. About 750 at idle. Install gnome-system-monitor to compare, 1.1 GB. Maybe shows a better Ram monitor, and a similar output to what we use for our BL conky since Boron, just over 1 G is very lean for GNOME. KDE barely comes in under 2, maybe 1.8, IIRC.

hhh · 2026-05-12 22:26:32

I have a laptop, I need to easily change to a different network.

sudo apt install network-manager

sudo nano /etc/network/interfaces, comment out everything under "#The primary network interface". Reboot, go to Settings>Wifi and connect to your network, the connection icon should then appear in your panel next to volume and power.

hhh · 2026-05-12 22:35:34

Open dconf-editor. org>gnome>desktop>interface, set to 'prefer-dark', more theming in a bit.

hhh · 2026-05-12 22:44:27

Download a wallpaper...

https://bingwallpaper.anerg.com/detail/ca/SkradinskiBuk

Create ~/Pictures/Wallpapers and move the wall there from Downloads.

Right click the desktop, Change Background...> add and choose the wall, confirm "Style" is Dark, set an appropriate accent color.

Open Files (nautilus) and press Ctrl+-, those big icons look silly.

DeepDayze · 2026-05-13 02:15:26

This is a nice overview for a basic Gnome install. I'm sure there's similar steps for those wanting a basic Plasma install too.

hhh · 2026-05-13 16:33:10

^ For sure, install 'kde-plasma-desktop' with --no-install-recommends the same way. You'll get konquerer and kwrite and a few other base-apps, but still minimal for KDE.

https://packages.debian.org/sid/kde-plasma-desktop

-edit- Wow, that install is way more minimal than I was expecting. I had to add sddm, plasma-nm, konsole, kwrite, firefox, htop and plasma-systemmonitor to get a comparable desktop. System Monitor shows 1.4G RAM usage at idle, so a bit hefty but nowhere near 1.8.

Last edited by hhh (2026-05-13 22:07:25)

DeepDayze · 2026-05-13 19:12:38

hhh wrote:

^ For sure, install 'kde-plasma-desktop' with --no-install-recommends the same way. You'll get konquerer and kwrite and a few other base-apps, but still minimal for KDE.
https://packages.debian.org/sid/kde-plasma-desktop

Yes, the basic installs allow you to really customize things to your liking rather than the full installs of your favorite DE. For example one basic install I have basically made Kwin the window manager and I installed lxterminal for a console plus PCManfm as my file manager along with some GTK apps.

Last edited by DeepDayze (2026-05-13 19:13:02)

hhh · 2026-05-13 19:15:32

^ See my edit. I meant konsole, not konquerer, but --no-install-recommends doesn't even bring in a terminal. I'm going to play with this install and see if I keep it past one week, unlike every other time I've installed KDE.

DeepDayze · 2026-05-13 20:09:30

hhh wrote:

^ See my edit. I meant konsole, not konquerer, but --no-install-recommends doesn't even bring in a terminal. I'm going to play with this install and see if I keep it past one week, unlike every other time I've installed KDE.

You could install konsole manually if necessary and any app that you actually did need that didn't get installed due to --no-install-recommends.

To me a minimal install of a DE (or even barebones Openbox) is a good starting point for a custom setup.

hhh · 2026-05-13 21:59:58

^ True that. At least you'll know why plasma-nm is installed.

Amending the post title to include minimal Plasma.

-edit- I installed kde-spectacle to take the scrot.

Brightness and volume/mute keys don't work yet, it's got a ways to go.

hhh · 2026-05-13 23:20:50

hhh wrote:

Brightness and volume/mute keys don't work yet, it's got a ways to go.

Install plasma-pa and powerdevil, reboot. Install and set color-scheme in dconf-editor as in the earlier post to get Firefox and other apps to follow a dark theme.

hhh · 2026-05-13 23:41:08

By far my favorite feature in Plasma, go to "Colors' and pick a custom accent color to match your wallpaper...

#1 2026-05-12 21:44:49

Minimal Debian GNOME or Plasma sid install

#2 2026-05-12 21:52:10

Re: Minimal Debian GNOME or Plasma sid install

#3 2026-05-12 21:56:01

Re: Minimal Debian GNOME or Plasma sid install

#4 2026-05-12 22:26:32

Re: Minimal Debian GNOME or Plasma sid install

#5 2026-05-12 22:35:34

Re: Minimal Debian GNOME or Plasma sid install

#6 2026-05-12 22:44:27

Re: Minimal Debian GNOME or Plasma sid install

#7 2026-05-13 02:15:26

Re: Minimal Debian GNOME or Plasma sid install

#8 2026-05-13 16:33:10

Re: Minimal Debian GNOME or Plasma sid install

#9 2026-05-13 19:12:38

Re: Minimal Debian GNOME or Plasma sid install

#10 2026-05-13 19:15:32

Re: Minimal Debian GNOME or Plasma sid install

#11 2026-05-13 20:09:30

Re: Minimal Debian GNOME or Plasma sid install

#12 2026-05-13 21:59:58

Re: Minimal Debian GNOME or Plasma sid install

#13 2026-05-13 23:20:50

Re: Minimal Debian GNOME or Plasma sid install

#14 2026-05-13 23:41:08

Re: Minimal Debian GNOME or Plasma sid install

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