2. Post-Install Tasks

The actions performed by the installer are listed in the following sections.

2.1. GNOME Shell

Install GNOME Extension Manager, GNOME Tweaks, and some popular extensions.
Install gnome-shell-extension-installer
Enable Hot-corners:
- Top-Left - Show Activities overview
- Bottom-left - Show Application grid
- Bottom-right - Show Desktop
- Top-right - Toggle drop-down terminal

2.2. Package Managers

2.2.1. Snap

Remove snap packages
Keep snap support enabled

2.2.2. Flatpak

Enable Flatpak support
Add the FlatHub repository

2.2.3. Apt

Enable the universe and multiverse repositories
Turn off the news snippet shown after running apt commands
Remove Ubuntu Software Center
Install Synaptic
Install Nala as an alternative for apt and apt-get commands

2.2.4. AppImage

Install AppImageLauncher for integrating AppImages with the system

AppImage Integration

Executing a downloaded AppImage file will show an option to either “Run” or “Integrate” the AppImage. If you choose to integrate, the downloaded file will be moved to the directory ~/Applications and a launcher will be added to the application menu. You can delete the AppImage file from the directory to remove it from your system.

2.2.5. Deb-Get

Install Deb-Get for installing additional third-party software (Zoom, Discord, etc).

Deb-Get

Type deb-get list in a terminal for the list of apps that can be installed using deb-get

2.2.6. GNOME Shell Extensions

Updates for GNOME extensions can be installed with the command:

gnome-shell-extension-installer --update

2.3. Software

2.3.1. Web Browser

Install Google Chrome browser or choose between Chrome, Firefox, LibreWolf, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi, or Edge

choose-browser

2.3.2. Default Applications

Remove some less-used applications:
- Thunderbird
- Deja-Dup
- Simple Scan
- Remmina
- Rhythmbox
- Games

2.3.3. Text Editor

Replace GNOME Text Editor with GEdit. Enable some useful plugins.

2.3.4. Media Player

Replace Totem with VLC Media Player

2.3.5. Drop-Down Terminal

Install Guake which provides a drop-down terminal.

Drop-down terminal

The drop-down terminal window can be toggled using F1 or F12, or by moving the mouse to the top-right corner of the screen.

2.3.6. LibreOffice

Install the latest version of LibreOffice (v7.4.2) from the LibreOffice Fresh branch

2.3.7. Network

Install network tools:
- mosh
- arp-scan

2.3.8. Compression

Install compression tools:
- zstd
- p7zip
- pigz
- pbzip2
- unrar
- unzip
- mscompress
- cabextract

2.3.9. File system

Install file system tools:
- gparted
- lvm2
- btrfs-progs
- btrfs-compsize
- cryptsetup

2.3.10. Image formats

Add support to view/open more image formats:
- WebP
- HEIC/HEIF

2.4. System Configuration

2.4.1. ZRAM

Install zram-tools to enable ZRAM support. This creates a compressed swap space in RAM that will be used when system is low on memory.

2.4.2. Bash

Update the bash prompt to a 2-line format with the current time, current directory, user name, and hostname.

bash-prompt

Increase bash command history to 1000
Don’t keep duplicates in bash command history
Add some bash aliases for common commands. See the ~/.bashrc file for the full list.

alias ni='sudo nala install'
alias nr='sudo nala purge'
alias nu='sudo nala upgrade'
alias ns='sudo nala search'
alias nf='sudo nala fetch'

alias ai='sudo apt install'
alias ar='sudo apt autoremove --purge'
alias aup='sudo apt update'
alias au='sudo apt upgrade'
alias asu='sudo aptitude safe-upgrade'
alias add-ppa='sudo add-apt-repository -y'
alias ll='ls -la'

Command Shortcuts

You can update the system using the command nu to run sudo nala upgrade or install a new package using the command ai <packagename> to run sudo apt install <packagename>

2.4.3. SSH

Enable SSH multiplexing for faster connections

2.4.4. Scripts

Install the ‘arch-chroot’ command to chroot into other systems

Chroot

If you have another Linux system installed on partition ‘/dev/sdb1’ (for example), you can mount it with the command sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt and chroot into the system with the command sudo arch-chroot /mnt

2.5. Layouts

Layouts

Layouts can be changed by running the installer again after the setup is complete

home-screen choose-layout

Layout: Left Taskbar, Theme: Dark

left-dark

Layout: Left Panel with Top Bar, Theme: Light

ubuntu-light

Layout: Left Taskbar, Theme: Light

windows-light

Layout: Default Ubuntu Desktop, Theme: Light

default