This repository contains various scripts
~100 kbfor working with the Debian OS and the Linux kernel, from installation to everyday scripts. This repository is not optimized for the end-user in any way, does not contain any binaries, and does not include scripts that could cause security issues. Most scripts have been bug-fixed, tested, and updated, and are used on a daily basis.
Kernel: 6.12.41
Release: Debian 13 Trixie
Desktop: GNOME 48 (gnome-shell, ~300 MB deb)
Display servers: X11 (default) Wayland (testing)
Total download: ~700 MB deb without CUDA
Last installation: 24-Aug-2025 (13.0.0-amd64-DVD)
Installation time: ~30 minutes (2-4 Mb/s)
Known issues: none
0- [Disable Secure Boot]
$ sudo mokutil --disable-validation
* https://wiki.debian.org/SecureBoot
1- [Install Debian]
- Select Advanced options > "Expert Install"
- Install minimal Debian to start from command-line
- Do not select "allow login as root" to enable the "sudo" command
- Do not download or install extras
- Do not select any desktop in tasksel (just check "standard system utilities")
- Most of the installation options are fine by default and you can press Enter
Minimum recommended partitions (manual):
├─ #1 VFAT /boot/efi ==1.0 GB
├─ #2 EXT4 / >=16.0 GB (>24.0 GB swap as file, depends on RAM)
├─ #3 EXT4 /home ∞
└─ #4 EXT4 /media ∞
* I don't use a swap partition because I want it to be variable.
$ sudo apt edit-sources # comment out the "cdrom" line if needed
2- [Setup Networking]
[Automatic]
net-tether.sh # quick setup USB tethering interface (easiest)
net-wifi.sh # wifi manager using network-manager
net-interface.sh # edit and update /etc/network/interfaces
* If connected via USB tethering, if the network is disconnected
after a reboot, you will need to run "net-tether.sh" again.
[Manual]
$ ip link
$ sudo nano /etc/network/interfaces
Add new lines:
allow-hotplug {interface-name}
iface {interface-name} inet dhcp
$ sudo systemctl restart networking
3- [Clone Repository]
$ sudo apt install git
$ git clone https://github.com/nimadez/cli
* If re-installing, a better method is to clone the repository
to the /home partition before installing, then you will also
have access to the automatic network configuration scripts.
4- [Select Branch]
apt-sources.sh # generate sources (debian only, no extra sources)
$ sudo apt update
$ sudo apt full-upgrade
$ sudo reboot # reboot if there are any kernel or major updates
* Trixie "stable-proposed" branch without "backports" is recommended. (option 3)
5- [Software Installation]
install/apt-headers.sh # kernel headers
install/apt-nvidia.sh # nvidia driver, reboot is required (non-free - optional)
install/apt-cuda.sh # nvidia cuda toolkit (non-free - optional)
install/apt-free.sh # common free software (99.9% free)
install/apt-vm.sh # install qemu and libvirt (free - optional)
6- [Desktop Installation]
install/apt-gnome.sh # minimal gnome-shell with a minimal set of software (free)
7- [Verify Installation]
about.sh # get basic information about the system
about-apt.sh # get the number, list and history of available packages
about-net.sh # get basic network info
about-root.sh # get list of / permissions
about-users.sh # get list of users
about-kernel.sh # get the kernel log and check for possible errors
about-groups.sh # get list of groups
about-services.sh # get list of all active services
8- [Finish Installation]
swap-make.sh # make a swap file if you don't have a swap partition
swap-grub.sh # run only if you are not installing any desktop (hibernate debian)
keygen-ssh.sh # generate ssh keys (optional)
keygen-ssl.sh # generate ssl keys (optional)
patch/gnome-user-theme.sh # a simple gnome extension to load user theme
patch/wayland-nvidia.sh # fix wayland nvidia issues (if you want to enable wayland)
$ cp /etc/skel/.bashrc ~ # if the home partition is formatted, copy the .bashrc file
$ sudo reboot
- All steps and scripts are updated with each installation to include any missing changes.
- Remember to reinstall kernel headers after every kernel update. ("testing" branch only)
- Download size for GNOME includes shared packages and can be much smaller. (up to 50%)
- The CUDA toolkit is about 2 GB in size and can be ignored and installed later.
- You can skip step 6 and use pure Debian via the command-line.
$ sh cli-install.sh
$ cli
sudo apt install xterm wmctrl
echo "hw-xmon-start" >> ~/.config/autostart/startup.sh
$ nano ~/.config/autostart/startup.sh
$ nano ~/.config/autostart/startup.desktop
[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=Startup
Exec=x-terminal-emulator -e "sh /home/<USER>/.config/autostart/startup.sh"
Hidden=false
NoDisplay=false
X-GNOME-Autostart-enabled=true
X-GNOME-Autostart-Delay=10
$ sudo nano /usr/local/bin/custom_service.sh
$ sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/custom_service.sh
$ sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/custom.service
[Unit]
Description=Custom Service
After=network.target
[Service]
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/custom_service.sh
Restart=always
User=nobody
Group=nogroup
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
$ sudo systemctl daemon-reload
$ sudo systemctl enable custom.service
$ sudo systemctl restart custom.service
1. Reboot
2. During the GRUB boot menu, press the 'e' key
3. Add the number '3' to the end of the line that starts with 'linux /boot'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-... root=... quite 3
4. Press Ctrl + x
↑ Revision and major changes to the repository
↑ Upgrade to Debian 13 Trixie
↑ All Linux, currently all my devices are Linux based
↑ Celebrating 1 year with Linux on the everyday desktop PC 🎂
↑ Wine requirement reduced to zero, migration completed
↑ Debian Assistant CLI
↑ Q1 2024 - Migrating to Debian Linux after 30 years of MS-DOS/Win32
↑ Created in 2019 for system automation on Windows machine
"A machine can reprogram another machine from scratch."
🎭 "I had something like undo syndrome in the first year, which was both annoying and pleasant in the mornings. Today, that condition seems to be gone, but a little of that pleasant mood still remains."
Code released under the GPL-3.0 license.