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diff --git a/content/blog/2022-12-23-alpine-desktop.md b/content/blog/2022-12-23-alpine-desktop.md index 52538b5..ee4b1a4 100644 --- a/content/blog/2022-12-23-alpine-desktop.md +++ b/content/blog/2022-12-23-alpine-desktop.md @@ -5,33 +5,31 @@ description = "" draft = false +++ +# Isn't Alpine Linux for Servers? -# Isn\'t Alpine Linux for Servers? +This is a question I see a lot when people are presented with an example of +Alpine Linux running as a desktop OS. -This is a question I see a lot when people are presented with an example -of Alpine Linux running as a desktop OS. +While Alpine is small, fast, and minimal, that doesn't stop it from functioning +at a productive level for desktop users. -While Alpine is small, fast, and minimal, that doesn\'t stop it from -functioning at a productive level for desktop users. - -This post is documentation of how I installed and modified Alpine Linux -to become my daily desktop OS. +This post is documentation of how I installed and modified Alpine Linux to +become my daily desktop OS. # Installation -Note that I cover the installation of Alpine Linux in my other post, so -I won\'t repeat it here: [Alpine Linux: My New Server -OS](../alpine-linux/). +Note that I cover the installation of Alpine Linux in my other post, so I won't +repeat it here: [Alpine Linux: My New Server OS](../alpine-linux/). -Basically, get a bootable USB or whatever you prefer with Alpine on it, -boot the ISO, and run the setup script. +Basically, get a bootable USB or whatever you prefer with Alpine on it, boot the +ISO, and run the setup script. ```sh setup-alpine ``` -Once you have gone through all the options and installer finishes -without errors, reboot. +Once you have gone through all the options and installer finishes without +errors, reboot. ```sh reboot @@ -40,9 +38,9 @@ reboot # Initial Setup Once Alpine is installed and the machine has rebooted, login is as root -initially or `su` to root once you log in as your user. From -here, you should start by updating and upgrading the system in case the -ISO was not fully up-to-date. +initially or `su` to root once you log in as your user. From here, you should +start by updating and upgrading the system in case the ISO was not fully +up-to-date. ```sh # Update and upgrade system @@ -52,8 +50,8 @@ apk -U update && apk -U upgrade apk add nano ``` -You need to uncomment the `community` repository for your -version of Alpine Linux. +You need to uncomment the `community` repository for your version of Alpine +Linux. For v3.17, the `repositories` file should look like this: @@ -80,11 +78,11 @@ adduser $USER wheel # Window Manager (Desktop) -The [Sway installation guide](https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Sway) -has everything you need to get Sway working on Alpine. +The [Sway installation guide](https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Sway) has +everything you need to get Sway working on Alpine. -However, I\'ll include a brief list of the commands I ran and their -purpose for posterity here. +However, I'll include a brief list of the commands I ran and their purpose for +posterity here. ```sh # Add eudev and set it up @@ -126,11 +124,10 @@ apk add \ # Install optional dependencies: ``` Once you have the packages installed and set-up, you need to export the -`XDG_RUNTIME_DIR` upon login. To do this, edit your -`.profile` file. +`XDG_RUNTIME_DIR` upon login. To do this, edit your `.profile` file. -If you use another shell, such as `zsh`, you need to edit -that shell\'s profile (e.g., `~/.zprofile`)! +If you use another shell, such as `zsh`, you need to edit that shell's profile +(e.g., `~/.zprofile`)! ```sh nano ~/.profile @@ -148,7 +145,7 @@ if test -z "${XDG_RUNTIME_DIR}"; then fi ``` -Once that\'s complete, you can launch Sway manually. +Once that's complete, you can launch Sway manually. ```sh dbus-run-session -- sway @@ -156,8 +153,7 @@ dbus-run-session -- sway ## Personal Touches -I also added the following packages, per my personal preferences and -situation. +I also added the following packages, per my personal preferences and situation. ```sh doas apk add brightnessctl \ # Brightness controller @@ -171,16 +167,16 @@ doas apk add brightnessctl \ # Brightness controller gnupg # GPG key manager ``` -From here, I use my Syncthing storage to pull all the configuration -files I stored from prior desktops, such as [my +From here, I use my Syncthing storage to pull all the configuration files I +stored from prior desktops, such as [my dotfiles](https://git.sr.ht/~cmc/dotfiles). # Resolving Issues ## WiFi Issues -I initially tried to set up my Wi-Fi the standard way with -`iwd`, but it didn\'t work. +I initially tried to set up my Wi-Fi the standard way with `iwd`, but it didn't +work. Here is what I initially tried (I did all of this as `root`): @@ -191,8 +187,7 @@ iwctl station wlan0 connect <SSID> # This will prompt for the password rc-update add iwd boot && rc-update add dbus boot ``` -Then, I added the Wi-Fi entry to the bottom of the networking interface -file: +Then, I added the Wi-Fi entry to the bottom of the networking interface file: ```sh nano /etc/network/interfaces @@ -209,13 +204,11 @@ Finally, restart the networking service: rc-service networking restart ``` -My Wi-Fi interface would receive an IP address from the router, but it -could not ping anything in the network. To solve the Wi-Fi issues, I -originally upgraded to Alpine\'s `edge` repositories, which -was unnecessary. +My Wi-Fi interface would receive an IP address from the router, but it could not +ping anything in the network. To solve the Wi-Fi issues, I originally upgraded +to Alpine's `edge` repositories, which was unnecessary. -Really, the solution was to enable the -`NameResolvingService=resolvconf` in +Really, the solution was to enable the `NameResolvingService=resolvconf` in `/etc/iwd/main.conf`. ```sh @@ -232,8 +225,8 @@ Once I finished this process, my Wi-Fi is working flawlessly. ## Sound Issues -Same as with the Wi-Fi, I had no sound and could not control the -mute/unmute or volume buttons on my laptop. +Same as with the Wi-Fi, I had no sound and could not control the mute/unmute or +volume buttons on my laptop. To resolve this, I installed [pipewire](https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/PipeWire). @@ -247,9 +240,9 @@ addgroup $USER video apk add pipewire wireplumber pipewire-pulse pipewire-jack pipewire-alsa ``` -Finally, I needed to add `/usr/libexec/pipewire-launcher` to -my `.config/sway/config` file so that Pipewire would run -every time I launched sway. +Finally, I needed to add `/usr/libexec/pipewire-launcher` to my +`.config/sway/config` file so that Pipewire would run every time I launched +sway. ```sh nano ~/.config/sway/config @@ -266,8 +259,8 @@ bindsym XF86AudioMute exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-mute @DEFAULT_SINK@ to bindsym XF86AudioMicMute exec --no-startup-id pactl set-source-mute @DEFAULT_SOURCE@ toggle ``` -Note that I do not use bluetooth or screen sharing, so I won\'t cover -those options in this post. +Note that I do not use bluetooth or screen sharing, so I won't cover those +options in this post. -Other than these issues, I have a working Alpine desktop. No other -complaints thus far! +Other than these issues, I have a working Alpine desktop. No other complaints +thus far! |