New Machine Start Kit

README.md

New Machine Starter Kit

Installation

Specific Guides

• Linux
• Mac

Creating a Bootable USB Key of Windows or Linux

For when you can write the image directly (using MacOS):

1. Find out the disk location of your usb key using: diskutil list
2. Unmount the disk: diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX
3. Write the disk: sudo dcfldd if=image.bin of=/dev/diskX (dcfldd is an enhanced version of dd, that will calculate the blocksize for you, and output progress as it is going)
   1. OPTIONAL: Sometimes you may have to convert the iso into a img file: hdiutil convert -format UDRW -o ~/path/to/target.img ~/path/to/ubuntu.iso
4. Eject the disk: diskutil eject /dev/diskX

For when you have to configure the image:

• Rufus on Windows
• UNetbootin on Linux and MacOS

Chromium OS

I gave up on Chromium OS, this was my experience.

Bootcamp / Dual Booting on a Mac

Guide here.

Dotfiles

https://github.com/balupton/dotfiles

Keys

Generating SSH Key

GitHub Tutorial. Krypton Tutorial.

Use my dotfiles to generate a key:

ssh-new KEY_NAME [YOUR_EMAIL]

Use my dotfiles to use a key:

ssh-add KEY_NAME

Generating new GPG Key

GitHub Tutorial. Keybase Tutorial. Krypton Tutorial.

The guide below uses the key command from my dotfiles

Listing the public and secret keys:

key list public
key list private

Generate the key:

key new

Getting the key:

key get public
key get private

Export the key

key export public KEY
key export private KEY

Trust the key for use with git:

key trust KEY

Use the key with git via our dotfiles:

setup-git

If the key has expired, use this to extend it:

key extend KEY

Apps

Nearly everything I use can be found on my Alternativeto.net Profile.

Some things I have referral bonuses for!

LINUX.md

Linux

Setup

# If inside vmware install vmware tools (these are just as good as the commercial ones)
sudo apt-get install open-vm-tools open-vm-tools-desktop

# Install git
sudo apt-get install git

# Install dot files
# https://github.com/balupton/dotfiles

# Java Runtime (if needed)
sudo apt-get install openjdk-7-jre
 		 
# Java Development Kit (if needed)
sudo apt-get install openjdk-7-jdk

Elementary

These days my preferred Linux distribution is Elementary. Fedora failed to setup javac directly, and Ubuntu insisted on using versons that were not compatible with Curtin Univeristy's requirements - plus Unity (Ubuntu's Desktop Shell) is horrible.

Ubuntu

Installation

1. Use the 32 bit installation (if you need wine)
   1. If you are installing it on a mac, make sure you get the +mac download
2. Create a bootable USB drive from the image using the guide earlier or this guide
3. Install Ubuntu
   1. Don't use encryption, LVM is okay - encryption breaks on my laptop
   2. Don't use home folder encryption either, slows boot time

Configuration

1. Magic Mouse sensitivity xinput --set-prop "balmouse" "Device Accel Constant Deceleration" 3 - source
2. Enable hibernation and set all suspends to hibernate instead - done because the presario c700 intel wifi stops working with suspend but works fine with hibernate
3. Set date time to 12 hour

Issues

1. Bluetooth fails to connect devices (despite saying connected) after suspend/hibernate

MAC.md

MacOS

Backup

Automatic:

1. Backup and restore using the macup command my dotfiles

Manual:

1. Create backups with either Backblaze and Time Machine

   1. Check their preferences for ignored paths, to see if it contains anything you actually want to restore

2. Backup Application Support folder to an external media just in case

Installation

1. Download MacOS from the App Store

2. Create a bootable USB Drive using the macos-drive command from my dotfiles

3. Install MacOS by holding "alt" as it boots up and selecting the install medium

Configuration

• Trackpad
  • point and click
    • speed 4th from left
    • all options on except for three finger drag
  • scroll and zoom
    • all options on
  • gestures
    • all on except swipe between pages
• Accessibility
  • double-click speed: 3rd from right
  • Ctrl+scroll for zoom
• Dictation
  • Voice: Alison
• Network
  • DHCP

Setup

# Install Command Line Tools
xcode-select --install

# Install dot files
# https://github.com/bevry/dotfiles

Awesome list, thanks for sharing @balupton

thanks for the inspiration ;)

Spelt "superflous" instead of "superfluous" under Currently. I was the same too, used Currently previously.

Also check out Kuvva for Mac and iPhone - beautifully designed wallpapers!

Any thoughts on how we could build out Slate to be super beautiful?

@ryanxdrake thanks, fixed the typos - not sure about slate, I ended up giving up on all those tiling managers, divvy was the only one that really worked well for me (until it stopped being maintained)