Beginner-Exploring-Linux

[![Author](https://img.shields.io/badge/Author-Senka_Wolf-4044ee?style=for-the-badge)](https://github.com/silentz) [![License](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-Apache--2.0-blue?style=for-the-badge)](./LICENSE.md) ![GitHub last commit](https://img.shields.io/github/last-commit/senkawolf/Software-List?style=for-the-badge)

Expand Table Here

- [My CachyOS Setup](#My-CachyOS-Setup) - [System Settings](#System-Settings) - [Software](#Software) - [Tweaks & Configs](#Tweaks-&-Configs) - [Visuals](#Visuals)

My CachyOS Setup

Now we will be going through the install process of CachyOS, this will feel very familiar to a Windows setup.

My Desktop

System Settings

Software

Run the following commands in each section using pacman:

Firmware: sudo pacman -Sy
Tools: sudo pacman -Sy flatpak yay snapper snap-pac grub-btrfs cachy-update zen-browser stow qbittorrent ghostty htop btop cpu-x gparted openrgb k3b
Social: sudo pacman -Sy discord
Creative: sudo pacman -Sy obs-studio krita
Office: sudo pacman -Sy wps-office mythes-en ttc-iosevka ttf-fira-sans ttf-fira-code ttf-firacode-nerd vlc
Gaming: sudo pacman -Sy cachyos-gaming-meta cachyos-gaming-applications
Coding: code git github-cli mysql-workbench ttf-font-awesome

If you’d like a explanation on the code above or what each package is go here.

Below aren’t available through pacman so we will use AUR instead:

Firmware: yay -Syu
Tools: yay -S ttf-raleway ungoogled-chromium-bin qdirstat-bin qdiskinfo-bin nordvpn-bin rustdesk-bin
Coding: yay -S github-desktop-bin

Other install methods:

OpenDeck ^GitHub

$ paru --version
$ paru -S opendeck-bin
$ sudo usermod -aG uucp,input $USER #Appendix
$ sudo udevadm control --reload-rules
$ sudo udevadm trigger

Appendix: This is important due to streamdeck being a HID device.

uucp → raw USB device access
input → HID devices (Stream Deck is HID)

[!NOTE] You can use this method but I recommend the above.
$ bash -c 'bash <(curl -sSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nekename/OpenDeck/main/install_opendeck.sh)'

Tweaks & Configs

CachyOS Update Config ^GitHub

Once CachyOS Update is installed you should start it automatically at boot using the following command.

$ arch-update --tray --enable

[!NOTE] If you have used the CachyOS Hello GUI and checked “Cachy Update enabled” you don’t need to follow this setup.

Number Lock on startup ^{Arch Wiki}

Eiter run the below command or navigate to System Settings > Keyboard.

$ systemsettings kcm_keyboard

KDE Plasma Keyboard System Settings Screenshot

Then change NumLock on startup to Turn On.

Configure Fastfetch ^GitHub

In the ../files/fastfetch folder copy the config and the logo to ~/.config/fastfetch/. You might need to create the folder using fastfetch --gen-config or just mkdir.

Automatic package cache cleaning ^Wiki

Downloading package updates can take up a large amount of space over time, this will automatically clear the cache for you. The below instructions will clear the cache weekly but leave 3 of the most recent versions of each package incase you need to downgrade anything.

$ sudo systemctl enable paccache.timer

GitHub CLI Setup ^Manual

Run the command:

$ gh auth login #Then authenticate using your browser.

After authenticating onfigure the following:

$ git config --global user.email "senkawolf@example.com"
$ git config --global user.name "SenkaWolf"
$ git config --global init.defaultBranch main

Visuals

Plasma Theme ^{Arch Wiki}

Find a theme you like from here. I like Magna-Dark-Plasma so I will use this.

Download the file then extract/unzip the file and ensure it follows the below layout:

📦 Magna-Dark-Plasma
├─ folders
├─ colors
└─ metadata.desktop

If this looks correct then run the following commands to move the file and open system settings:

$ mv ~/Downloads/Magna-Dark-Plasma ~/.local/share/plasma/desktoptheme/
$ systemsettings

Then navigate to Colours & Themes > Plasma Style and then select the one you just installed.

Custom Plasma Color Schemes ^{Arch Wiki}

Find a color scheme you like from here. I like Magna-Violet-Dark-Colorscheme so I will use this.

Download the file and ensure it follows the below layout:

📦 MagnaVioletDarkColorscheme.colors

If this looks correct then run the following commands to move the file and open system settings:

$ mv ~/Downloads/MagnaVioletDarkColorscheme.colors ~/.local/share/color-schemes/
$ systemsettings

Then navigate to Colours & Themes > Colours and then select the one you just installed.

Custom Window Decorations Aurorae ^{Arch Wiki}

Find a color scheme you like from here. I like Magna-Dark-Aurorae-6 so I will use this.

Download the file then extract/unzip the file and ensure it follows the below layout:

📦 Magna-Dark-Aurorae-6
├─ svg files
└─ metadata.desktop

If this looks correct then run the following commands to move the file and open system settings:

$ mv ~/Downloads/Magna-Dark-Aurorae-6 ~/.local/share/aurorae/themes/
$ systemsettings

Then navigate to Colours & Themes > Window Decorations and then select the one you just installed.

Icon Theme ^{Arch Wiki}

Find a icon pack you like from here. I like Slot Nord Dark Colorize Icons so I will use this.

[!NOTE] Azure Dark Icons

Download the file then extract/unzip the file and ensure it follows the below layout:

📦 Slot-Nord-Dark-Colorize-Icons
├─ Multiple folders
└─ index.theme

If this looks correct then run the following commands to move the file and open system settings:

$ mv ~/Downloads/Azure-Dark-Icons ~/.local/share/icons/
$ systemsettings

Then navigate to Colours & Themes > Icons and then select the one you just installed.

Cursor Theme ^{Arch Wiki}

Find a cursor pack you like from here. I like Future-dark cursors so I will use this.

Download the file then extract/unzip the file and ensure it follows the below layout:

📦 Future-dark-cursors
├─ cursors
└─ index.theme

If this looks correct then run the following commands to move the file and open system settings:

$ mv ~/Downloads/Future-dark-cursors ~/.local/share/icons/
$ systemsettings

Then navigate to Colours & Themes > Cursors and then select the one you just installed.

Custom Splashscreen ^{Arch Wiki}

Find a plashscreen you like from here. I like to disable this but I will give instructions on how to install one as I use to run the Magna Splash 6.

Download the file then extract/unzip the file and ensure it follows the below layout:

[!NOTE] Magna-Splash-6
📦 Magna-Splash-6
├─ contents
└─ metadata.json
If this looks correct then run the following commands to move the file and open system settings:
$ mv ~/Downloads/Magna-Splash-6 ~/.local/share/plasma/look-and-feel/
$ systemsettings

Then navigate to Colours & Themes > Splash Screen and then select the one you just installed or in my case I like to select none.

The splashscreen is the only customisation where you cannot edit the background image from the settings. So, if you want to edit the background image, go to the location below (remember to put your splashcreen name) and swap in a different image, ensuring it has the same name and file type as the original.

$ cd ~/.local/share/plasma/look-and-feel/Magna-Splash-6/contents/splash/images
$ dolphin .

Find a icon pack you like from here. I like Azure-SDDM-6 so I will use this.

Download the file then extract/unzip the file and ensure it follows the below layout:

📦 Azure-SDDM-6
├─ folders
├─ Main.qml
├─ metadata.desktop
└─ theme.conf

If this looks correct then run the following commands to move the file and open system settings:

$ sudo mv ~/Downloads/Azure-SDDM-6 /usr/share/sddm/themes/
$ systemsettings

Then navigate to Colours & Themes > Login Screen (SDDM) and then select the one you just installed.

Custom Fonts ^{Arch Wiki}

I like using the fonts iosevka and raleway and we installed these earlier in the Software section so now they just need setting up.

Go to System Settings > Text & Fonts > Fonts and change them to suit your preferences, mine are as follows:

General: Raleway SemiBold 10pt
Fixed width: Iosevka 10pt
Small: Raleway SemiBold 8pt
Toolbar: Raleway SemiBold 10pt
Menu: Raleway ExtraBold 10pt
WIndoww title: Raleway ExtraBold 10pt

Font Settings

Plasma 6 Extensions Widgets (Plasmoids) ^{Arch Wiki}

Find any Plasma 6 extensions you like from here.

I’m doing to downwload and extract the below files:

Then open the terminal and cd to the extracted files or right click the folder and open the terminal:

$ cd ~/Downloads/<widget directory> #Replace <widget directory> with the extracted folder name
$ kpackagetool6 --type Plasma/Applet --install .
$ # Then log out and back in again. Restarting plasmashell in the terminal isn't very reliable.

If you get an error saying it already exists or you are trying to update it then run the below:

$ cd ~/Downloads/<widget directory> #Replace <widget directory> with the extracted folder name
$ kpackagetool6 --type Plasma/Applet --upgrade .

Or you can right click your panel and click “Add or Manage Widgets” then press “Get New” as shown in the below screenhot. You can then search for the widget name.

My Desktop Layout

To Be Completed.

I did use this YouTube Video to help me figure out sizing for my primary monitor.

Animations/Desktop Effects

Go to System Settings > Appearance & Style > Animations. The change the following:

Window minimize: Magic Lamp (1000 milliseconds)

Then go to System Settings > Apps & Windows > Window Management > Desktop Effects. Then change the following:

☑ Wobbly WIndows

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Beginner-Exploring-Linux

Table of Contents

My CachyOS Setup

System Settings

Software

Other install methods:

OpenDeck GitHub

Tweaks & Configs

CachyOS Update Config GitHub

Number Lock on startup Arch Wiki

Configure Fastfetch GitHub

Automatic package cache cleaning Wiki

GitHub CLI Setup Manual

Visuals

Plasma Theme Arch Wiki

Custom Plasma Color Schemes Arch Wiki

Custom Window Decorations Aurorae Arch Wiki

Icon Theme Arch Wiki

Cursor Theme Arch Wiki

Custom Splashscreen Arch Wiki

SDDM Login Themes Arch Wiki

Custom Fonts Arch Wiki

Plasma 6 Extensions Widgets (Plasmoids) Arch Wiki

My Desktop Layout

Animations/Desktop Effects

OpenDeck ^GitHub

CachyOS Update Config ^GitHub

Number Lock on startup ^{Arch Wiki}

Configure Fastfetch ^GitHub

Automatic package cache cleaning ^Wiki

GitHub CLI Setup ^Manual

Plasma Theme ^{Arch Wiki}

Custom Plasma Color Schemes ^{Arch Wiki}

Custom Window Decorations Aurorae ^{Arch Wiki}

Icon Theme ^{Arch Wiki}

Cursor Theme ^{Arch Wiki}

Custom Splashscreen ^{Arch Wiki}

SDDM Login Themes ^{Arch Wiki}

Custom Fonts ^{Arch Wiki}

Plasma 6 Extensions Widgets (Plasmoids) ^{Arch Wiki}