Res Firma Mitescera Nescit

Well, i have a some time so I decide to write a little how-to install kde4.1 in debian.

There’s some advantages when you compare Debian with Ubuntu and viceversa: Today a friend at work decide to install Kubuntu, he had never used linux before, so he tried with the live cd of kubuntu. Basically it’s the same, Ubuntu is one of many “Debian’s sons” :) but Ubuntu has libraries and configurations that make easy the installation and use, it includes apps ready to use with the configuration done, with Debian some of that work must be done manually; BUT that extra-value added to favor user interaction added some extra-resource use, and the other advantage is the extra control you have with a debian package, so I choose debian and let’s see how to do it:

• Download the netinstall: it contains the minimum components to start with your linux system
• Procede with a normal installation, until the moment to chose what kind of installation do you want to load: I choose “Base Install”
• After installation you will receive with a terminal interface so let’s use these commands (the text after # are comments)
  • su #to login as root user
  • nano /etc/apt/sources-list #add the next lines
    
    deb http://http.us.debian.org/debian/ unstable main contrib non-free
    deb-src http://http.us.debian.org/debian/ unstable main contrib non-free

  • #To close nano, with the keyboard: ctrl+x
  • apt-get update
  • apt-get upgrade #restart after finish with reboot -n
  • aptitude -t experimental
  • #a blue terminal will open and you should type “/” character to start a search, introduce kde4 and look for kde4-minimal, choose just kde4 if you want with some programs by default
  • type “+” character and after that “g” – twice
  • after finish the installation to quit aptitude type “q”
  • reboot -n
• You can start with an amazing desktop enviroment

After this I advice to open Konsole (a terminal emulator), login as root user, open aptitude and download these packages:

• KGet
• Konqueror plugins
• Kontact (A unified interface for an organize package, it includes: kmail, akegrator, kaddressbook, korganizer, To-Do)
• OpenOffice
• Iceweasel (it’s the same firefox with minor changes because of licence issues but you can install firefox if you want)
• Dragon (it’s a video player, just like vlc, which you can install too, if you want)
• kopete (the IM)
• KSnapshot (a utility to take pictures of your desktop or parts of it)
• Kcalc
• KRDC (a remote desktop app)
• VirtualBox (so you can install that annoying Windows app)
• Juk (a music player)
• Amarok (it’s amazin this jukbox but it’s still in beta, so it’s up to you to try it)

Some tips:

• Alt+F1 launch the start menu
• Alt-F2 launch “launcher” an app like QuickSilver for mac (not that amazing but it’s a great utility)
• Ctrl+F1 to Ctrl+F4 allow you to go from any desktop to another one
• In “system settings” you can configure anything even the keyboard shortcuts
• You can delete your Panel and use the dashboard widgets or add more panels

Well that’s all I can say about my kde4.1 installation in debian, just play with it and I assure you will love this desktop.