Workspace Quality of Life

Notes and configuration for developer laptop settings. Keeping track of some of preferences (when setting up a new laptop from scratch).
created: updated: status: in-progress tags:
  1. Personal Computing Operating System, Desktop Environment, Hardware
    1. KDE Additional Setup (System Settings)
    2. Default Applications
      1. Linking to Binaries
    3. GNU Privacy Guard
      1. Enigmail Preferences

The following are some quick lessons learned from setting up a Linux developer laptop from scratch. These points are my own personal preferences, intended to be a reference for when I have to do this again.

Personal Computing Operating System, Desktop Environment, Hardware

I really enjoy using Debian with KDE Plasma.
My personal computing devices use the Testing/Unstable distributions.
Currently, I am using a MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2015) as my hardware.
I am in the process of switching my daily driver to a Lenovo C740, running Debian Buster.

Aside: I have had a relatively positive experience with the Dell XPS13 9360. Unfortunately a capacitor popped rendering the screen unusable. That laptop served me for roughly two years (May 2018 - Mar 2020), so I am slightly disappointed with its durability/longevity.

KDE Additional Setup (System Settings)

Default Applications

Linking to Binaries

Example uses for the latest stable Firefox binary.

  1. Decompress the archives into /opt for system-wide installation, or ~/opt for the current user only.
  2. Create a file firefox-stable.desktop (replace stable with beta/nightly,) in the:
    • /usr/share/applications directory for system-wide installation
    • ~/.local/share/applications directory for current user installation
[Desktop Entry]
Name=Firefox Stable
Comment=Web Browser
Exec=/opt/firefox/firefox %u
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Icon=/opt/firefox/browser/chrome/icons/default/default128.png
Categories=Network;WebBrowser;
MimeType=text/html;text/xml;application/xhtml+xml;application/xml;application/vnd.mozilla.xul+xml;application/rss+xml;application/rdf+xml;image/gif;image/jpeg;image/png;x-scheme-handler/http;x-scheme-handler/https;
StartupNotify=true

Update the paths accordingly.

GNU Privacy Guard

gpg (GnuPG) 2.2.12
libgcrypt 1.8.4
Copyright (C) 2018 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>
This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

Home: /home/alexander/.gnupg
Supported algorithms:
Pubkey: RSA, ELG, DSA, ECDH, ECDSA, EDDSA
Cipher: IDEA, 3DES, CAST5, BLOWFISH, AES, AES192, AES256, TWOFISH,
        CAMELLIA128, CAMELLIA192, CAMELLIA256
Hash: SHA1, RIPEMD160, SHA256, SHA384, SHA512, SHA224
Compression: Uncompressed, ZIP, ZLIB, BZIP2

Retrieve the cold storage private keys and import them: gpg --import Alexander\ William\ Wong\ \(0FC4B4EE\)\ –\ Secret.asc

gpg: key 0F8D1FA50FC4B4EE: public key "Alexander William Wong (Master)" imported
gpg: key 0F8D1FA50FC4B4EE: "Alexander William Wong (Master)" not changed
gpg: key 0F8D1FA50FC4B4EE: secret key imported
gpg: Total number processed: 2
gpg:               imported: 1
gpg:              unchanged: 1
gpg:       secret keys read: 1
gpg:   secret keys imported: 1

You should have the following: gpg --list-keys --with-keygrip

/home/alexander/.gnupg/pubring.kbx
----------------------------------
pub   rsa4096 2018-04-05 [SC]
      48797A6E15706026C51E9CF50F8D1FA50FC4B4EE
      Keygrip = DE7933342CF50A95030CCD4FD0A0E9C7649E4816
uid           [ unknown] Alexander William Wong (Master)
uid           [ unknown] Alexander Wong <[email protected]>
uid           [ unknown] Alexander Wong <[email protected]>
uid           [ unknown] Alexander Wong <[email protected]>
uid           [ unknown] Alexander Wong <[email protected]>
uid           [ unknown] Alexander Wong <[email protected]>
uid           [ unknown] Alexander Wong <[email protected]>
sub   rsa4096 2018-04-05 [E]
      Keygrip = 56A194F4FD9EF161B0DC7EC41B5ED7A268C31E5A
sub   rsa4096 2018-04-05 [S] [expires: 2022-04-05]
      Keygrip = 729B0B7AE008371B33F6862279D3BD8EACB1C811
sub   rsa4096 2018-04-05 [E] [expires: 2022-04-05]
      Keygrip = 799803C46EB10274E0D775F18CF63F4C59EF7DF2

Remove the private master encryption key from the keyring:
gpg --edit-key [email protected]

gpg (GnuPG) 2.2.12; Copyright (C) 2018 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

Secret key is available.

sec  rsa4096/0F8D1FA50FC4B4EE
     created: 2018-04-05  expires: never       usage: SC  
     trust: unknown       validity: unknown
sub  rsa4096/F50CB8DC10476CA6
     created: 2018-04-05  expires: never       usage: E   
ssb  rsa4096/E90E5D6448C2C663
     created: 2018-04-05  expires: 2022-04-05  usage: S   
ssb  rsa4096/833AEEDFD24FC81E
     created: 2018-04-05  expires: 2022-04-05  usage: E   
[ unknown] (1). Alexander William Wong (Master)
[ unknown] (2)  Alexander Wong <[email protected]>
[ unknown] (3)  Alexander Wong <[email protected]>
[ unknown] (4)  Alexander Wong <[email protected]>
[ unknown] (5)  Alexander Wong <[email protected]>
[ unknown] (6)  Alexander Wong <[email protected]>
[ unknown] (7)  Alexander Wong <[email protected]>

gpg> key 1      # selects the key that does not have expiry date
gpg> delkey     # delete the key
gpg> trust      # set own key to ultimate trust
gpg> passwd     # modify the password from cold-storage password to something more friendly
gpg> save

This key should now be removed from the private keyring. Remove the cold storage and appropriate files.

Enigmail Preferences