05-desktop-base.sh

Status: Recommended

Desktop foundation script that bridges the gap between core hardware setup (scripts 00–08) and workstation provisioning modules. Ensures the desktop environment, display manager, fonts, firmware updater, and essential timers are fully installed and enabled.

Usage

sudo bash workstation/05-desktop-base.sh [--dry-run] [--help]

Flag	Description
--dry-run	Preview all actions without modifying the system
--help	Show usage information and exit

What It Does

1. Desktop Environment — installs gnome and gdm if not already present.
2. NetworkManager — installs and enables NetworkManager for network connectivity.
3. Audio Stack (PipeWire) — installs pipewire, pipewire-pulse, and wireplumber for modern GNOME audio.
4. XDG User Directories — installs xdg-user-dirs and runs xdg-user-dirs-update to create standard folders.
5. Fonts — installs noto-fonts, noto-fonts-emoji, ttf-dejavu, and ttf-liberation.
6. Firmware Updates — installs and enables fwupd.service for firmware update management.
7. CPU Microcode — installs intel-ucode for Intel Ice Lake microcode updates.
8. Maintenance Utilities — installs pacman-contrib (provides paccache and checkupdates).
9. System Timers — enables fstrim.timer (periodic SSD TRIM) and paccache.timer (weekly cache cleanup).
10. Bluetooth Service — installs bluez/bluez-utils and enables bluetooth.service.
11. Display Manager — enables gdm to start on boot.

Prerequisites

• Root access (run with sudo or via make desktop).
• An active internet connection for package installation.

Source

View the full source on GitHub.