Let us first take a screenshot of the initial look of Linux Mint 18.1 Serena Cinnamon
##Download this github
You can run any of these scripts by downloading the zip file from github. Go to the download folder and right-click to Extract here. Go inside the folder and right-click in a blank space to go to the terminal. Now your terminal is opened in this extracted folder.
Or you can use the terminal and the git command
git clone https://github.com/erikdubois/Ultimate-Linux-Mint-18.1-Cinnamon
##Update your system.
Choose if you like to download from local servers or not.
##Kernel, cinnamon and nvidia
First we upgrade the kernel, nvidia and cinnamon/nemo if you want to.
If everything is still working we can install the software and start customizing the system.
As described at http://erikdubois.be/ I try to get the latest of everything. This attitude tends to break things. You have been warned. But the best way to learn about linux.
I have written a script to automate my installations.
###Kernel
Do not forget to type "./" in front of the name.
Type in the terminal
update-to-the-last-stable-4.x.x-latest.sh
###Cinnamon-nightly or beta version
I never install the beta version on my working computer. You have been warned. Beta's are notoriously not stable.
But it can be your choice to check out what software engineers are developing for the next release and install the very latest cinnamon version today.
There is no script included for this. You will have to do it manually in the terminal.
These lines will add a resource and upgrade cinnamon. Copy/paste every line one by one in the terminal.
sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:gwendal-lebihan-dev/cinnamon-nightly
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install cinnamon -y
sudo apt-get upgrade cinnamon -y
###Nvidia
The last months/years I have no issues with the drivers coming from Linux (i.e.nouveau). So I do NOT install the Nvidia drivers.
Nvidia drivers will NOT be installed as they are very specific to your hardware. But checkout the code.
You can normally install nvidia drivers without any other source.
Try typing this in the terminal
sudo apt install nvidia and then press on TAB
If for some reason you want other sources for your drivers then check out these two.
Copy/paste these lines in a terminal to get the latest nvidia drivers.
sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install nvidia-340 -y (for example)
Check on Nvidia.com which driver you should use and install it from there.
Wait for the installation and reboot.
More info when running into problems : http://erikdubois.be/install-latest-nvidia-driver-linux-mint-18/
##Software installation
We start the installation scripts of all the needed software via the terminal.
1-install-core-software-vx.sh
2-install-extra-software-vx.sh
3-install-themes-icons-cursors-plank.sh
Do not forget to type "./" in front of the name.
These three scripts will point to some of the other scripts in the folder. So keep them together.
The best of them
Spotify
Sublime Text
Variety
Inkscape
Plank
Screenfetch
Numix Icons
Google Chrome
...
There are other scripts for applications I sometimes need but will not be installed as of yet.
##Change the theme to Mint-Y-Dark
Ofcourse you can change the theme. I like the mint-y-dark theme which I will use in the later screenshots. I installed screenfetch to show you some technical information.
sudo apt install screenfetch
Sometimes you can change the present theme to its dark equivalent. Follow these steps to check if a dark variant of your theme exist. Best to logoff or reboot to be sure.
This is an example of Sardi icons and dark theme on.
Using the scripts at https://github.com/erikdubois/Arc-Theme-Colora we can change the standard blue colour from Arc to any colour we like.
Check first at https://github.com/erikdubois/Arc-Theme-Colora-Collection if your colour has been created already.
We can install all the created themes with this script
theme-arc-colora-collection-3.2-vx.sh
The version of cinnamon is important to have a nice theme or not. Linux Mint 18.1 > cinnamon version 3.2
cinnamon --version
Arc-Dark-Orange
Read here for more info on ARC BASED THEMES : http://erikdubois.be/category/themes/arc-based-themes/
Using the scripts at https://github.com/erikdubois/Mint-Y-Colora-Theme we can change the standard green colour from Mint-Y to any colour we like.
Check first at https://github.com/erikdubois/Mint-Y-Colora-Theme-Collection if your colour has been created already.
We can install all the created themes with this script
theme-mint-y-colora-collection-3.2-vx.sh
The version of cinnamon is important to have a nice theme or not. Linux Mint 18.1 > cinnamon version 3.2
cinnamon --version
Mint-Y-Arc-Dark
Read here for more info on MINT-Y BASED THEMES : http://erikdubois.be/category/themes/mint-y-based-themes/
##Download the Sardi icons
Sardi icon collection can be downloaded at sourceforge.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/sardi/
For ease of installation I use the script
- icons-sardi-vx.sh
Follow the collection on google+ : https://plus.google.com/u/0/collection/YFP-LB
The most recent pictures can be found there.
Sardi is meant to be changed by the users. You can use scripts to change the hexadecimal colour code in about 3 seconds.
Sardi Colora has such a colouring script.
Sardi Flat Colora has such a colouring script.
Sardi Flexible has such a colouring script.
Sardi Ghost Flexible has such a colouring script.
Sardi Mono Colora has such a colouring script.
Sardi Mono Numix Colora has such a colouring script.
Colour codes can be figured out locally with gpick or online via http://www.colorpicker.com/.
##Download the Sardi-extra icons
There is also a collection of Sardi Extra icons at
https://github.com/erikdubois/Sardi-Extra
These icons can be downloaded but will not be maintained. Nor are they part of the core icons of Sardi. They are the result of ideas and scripts that are included in Sardi icons.
Easy installation with this script
icons-sardi-extra-vx.sh
More documentation on http://erikdubois.be/category/sardi-icons/
##Download the Surfn icons
For ease of installation I use the script
- icons-surfn-vx.sh
More info can be found here : https://github.com/erikdubois/Surfn
##Install the Aureola conky collection
This is an exercise in writing conky configurations in lua syntax.
Easy installation can be done with this script :
conky-aureola-vx.sh
More information can be found here : http://erikdubois.be/category/linux/aureola/
##Change the cursor
I like the breeze snow cursors.
install-breeze-snow-cursor-theme-v1
##Install the plank and download 100+ theme
Plank is installed through this script
1-install-core-software-vx.sh
Find plank in the menu and start it. CTRL + Right-click on the plank and choose preferences and put in on top. Standard you will have only 3 themes.
If you want to install 100+ plank themes, you need to run this script :
plank-themes-vx.sh
Surfn icons and all plank themes
Sardi icons and all plank themes
Read more on plank e.g. how to autostart plank on boot : http://erikdubois.be/category/linux/plank/
##Change from bash to zsh in your terminal
I like bash but I prefer zsh with lots of different themes from oh-my-zsh to spice things up. So let us install that via this script.
./install-zsh-vx.sh
Remember to type this in the terminal
sudo chsh yourname -s /bin/zsh
Log off or reboot.
Content Playlist of 100+ short movies to make your desktop eye-candy. Sardi icon collection playing its part.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlloYVGq5pS43s05ltH9xh7paFteoT7UB
About 100+ short movies to completely change your desktop experience for linux. They are made on Linux Mint 18 and still apply on 18.1. Updating, kernel installation, applications installation, variety settings, firefox and google search, lastpass and xmarks, sardi icon theme, fixing icons that never change, theme installation of vertex and arc, applets, dropbox, zsh, printer, aureola conky, surfn icons, plank, personal settings of cinnamon, gimp scripts added, dropbox fix, keyboard fix for music, ...
Check out the movies by clicking here
Sardi icons
http://erikdubois.be/category/sardi-icons/
https://sourceforge.net/projects/sardi/files/
Surfn icons
https://github.com/erikdubois/Surfn
Aureola conky
http://erikdubois.be/category/linux/aureola/
https://github.com/erikdubois/Aureola
Arc Colora
http://erikdubois.be/category/themes/arc-based-themes/
https://github.com/erikdubois/Arc-Theme-Colora
Mint-Y Colora
https://github.com/erikdubois/Mint-Y-Colora-Theme
https://github.com/erikdubois/Mint-Y-Colora-Theme-Collection
Plank and 100+ Plank Themes
http://erikdubois.be/category/linux/plank/
https://github.com/erikdubois/Plank-Themes.
#What can you do if the script does not execute?
Since I sometimes forget to make the script executable, I include here what you can do to solve that.
A script can only run when it is marked as an executable.
ls -al
Above code will reveal if a script has an "x". X meaning executable. Google "chmod" and "execute" and you will find more info.
For now if this happens, you should apply this code in the terminal and add the file name.
chmod +x typeyourfilename
Then you can execute it by typing
./typeyourfilename
Or you can follow these steps
#But that is the fun in Linux.
You can do whatever Y O U want.