The beginner’s handbook

Debian 12 Bookworm

arpinux © WTFPL

trad. Saby43 & arpinux

Updated: June 17, 2023

– About this manual –
“The beginner’s handbook” is a simplified manual to install and master the Debian system.
You will find in the following pages the answers to your first questions concerning the Debian
GNU/Linux system , its history, how to obtain it, to install it, to master it, to configure and
administrate it.
You will be able to go further and obtain information concerning the privacy protection, the backing up
of your data, and the various actors of the Free Software world.
Usually, the manuals begin by teaching you the theoretical basis and the usage of the terminal. This
manual takes the very side of the “graphical environment”: it is designed to let you start quickly with
Debian, screen powered on, fingers on the keyboard and the mouse nearby .

– The mission of this manual is not to be comprehensive –

A lot of external links are available in this manual. Don’t hesitate to click on them in order to read more
detailed information.
For a more detailed documentation, please visit the official Debian Wiki: https://wiki.debian.org/FrontPage
or the Debian administrator’s handbook: https://debian-handbook.info/browse/stable/

– How to use this manual? –

This PDF version includes a detailed summary and a table of images at the end of the guide.
Note: This manual includes some commands or code blocks that are sometimes longer than the width of
the page. In this case, a backslash “\” is added and the rest of the command or code is carried over to
the next line.

the beginner’s handbook

thebeginnershandbook 1 Contents
 Debian? What’s that?

Distribution, free software, community, packages, source code … but what is Debian in
fact?

1.1 The Debian GNU/Linux system

Debian is an operating system free (as in free speech) and gratis (as in free beer). Debian allows your
computer to function and offers you a full set of Free Software for all the usual practices (surfing the Web,
sending emails, playing multimedia files, doing office kind of tasks), and more …
This collection of Libre Software comes to a large extend from the GNU project, launched in 1983 by
Richard M. Stallman. The Linux kernel developed by Linus Torvalds then came to complete this set of
software to make GNU/Linux.

GNU & Tux, logos of the GNU projet and the Linux kernel by Péhä CC-BY-SA

The Debian GNU/Linux distribution was started by Ian Murdock (rip) in August 1993. Everything started
with a little, but solid, group of free software hackers, which grew up to become a large and well organized
community of developers and end users. Debian is now developed by a thousand of volunteers spread
around the world.
So, Debian is a complete set of free software.
A free software is defined by the 4 freedoms https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.en.html : it gives
the end users the freedom of using, studying, sharing and modifying that software, without breaking
the law. To achieve this, it is necessary for the developer to distribute the source code and authorize the
end-user to exercise its rights granted by a free license.

2
 In memory of Ian Murdock by Péhä CC-0

One of the major interests of the free software is that it allows skilled people to audit the program code, to
insure notably that it does only what it is supposed to do. So it is an additional barrier to protect your
privacy .
Debian implements this principle in its Social Contract, and particularly in the Free Software Guidelines
according to Debian. This contract states that the Debian project will remain 100% free.
However the contract recognizes that some users might need “non-free” components to run their systems,
like some peripheral drivers, or some applications decoding specific music or video files, for example.
That’s why the distributed software is divided into 4 sections:

• main for the free software packages available by default,

• non-free-firmware for the non-free firmwares available by default,
• contrib for the packages respecting the free software guidelines by themselves, but which are
depending on non-free software, that do not comply with these guidelines,
• non-free for packages which do not comply with the free software guidelines.

Debian is developed very thoroughly. Every new stable version is carefully tested by users before it is
released. And this release happens when it is ready. Hence few maintenance work is required once
the system is installed and facing problems is very rare.

logo Debian “debian”

thebeginnershandbook 3 Contents
Like numerous other free distributions, Debian is not very sensitive to malware (like viruses, Trojan horses,
spyware…) and for several reasons:

• This large variety of software is available from repositories hosted on servers controlled by the
project. Therefore, it is not necessary to search programs to be installed on dubious sites which
distribute viruses and unwanted programs in addition to the one you were looking for.
• The administrator and the user rights are clearly separated, which helps a lot in limiting the damages:
In case of a viral infection, only the user’s documents are affected. This clear separation of the rights
limits also the risks of error made between the keyboard and the chair. More details on the rights in
chapter 3.7.

The back-up of you data on a regular basis remains the best insurance to protect them against
potential viruses or technical issues, but also against your own mistakes (chap.9).

1.2 Where to find help

Do you need help? The first reflex, if you can, is to consult the documentation. Next come the various
user’s forums, and then a GNU/Linux Group (LUG), if you are lucky enough to be located nearby. There
are also several events dedicated to the free software in various associations: you will be able to schedule
appointments not far from your home by consulting agendas of the Libre software https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/List_of_free-software_events.

• The documentation embedded in the system itself: in general, the installed applications include
a manual available from the command line (chap.3.8) by typing ‘man application_name’ and/or from
the graphical menu with the “Help” button of the application.
• The on-line documentation: when you use a GNU/Linux distribution like Debian, you can access
a detailed on-line documentation, with a list of the functionalities of the embedded applications.
Debian provides you an official documentation: https://wiki.debian.org.
• Self-help and support forums: the free software community is divided into a host of forums, sites
and blogs of information. Finding your way in this abundance of communication is sometimes tricky,
and you should rather prefer the sites dedicated to your own environment or distribution. Concerning
Debian, the main self-help forum is available to support you: the Debian User forum (https://forums.
debian.net/). You could get some extra information on the Debian Official Support page: https:
//www.debian.org/support
• Associations and LUGs: if you are lucky, you are living not too far from a Linux users group or an
association where members meet on a regular basis. In this case don’t hesitate to pay them a visit
for a little chat (https://tldp.org/HOWTO/User-Group-HOWTO-3.html)

Debian banner

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1.2.1 About forums, geeks, and the terminal

The self-help and support GNU/Linux community mainly consists of passionate volunteers who
share their knowledge with great pleasure. They are also very technical persons, friendly called the geeks
(usually wearing a beard), with several years of computer practice behind them. This experience leads
them to master the terminal, which is the most efficient tool to manage a GNU/Linux system: therefore,
the very first answers found on the forums will naturally be given in the form of a set of command line
operations. Don’t be scared: in most of the cases a graphical solution (using the mouse within a window)
exists also. Ask kindly and you will get an explanation.
To be able to ask a question on a self-help and support forum you should usually register first.
You need a valid email address to register with, then receive a confirmation request message and, once
registered, the notifications of the answers you got.
Before you ask a question, please remember to look first into the Questions/Answers already solved:
most of the forum include a search function by keyword, which will help you find out if your problem is
already described in there and has a documented solution.
Don’t forget that a forum is usually maintained by volunteers, not to be confused with a post-sales cus-
tomer service organization .

1.3 Few links before moving on

• The Free Software Foundation: https://www.fsf.org/?set_language=en

• About Debian: https://www.debian.org/intro/about.en.html
• Introduction to Debian: https://www.debian.org/intro/index.en.html
• The official Debian Wiki: https://wiki.debian.org/DebianIntroduction
• The developer’s corner: https://www.debian.org/devel/
• The historic details: https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/project-history/

Kali Ma Shakti de

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 A simplified introduction to computer

We begin here a scary page…

Let’s start with a simple statement: Software developers and end-users do not speak the same
language…

Dev vs users

But then … how are we going to make it?

Easy: we read the beginner’s handbook!

Within a short period of time, computers became essential tools of the modern life. One issue is that
information and education don’t follow the technical progress at the same pace, nor the needs of the
users.
Therefore, it is difficult for a “new user” to discover the full capabilities of its computer. Moreover we use
generally only few applications.
We will try to simplify this universe as far as possible, in order for you to make the most of your computer
and to enjoy the capabilities of Debian.

6
How does a computer work ?
One launches applications, clicks on icons, types some text in … One needs a computer, a screen, a
keyboard, a mouse.
In this handbook, we will show you the basic manipulations in order to use your mouse and your keyboard.
What use for a computer?
It seems difficult to summarize in few sentences the whole scope of the information technology field. How-
ever its usage is somewhat clear :

• watch a movie: whether it is for your summer vacation footage, or a DVD, or a video file downloaded
from Internet, Debian offers you several multimedia players. An example in this manual with VLC
(chap.6.7)
• listen to music: enjoy your audio CD, your direct radio streaming, or your digital music library with
Rhythmbox (chap.6.8) and without any trouble.
• search for something on Internet: browse the Net, visit pages, contribute to Internet, by using
several Debian web applications, let’s take Firefox as an example (chap.6.6).
• read or write electronic mails: communicate with your family, your contacts, using either your
email client or your web browser (chap.6.4)
• work on formatted documents or presentations: Debian includes several applications, but the
LibreOffice suite (chap.6.9) will let you perform all kinds of office work using compatible formats.
• walk through your family pictures: your memories in one click, simply using the image viewers
integrated on all the Debian desktop.
• print documents or images: Debian uses the CUPS printing server, and its common configura-
tion tool (chap.6.2.2), but you can also use an integrated utility for a simplified printer configuration
(chap.6.2.1)

And this is exactly the know-how you are going to acquire with the beginner’s handbook .

2.1 Test your level of computer skills

Keep in mind that this manual is not cast in stone… Our advices are only suggestions regarding your
computer knowledge …
First of all, you are free!
Importantly, be as honest as possible: we are all beginners in one domain or another (personally, I am
unable to change the injectors in the carburetor of my car) and it is not a fault. The issue is raising only
because computers are taking a large space in our lives, and penalize the newbies. But we are here to
change all that!
The goal of this manual is not to transform you in GNU/Linux sysadmin (short for system administrator),
but simply give you the tools to utilize your computer as you want !
Outright beginner?
You never or rarely used a keyboard? You still wonder why you must “open a window” and what is this
“drag and drop” concept?

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Please continue reading this manual and follow its guidance. You will learn how to use your mouse and
keyboard (the tools to directly interface with the machine), and to recognize the basic elements of your
desktop environment (menus, panels, windows, virtual desktop …)
Then discover Debian and its functionalities.
Novice user?
You are a Windows® user and/or you have a little experience with GNU/Linux, but you never installed it: it
is the right time to choose your flavor of Debian (chap.4) and discover the interface of your future system.
Basic user?
You have already used a Debian derivative and/or another free distribution, and you know exactly what
you need. Let’s jump directly to the serious stuff with the actual installation (chap.5).

2.2 The mouse

The mouse is the physical interface which let you move the pointer on the screen:

the mouse moves are synchronized with those of the little arrow (the pointer) on your desktop.
There are different types of mouse; we will take here the example of the classical mouse with two buttons
and a scrolling wheel.

2.2.1 Left-click and double-click

The left-click (or simple-click) is the most common opearation and is used to point to (or select) either
a folder, or a file or an image, which can then be open with a double-click (pressing twice the mouse
left-button). This left-click is also used to send commands to the computer (by validating a choice) when
one presses on the “button” or something else sensitive to the click (i.e. the cross closing a window).

2.2.2 Right-click

The right-click is used to open a contextual menu (a variable list of options, depending on the software
used and the “object” pointed at by the mouse) in order to modify a file, a folder, a configuration …

2.2.3 Middle-click

The middle-click or scrolling-wheel is used for scrolling and quick copy. If your mouse has neither a
middle button nor a scrolling wheel, the “middle-click” can be emulated by pressing on the two (left and
right) buttons at the same time.

2.2.4 Actions executed with the mouse

The main action of the mouse is to point out an item to open it (in the case of a document for example) or
to launch it (in the case of a link to an application or a menu entry). For that, nothing very complicated,
just place the pointer on the element and then double-click with the left button of your mouse.

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One thing that you SHOULD NEVER DO is to click several times on a button if you think that nothing
happens. It is very possible that an application won’t start “immediately”, it is very depending on your
hardware and the application being launched. As an example, a web browser takes significantly more
time to start up, than the file manager.

play too much with the click, you won’t

2.2.4.1 Drag-and-drop

To graphically move or copy your data, it is enough to “drag” them across the screen and “drop” them
where you want (this is the graphical equivalent of the mv command).
Example: to move a file you just downloaded into another folder, press the left-button on the file in question,
and while you hold the right-button, you move the mouse into the destination folder and then you release
the mouse button:

Drag and drop: point to the file to be moved

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 Drag and drop: hold the button while moving the mouse

Drag and drop: move the mouse into the destination folder

Drag and drop: release the button

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2.2.4.2 Selection of several items

If you need to move, copy or delete several items, you can select them together.
To select a group of contiguous items: press and hold the left-button, move the mouse to drag a
frame around them and release the button when they are all selected. Then you can act on the selection
like explained previously (copy/paste or contextual menu):

Selecting several folders

To select non contiguous items you can:

• either select each item one by one with a combination of the [Ctrl] key on the keyboard and the
left-button of the mouse: hold the [Ctrl] key down and left-click on each element you want to select.
• or select all the elements and then “remove” the undesirable ones using a combination of the [Ctrl]
key on the keyboard and the left-button of the mouse: hold the [Ctrl] key down and left-click on each
element you want to remove from the selection.

Selection of several non-contiguous items

2.2.4.3 Text selection

Put the cursor at the beginning or at the end of the text segment you want to select, then hold the left-button,
and move the mouse over the text you want selected. Then release the mouse button.
You can also double-click (click twice quickly on the mouse left-button) on the first word you want to select
and then move the cursor over.

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 Text selection with the mouse

If you are fast enough, a triple-click will select the entire line or paragraph.

2.2.4.4 Copy and paste a selection

With the right-button: a right-click will display a contextual menu giving you the choice among several
actions, one of them being the requested copy/paste. Put the cursor within the selected segment, right-
click and choose the “copy” action. Then move the cursor where you want to paste the selected text,
right-click again and choose “paste”.

Copy and paste a text segment: copy the selection

Copy and paste a text segment: cursor on destination, right-click > paste

Copy and paste a text segment: selection pasted

With the middle-button: once the text segment is selected, you just need to move the pointer where
you want to paste the selection and do a middle-click. The copy is immediate.

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2.3 The keyboard

The keyboard is the main physical interface to enter data in your computer. But it is not the just the
device which let you enter some words in the Internet search bar, or work with a word processor.
It includes also some special keys, called modifier keys, which allow you to execute quick actions by
modifying the behavior of the “normal” keys.
The combinations of some “special” keys with other “normal” keys form the keyboard shortcuts
(chap.2.3.2).
Default QWERTY keyboard layout

Example of layout for an English keyboard (cc-by-sa)

2.3.1 The modifier keys

The “non-alphanumeric” keys of the keyboard give you access to extended functionalities during action
or edition phases. From the simple carriage return within a text editor with the [Enter] key, to the launch
of a Help window with the [F1] key, find hereafter some descriptions of these special keys:

• [ENTER] The first “special” key, which is not really a modifier key. This is the most important key
of your keyboard since it let you end a command line, launch a search request. Basically this is the
key saying “Yes” to the computer. When a dialog window opens on the screen, either to confirm a
download or delete an application, take the time to read the message before pressing [Enter].
• [Ctrl] or [Control] Located at the bottom of your keyboard, on both sides of the space bar, it is the
default key used for the shortcuts.
• [Alt] or [Function] By default this key displays the specific shortcuts of an application. Within an
open window, pressing the [Alt] key reveals the shortcuts to navigate through the menus or trigger
some actions. These shortcut keys are identified by an underscore.
• [AltGr] let you use the hidden characters of the keyboard. More information in the dedicated section
(chap.2.3.3).
• [Tab] or [Tabulation] Symbolized by two opposite horizontal arrows. It allows you to complete a
command or navigate through the various fields of a form, or menus of a window.

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 • [Shift] or [Uppercase] Key symbolized by a wide up-arrow. let you type capitalized characters, and
sometimes numbers (depending on your keyboard layout), some special characters like “@”,“%”,
“&” etc.
• [CapsLock] or [Capital Lock] Key symbolized by a lock or a larger [Shift], causes all letters to be
generated in capitals until deactivated. Equivalent to a [Shift] key down permanently.
• [ESC] or [Escape] This key cancels the latest entry of a modifier, or closes a dialog box asking the
user to make a choice (equivalent to click on the “Cancel” button in the dialog box).
• [F1], [F2]…[F12] Execute various functions… by definition. The [F1] key is often used to launch the
Help function within applications, [F11] to switch to full-screen mode, for example.

2.3.2 Keyboard shortcuts

Why bother? Because it’s much faster!

Note that the shortcuts are triggered by pressing down the keys together, at the same time: to copy a
selection, press and hold the [Ctrl] key, then press the ‘c’ key. You can then release both keys, a clone of
your selection is stored in the “clipboard” (a special buffer located in the memory of the operating system).
Hereafter a short summary of the most useful keyboard shortcuts:

Shortcut Action

[Shift] + arrows Make a selection

[Ctrl] + ‘c’ Copy the current selection (in the “clipboard”)
[Ctrl] + ‘x’ Cut the current selection (and save it in the “clipboard”)
[Ctrl] + ‘v’ Paste the latest copy/cut selection from the “clipboard”
[Ctrl] + ‘f’ Find a word or an expression
[Ctrl] + ‘+/-’ or Mouse-scrolling-wheel Zoom in/out of the screen display
[Alt] + [F4] Close the active window
[Alt] + [Tab] Jump from an open window to the next one
[F1] Open the Help function of the active application
[F11] Switch to full-screen mode

Note that some functionalities are not only available on text segments (like copy/paste), but on files also: if
you select several pictures in your ‘Pictures’ folder, make a [Ctrl]+‘c’ and then a [Ctrl]+‘v’ on your desktop,
your selected pictures will be copied there. In the same way, [Ctrl]+mouse-scrolling-wheel will zoom in or
out the content of your Internet navigator, as well as the content of a file manager window.

2.3.3 Special characters

Keyboards can’t contain as many keys as available characters. In order to write the particular characters
in English, it is necessary to combine the keys like the shortcuts (simultaneously pressing of the keys)

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First, a preview of the QWERTY’s “hidden” keys:

Special characters available on QWERTY keyboard layout (cc-by-sa)

Each symbol is associated with a key combination. So to write “©”, you’ll have to simultaneously press
[AltGr] + ‘c’.

Available characters with the ‘c’ key

2.4 Online exercises

The beginner’s handbook provide you a mouse and keyboard training page.
Right or left click, movement with the mouse, special characters, keyboard selection … enough to get
started with your keyboard and your mouse quickly from a simple online interface:
https://lescahiersdudebutant.arpinux.org/exercices/index-en.html

2.5 The users

One of the great strengths of the GNU/Linux systems is their user management. The separation of rights
and responsibilities provides a better security level when executing system administration tasks or ex-
changing data on the net. Small explanation …

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2.5.1 $USER

Generally YOU are the user, of course. Sometimes one talks about the Chair-To-Keyboard
interface (abbreviated CTKI), since it’s very true that you are sitting between the chair and the keyboard,
or the mouse. When you work on your computer, it does not see you. It feels only the actions made by a
user with a login-name and sometimes a password.
Each user is allowed to perform a certain number of actions. Your user can, for example, use the keyboard
and the mouse, read and write some documents (files), but not all of them. We call that rights: to execute
administrative tasks, one must obtain the root administrator rights (chap.3.8.3).

2.5.2 #ROOT

Only one user has all the rights, it is the administrator. This special user is able to exe-
cute some tasks (in particular for the system administration) that other normal users cannot perform by
themselves. But a single mistake in an operation made by this root user could potentially break the whole
system.
At home, on your desktop computer, you can use your system both as a normal user and as an admin-
istrator. Some well defined actions have to take place in order to switch from one role to the other, like
typing the root administrator password (chap.3.8.3).

2.5.3 Separate to secure

This clean distinction, which, by the way, does not always exist under other operating sys-
tems, strengthens the stability and security of the Debian GNU/Linux system, as mentioned at the be-
ginning of this manual. When working as simple/normal user you cannot make your computer unusable
(brick it), and the potential viruses cannot infect the whole system.
More details on rights and permissions in the chapter 3.7.

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 The graphical environment

Let’s start by looking at the various elements displayed on the screen. On this simple image, you
can already identify the first elements which are explained below in this handbook:

The LXQt desktop with the application menu and the PCManFM file manager

The “panel” or task bar (at the bottom of the screen, in this example, but it can be moved wherever you
wish) which could include the “application menu” listing your installed software, a collection of launchers
(small icons) for your favorite applications, the list of the currently open windows, the time, the notification
area…
A file manager window which displays the folders contained in your home directory.
You will discover other interfaces and layouts in the chapter dedicated to desktop environments
(chap.4.2).

17
3.1 The task bar

The “panel”, the task bar, the notification area… all these words to talk about the information and launcher
interface of your system.
Usually, it is a banner located at the top or the bottom of your screen, displaying several types of infor-
mation, launchers, menus to quickly access your data or your applications, but also informing you (new
email has arrived, what time it is, a USB disk was just plugged in…) via the notification area.
Here after a quick overview of the various “panels” on the Debian desktops: Gnome, Xfce, LXDE, MATE,
Cinnamon, KDE and LXQt:

Gnome-Shell panel

Xfce panel

LXDE panel

MATE up & down panel

Cinnamon panel

KDE panel

LXQt panel

Irrelevant of the type of desktop, the task bar displays, at least, the following elements:

• An application menu, letting you have access to the installed software tools. In general, the appli-
cations are sorted and grouped by categories (Multimedia, Office…) and are launched by a left-click
on their labels or icons.

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 • A list of active windows or at least the title of the active windows. Depending on the context,
a left click on the corresponding button will minimize, restore or bring to the foreground the target
application.
• The time with the date also displayed when the cursor hovers on the area. On some desktops an
agenda is open by a left-click on the time.
• A notification area with more or less information, depending on the desktop, intended to display
messages coming from your applications (new email, network connection …)
• An action button to quit the working session, to suspend, stop or restart your computer. Depending
on your configuration you might switch user, with this button, and take advantage of the multi-user
mode of the Debian GNU/Linux systems.

Like almost all the elements of the GNU/Linux desktops, the task bar can be configured and embellished
by plug-ins (little specialized modules) or simply removed !
A right-click on the “panel” opens a drop down menu allowing you to change its configuration (except for
the Gnome-3 desktop). Hereafter an example of configuration for the Xfce panel:

Accessing the Xfce panel configuration with a right-click

The 3 tabs of the Xfce panel configuration

More details in the GNU/Linux desktop discovery section (chap.4.2).

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3.2 Menus

The various applications installed in your system are available through several vectors: launchers on the
desktop, or in the task bars, and more generally using the menus.
In the menus, your programs are listed and sorted by categories. A left-click on the menu icon displays
the application and section entries. A left-click on a program icon launches the corresponding application.
Each desktop has its own specific menu:

Menu grouped by category on Cinnamon

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 Classic dropdown menus on LXQt or XFCE

Full-screen menu on Gnome-Shell

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3.3 Windows

The Firefox web browser and the file manager on Gnome

Your applications, your data, your USB keys, are usually displayed within a decorated frame. Each desk-
top environment decorates windows its own way, but most of the times they implement the same functions:

• the title bar at the top displays the window title and the action buttons (minimize/maximize/close)
• the decorations around the window, which include two areas at the bottom to resize the window
using a mouse left-click
• the status area: some applications display informations at the bottom of the window (like free
space available in the active partition, size of the file currently pointed at …)

Actions on windows are possible with the keyboard: either directly with a function key, or by using a
keyboard shortcut (chap.2.3.2), but generally your mouse will do the job.

3.3.1 Closing a window

To close a window, left-click on its “close” button, usually symbolized by a cross in the top right corner of
the window.

Closing a window with the mouse

3.3.2 Moving a window

To move a window on your screen simply move your pointer on the title bar (the top banner of the window)
then press and hold the left-click. The pointer will then change its usual look:

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from to
The window will then follow the mouse motion until you release the left button.
If you don’t have access to the title bar, you can use the special [Alt] key on your keyboard.
Put your pointer on the window you want to move, then press the [Alt] key together with the mouse left-click
to grab and move your window.

3.3.3 Resizing a window

Windows are automatically open on the screen with a certain size. To close them, we have seen already
that we need to click on the close button symbolized by a cross.
To resize a window, you need to move your cursor on the borders of the window or, even better, on one
of the bottom corners.
The pointer will then change its usual look:

from to or depending on its left or right position. When the look of the pointer changes,
press the left-button and move the mouse to resize the window like you want.
An alternative solution consists in using the special [Alt] key on your keyboard. Move the pointer inside
the window, then press together the [Alt] key and the right-button of the mouse. Then you will be able to
resize the window.
To maximize the window, double-click (click twice quickly with the mouse left-button) on the title-bar
(when using the GNOME environment) or use the maximize button located next to the close button, if
present (and it is the case on most of the desktops).

3.4 Virtual desktops

To avoid overloading your workspace, the Debian GNU/Linux environments support, since several years,
the virtual desktop concept: the elements displayed on your screen lay upon a “desktop”. You can have
several of them, which means that if you move to another “desktop”, it will be empty at first. If you re-
turn back to the previous desktop, you will find it in the same state as when you left it (with your open
applications on screen).

… “Several desktops” … What do you mean exactly ??

Well, it’s like having several screens for your computer, lined up behind each other, with the capability
to change their order at will.
You open the Internet navigator full screen on the first virtual desktop, then you feel like having a look at
your latest family pictures. So you go to the next desktop which happens to be empty, and you can
then display there your pictures also in full screen mode, and return back to the first desktop and enjoy

thebeginnershandbook 23 Contents
the full real estate for the comfort of your navigation.
It is also a nice mean to get organized with your tasks: the first desktop is reserved for the Internet
applications, the second for the multimedia, the third for the office work and so on, allowing you to leave
open your work in progress, for future modifications, without impacting the other activities.
Each environment has its own way to represent the virtual desktops:

• Gnome displays shrunk desktops under the search box:

Gnome virtual desktops

• Xfce displays the virtual desktops in its top panel, within frame shapes representing the different
workspaces:

Xfce and 4 virtual desktops shown in the panel

3.5 File management on GNU/Linux

All your data, your videos, your documents, your pictures, are regarded by Debian GNU/Linux as files,
and these files are organized into folders.
Debian is an operating system (the big piece of software making your computer functional) which orga-
nizes the data according to their respective addresses, that is the path to follow, in order to access them,
from the top level starting point (the system root identified by the “/” symbol).

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… the picture of grandma is a “file” having an “address” relative to a “root” ???
Imagine your computer is like your house. If your favorite book is located in a certain place, this
“place” is like an address relative to the “house”. For example, if the book is stored in the second
drawer of your nightstand, one can define its address (the path to follow in order to reach it) like this:
home,bedroom,nightstand,2nd drawer,favorite book.
To separate the various “items” we use the “/” symbol, which gives the following address in computer
language: /home/bedroom/nightstand/2nd drawer/favorite book.
The “root” of the system is symbolized by a simple “/”. The main folder containing all the users data is
symbolized by “/home/”, and your personal folder is named “/home/alice/”.
If we come back to the favorite book example, its address could be:
“/home/alice/Documents/books/my_favorite_book.pdf”

3.5.1 Your personal data

The file manager PCManFM, on LXQt, with two opened tabs

Your personal data are stored within your personal folder, whose address is “/home/your_user_name”.
They are organized within folders to ease the finding and consulting of the various files, by yourself or by
some programs (it is very logical for a photo viewer to look first at the “Pictures” folder).

3.5.2 Your hidden files

Some items within your personal folder, relate to your interface configuration, the various fonts you are
using, your passwords stored in Firefox, etc.

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This type of data does not need to be always displayed on the screen when you consult your photos or
documents: this is why these items are usually hidden.
They are identified by the form “/home/your_user_name/.hidden_file”. Please note the “.” (dot) symbol in
front of the file name.
When you want to unveil them, press together [Ctrl]+‘h’ (h obviously for “hidden”), or from the menu of
your file manager window goto “View” > “Show Hidden Files”:

Hiddden files on display with PCManFM on LXQt

3.5.3 The file system

Debian GNU/Linux includes a collection of programs to navigate on the Internet, or inside your personal
folder, or among all your photo albums, etc. These programs are stored inside “system folders”.
These folders are write-protected and some are also read-protected: this means that you can consult
some of them, but you may not modify any of them, as being a simple user.
In order to modify these items, you need to use the system administrator account: “root” (chap.3.8.3).

3.6 An example of file manager: Thunar

Thunar is the file manager by default with the Xfce desktop. This program lets you navigate through your
various folders, “Pictures”, “Documents”, etc. by using the mouse (double-click on a folder to look into its
content) or the keyboard (navigate among the folders with the arrows keys, and press [Enter] to open the
selected one).The role of a file manager is to display on screen the content of these folders: your personal
data. Thunar is accessible from the Xfce application menu in the task bar, under the name “file manager”.
Each GNU/Linux desktop environment has its dedicated file manager (otherwise it’s not funny) that has
a slightly different interface than Thunar. However, they all support the same functions of consultation,

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search and modification of the data.

3.6.1 Simplified presentation of Thunar

When Thunar displays your personal folder, a number of information and tools are already available:

Presentation of the Thunar file manager

• #1 The title bar: displays the folder being viewed and the program which was launched. It includes
the “action buttons” allowing you, with a mouse left-click, to minimize the window (then it will be
parked in the task bar), to maximize the window (it will occupy the full screen), to close the window
or any other actions available with the window manager in use.
• #2 The menu bar: each menu gives you the possibility to act on items (copy/paste/delete/rename,
etc.), to change the location, the view style (Icons, Detailed List, Compact List), and even to close
the window, always with a left-click. If the menu bar is hidden, you can display it with the shortcut
“Ctrl”+“m”.
• #3 The location bar: tells you which folder you are currently in, and, if there is enough room, the
latest visited folder(s).
• #4 The tab bar: tells you which folders are open in the active windows. Thunar tabs operate like
those in your Internet navigator.
• #5 The side pane: displays the main folders (personal folder, wastebasket, file system, desktop),
your shortcuts (favorite folders) and the external volumes (USB keys or hard disk drives plugged
as USB devices). A left-click on the label will display the selected folder. A middle-click will open
the folder in a new tab (handy to copy or move data). The side pane can also display the tree
structure of your system, that is the complete set of your folders and files sorted hierarchically. You
can mask/display the side pane with the keyboard shortcut [Ctrl]+‘b’.

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 • #6 The main pane: displays the folder content. If this folder includes other folders, they are po-
sitioned before the “simple” files (like photos, PDF documents, etc.) and, by default, sorted by
alphabetic order (you can change the sort type from the menu > View > “sort by”).
• #7 The status bar: displays the number of items in the concerned folder, and the free remaining
space in the current file system, or indicates if one or several items are selected.

3.6.2 Usage and functionality of Thunar

Thunar will let you consult your data, sort them, and modify them.
Note that other file managers have a different look and feel (GTK3), like placing the application menu
directly in the title bar like Gnome for example (chap.4.2.1).

3.6.2.1 Consulting your data

Consulting your data is very easy. Launch Thunar which, by default, opens your personal folder. You can
then decide to open another specific folder depending on the type of data you are looking for.
To open or explore a folder, put the mouse pointer over it: a double-click with the left button will open
this folder in the same window. A middle-click will open the folder in a new window tab.
You can also click on the shortcuts located in the left side pane of the Thunar window.
To open a file, put the mouse pointer over it: a double-click with the left button will open this file with
the application assigned to it by default. A right-click will display a contextual menu which, among other
things, allows you to open the file with another application of your choice.

3.6.2.2 Data selection

To select several items move the mouse cursor in an empty area of the window, left-click,hold and simply
move over all the items that you want selected. Then release the button.
After this, you can remove one or several items from the selection using the shortcut [Ctrl]+left-click on
each of them.
More details in the simplified initiation (chap.2.2.4.2).
Once selected, you can apply some modifications to these items as detailed in the “Modifications” chapter
below.

3.6.2.3 Classifying the data

You are going to say:

I can do whatever I want with my own data

… and you are damn right !

However some applications will access your data more easily if they are stored in their specific folders.
Thus, the screen capture program will record its shots in the “Pictures” folder, the Internet navigator will

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store your downloaded files in the “Downloads” folder, the music player will look into the “Music” folder …
And so on.
Thunar allows you to create shortcuts to ease the access, the classification and thus the retrieving of your
data.
To create a shortcut, just “drag and drop” the desired folder in the side pane. This folder will then be
always accessible with a simple click.

3.6.2.4 Data modification using the contextual menu

A contextual menu shows up when right-clicking on an item (I.E. either a folder or a file), and then, let you
make a number of actions/modifications on this selected item.
Note that if you selected several items, modifications will then be applied to the whole selection.

Contextual menu in Thunar

In our example the contextual menu proposes the following actions:

• Open with the default application, here the Ristretto image viewer.
• Open with another application: if you choose this option, another window will open and let you
navigate in the system to select a different application (start searching in /usr/bin/‘app-name’).
• Send To is a menu to share this item via email, or create a link on the desktop, or other different
actions depending on the type of item selected.
• Cut: this action will remove the selected item with the goal of pasting it somewhere else. It is
then enough to navigate into the destination folder, to make a right-click on an empty area of the
window and to pick the “Paste” action in the menu.
• Copy: this action leaves the selected item in its original folder, but let you copy (clone) it into the
destination folder, following the same procedure as the one described in the “Cut” action above.
• Move to Wastebasket: this action removes the selected item from its parent folder and move it
directly into the Trash Bin (see next chapter)

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 • Rename: this action let you modify the name of the selected item.
• Set as wallpaper: is rather explicit and appears only if a image type file is selected.
• Create Archive: this action allows you to compress one or several selected item(s). In the window
that opens, you can choose the destination folder, by navigating in the side pane, enter a name for
this archive and select its type. Then click on the “New” button to start the archive process.
• Properties: this action let you modify the name of a file, the default application when you open it,
assign an “emblem” (or tag) to it or manage the access rights and “Permissions” of the selected
item.

3.6.2.5 Data removal

The famous “Trash bin” (or “Wastebasket”) is reachable directly from the side pane of the Thunar window.
The “full bin” icon indicates that some items are currently in the wastebasket.

Empty the Wastebasket using the sidebar icon

To empty the Wastebasket and remove definitively all the items in there, left-click on its proper icon
and select the “Empty Wastebasket” action. You can also use the “File” menu and then click on “Empty
Wastebasket”.
Sometimes the context menu has the “Delete” entry. Be careful because this menu entry will not move
your files to the recycle bin: they will be deleted immediately and definitively.

3.7 Rights and permissions

Debian is a multi-user GNU/Linux system. It is therefore necessary to put in place a mechanism to protect
the items belonging to each user, so that user alice could not modify the “tax & due” list of user arp, for
example.
To achieve this goal, each file and each folder belongs to one owner and to one users group.
For each item, one can give Read, Write and eXecute rights distinctly to its owner, its group or all the
others (I.E. persons which are neither the owner nor a member of the proprietary group).
To display these information, one can use the “ls” (list directory content) command, with the option “-l”,
within a terminal window (that you will discover in the next chapter):

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 ls -l
-rw-r----- 1 arp money 1794 Nov 20 14:46 tax-and-due.txt

Here, one can see that the user arp has the “read” and “write” rights, on the file ‘tax-and-due.txt’, while
the members of the money group (which user alice is part of) can only “read” this file, but not modify it,
and the others cannot even open it (“-”, means no right).

Rights and permissions

3.7.1 Rights and permissions from the contextual menu

The file managers integrated in the various Debian desktops let you also display and/or modify the rights
and permissions of your system folders and files “with the mouse only”. To do so, you need to open the
contextual menu with a right-click on the file/folder you are interested in, and click on “Properties”. In the
new window which opens, click on the “Permissions” tab:

Contextual menu: properties

In this example, the file belongs to “Me” (dave), who has the Read and Write access, like my group “dave”,
while the other users have no access at all.

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3.8 The terminal

When you launch an application from the menu, or when you move a file from a folder to another by using
your mouse, you send instructions to your computer in graphical mode.
These instructions can also be sent directly, without going trough a menu or launching an application,
thanks to the Terminal which gives you access to the command line. This tool is more powerful than
the graphical interface because it let you use all the options available in your application. It is also your
last resort when the graphical session is gone.
The only concern is that this little black box, full of strange signs, is somewhat frightening … But we are
going to demystify all this and show you that the terminal can become your new friend .
In case of doubts, don’t hesitate to ask your questions in the support and help forums (chap.1.2).

Never run terminal tests in administrator mode !! : some very useful commands like “rm” (remove)
allow you to bypass the “wastebasket” principle, but could be devastating on the entire system when you
are running them in administrator mode.

3.8.1 Presentation

Terminal presentation

Let’s simply start with what you see written in this terminal window:

• the user, its you, or more exactly the one who is logged in and uses the terminal
• the host name, is the name of the machine on your local network, a name you did enter during the
system installation
• the path, is the place where you are currently located in the file system (here the personal folder
‘/home/arp/’ symbolized by the tilde “~”)

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 • the prompt delimiter, (symbolized here by the “$” sign) after which you will type the command
line. Its output (or “feed back”) will be displayed on the following line(s) of the terminal.

The configuration of the full prompt string resides in the ‘~/.bashrc’ (hidden file in your personal folder)
“bash” interpreter configuration file. The bash program is handling the commands entered in the terminal
(to make a long story short); it enables you to send commands, typed in the terminal, to the computer
system in order to give it various instructions or obtain some information back. Please note that you can
also customize the Terminal display with the menu “Edit > Preference”.

3.8.2 User mode example

To tame the beast, we are going to start with a simple “cd” (standing for “change directory”), which let
you walk through the file system.
When you open a Terminal, you are located by default in the personal folder of the user logged-in (here it
is the /home/arp/ $Home folder). This folder includes the sub-folders Pictures, Downloads, etc.
To go down into the ‘Pictures’ sub-folder, I type in the words “cd Pictures” - without the quotes - (and the
uppercase is of importance here, hence the necessity to clearly identify the item names one is looking
at…) then I press [Enter] to send the command. To reach this ‘Pictures’ folder from anywhere in the file
system, you would need to provide its full path ‘/home/arp/Pictures’ (replace ‘arp’ by your user name):

Using “cd” to navigate the file system in the Terminal console

You can see here that, within the command prompt prefix, the path “~” has been changed to “~/Pictures”,
because you changed the folder you were in, and this is exactly like opening a folder by using your graph-
ical file manager.
However, when you open a folder with the file manager, you “see” all the items in there. Within a terminal
you need to list the items with the “ls” command:

List of existing folders and files with “ls”

… easy, isn’t it ? See, you did not break anything. Yes, but you are going to tell me that this stuff is rather
useless…

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OK, lets move on to cooler commands:
‘uname -r’ gives the version of the active Linux kernel.

Console : uname -r

‘uptime’ gives the elapsed time, since the system is up and running, how many users are currently logged
in, the system load average for the past 1, 5, 15 minutes, in order to see if the process waiting list is not
too long. If the load is over 1 (for old computers) or 2 (for dual-cores and +) this means that one process
is running while another one is waiting.

Console : uptime

You want to return back in your personal folder ? Just a small and simple ‘cd’ and you are @home.

Console : cd

Your screen is a bit crowded ? A small ‘clear’ will empty the console.

Console : clear

3.8.3 Administrator mode example

On a GNU/Linux system, an administrator is a user who has the right to manage the system, install or
remove applications and modify “normal” user accounts (among other tasks). You can get administrator
rights via the “root” account or substitute yourself to it thanks to “sudo”.

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3.8.3.1 “root” and “user”

If the Debian installation was done by creating both “root” superuser and “normal” user account
(for a regular system usage), to place an order in administrator mode when the session was opened as a
“normal” user, Debian uses the “su -” command. You are then asked to enter the superuser password,
nothing is displayed on the screen when typing the password in, this is normal.
Example: Debian system opened by the “normal” user: “user”

user@debian-pc:~$ su -
Password:
root@debian-pc:~# apt update

You note that the “$” sign (the command prompt delimiter), as been replaced by the “#” sign, indicating
that you are now using the “root” administrator account.
Once connected as “root” in the terminal session, you can launch system administration commands, for
example here, a package repository update within a Gnome terminal, using the command “apt update”.

3.8.3.2 “user” without “root”

If the Debian installation was done with the superuser account disabled (the root password was left
empty during the installation process), the “normal” user is able to gain the superuser privilege by using
the “sudo” command. When using sudo you will be asked to enter your own password.
Looking for update example:

user@debian-pc:~$ sudo apt update

[sudo] Password for user :
Get :1 http://security.debian.org/debian-security bookworm-security InRelease [65,4 kB]
Hit : 2 http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm InRelease
Get :3 http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates InRelease [49,3 kB]
Hit :4 http://security.debian.org/debian-security bookworm-security/main amd64 \
Packages [185 kB]
Get :5 http://security.debian.org/debian-security bookworm-security/main \
Translation-en [98,9 kB]
Fetched 399 kB in 4s (97,0 kB/s)
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
3 packages can be upgraded. Run 'apt list --upgradable' to see them.

Look again at this package list update example, that is the retrieval of the latest information concerning
packages and potential updates. After the completion of this package list update (verifying the reposito-
ries), we launch “sudo apt upgrade” to execute the available updates for the software you have installed.
This is what you will see in your terminal window :

user@debian-pc:~$ sudo apt upgrade

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done

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 Calculating upgrade... Done
The following packages will be upgraded:
bluetooth bluez libicu63
3 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 9374 kB of archives.
After this operation, 3072 B of disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] Y

Please note the “Y” character to accept the update.

On Gnu/Linux, when a process must modify the system, it usually asks you for a confirmation. Here the
terminal informs you about the various types of expected changes and wait for your agreement, either by
simply pressing [Enter] if you accept the default option (here “Yes”) or by typing “y” to accept or “n” to
decline.
Let’s continue the download of the packages from the Debian servers:

Get :1 http://security.debian.org/debian-securit.....
Get :2 http://security.debian.org/debian-securit.....
Get :3 http://security.debian.org/debian-securit.....
Fetched 9374 kB in 1min 1s (154 kB/s)
Extracting templates from packages: 100%
Preconfiguring packages ...
(Reading database ... 123419 files and directories currently installed.)
Setting up libicu63:amd64 (63.1-6+deb10u1) ...
[...]
Setting up bluez (5.50-1.2~deb10u1) ...
Installing new version of config file /etc/bluetooth/input.conf ...
Setting up bluetooth (5.50-1.2~deb10u1)
Processing triggers for systemd (241-7~deb10u3)
Processing triggers for man-db (2.8.5-2)
Processing triggers for dbus (1.12.16-1)
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.28-10)
user@debian-pc:~$

If you accept the changes, you will see the complete process of downloading, configuring and installing
the concerned packages. Then the terminal will “give the control back to you” by displaying the command
prompt, “user@debian-pc:~$”
That’s it, you just updated your system using the terminal!

You must be extremely strict when you send commands in administrator mode. To avoid errors, use the
auto-completion feature. This mechanism allows the computer to complete the commands you started
typing (3 characters are enough), or their corresponding arguments. This is accomplished by pressing on
the [Tab] key. If several choices are possible, they will be proposed to you as well.
A short summary of the GNU/Linux commands is proposed at the end of this manual (chap.11).

thebeginnershandbook 36 Contents
 Pick your Debian

Debian is an operating system offered in several flavors, and you will need to make a choice depending
on your tastes, your needs and your hardware.

4.0.1 Choosing a Debian derivative?

There are a lot of Debian derivatives out there, more or less stable and/or supported (Linux Mint Debian
Edition, AntiX, MXLinux, etc…) . This manual and the indications in there can be used for all the Debian
Stable “Bookworm” derivatives.

The GNU/Linux distributions are not all supported by a community the same way Debian is. Sometime,
a single person handle the entire distribution. The different distributions do not provide the same level of
documentation and support. They also do not offer the same durability. Choosing a “mother” distribution
like Debian insures you to receive stable and regular updates.
If you want to test other distributions based on Debian, we suggest you consult the Debian derivatives of-
ficial page (https://wiki.debian.org/Derivatives/CensusFull). If you want to consult a more comprehensive
list, visit Distrowatch.com which enumerates almost all the available active distributions.

4.0.2 Alternatives to Debian

Because no, life is not just about “Debian”

Other projects develop systems for beginners in the GNU/Linux world. If you want to try another system,
let’s take a look at the GNU/Linux distributions dedicated chapter in the Software Directory (chap.12.3).

4.0.3 You want to try the Debian journey

Let’s go ! The rest of this manual will help you to:

• choose the processor architecture (chap.4.1),

• choose your main interface (chap.4.2),
• launch the installation (chap.5).

37
4.1 Choosing the architecture

The processor, which is the compute and control unit of your computer, functions under a specific type
of architecture, that is it handles data according to its own type (32 or 64 bits, PowerPC …).
We encourage you to use an ISO image of type “netinst” (chap.5.2.1.1), which gives you access to the
most up-to-date software versions by downloading directly the applications during the installation process
(you need an active and stable Internet connection during the install). This version will let you install the
desktop of your choice.
You can also use an ISO image already including a ready-to-use environment (Gnome, KDE, Xfce …).
But you must choose an ISO corresponding to your processor architecture. In other words, decide be-
tween a 32-bit or a 64-bit version, or again between an i386 or an amd64 version.
Note that the “32-bit” version will run on a “64-bit” computer, but not vice-versa.

4.1.1 To make it easy

• If your computer has a sticker indicating “coreDuo”, “core2duo”, or was built after the year 2005,
you can take an “amd64” ISO.
• If your computer proudly displays the sign “Pentium IV M” or was born before 2003, take an “i386”
version.
• In case of doubts, you can take the 32-bit “i386” version, it functions everywhere.
• In case of a huge doubt, ask the question on a forum (chap.1.2)

4.1.2 Checking the architecture

Using a GNU/Linux distribution in an autonomous “live” session (chap.5.3.1), open a terminal, and in
order to find out the 32 or 64 bits compatibility, type the following command:

lscpu | grep -i "mode(s)"

which returns the explicit result, here an example when using an ‘amd64’ processor:

CPU op-mode(s): 32-bit, 64-bit

Using a Windows® system, your processor model is displayed in the “General” tab of the menu Start
Button > Configuration Panel > System. It is then necessary to carry out a research on Internet to check
if this processor is compatible with a 64-bit system (for example, the indication under Windows Vista with
the heading “Type of system: 32-bit”, does not mean that the processor is not also compatible with a
64-bit system).

4.2 Choosing your GNU/Linux desktop

Debian let you adopt one or several desktop environments directly from the installer interface: Gnome,
Gnome Flashback, KDE, Mate, Cinnamon, Xfce, LXDE and LXQt.

thebeginnershandbook 38 Contents
… But why several Gnu/Linux “desktops” ?
The computer is only a tool, and even if we ask you sometime to learn a couple of tricks to make an
effective use of it, it is still your tool, and as such it must be highly adaptable to your taste, your working
habit, and to your own way to have fun.
With this perspective, each desktop has its own organization, its setting method, its various functionalities.
And it is not a superfluous diversity, designed by the brain mazes of some bearded geeks (although…),
but rather a strength of the free software: knowing how to propose rather than to impose!
Hereafter the description of the main characteristics of this various environments, to help you decide which
one to use. And then you will be able to add more of them, according to your needs and preferences.
The two main desktops are Gnome and KDE, but they are also the more “resource-hungry” solutions, so
don’t hesitate to test other environments.
– Integrated applications –
Each desktop environment is designed to offer a minimal functionality for the personal usage of your com-
puter.
So, within all the desktops presented here, you will find the Firefox Internet browser (chap.6.6), a file sys-
tem manager, a text editor, the LibreOffice suite (chap.6.9), a multimedia player (except on MATE DE,
but it’s easy to add one) and an access to a software library in order to maintain, update or make changes
in your installation.

The geek-girl by Péhä cc-by-ca

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4.2.1 Gnome

Gnome: desktop layout

The Gnome-Shell interface is the default desktop for Debian 12 “Bookworm” and offers:
The Activities Overview, which is a separate view designed to enable users to get an overview of their
current activities and to enable effective focus switching. It can be accessed via the activities button at
the left of the top bar or by pressing the “Win” key of the keyboard. This view includes:

• A series of application launchers (that you can easily add or remove using the drag and drop method,
or by using a right-click on the “dock”).
• All the open applications.
• The capability to dispatch the applications to several virtual desktops (visualized under the search
box).
• A search engine for applications, files and even contacts.

The Time manager, at the center of the top bar, has an on click calendar, linked to the mail client,
calendar and contacts.
A system settings manager at the top right, giving access to the different parameters regarding the
screen brightness, the sound, the network, the session, and some other system settings.

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 Gnome: Time manager and System menu

Gnome includes a general detailed help mechanism, that you can access via the dock, by default, and
this should reassure all the beginners, and make them a lot more comfortable:

Gnome: integrated comprehensive help

Main applications:

• Internet communications: Evolution (alternative to Thunderbird)

• Video player: Totem (chap.6.7)
• Audio player: Rhythmbox (chap.6.8)
• File system manager: Nautilus (https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Nautilus)

Minimum user level: complete novice / beginner

Gnome project home page: https://www.gnome.org/
More details in the dedicated section of this manual (chap.7.1.1).

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4.2.2 Gnome Flashback

Gnome Flashback offers a Gnome 3 session that will allow you to experience the user experience of
the Gnome 2 interface. Gnome Flashback offers a simple and clean interface, while retaining the main
features of the Gnome 3 desktop.

Gnome Flashback desktop on Debian

Gnome Flashback offers fewer applications than the default Gnome-Shell desktop, but you will find the
essentials softwares for the daily use of your computer.
This session was first offered as an alternative to the Gnome-Shell session in the form of a Classic Gnome
session (chap.7.1.1.4). Although this alternative still exists on Gnome-Shell, Gnome Flashback is now an
independent desktop available upon installation of Debian.
This desktop also features the Gnome Help utility, making getting started with your system particularly
easy.

Gnome Flashback includes Gnome Help Center

Gnome Flashback is also a little less resource intensive than Gnome-Shell.

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A clean interface, of course, but perfectly configurable from the “Tweaks” and “Settings” menu entries:

Gnome Flashback configuration on Debian

Main applications:

• Internet communications: Evolution (alternative to Thunderbird)

• Videos player: Totem (chap.6.7)
• File system manager: Nautilus (https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Nautilus)

Minimum user level: complete novice / beginner

Gnome Flashback home page: https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/GnomeFlashback

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4.2.3 KDE

The KDE Plasma desktop on Debian

KDE is a project delivering a graphical environment (called “Plasma”) and a full set of applications. KDE
is highly configurable, both in terms of desktop environment and supported applications. KDE has so
many capabilities that some people even find difficult to deal with it. Note that you can use KDE without
any particular configuration tuning. It can be fully functional with its “out-of-the-box” settings.
The KDE environment is visually close to Windows®, and offers:

• KDE Application launcher: the menu giving you access to the entire system.
• Graphical components: the modules you can place anywhere on your desktop to enjoy additional
functionalities.
• Activity manager: a banner which integrates your pending tasks, your appointments… another way
to help you with your daily work.
• Plasma: KDE is delivered with a collection of applications integrated in the “Plasma” desktop, and
providing a fluid and consistent graphical experience.

More than any other GNU/Linux desktop, you can transform KDE according to your needs and desires.
KDE is a very complete environment and has a configuration center, as well as a built-in help center.
To launch the control center, navigate to the main menu > Applications > Configuration > System Settings.

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 KDE System Settings on Debian

If you cannot find an application, you can enter its name or function in the search box of the main menu.
KDE uses Konqueror, a file manager that is also able to surf the Web… No need to open several appli-
cations to consult, view, classify, etc. Here after, a split view of Konqueror in action:

The Konqueror Web/file browser on KDE

KDE, like Gnome, integrates a very comprehensive help center directly available from the main menu
> Applications > Help Centre. So even if KDE is full of widgets, panels, activities… you’ll find your way
around.

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 KDE Help Centre launcher

KDE Help Centre

Main applications:

• Internet Navigator: Konqueror (https://apps.kde.org/konqueror/), Firefox

• Internet communications: Kmail (https://userbase.kde.org/KMail)
• Video player: Dragon Player (https://apps.kde.org/dragonplayer/)
• Audio player: Juk (https://juk.kde.org/)
• File system manager: Dolphin (https://apps.kde.org/dolphin/)

Minimum user level: beginner / experienced

KDE project home page: https://kde.org/
An introduction to KDE: https://userbase.kde.org/An_introduction_to_KDE
More detailed information in the dedicated section of this manual (chap.7.1.2).

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4.2.4 Mate

MATE desktop on Debian

MATE is a fork of GNOME 2. This means that this desktop environment was started from a copy of
GNOME 2 and then modified independently.
This is the perfect environment for people who do not want to change all the work habits they acquired
when using GNOME 2. This is also a good system for the computer aided music and the resource-
intensive applications going with.
Mate aims to be lighter than GNOME 3, and as such, is more suitable for aging or resource limited com-
puters. It’s clearly a good compromise between GNOME 3 and Xfce 4.
Mate offers a “traditional” interface with its two task bars:

• The top panel includes, on the left, the main applications, the main folders and the system setting
menu.
• The right part of the top panel is reserved to the notification area and the quick settings (Audio
volume, keyboard configuration, small agenda)
• The bottom panel includes the desktop button (to mask all the application windows), the list of the
active windows, and the virtual desktops selector.

To configure Mate you open the control center (“system” menu > Control Center) and you have access to
the various components of this interface:

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 Control Center of the MATE desktop

Mate is a minimal environment which ships with few applications by default. You would be able to pick
your favorite tools later on. However, Mate embeds its own file system manager, Caja, which is a fork of
Nautilus (Gnome file manager), as well as a rather well designed Help Center.

Mate desktop Help Center

Minimum user level: complete novice / beginner

Mate project home page: https://mate-desktop.com
More details on the Mate Debian wiki: https://wiki.debian.org/Mate

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4.2.5 Cinnamon

Cinnamon desktop on Debian

Cinnamon is a desktop environment derived from the Gnome-Shell project. It moved away from the all-
in-one interface of this latter, to adopt a more traditional interface (dash board along with a menu where
Icons are sorted by categories).
Cinnamon offers a complete desktop with all the helpful (or not) applications for your daily usage.
Cinnamon uses the Nemo file system manager, a fork from Nautilus, which reinstates some functionalities
removed by the latter: compact view, open in a terminal, open as root, etc.
The Cinnamon configuration is delegated to the system settings pannel which centralized all the system
and user settings:

Cinnamon: system settings panel

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