Debian ====== .. index:: ! debian .. contents:: Timezone -------- .. index:: debian; timezone .. index:: debian; dpkg-reconfigure Set system timezone:: sudo dpkg-reconfigure tzdata Services -------- .. index:: debian; update-rc.d ``update-rc.d``: * Make a service run in its default runlevels:: update-rc.d defaults or:: update-rc.d enable * Make a service not run in any runlevel:: update-rc.d disable Making a new init script: * Read ``/etc/init.d/README``, which will point to other docs * Copy ``/etc/init.d/skeleton`` and edit it. Packages -------- .. index:: debian; dpkg * List packages that match a pattern: ``dpkg -l `` * List contents of a package: ``dpkg -L packagename`` * Show packages that installed files matching pattern: ``dpkg -S pattern`` * Show info about an installed package: ``dpkg-query -s packagename`` * show info about a package that is known: ``apt-cache showpkg packagename`` * Reconfigure a package: ``dpkg-reconfigure packagename`` * Change alternatives: ``update-alternatives ...`` Alternatives ------------ .. index:: debian; alternatives .. index:: debian; update-alternatives Change 'alternatives' default browser or editor:: sudo update-alternatives --set x-www-browser /usr/bin/chromium-browser sudo update-alternatives --set editor /usr/bin/emacs24 If you get an error like:: update-alternatives: error: alternative /snap/bin/firefox for x-www-browser not registered; not setting then you can add the new alternative with:: sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/x-www-browser x-www-browser /snap/bin/firefox 50 and then try again. Be prompted for which alternative you prefer for a link group:: sudo update-alternatives --config x-www-browser Find out what the top-level link groups are:: sudo update-alternatives --get-selections Set xdg program to open/browse a directory (DOES NOT WORK) (do NOT use sudo):: xdg-mime default /usr/share/applications/Thunar.desktop x-directory/normal .. index:: triple: xdg; xdg-settings; debian Change 'xdg' default browser (for user):: xdg-settings get default-web-browser xdg-settings set default-web-browser google-chrome.desktop xdg-settings set default-web-browser firefox.desktop Install without any prompts (http://askubuntu.com/questions/146921/how-do-i-apt-get-y-dist-upgrade-without-a-grub-config-prompt):: sudo DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive apt-get -y \ -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confdef" -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confold" \ Desktop applications -------------------- Put your own .desktop files in ~/.local/share/applications. `Archlinux on desktop entries `_ `Desktop file spec `_ To let the system know about new or changed desktop files:: update-desktop-database [directory] Launch the application from command line that has a .desktop file somewhere:: gtk-launch