Void Linux

Notes on setting up a comfortable desktop

After going through a variety of Linux distributions (from PopOS/Fedora to Arch and NixOS), I’ve settled on Void Linux. It’s a great blend of stability and simplicity with rolling-release model.

#Installation

Void install process is straightforward: follow the steps in the TUI installer. I’ve used the base minimal ISO without any desktop environments.

#Initial setup

Void has an excellent handbook that covers everything you need to know in order to setup a working system.

#Package management

The package manager in Void is xbps. It’s a collection of several programs for performing various tasks. It’s fast and reliable: I’ve never had any problems during upgrades.

While it’s useful to get comfortable interacting with the package manager directly, Void also provides a collection of handy helper scripts under the xtools package:

Command Description
xi install a package
xi -Su update all packages
xrs search for packages in the repos
xq query info about an installed package
xq -R query remote repos
xcheckrestart list programs using outdated libraries (use after updates)
xlocate locate a specific file in packages
xlocate -S sync with remote database
xls list files of a package
xmandoc read manpage of any (non-installed) package
xpkg list all installed packages
xpkg -m list only manually installed
xpkg -O list orphans
xpkg -m > pkglist.txt dump all manually installed packages into a text file

See manpage for xtools for more info.

#Backups

#System snapshots

If using BTRFS filesystem, snapper can be set up for automatic snapshot creation.

  1. Install snapper and snooze.
$ xbps-install -S snapper snooze
  1. Generate a default config for snapper (see snapper --help).
  2. Activate snooze services for daily and hourly tasks.
$ ln -s /etc/sv/snooze-daily /var/service
$ ln -s /etc/sv/snooze-hourly /var/service

#List of manually installed packages

Automatically update list of installed packages daily with snooze:

$ xbps-install -S snooze
$ ln -s /etc/sv/snooze-daily /var/service # activate snooze service for daily tasks
$ echo '#!/bin/sh' >> /etc/cron.daily/pkglist-update
$ echo 'xpkg -m > /home/kkga/void-pkglist.txt' >> /etc/cron.daily/pkglist-update

#Daemons (runit)

Void's handbook has a section on how runit works.

One thing to note though, is how trivial it is to create user services for programs you want to run as daemons. Check the dedicated section on user-services.

#Miscellaneous notes

These are mostly for myself and are not directly related to Void.

#Fonts

  • if Firefox isn't displaying some charactes, install the noto-fonts-ttf package;

#External display brightness

Use either the ddcutil package (requires i2c-dev kernel module loaded) or install the ddcci-dkms package and use any regular backlight utility.

#Using ddcutil

# load the needed kernel module
$ modprobe i2c-dev

# adjust brightness on 1st display
$ ddcutil -d 1 setvcp 10 70

# adjust brightness on 2st display
$ ddcutil -d 2 setvcp 10 70

#Using ddcci-dkms

Install the DKMS driver and a backlight utility.

$ xbps-install -S ddcci-dkms brillo

Load the module.

$ modprobe ddcci

Use the backlight utility as usual.

#Realtek ethernet

Ethernet on newest Realtek cards (R8125) doesn't work out of the box (as of Linux 5.9). Download the Linux driver from Realtek website and follow the instructions.

#See also