Hi all!

I'm just curious to know as to which steps everyone takes after performing a fresh install. Is there a correct order of operation or is it personal preference? I'm assuming the most important thing would be security though, correct me if I'm wrong. After that what should be next? How do you initally setup your system?

it depends on WHAT you are doing with the os

I install the development tools and libs
a few versions of gcc
rebuild the University lab type of software i use
and install Octave for the matlab code i use

and configure a "black" desktop theme

install the image editing software
nip2
GDAL
ISIS3
Gmic
and other code




as to "securing"
out of the box almost all distros are "secure"
if SELinux is used keep it ON and set to enforcing

linux is NOT windows

just normal everyday "good practices"
turn off background services you are NOT using
if there is NO Bluetooth device turn off Bluetooth
and so on....

I think it's like personal preference based on what a user relies on the most.

First thing I do is test the networking.

I set up my firewall, usually with either Firestarter or an rc.firewall script, then install the Opera browser and sync the bookmarks and notes, configure the printer, and get Samba working so I can set up a share for my network.

If it's an install I intend to use for a while, as opposed to one I'm testing things on, I configure an email client, normally not the default client from the distro. On my primary computer, that would be Opera, which I have preferred for my email for years; on other computers, it might be whatever client I want to learn more about at the time.

Then I configure up my Fluxbox desktop, edit the menu and startup files to my liking, and get my keybindings working.

Somewhere along the line, I install an anti-virus program, because I'm from the "better safe than sorry" school of computing.

After that I do the eye candy: styles, wallpapers, and pseudo-transparency.

Depends on what you want to do. It's clearly a matter of personal preference. To name a few:

As a programmer, I would install gcc, gfortran, freepascal, openjdk, or whatever packages required to start programming on the language I am interested (GNU/Linux really shines as a programming environment and a collection of excellent compilers). I would also install one or more of the following: Emacs, Eclipse, Kdevelop, Lazarus, or even Solaris Studio (all those are IDEs for simplifying programming).

As an artist/graphics enthusiast, I would install Blender and start learning that excellent tool (that's also a very pleasant task), using the well-written tutorials found online as a guideline.

As a gamer, i would try 0ad or Sauerbraten to play, and Platinum Arts Sandbox to start learning how to make my own game.

Really, the possibilities are uncountable. Just pick a task you are interested on, and start working. Linux won't disappoint you.