Setting Up a Computer from Scratch

- 7 minutes read - 1312 words

TL;DR

Look over the other sections for optional software that is not supported in the package managers. Links will are bold for those you should pay attention to.

Windows Quick Install

Install Chocolatey , then install programs using the following:

choco install -y 7zip anydesk argyll authy-desktop beyondcompare brave bulkrenameutility cmake cuda data-lifeguard-diagnostic dependencywalker digikam displaycal ffmpeg FiraCode Firefox Ghostscript gimp git git-fork GoogleChrome handbrake hugo-extended imagemagick InkScape irfanview jabref jre8 languagetool llvm makemkv microsoft-edge miktex miniconda3 namebench ninja nodejs obs obs-studio pandoc plex PowerShell powertoys python3 quicklook repoz seatools signal slack speedtest spotify steam steam-client sublimetext3 sumatrapdf vcredist140 vcredist2010 vcredist2015 vcredist2017 vcxsrv visualstudio-installer visualstudio2019community vlc vscode vscode-beautify vscode-codespellchecker vscode-cpptools vscode-gitlens vscode-icons vscode-markdownlint vscode-python vscode-todo-tree WhatsApp windirstat xnviewmp zoom zoom-client

Setup WSL

Run before installing any distro to ensure you are using wsl2. Download https://wslstorestorage.blob.core.windows.net/wslblob/wsl_update_x64.msi

dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart
dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart
wsl --set-default-version 2

Turn off hibernation

This will save a considerable amount of disc space if you don’t use this feature.

powercfg.exe /hibernate off

LanguageTool Server

  1. To open the startup folder, hit the Windows key and r and type shell:startup
  2. Create a shortcut file
    • The target should be C:\ProgramData\chocolatey\lib\languagetool\tools\LanguageTool-5.1\languagetool.jar -t.
    • The directory to run in is C:\ProgramData\chocolatey\lib\languagetool\tools\LanguageTool-5.1.
    • Set run to Minimized.

Mac Quick Install

xcode-select --install

Install Homebrew , then install programs using the following:

brew tap homebrew/cask-fonts homebrew/cask-drivers
brew install alfred authy bartender beyond-compare cmake dropbox emacs ffmpeg fiji fork git git-lfs google-backup-and-sync google-chrome grandperspective hugo imagemagick istat-menus intel-power-gadget iterm2 jabref languagetool llvm mactex make microsoft-edge miniconda obs obs-virtualcam pandoc ruby signal slack spotify sound-control svn visual-studio-code vlc xquartz zoom zsh
brew install $(brew search font | grep fira | tr '\n' ' ' )
brew install $(brew search font | grep roboto | tr '\n' ' ' )
brew install $(brew search font | grep nerd | tr '\n' ' ' )

Linux Quick Install

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install -y atop cmake emacs ffmpeg git git-lfs llvm imagemagick iotop pandoc ruby ruby-dev zsh
sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.github.com/robbyrussell/oh-my-zsh/master/tools/install.sh)"
git clone https://github.com/romkatv/powerlevel10k.git $ZSH_CUSTOM/themes/powerlevel10k

emacs ~/.zshrc add ZSH_THEME="powerlevel10k/powerlevel10k"

wget https://repo.anaconda.com/miniconda/Miniconda3-latest-Linux-x86_64.sh
chmod 775 Miniconda3-latest-Linux-x86_64.sh
zsh ./Miniconda3-latest-Linux-x86_64.sh

source ~/.zshrc
conda config --add channels conda-forge

Windows General

Install the latest Nvidia drivers from here

CMD

Making a symlink:

  1. Open a command prompt as administrator
  2. mklink TARGET SOURCE

PowerShell

Making a symlink:

  1. Open a PowerShell as administrator
  2. New-Item -Path 'link' -ItemType SymbolicLink -Value 'target'

Posh-git

PowerShellGet\Install-Module posh-git
PowerShellGet\Install-Module oh-my-posh

Setup Profile

Allow for scripts to run in powershell Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

https://www.howtogeek.com/126469/how-to-create-a-powershell-profile/

  • Update help Update-Help -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
  • Go to a location by default Set-Location C:\my\default\working\directory

Setup visual studio dev within Powershell by following these instructions .

#Update-Help -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
#Set-Location D:\Users\eric\git\programming

& C:\tools\miniconda3\shell\condabin\conda-hook.ps1;

iex 'conda activate C:\tools\miniconda3'

$installPath = &"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\Installer\vswhere.exe" -version 16.0 -property installationpath
Import-Module (Join-Path $installPath "Common7\Tools\Microsoft.VisualStudio.DevShell.dll")
Enter-VsDevShell -VsInstallPath $installPath -SkipAutomaticLocation

function Set-ColorConsole {
    # $Host.Ui.RawUI.BackgroundColor = "Black"
    if ($Host.UI.RawUI.WindowTitle -like "*administrator*") {
        $Host.UI.RawUI.ForegroundColor = "Red"
    }else
    {
        $Host.Ui.RawUI.ForegroundColor = "Yellow"
    }
    $hosttime = (Get-ChildItem -Path $PSHOME\PowerShell.exe).CreationTime
    $hostversion = "$($Host.Version.Major)`.$($Host.Version.Minor)"
    $Host.UI.RawUI.WindowTitle = "PowerShell $hostversion ($hosttime)"
    # Clear-Host
}
Set-ColorConsole

function Prompt
{
    # $env:COMPUTERNAME + " @ " + (Get-Location) + "> "
    if ($Env:CONDA_PROMPT_MODIFIER) {
        $Env:CONDA_PROMPT_MODIFIER | Write-Host -NoNewline
    }
    CondaPromptBackup;
}

Import-Module posh-git
Import-Module oh-my-posh
Set-PoshPrompt Paradox

function Start-Nuvoxel
{
    Set-Location D:\Users\eric\git\programming\in-progress\nuvoxel\
    iex 'conda activate nuvoxel'
    iex 'code .'
}

PowerShell cheat sheet https://www.comparitech.com/net-admin/powershell-cheat-sheet/

Create a batch file that will start up multiple programs at once:

Mac General

Optional

brew install adobe-creative-cloud canon-eos-utility canon-eos-webcam-utility logitech-camera-settings microsoft-office microsoft-teams pock

Apps to install

Downlink, meeter, magnet, remote-desktop, pulse-secure, eos webcam

Setting to run after install

  • Oh my ZSH setup
sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.github.com/robbyrussell/oh-my-zsh/master/tools/install.sh)"

git clone https://github.com/romkatv/powerlevel10k.git $ZSH_CUSTOM/themes/powerlevel10k
macs ~/.zshrc` add `ZSH_THEME="powerlevel10k/powerlevel10k"

sudo ln -sfn /usr/local/opt/openjdk@11/libexec/openjdk.jdk /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/openjdk-11.jdk
  • Turn off startup sound sudo nvram StartupMute=%01
  • Make LanguageTool server start with login
    • Put or link the file ./mac/languagetool-server.plist to /Library/LaunchDaemons
    • Ensure that the file has ownership root:wheel and permissions 644
sudo chown root:wheel /Library/LaunchDaemons/languagetool-server.plsit && sudo chmod 644 /Library/LaunchDaemons/languagetool-server.plsit

Linux General

  • Oh my ZSH setup
    • sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.github.com/robbyrussell/oh-my-zsh/master/tools/install.sh)"
  • PowerLevel10k https://github.com/romkatv/powerlevel10k
    • git clone https://github.com/romkatv/powerlevel10k.git $ZSH_CUSTOM/themes/powerlevel10k
    • emacs ~/.zshrc add ZSH_THEME="powerlevel10k/powerlevel10k"
  • Highlighting git clone https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-syntax-highlighting.git ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/plugins/zsh-syntax-highlighting
  • Auto suggestions git clone https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/plugins/zsh-autosuggestions
  • Colorize ls sudo gem install colorls

TMUX Commands

General Software

The easiest way to get most of the software installed is to use Chocolatey . You can run a single line in PowerShell and get most of the programs installed without interaction (see the first entry in Programming Software ). The programs in bold below are the ones that are not currently supported in Chocolatey and need to be installed manually.

  • Browsers
  • Chrome, Edge, Firefox
  • Office
  • Dropbox
  • Zoom
  • Slack
  • 7-zip
  • Windows subsystem for linux
    • Type features on the Start search bar
    • Click on Turn Windows features on or off
    • Check Windows Subsystem for Linux
    • Click ok and restart
    • Go to the Windows Store and download Ubuntu
    • Replace bash with zsh, how to
  • X11 Server
  • Sublime Text
    • Add to path to use subl from the command prompt
    • e.g. C:\Program Files\Sublime Text 3
  • No Machine
    • Turn off access to your computer if you are only using this to access another computer
    • I recommend using Windows Remote Desktop for access to Windows computers

Multimedia Software

Programming Software

vcpkg

https://github.com/microsoft/vcpkg

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/vcpkg?view=msvc-160

.\bootstrap-vcpkg.sh
.\vcpkg integrate install
.\vcpkg install itk boost

Windows

  • Environment variable for x64 default VCPKG_DEFAULT_TRIPLET=x64-windows

Helpful References

keyboard shortcuts for vscode

Setup

channels:
  - conda-forge
  - defaults

Imaging Software

  • IrfanView
    • Don’t forget the plug-ins too
    • Set as default photo viewer in Settings -> Apps -> Default apps
  • Fiji and the following plugins:
    • BigStitcher
    • ClearVolume
    • HDF5
    • N5
    • SiMView

Writing Software

Terminal General

Install fonts from either:

PowerShell cheat sheet https://www.comparitech.com/net-admin/powershell-cheat-sheet/

Useful Commands

Environment variables dir env: