Gnome Without The Junk

[EndianX]

Hey everybody.

I have a new install of debian sarge. I would like to install the gnome desktop environment and gdm, but without all the applications that typically come with it (meaning openoffice, gaim, mozilla, etc.). (I have x-window-system-core installed already.) Does anybody know what packages I would install to accomplish this?

[vidd]

I am relitively new to Linux myself....but from what i understand, if you use "apt-get install gnome", you will just get the core requirements without the "extras" you get when you opt for desktop in the initial install.

[antidrugue]

Nope, there are 3 different packages of gnome for Debian Sarge
gnome (the Big one)
gnome-desktop-environment (the medium)
gnome-core (the minimal one)

So "gnome" includes "gnome-desktop-environment", that himself includes "gnome-core".

What I normally do is install gnome-desktop-environment. But you could just install gnome-core:

apt-get install gnome-core

Plus a few extras that I like, you could put all this in a file and execute that file:

# install.gnome.sh
# Standard configuration for Gnome
#!/bin/bash

apt-get install \
gdm gdm-themes \
gnome-core \
gnome-audio gksu \
file-roller gcalctool esound fam gconf-editor gnome-gv gnome-about gnome-media gnome-system-monitor gnome-themes \
gnome2-user-guide \
gnome-utils gnome-volume-manager gpdf gucharmap nautilus-cd-burner nautilus-media zenity \
gdesklets-data \

#done

...so you can put this in a file "install.gnome.sh"

Then execute this file, or a modified one (to your liking).

I have an install script that I wrote that install a custom Debian system. You could do the same, very easy.

[eerok]

(I have x-window-system-core installed already.)

Ah, you're doing it my way ... I like to go one step at a time and install just what I want.

The best way to be sure of what you're getting is to browse the debian packages for your particular branch at debian.org; this way you can see exactly what's being pulled in. If you want to avoid the fattest meta packages, just look for something that pulls in what's necessary.

For example (using the testing branch), look at the "gnome" package ... it's too fat. Look at a likely package underneath, like "gnome-desktop-environment" ... also too fat. What about "gnome-core"? ... now we're getting too minimal. So choose the individual packages you want that are dependencies of "gnome-desktop-environment" ...

You can do this research with a text browser or from another system. If you're brave, try the text browser

edit: antidrugue beat me to it

[antidrugue]

I use the same method as eerok.

I install no package at the start, just the base system.

Just apt-cache around to find out what you like:

apt-cache search something

Then

apt-cache show something

for details.

And then you can slowly build your "install.gnome.sh" file (or whatever you want to name it) with packages you like.

Also, you have to know Christian Marillat repository if you want your Debian system to be multimedia capable. (edit your /etc/apt/sources.list)