How to install Espanso on Debian 12 bookworm from source

Unmet dependencies continue to prevent available Espanso packages from installing on my machine running Debian 12. Given that I depend on Espanso to expand all kinds of text and wanted to upgrade to the latest version for Wayland, I updated the following instructions and installed from source.

Following these instructions, Espanso 2.2.1 for Wayland will be installed on your system and enabled for the current user.

Compiling Espanso from source code

Side-step any dependency problems by compliling Espanso from source and moving the binary into place.

Step 1

Install the required C/C++ compiler and some additional tools.

$ sudo apt-get install --yes build-essential curl git wl-clipboard libxkbcommon-dev libdbus-1-dev libwxgtk3.*-dev libssl-dev

Step 2

Install the required Rust compiler, which is managed by the rustup tool.

$ curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh&&source ~/.bashrc

Press [Enter] to proceed with the installation.

Current installation options:

1) Proceed with instalation (default)
2) Customize installation
3) Cancel installation
>

Install cargo-make, which is required during the build process.

$ cargo install --force cargo-make --version 0.34.0

Step 3

Get the source code by cloning the Espanso repository to the local directory ~/.local/src/espanso.

$ git clone --progress https://github.com/federico-terzi/espanso ~/.local/src/espanso

Step 4

Compile the Espanso binary as a Wayland-only build in release mode.

$ cargo make --cwd ~/.local/src/espanso --profile release --env NO_X11=true build-binary

Move the resulting binary to the /usr/local/bin directory.

$ sudo mv ~/.local/src/espanso/target/release/espanso /usr/local/bin/

Step 5

Give Espanso the permissions required for operation.

$ sudo setcap "cap_dac_override+p" $(which espanso)

Check to see if the Espanso binary was installed successfuly.

$ espanso --version

Step 6

Register Espanso as a systemd service.

$ espanso service register

Launch Espanso.

$ espanso start && espanso status

Step 7

GNOME desktop only: remove the conflicting default shortcut for activating the window menu.

Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > View and Customize Shortcuts > Windows > Activate the window menu > [Backspace]

Use [Alt + Space] to open Espanso’s Search bar.

All Done!

Experimental support for Wayland

Espanso has some known limitations under Wayland. Most notably, “there is currently no support for App-specific configurations”.

Big ‘Thank you’ to Federico Terzi for creating Espanso!

Install and configure nullmailer using Fastmail as a smarthost

If you want to receive status updates from your Debian or Ubuntu system, you need to employ the help of a mail tansfer agent (MTA). nullmailer is a relay-only forwarding MTA that can be used as an alternative to more complex MTAs such as Exim, Sendmail or Postfix.

nullmailer can be configured to use Fastmail as a smarthost and hence ensure the deliverability of your messages. In principle, these instructions should also be applicable to service providers other than Fastmail.

In the following example configuration, debian is the hostname, bookworm the local username and linus.torvalds@fastmail.com the Fastmail username.

Step 1

Log into your Fastmail account and set up a new app password for SMTP authentication.

Step 2

Create the new directory /etc/nullmailer and the file /etc/nullmailer/adminaddr.

$ sudo mkdir /etc/nullmailer && sudo nano /etc/nullmailer/adminaddr

Your Fastmail username is the only entry in /etc/nullmailer/adminaddr.

linus.torvalds@fastmail.com

Step 3

Install the required packages.

$ sudo apt-get install --yes nullmailer mailutils

Step 4

Perform the initial configuration using debconf. Reconfigure nullmailer at any time after the initial installation using the following comand.

$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure nullmailer

Setting the mail name

Set the system mail name. If you are setting up on a home network, you should use home.arpa as the domain name.

Configuring nullmailer

Mailname of your system:

debian.home.arpa

Ok

Configuring the smarthost

Set the Fastmail server as the smarthost. Use the app password you set in Step 1.

Configuring nullmailer

Smarthosts:

smtp.fastmail.com smtp --port=587 --auth-login --starttls --user=linus.torvalds@fastmail.com --pass=password

Ok

Step 5

Test your configuration with the following command.

$ echo "Test mail from nullmailer on debian.home.arpa to the local root user and forwarded on to Fastmail" | mail -s "Test nullmailer" root

Check your Inbox, Linus!

How to install Debian 12 Bookworm with a GNOME desktop

Debian GNU/Linux was first released in 1993 and has been under active developement ever since. Today, the Debian Project unites thousands of contributors from across the globe with the aim of producing “an operating system distribution that is composed entirely of free software”.

This guide is intended to assist those who are installing Debian for the first time. It describes a straightforward path to a GNOME desktop. The number of applications is less in comparison to the default. Choose from more than 60000 official packages to tailor the system to your own requirements.

Debian and the new package formats

Debian stable is, above all else, focused on the task of maintaining bug-free software packages. It is the reason why Debian, in over 30 years, has gained a reputation for being “like a rock in an ever-swirling sea of updates”. It is also the reason why Debian stable does not keep up with the latest versions.

Universal package formats, such as Flatpak, Snap, or AppImage, are managed separately from conventional packaging systems and thus provide the end-user with added flexibility and choice. They solve the problem of stale distribution packages because newer versions can be installed without compromising the integrity of the underlying core.

Before you begin

In addition to the target computer, you should have access to a reasonably fast connection to the Internet. Ideally, your device would connect to your router using Ethernet. If your laptop does not have an Ethernet port and you are looking for a Linux-compatible adapter, consider getting the Plugable USB 3.0 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter. Using a wireless network, your Wi-Fi password is required twice during the installation.

Veronica explains how to create a bootable USB stick for installing Linux. Depending on your requirements, there are different Debian CD images to choose from. In all likelihood, you are following these instructions to install on x86-64 hardware, for which a network install CD image amd64 would be the correct choice. It supports Intel as well as AMD processors and “includes non-free firmware for extra support for some awkward hardware”.

Choose a hostname and a username for your setup. In the examples which follow, debian is used as the hostname and bookworm as the username. Just remember to make the substitutions when executing commands that reference either.

Choose 1) an encryption passphrase to encrypt your storage device, 2) a user password to secure your user account, and 3) a root password to secure the root account.

Ensure that all of your data is safely backed up because formatting your storage device will erase all of its data.

After completing the installation, Debian GNU/Linux will be the only operating system on your computer.

Installing Debian GNU/Linux

If your computer uses the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) and you are unsure about which settings to use, you may wish to disable the Secure Boot option.

Step 1

After booting the system from the USB stick that you have prepared, continue by selecting the text based installer.

Step 2

Keep English as the language for the installation.

[!!] Select a language

Language: English

Step 3

Keep United States as the location for your system. This will also set United States as the default locale for the system environment. You will have an opportunity to set additional locales and adjust time zones at a later point during the installation.

[!!] Select your location

Country, territory or area: United States

Step 4

Use the keymap that is the correct one for your particular keyboard.

[!!] Configure the keyboard

Keymap to use: your keyboard

Step 5

You will likely be asked to select the primary network interface for use during the installation. If network autoconfiguration fails, go back and try another interface from the list.

[!!] Configure the network

Network configuration method:

Retry network autoconfiguration
Retry network autoconfiguration with a DHCP hostname
Configure network manually

Do not configure the network at this time

Go Back

Step 6

Set the hostname for your system. In this example, we use debian as the hostname.

[!] Configure the network

Hostname: debian

Continue

Set the domain name for your system. If you are setting up on a home network, you should use home.arpa as the domain name.

[!] Configure the network

Domain name: home.arpa

Continue

Step 7

Leave the root password empty to ensure the standard user account will automatically be configured with sudo privileges.

[!!] Set up users and passwords

Root password: leave empty

Continue

Confirm the empty root password.

[!!] Set up users and passwords

Re-enter password to verify: leave empty

Continue

Create the standard user. In this example, we use Bookworm as the full name.

[!!] Set up users and passwords

Full name for the new user: Bookworm

Continue

Your username should start with a lower-case letter. In this example, bookworm is a reasonable choice.

[!!] Set up users and passwords

Username for your account: bookworm

Continue

Set a password for the new standard user.

[!!] Set up users and passwords

Choose a password for the new user: your user password

Continue

Confirm the password for the new standard user.

[!!] Set up users and passwords

Re-enter password to verify: your user password

Continue

Keep Eastern as the time zone for now.

[!] Configure the clock

Select your time zone: Eastern

Step 8

You may wish to partition your disk with LVM and protect your data with a 256 bit AES key.

[!!] Partition disks

Partitioning method: Guided - use entire disk and set up encrypted LVM

Be careful to select the correct target device for your system.

[!!] Partition disks

Select disk to partition: your target disk for installation

Choose to keep all files in one partition.

[!] Partition disks

Partitioning scheme: All files in one partition (recommended for new users)

Now write the changes to disk.

[!!] Partition disks

Write the changes to disk and configure LVM?

Yes

You may skip the overwriting of the disk with random data by selecting Cancel. Be aware, however, that skipping this step will lessen the quality of the encryption.

Step 9

Enter your encryption passphrase.

[!!] Partition disks

Encryption passphrase: your encryption passphrase

Continue

Confirm your encryption passphrase.

[!!] Partition disks

Re-enter passphrase to verify: your encryption passphrase

Continue

Step 10

Use the available space for partitioning your disk.

[!!] Partition disks

Amount of volume group to use for guided partitioning: max

Continue

Step 11

Write the changes to disk.

[!!] Partition disks

Finish partitioning and write changes to disk

Confirm writing the changes to disk.

[!!] Partition disks

Write the changes to disks?

Yes

Step 12

You may be asked to scan additional installation media.

[!] Configure the package manager

Scan extra installation media?

No

Step 13

Select your archive mirror country from the list.

[!] Configure the package manager

Debian  archive mirror country: your country

Select an archive mirror from the list. For the fastest downloads, use the site that is closest to you.

[!] Configure the package manager

Debian archive mirror: mirror closest to you

You probably won’t need to configure an HTTP proxy:

[!] Configure the package manager

HTTP proxy information (blank for none): leave empty

Continue

Step 14

The Debian Popularity Contest attempts to map the overall usage of Debian packages with information from installed systems, such as yours.

[!] Configuring popularity-contest

Participate in the package usage survey?

Yes

Step 15

Choose standard system utilities from the list of predefined software collections and deselect all other entries.

[!] Software selection

Choose software to install:
[ ] Debian desktop environment
[ ] GNOME
[*] standard system utilities

Continue

Step 16

You may be asked if you want to install the GRUB boot loader to your primary drive. Select your target disk from Step 8 as the drive for boot loader installation.

[!] Install the GRUB boot loader

Install the GRUB boot loader to your primary drive?

Yes

Step 17

Remove the installation media before booting into your new system.

[!!] Finish the installation

Installation complete

Continue

Step 18

Enter your encryption passphrase to boot into the system for the first time. In this example, the encrypted disk is labelled sda3_crypt.

Please unlock disk sda3_crypt: your encryption passphrase

Log into the system with your username and user password.

Debian GNU/Linux 12 debian tty1

debian login: bookworm
Password: your user password

Step 19

Set the password for the root user by entering the following command. You will be asked for your user password to obtain sudo privileges first.

$ sudo passwd root

Step 20

Install a minimal GNOME desktop.

$ sudo apt-get install --yes gnome-core

If you are installing into a virtual machine, use this additional command to enable copy and paste between the host and the guest.

$ sudo apt-get install --yes spice-vdagent

Step 21

Restart your system.

$ sudo reboot

Step 22

Enter your encryption passphrase to boot into the system.

Please unlock disk sda3_crypt: your encryption passphrase

Log into the GNOME desktop environment.

Step 23

Select Show Applications from the the panel at the bottom of the screen or press [Super + a] and open the Settings application. On most keyboards, the [Super] key is the one with the Windows logo printed on it. Continue by adding the following keyboard shortcuts:

Terminal application

Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > View and Customize Shortcuts > Custom Shortcuts > Add Shortcuts
Name: Launch Terminal

Command: gnome-terminal

Shortcut: [Super + t]

File manager

Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > View and Customize Shortcuts: Home folder
Shortcut: [Super + f]

Web browser

Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > View and Customize Shortcuts: Launch web browser
Shortcut: [Super + b]

Maximising windows vertically

Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > View and Customize Shortcuts: Maximize window vertically
Shortcut: [Ctrl + Super + ↑]

Step 24

From within the GNOME desktop, open Firefox ESR by using the shortcut [Super + b] and re-open these instructions at edafe.de/step24.

Open a terminal with the shortcut [Super + t] and, where applicable, use copy and paste to enter the commands set out on this page. Be careful not to miss any punctuation.

Step 25

Set the time zone for your area.

$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure tzdata
Configuring tzdata

Geographic area: your area

Ok

Step 26

Configure locales for all the languages that your system is going to be used with. Use UTF-8 locales wherever possible.

$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure locales

In this example, German and Japanese locales are generated in addition to the default locale for the system environment.

Configuring locales

Locales to be generated:

[*] de_DE.UTF-8 UTF-8
[*] en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8
[*] ja_JP.UTF-8 UTF-8

OK

Keep en_US.UTF-8 as the default locale for the system environment.

Configuring locales

Default locale for the system environment:

en_US.UTF-8

OK

Step 27

The Desktop was disabled in GNOME 3.28. This decision was not universally popular at the time. However, developers pointed to the fact that, as an unmaintained feature, it stood in the way of other improvements. The following command hides the now orphaned Desktop folder from view.

$ echo Desktop >> ~/.hidden

Step 28

Install additonal Debian packages to give you a functional GNOME desktop.

$ sudo apt-get install --show-progress --yes apostrophe aptitude cheese cups curl debian-reference deja-dup file-roller foliate foomatic-db-compressed-ppds gcolor3 gnome-clocks gnome-color-manager gnome-connections gnome-dictionary gnome-epub-thumbnailer gnome-firmware gnome-keysign gnome-maps gnome-mpv gnome-power-manager gnome-session-canberra gnome-shell-extension-bluetooth-quick-connect gnome-shell-extension-dashtodock gnome-shell-extension-no-annoyance gnome-shell-extension-tiling-assistant gnome-shell-extensions-extra gnome-software-plugin-flatpak gnome-software-plugin-snap gnome-sound-recorder gnome-tweaks gnome-video-effects-frei0r mpv-mpris nautilus-share neofetch network-manager-config-connectivity-debian network-manager-openconnect-gnome network-manager-openvpn-gnome network-manager-ssh-gnome network-manager-vpnc-gnome ooo-thumbnailer pdfarranger plymouth-themes printer-driver-cups-pdf playerctl rhythmbox-plugin-alternative-toolbar rhythmbox-plugin-cdrecorder rsync seahorse seahorse-daemon seahorse-nautilus shotwell smbclient soundconverter ssh-askpass-gnome synaptic transmission-gtk task-laptop ufw unattended-upgrades wireguard yubioath-desktop && sudo ufw enable

Step 29

Replace the text output during system boot with a graphical splash screen.

$ sudo sed -i 's/GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet"/GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"/' /etc/default/grub && sudo update-grub2

Step 30

Configure neofetch to display information about your system on the command-line.

$ echo -e '\n# use Neofetch to display information about the system\nif [ -f /usr/bin/neofetch ]; then\n clear && neofetch;\nfi' >> ~/.bashrc && source ~/.bashrc

Step 31

Enable the unattended installation of important upgrades.

$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure unattended-upgrades

Step 32

If in Step 5 you selected a wireless interface as the primary network interface for use during the installation, you will need to re-establish connection to the wireless network after rebooting.

Enable the Network Manager for the primary network interface and reboot your system.

$ sudo sed -i 's/managed=false/managed=true/' /etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf&&sudo sed -i '/# The primary network interface/,$d' /etc/network/interfaces && sudo reboot

Step 33

Enable the installation of Flatpaks from Flathub.

$ sudo -- bash -c 'flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo'

Step 34

Install applications from Flathub.

$ sudo flatpak install --assumeyes flathub com.vixalien.sticky dev.geopjr.Collision dev.geopjr.Tuba io.gitlab.adhami3310.Converter org.cryptomator.Cryptomator org.libreoffice.LibreOffice org.keepassxc.KeePassXC

Step 35

Install applications from the Snap Store.

$ sudo snap install bitwarden chromium

Step 36

The snap directory in your home folder is not supposed to be accessed manually. Use the following command to hide it from view.

$ echo snap >> ~/.hidden

Step 37

By default, Debian installs the Extended Support Release (ESR) version of Firefox. The ESR receives crash fixes, security fixes and policy updates as needed.

The flatpak, on the other hand, installs the Rapid Release version of Firefox. In contrast to the ESR, the Rapid Release receives major updates at least every four weeks. Both versions can be used concurrently. When installed on your desktop, they are listed as Firefox ESR and Firefox Web Browser, respectively.

As an option, you may install Firefox Rapid Release and set it as the default browser.

$ sudo flatpak install --assumeyes org.mozilla.firefox && xdg-settings set default-web-browser org.mozilla.firefox.desktop

Consider using different themes to easily distinguish between the two versions.

Step 38

Prevent yourself from accidentally breaking Debian by reading about some of the most commonly made mistakes.

All done!

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