I've been learning Linux in a virtual machine and have spent time configuring the system, installing the applications I use, and customizing the desktop. I'd like to turn that process into a post-installation setup script so I can reproduce it after reinstalling or when creating another VM.
The plan is to automate tasks such as removing the default Flatpaks on Fedora Silverblue, adding Flathub, installing my preferred applications, setting up Distrobox and a container, hiding applications I don't use, and applying my GNOME customizations. I'm completely new to Bash, so I'm looking for advice on how to approach a project like this. Should I keep the scripts as simple as possible, split the work into smaller scripts, and combine them with an orchestration script? I've also seen frequent advice to make setup scripts idempotent, so they can be run repeatedly without causing problems.
3 Answers
Start with one small, concrete task instead of trying to automate the entire installation at once. First perform the task manually from the terminal, take note of the commands and decisions involved, and then put those commands into a script. Repeat that process for installing software, configuring the desktop, and setting up containers. Once the individual scripts work, create a main script that runs them in the right order. Keeping everything in version control is also a good idea, since you can safely improve or roll back your setup over time.
Before writing code, define exactly what the setup should do and break it into smaller steps. For each step, find the command that performs it manually, then add checks so the script can be run more than once safely. For example, only add a repository if it isn’t already configured, only install an application if it’s missing, and avoid blindly appending duplicate settings to configuration files. Make failures visible, test in a disposable VM, and remember that some desktop preferences or declarative system settings may be better handled through the configuration tools provided by the distribution rather than purely through Bash.
A Bash script is essentially a saved list of terminal commands that runs from top to bottom. Begin with something harmless, such as printing a message or installing one application, and learn the basics as you expand it. Use a text editor, run the script explicitly with Bash while testing, and check each command manually before adding it. You don’t need a complicated framework for a personal project; clear, readable scripts are more valuable than clever ones.
That makes sense. My main goal is a repeatable post-installation setup for Fedora Silverblue, including Flatpaks, Flathub, Distrobox, applications, and GNOME settings. An orchestrator would save me from having to remember every manual step after a reinstall.