ayaye/orgbash

1. About

Installing Linux software can sometimes be rather tricky. Especially if you do it only occasionally and have time to forget details. Like me.

That's why I decided to write solutions in the form of bash scripts. They are not perfect most of the time and may require small tweaks. So I added a small library that allows to run these scripts step by step with the ability to edit or undo each command.

This is what orgbash is: a bash script organizer. Feel free to adapt it for yourself, create and share scripts.

orgbash is designed for Debian and aptitude, but it is possible to adapt it for other distributions and package managers.

2. Installation

2.1. sudo - allow user to run programs with superuser (root) privileges

Install sudo (root password required):

su -l -c "apt install sudo" 

Add the current user ($USER) to the sudoers group:

su -l -c "adduser $USER sudo" 

Re-login required for changes to be in effect!

2.2. aptitude - interface to Debian package manager (user password required)

sudo apt install aptitude

2.3. etckeeper - version control system for /etc (user password required)

etckeeper will automatically install git. I recommend installing etckeeper, but if you don't need it, git is sufficient for orgbash.

sudo aptitude install etckeeper

2.4. Clone orgbash repository (or fork it beforehand)

git clone https://github.com/ayaye/orgbash.git
cd orgbash

orgbash is ready.

3. Usage

./ob task [parameters...]

• Enter or Space - confirm command
• Esc - skip command
• e - edit command. Use with care!

4. Additional details

orgbash stores a log of task execution in .timestamps/$TASK subdirectory:

• log - full log.
• done - timestamp.
• backup - directory with backup copies of changed files.

5. Example: Debian testing with LXDE in VirtualBOX

Install fresh Debian from netinst CD. Don't set root password. Enter username and password. sudo will be installed and user will be added to sudoers. Clear all * about software options.

sudo apt install aptitude
sudo aptitude install etckeeper
git clone https://github.com/ayaye/orgbash
cd orgbash

Switch to testing release:

./ob apt/change-release

After restart install lxde Desktop environment:

./ob lxde

After restart mount VirtualBox Guest Additions CD and run:

./ob vbox

After restart set up comfortable command line:

Pick some of:

./ob cli/bash
./ob cli/command-not-found
./ob cli/completion
./ob cli/man
./ob cli/network
./ob cli/zip

Or execute them all:

./ob cli

And Midnight Commander as a final touch :)

./ob mc