How to Install and Customize Debian 13 with Gnome: A Step‑by‑Step Guide
This guide walks you through downloading Debian 13 from official or Chinese mirrors, creating a bootable USB, installing the system on physical or virtual machines, configuring Gnome desktop extensions, and fine‑tuning system settings for an optimal Linux experience.
Debian is a crucial Linux distribution, and each new release invites experimentation. Download the appropriate ISO from the official site or Chinese mirrors such as USTC, NetEase, and Tsinghua.
Installation is straightforward; experienced users can install on a physical machine by writing the ISO to a USB drive (Ventoy is recommended). Alternatively, use VirtualBox for a virtual installation.
Getting Started
Choose the Gnome desktop environment (or Gnome Flashback for a classic look). Modern desktop environments like KDE, Gnome, and Xfce have modest resource footprints, while applications (e.g., multiple browser tabs) consume more.
The installation process takes roughly ten minutes.
Post‑Installation Setup
After the first login, add a Chinese input method in Settings. Add your non‑root user to the sudoers file to enable sudo commands.
Switch to the root account with su, edit /etc/sudoers using vi, locate the appropriate section, and insert your user entry.
Gnome Extensions
Install the extension manager with sudo apt install gnome-shell-extension-manager. Open the manager to add useful extensions:
Dash to Dock : Converts the Dash into a customizable dock.
Dash to Panel : Provides a traditional panel layout.
Tiling Shell : Enables tiled window layouts.
Forge : Automatically arranges windows.
These extensions improve window management efficiency and visual experience.
Other Settings
In Settings → System → Optimize App, enable the maximize and minimize buttons for windows.
Conclusion
Debian 13 works well for web browsing out of the box, but installing essential software and leveraging the upgraded Gnome 48 desktop enhances the overall user experience.
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