How to turn Ubuntu into Wasta-Linux

To take an existing stock Ubuntu 24.04 system and change it into Wasta-Linux 24.04, from a Terminal * perform the following steps:

• NOTE: Wasta-Linux only targets Ubuntu LTS (Long Term Support) releases, such as 24.04, 22.04, etc. Interim short-term Ubuntu releases such as 24.10, 23.04, etc. are not supported.

• NOTE: This migration guide assumes you have the stock Ubuntu LTS release installed, not Kubuntu, Xubuntu, or other Ubuntu Flavors, and not Linux Mint, elementaryOS, ZorinOS, or other Ubuntu derivatives.

1. Get the Wasta-Linux core package installed:

   The following Terminal * commands (perform them one at a time) are needed to install the all-essential wasta-core package, which is the foundation for Wasta-Linux:

   sudo add-apt-repository ppa:wasta-linux/wasta
   sudo apt-get update
   sudo apt-get install wasta-core
   sudo apt-get update
   

   • NOTE: the second apt-get update is needed since wasta-core adds additional repositories to your computer, such as packages.sil.org and the wasta-apps ppa. You then need this second apt-get update to make the packages from those repositories available for installation.

   • NOTE: you may want to restart your system at this point

2. Install Cinnamon:

   (recommended but optional)

   You do not have to install the Cinnamon desktop interface and can continue using Ubuntu’s customized Gnome desktop instead, but most Wasta-Linux tutorials and development focus revolve around the Cinnamon interface.Also note that even if you do install Cinnamon, the Ubuntu Unity desktop interface will not be removed, so you can continue using it or Cinnamon, whichever you prefer.

   The following Terminal * commands (perform them one at a time) will install Cinnamon and set it as the default desktop interface:

   sudo apt-get update
   sudo apt-get install wasta-cinnamon
   sudo wasta-cinnamon-upgrade
   

   • NOTE: If you are prompted to choose a ‘login manager’, please select lightdm.

   • NOTE: If your system still logs into Ubuntu’s default Gnome-Shell you can click the icon in the upper right of the user login box from the login screen and choose “Cinnamon”.

3. Run the relevant Wasta-Linux upgrade / setup script:

   (recommended but optional)

   • Option 1:

     • Run the wasta-system-upgrade Terminal * command:

       sudo wasta-system-upgrade
       

     • This will perform the following steps:

       • Install all software updates

       • Install all default Wasta-Linux apps

   • Option 2:

     • Run the wasta-initial-setup Terminal * command:

       sudo wasta-initial-setup
       

     • In addition to the steps executed by the wasta-system-upgrade script, this script will perform these additional steps:

       • Remove unwanted apps

         • You will be prompted so you can answer No to the question if you don’t want to remove the unwanted apps

       • Install the Ubuntu “Hardware Enablement” stack

         • This will upgrade the Linux Kernel and the x-server display server to the “Hardware Enablement” verisons distributed by Ubuntu, which is recommended for newer hardware.

       • Set redmond7 as the default Cinnamon-Layout

         • Of course this is only performed if Cinnamon is installed (see above)

       • Remove installed snap packages to save space on future ISOs

   • NOTE: For either of the above 2 options if you want to run the full process “non-interactively”, so that the app removals and other bits are done without prompting you, please append the auto parameter like this: sudo wasta-system-upgrade auto

   • NOTE: You will definitely want to restart your system after this process has finished.

4. Enable zswap:

   (recommended but optional)

   Ubuntu / Wasta-Linux 20.04+ aggressively uses swap (virtual RAM). zswap uses compressed RAM to buffer swap before writing to disk. This is good for SSDs (less writing), and good for HDDs (no stalling). zswap should NOT be used with zram (uncompress/recompress shuffling).

   • Run the wasta-enable-zswap Terminal * command to enable zswap:

     sudo wasta-enable-zswap
     

5. Congratulations, you are now running Wasta-Linux!

* To open the Terminal, in Wasta-Linux go to Menu > Administration > Terminal, or press the following keysat the same time: Ctrl + Alt + T