Debian 12 is a commonly used operating system that uses a Linux-like kernel. We can install Debian and use it within a virtual environment. There are some important tasks that we should do after the installation of Debian 12. In this write-up, we will discuss the essential things to do in order to enhance the Debian 12 experience.
Updating and Upgrading the System for Better Results
To enable the full functionality of Debian 12, it is necessary to update and upgrade the system. Use the following command to do so:
It will take a few minutes to update, wait for it to complete.
It can be seen that the Debian 12 has been updated successfully.
Installing the Build-Essential Package
This package includes all the relevant tools and required packages for developers to build and compile software from its source code. The packages include GNU Compiler Collection (gcc), GNU make, etc.
Some software are not available for Linux systems and they are built from their source code. So in this case, the build-essential package provides specific packages.
We can install it using the command:
The package has been installed successfully.
Enabling GNOME extension manager
GNOME is the default desktop environment of Debian 12. To take full advantage of GNOME capabilities, it is recommended to install the Extensions Manager tool. To install GNOME extensions, run the command shown below:
The package has been installed successfully.
Now navigate to Search-> Extension Manager->Browse and search for the required extensions to install as shown in the snapshots below:
Once the Extension Manager starts, you can see the Manager Window. Navigate to “Browse”:
Install the two extensions highlighted in the above snapshot.
Installing Snap and Flatpak for Downloading Software
For installing certain softwares, it is necessary to install the Snap Store and Flatpak.
To install Snap Store on Debian 12, use the following command:
In my case, it’s already installed as shown.
To install Flatpak on Debian 12, use the following command:
After a few seconds, flatpak will be installed successfully.
Enabling Firewall
It is necessary to enable a firewall for the protection of our Debian System and network security. A firewall detects and handles network traffic. In Debian 12, we have “ufw” firewall, so we enable it using the following commands:
$ sudo ufw enable
$ sudo ufw default deny incoming
$ sudo ufw default allow outgoing
$ sudo ufw allow ssh
Hence it can be seen that the firewall has been enabled.
Enabling the Night light feature
Studies have proven that blue light emitted from our desktop screen is harmful to our vision. Enabling the night light feature allows us to add yellow light to our desktop screen which is essential for reducing night strain. Hence it is recommended to use the night light feature.
To enable the night light feature, navigate to Settings > Displays > Night Light as shown below: 
We can also set the schedule for night light according to your own needs.
Installing Timeshift tool
There is no backup tool for Debian 12 by default. Due to unfortunate errors, sometimes our data gets deleted, To avoid these mishaps, the Timeshift tool comes into use. It provides an intuitive user interface with the capability to take snapshots of our system’s state. We can easily restore our programs using snapshots. Timeshift is open-source and easy to install.
To install timeshift, simply use the command:
Timeshift is installed successfully. There are various backup tools for Debian 12, we can choose the one that works best for us.
Disabling the CD/ROM Package Repository
When we install Debian 12 on our machine, the CD/ROM package is also installed by default. When the installer configures the CD/ROM package repository, the repository does not update and shows an error because there is no release file available on the repository from where it can be updated. In order to avoid any installation issues related to updates, open the “/etc/apt/sources.list” file and turn off this repository by commenting on the line that starts with deb cdrom.
Run the following command:
The execution of this command will open a configuration file as shown below:
In my case, it’s been removed already. Ensure that your sources list contains only these files as shown above:
Adding Contrib and Non-Free Repos
The “contrib” and “non-free” repos contain many vital packages that are not added by default on Debian 12. Packages such as fonts, codecs, etc.
To add these, go to Search > Software and Updates > Debian Software. Once the Debian Software tab opens, it will look like this by default:
Checking on any of the options from the list will ask for an authentication password to enable, as shown below:
Check both the “DFSG and non-DFSG-compatible software” options as shown below:
Reverting both by clicking the “Revert” button will reboot your system. Once your system reboots, you are all set.
Conclusion
After installing Debian 12, it is necessary to do some tasks to enhance the functionality of Debian 12 such as updating the system to avoid any installation issues later, installing the Timeshift tool for backing up our data, installing the GNOME extension manager to installing necessary extensions, enabling the night light feature to improve eye vision and reduce strain and so on. In this article, we learned the best methods to do after the installation of Debian 12.
