Minimal Debian install for a nice, lightweight deskop

Download and burn Debian netinst CD

install base system

Then boot and login as root.

vi /etc/network/interfaces
#add these lines:
auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp
    wpa-ssid YOUR-SSID-HERE
    wpa-psk YOUR-PASSWORD-HERE

restart and pig google to confirm you have wifi

#then install the basics

apt-get install sudo vim-gtk tmux git zsh ufw curl Xorg openbox tint2 lxrandr htop terminator conky pm-utils zip unzip dmz-cursor-theme python-pip python-dev python3 python3-dev network-manager-gnome clipit

visudo

> # User privilege specification
> root    ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL
> lxf     ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL

# at this point you can pretty much login as your user and startx

if necessary, use lxrandr to change screen res

# switch to zsh: 

chsh -s $(which zsh)
sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.github.com/robbyrussell/oh-my-zsh/master/tools/install.sh)"

Then pull down dotfiles and start symlinking

# browsers
apt-get install chromium 
vim /etc/apt/sources.list # add: deb http://packages.linuxmint.com debian import
apt-get update
apt-get install firefox
update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/x-www-browser x-www-browser /usr/bin/firefox 100

# download crunchbang theme
tar -vxf Downloads/crunchy-dark-grey.tar.gz 
git clone https://github.com/CBPP/cbpp-icon-theme.git

#set a decent desktop:
nitrogen ~/Pictures/Desktops/

#set up vim:
mkdir -p .vim/bundle
git clone https://github.com/gmarik/Vundle.vim.git ~/.vim/bundle/Vundle.vim

#Add dropbox:
sudo dpkg -i Downloads/dropbox_2015.02.12_i386.deb
~/.dropbox-dist/dropboxd
echo fs.inotify.max_user_watches=100000 | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf; sudo sysctl -p
dropbox start
dropbox status


xscreensaver

# download some decent fonts and put them in ~/.fonts then run:
fc-cache -fv

# then get better font smoothing:
echo "deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/no1wantdthisname/ppa/ubuntu trusty main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/infinality.list
echo "deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/no1wantdthisname/ppa/ubuntu trusty main" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list.d/infinality.list
sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys E985B27B
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install fontconfig-infinality
sudo bash /etc/fonts/infinality/infctl.sh setstyle
sudo vim /etc/profile.d/infinality-settings.sh

alsa alsa-tools alsa-utils vrms

#music:
apt-get install mpd mpc ncmpcpp  

#mail:
apt-get install mutt urlview notmuch gnomekeyring python-gnomekeyring msmtp msmtp-gnome abook w3m
python dotfiles/gnomekeyringstuff/msmtp-gnome-tool.py --username luxagraf@fastmail.fm --server mail.messagingengine.com -s
chmod 600 .msmtprc
python dotfiles/gnomekeyringstuff/msmtp-gnome-tool.py --username luxagraf@fastmail.fm --server mail.messagingengine.com -g

# misc
apt-get install calibre vlc abiword redshift newsbeuter

#postgres for psycog2
apt-get install postgresql postgresql-9.4-postgis-2.1 postgresql-server-dev-9.4 python3-dev

# this is the basic command for launching standalone browser apps
exo-open ~/.local/share/applications/chrome-confeenhjpkmbceaenohemhdbecmk-Default.desktop"

# cal stuff I haven't actually used as of this writing:
apt-get install khal
apt-get install 
apt-get install vdirsyncer