Linux @lemmy.ml makingStuffForFun @lemmy.ml 1mo ago

Automated installation of multiple applications after a fresh OS install? (Fedora)

Hi all,

I am about to do a bit of a distro hop, and I am looking at Fedora and its spins, after years on Debian / POP.

I am not looking forward to setting it all up again, it's a drag.

I wonder, is there a tool that lets me script installs?

I'll want to check if application exists, and if so, update, otherwise, install. That kind of thing.

Things like:

Telegram
Joplin
Docker
Firefox
Ungoogle Chromium
Sublime Text
VSCodium
Keepass
Thunderbird
DBeaver
Gimp
Inkscape
KDENLive
Syncthing
Steam
VLC
Localsend
Flameshot
Element
Cherrytree
Calibre
Anydesk

I show the list, only to give an idea of what might be involved.

I'm new to Fedora, so not sure how it differs beyond the package manager. But, thought I'd ask.

Does such a tool exist, and is it worth my time? I can practice on a VM before trying on the final install/s.

Thank you

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41 comments

Using ansible will help you on your 2nd, 3rd , nth install.

But getting ansible to do what you want (plus testing) for the first time would takes 10x longer than manual install.

I think there's xkcd about that.

Just installing applications is pretty easy though.

---
- hosts: localhost
  become: yes
  tasks:
    - name: Install required software
      dnf:
        state: latest
        name:
          - firefox
          - telegram
          - calibre

ansible-playbook install.yml

Something like that (untested)

I distinctly remember yum/dnf should be using a loop. Forget why but it's recommended. Here's a snippet from my playbook. Simply make the vars as you need and run.

  - name: Install flathub as remote
    ansible.builtin.shell:
      cmd: flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
    tags:
      - apps

  - name: Install flatpak apps
    community.general.flatpak:
      name: "{{ item }}"
      state: present
    loop: "{{ flatpaks }}"
    tags:
      - apps

  - name: Remove some default unused packages
    ansible.builtin.dnf:
      name: "{{ item }}"
      state: absent
      update_cache: no
    loop: "{{ remove }}"
    ignore_errors: true
    tags:
      - apps

  - name: Install our packages
    ansible.builtin.dnf:
      name: "{{ item }}"
      state: present
      update_cache: yes
    loop: "{{ rpms }}"
    ignore_errors: true
    tags:
      - apps```

On mobile. Apologies if formatting is off.

41 comments