Convert my regular PC setup to a "disabled" Power User setup

After a very long idle time (because of my disease), I need to optimize my setup to continue to code with less effort. I need to optimize everything to avoid some injuries, pain or dislocations with my arm or hands.

But how can i do that? I searched everything to optimize my desktop environment to be beautiful, powerful and with many keyboard shortcuts.(but I can use the mouse if I need it.)

It's a setup that I reproduce on my computers to have the same desktop environment everywhere. I write this post to show you how I did that!

Before start, don't forget: I'm a power user. This post is not a tutorial but if you want, I can write something more easier to have the same installation. Just ask in comments.

#What is the best Linux distro for that?

I have three computers:

• A high-end desktop PC (AMD Ryzen 5 5600G / 32 GB RAM / GTX 1060 Ti / 500 GB SSD) on the ground floor
• A low-end lightweight netbook (12" / Intel N4020 / 4 GB ram / 64 GB SSD)
• An old stationary "laptop" (an old Rugged Dell XPS with Intel i5 and 8gb RAM) on the second floor

I need a Linux distro that can be lightweight and very "customizable" for a (web) developer and useable in the same way on my three computers.

I choose Mabox Linux. It's a Manjaro distro with Openbox window manager. Very lightweight (for my laptop), Archlinux-based (stable and fully compatible with my three setups), fully customizable to enable/disable features between my setups.

I don't need the compositor on my low-end laptop, but it's beautiful on my desktop. That's why I choose this powerful Linux distro.

#Themes and colors

You know, I prefer to work in the evening and at night. I need a smooth dark theme. If possible, I need a theme that can be used on every software I use. And I found it: Welcome to Nord Theme!

Formally created by Artic Ice Studio, This color scheme is very smooth, beautiful and the community have create Nord themes for MANY software! (e.g.: Every IDE has a Nord Theme or can install one.)

#System theme

And you know what? Nordic Theme is already bundled into MaboxLinux! The only thing to do is to go to Mabox Control Center -> choose the Look and Feel tab -> click on Theme Manager -> choose Nordic theme and click to Apply.

75 % of your desktop and apps now have the Nordic Theme! (It's oh-so-beautiful for me.)

#Icons & background

To complete my customization, I want a icons set with Nord colors. I found a great set on GitHub. It's the Nordzy icon set by Alvatip. I choose the Default one but there are plenty of colors variations.

About backgrounds, on ArchLinux, there is a package called nordic-wallpapers in AUR which have many great Nord-ish wallppapers!

@doze made some great HIVE wallpapers too. I asked him to do one with Nord Theme and It's absolutely beautiful, check them on his post called 4 new Hive Wallpapers to you. Don't forget to go on his profile and please upvotes his work ;)

#Start manager

MaboxLinux have LightDM display manager (to log in at startup). It's very lightweight, but it's also very customizable ! And I use a beautiful theme on it to have a better start up screen.

It's AWESOME for me! If you want the same, just install LightDM on your Linux distro and follow this installation guide.

#Softwares

Alright! After the system installation, it's time to install each tool I need. Here's a list of mainly apps I use:

• Vim : My console code editor (with many plugins)
• Obsidian : My second brain and markdown editor to write posts
• Brave Browser : Browser with many good features
• Discord : My favorite Instant messaging app
• MailSpring : Beautiful & easy mail client
• Gammy : Remove the blue light from your screen (It's an open-source f.lux-like app.)
• Tidal HiFi : Good dev need to listen good music :)
• FreeCAD & Cura : 3D model and print some things
• LightBurn : Proprietary software to use my laser engraver
• Fritzing : To create some electronics schemas for Arduino or Raspberry Pi
• Gimp & Inkscape : Bitmap and vector graphics creation/edition
• Nextcloud : I use it for my personal cloud real-time sync
• Steam : It's not for work. I play too! (puzzle games and Rocket League)

Many of these applications have a Nordic-style theme or are already integrated with the desktop theme.

#About the use with my disease

#Main usage

According to the symptoms, I have two uses:

• Keyboard + mouse, the normal use
• Keyboard Only, the "Ehlers-Danlos crisis" use (The name of my disease is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.)

Mabox Linux comes with MANY easy keyboard shortcuts. Without customization, I can use them (many with one hand) and do everything I want. I use my computer without moving my arms, just my hands. That's pretty powerful, useful for me and avoids some pain.

#My CLI (Console Line Interface) code editor

When I can't use all my body, it's more powerful to write or code without use mouse. I use (Neo)Vim for that. Of course, I've added many plugins to have the same Nord color scheme but also auto-completion code, Git integration and other some features.

#My terminal

Mabox Linux have Terminator terminal by default. It's a very cool term with some good features (Look into the theme tab!). But that's not all !

I've installed ZSH and Oh-My-ZSH! shell to add many accessibility features and also more powerful dev features (like GIT integration when I jump into any project folder).

My Terminal is also in the Nord theme to keep everything homogeneous & coherent without burns my eyes!

#Conclusion

After many hours of tests and search, I've found the Ultimate desktop for me. But now, I can fully use it when my body decides to go wrong and get sick.

All of my computers run smoothly, without compromise. I've just disable compositor on my low-end laptop But it's nearly the same environment everywhere I am in my house.

If you have any questions or suggestions, just take the time to write a comment. As usual, if you like my work, don't forget to share and/or upvote this post.

Have a nice day!