Dev Machine Setup

Purpose This repository collects the basic settings and configuration files to apply when start working on a new Ubuntu machine. It contains detailed instructions for applying the settings and useful settings files.

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Repository structure

• .bashrc — custom ~/.bashrc file (copy to ~/.bashrc and source it).
• .gitignore — files to ignore for this repository.
• LICENSE — MIT license for the repository.
• README.md — this file (instructions & checklist).
• settings.json — VS Code user settings (path: ~/.config/Code/User/settings.json).

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Table of contents

1. Customize bashrc / terminal

   1.a. Set a custom .bashrc file

   1.b. Change GNOME Terminal preferences

2. Git settings

   2.a. Global configuration

   2.b. Local configuration

   2.c. Show git settings

3. SSH keys

   3.a. Generate key pair

   3.b. Copy public key to a remote machine

   3.c. Add public key to GitHub / GitLab / Bitbucket

4. VS Code

   4.a. Recommended extensions

   4.b. Apply local settings (settings.json)

   4.c. Apply settings on a remote machine (Remote - SSH)

5. Quick start checklist

6. Notes & tips

7. License

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Customize bashrc / terminal

1.a Set a custom ~/.bashrc file

Things included in the custom .bashrc:

• Set a custom PS1 prompt with colors, relevant info, and custom separators:

 Format: ✔/✘ HH:MM 🗂️ ╭⟮[env] user@host:directory [branch/hash][*]⟯
                      ╰──❭ $/# 
Example:   ✔ 10:43 🗂️ ╭⟮luciano@vivobook:~/project master⟯
                      ╰──❭ $ 

• Increase shell history:

HISTSIZE=10000      # Current session commands
HISTFILESIZE=20000  # History file commands

• Color GCC warnings/errors:

export GCC_COLORS='error=01;31:warning=01;35:note=01;36:caret=01;32:locus=01:quote=01'

• Alias python to python3:

alias python='python3'

Steps:

1. Make a backup of your current version first:

cp ~/.bashrc ~/.bashrc.backup

2. Copy the file from this repository into your home directory:

# From your home or any working directory
git clone https://github.com/luchocurti/dev-machine-setup.git
cd ~/dev-machine-setup
cp .bashrc ~/.bashrc
# Apply changes immediately
source ~/.bashrc

1.b Change GNOME Terminal preferences

1. Open GNOME Terminal.
2. Menu → Preferences.
3. Select the profile (e.g., Unnamed).
4. Appearance / Colors → choose a built-in scheme such as Gray on black or a dark profile.
5. Optionally: uncheck “Use colors from system theme” and set custom text/background colors.

Terminal preview

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Git settings

2.a Set git global configuration (machine-level)

Run these commands to set your global git configuration:

git config --global user.name "Name Surname"
git config --global user.email "user@email.com"
git config --global diff.tool meld
git config --global merge.tool meld
git config --global mergetool.prompt true
git config --global mergetool.keepBackup true
git config --global core.editor "code --wait"
git config --global core.autocrlf input
git config --global credential.helper "cache --timeout=3600"
git config --global color.ui auto
git config --global difftool.prompt true
git config --global init.defaultBranch master

2.b Set git local configuration (per-repository @ remote machines)

Inside a repository run:

git config --local user.name "Name Surname"
git config --local user.email "user@email.com"

2.c Show git settings

To inspect different levels of configuration:

echo "All git settings"
git config --list --show-origin

echo "Global settings"
git config --global --list

echo "Local settings (run inside a Git repository)"
git config --local --list

echo "System settings"
git config --system --list

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SSH keys

3.a Generate a key pair

Prefer ED25519 keys (modern and compact):

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your@email.com"
# follow prompts, accept default file location (~/.ssh/id_ed25519)

3.b Copy public key to a remote machine

Use ssh-copy-id to append your public key to ~/.ssh/authorized_keys on the remote host:

ssh-copy-id -i ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub user@remote_machine
# then test
ssh user@remote_machine

If ssh-copy-id is not available, copy the contents of ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub and append to ~/.ssh/authorized_keys on the remote host (set correct permissions: chmod 700 ~/.ssh and chmod 600 ~/.ssh/authorized_keys).

3.c Add public key to GitHub / GitLab / Bitbucket

1. Copy the contents of your public key:

cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub
# copy the printed line

2. On Git hosting service:

• GitHub: Settings → SSH and GPG keys → New SSH key → paste key → Save
• GitLab: User Settings → SSH Keys → Add key → Save
• Bitbucket: Personal settings → SSH keys → Add key → Save

3. Test:

ssh -T git@github.com   # or git@gitlab.com, git@bitbucket.org

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VS Code

4.a Recommended extensions

Open the Extensions view (Ctrl + Shift + X) and install the extensions you need. Recommended categories:

• C/C++ language support (IntelliSense, debugging)
• C/C++ themes & icon packs
• CMake & CMake Tools
• Remote - SSH (for remote editing and development)
• Remote Explorer / Remote - SSH: Editing Configuration Files
• Material Icon Theme (optional)

You can also install from the command line:

code --install-extension <extension-id>

If you don't know the exact extension id, search by the extension name in the Extensions view.

4.b Apply local settings

1. Open VS Code → Ctrl + Shift + P → Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON).
2. Edit ~/.config/Code/User/settings.json (or the path used by your VS Code build) — this repository contains settings.json which you can copy there:

cp settings.json ~/.config/Code/User/settings.json

3. Restart VS Code

4.c Apply settings on a remote machine (Remote - SSH)

1. Connect to the remote host using Remote - SSH in the Remote Explorer.
2. While connected to the remote, Ctrl + Shift + P → Preferences: Open Remote Settings (JSON) (this will open the remote user settings file).
3. Copy relevant settings from your local settings.json into the remote settings file and save.
4. Restart the remote VS Code window.

Tip: extensions can be installed on the remote host by selecting "Install on SSH: " from each extension's menu.

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Quick start checklist (apply on a new Ubuntu machine)

1. Update OS & install base tools:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install git curl build-essential wget openssh-client

2. Clone this Dev Machine Setup repo:

git clone https://github.com/luchocurti/dev-machine-setup.git
cd ~/dev-machine-setup

3. Apply .bashrc:

cp ~/.bashrc ~/.bashrc.backup
cp .bashrc ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

4. Apply git global config (edit values first):

# copy the commands from this README into a script or run manually

5. Generate or copy SSH key:

# if you already have one, copy to the new machine ~/.ssh/
# otherwise generate:
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your@email.com"

6. Install VS Code (if not installed) and copy settings.json:

# copy settings.json
mkdir -p ~/.config/Code/User
cp settings.json ~/.config/Code/User/settings.json

7. Install recommended VS Code extensions using the Extensions view or code --install-extension.
8. Test SSH access to your servers and to Git hosting.

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Notes & tips

• Keep secrets out of your repository. Never commit private keys or credentials. Add ~/.ssh/* to .gitignore if you ever push from a machine that contains your keys.
• Prefer ED25519 keys for SSH unless you have compatibility constraints.
• If you rely on the same dotfiles across many machines, consider a dotfiles manager (bare git repo in ~/.cfg) — outside the scope of this README, but useful once the repo grows.

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License

See LICENSE for the license applicable to this project.