Introduction

This is a set of directions and files for setting up a new Ubuntu box just the way I like it. Fork and modify as you see fit!

Pre-requisites

• Ubuntu 10.04 install
• Working internet connection

Install Ubuntu Packages

I install a basic set of packages on all my Ubuntu development boxes.

sudo aptitude install build-essential bison openssl libreadline5 libreadline-dev curl git-core zlib1g zlib1g-dev libssl-dev vim libsqlite3-0 libsqlite3-dev sqlite3 libreadline-dev libxml2-dev git-core subversion autoconf vim-gnome vim-ruby openssh-client

Install Ruby

I use RVM to manage my ruby versions. To install RVM do:

bash < <( curl http://rvm.beginrescueend.com/releases/rvm-install-head )

You need to replace the line in your ~/.bashrc that says:

[ -z "$PS1" ] && return

with

if [[ -n "$PS1" ]]; then

Now add this to the last line of the file

if [[ -s $HOME/.rvm/scripts/rvm ]] ; then source $HOME/.rvm/scripts/rvm ; fi

fi

I normally install ruby 1.9.2-head by default:

rvm install 1.9.2-head

You can get a list of available rubies using:

rvm list known

And see their install dependencies using:

rvm notes

Configure Bash shell

I prefer to use bash as my shell.

Paste the following to set my git status in the prompt:

function parse_git_dirty {
  [[ $(git status 2> /dev/null | tail -n1) != "nothing to commit (working directory clean)" ]] && echo "*"
}
function parse_git_branch {
  git branch --no-color 2> /dev/null | sed -e '/^[^*]/d' -e "s/* (.*)/[1$(parse_git_dirty)]/"
}

# set a fancy prompt (non-color, unless we know we "want" color)
case "$TERM" in
xterm)
    PS1='[33[0;35m]w[33[0;36m]$(parse_git_branch)[e[0m]: '
    ;;
*)
    PS1='w$(parse_git_branch)[e[0m]: '
    ;;
esac

Configure SSH

I like to setup SSH aliases on all my boxes.

mkdir ~/.ssh
chmod 700 ~/.ssh
touch ~/.ssh/config
chmod 644 ~/.ssh/config

The contents of ~/.ssh/config look like this:

Host yegtrash
  Hostname 67.23.25.157
  User yegtrash

Host litdistco-dev
  Hostname litdistco-dev
  User mark

Host burmis
  Hostname burmis.ca
  User mark
  Port 6275

Conclusion

Voila! Your done setting up this dev box! I've also included samples of my .bashrc for reference.