Chimera Linux

1. Preparation

• Download the latest GNOME live ISO from: https://repo.chimera-linux.org/live/latest/
• Verify checksum + signature.
• Create bootable USB with Fedora Media Writer.

2. Boot and Hardware Testing

1. Boot the USB (disable Secure Boot if needed).
2. In BIOS → Thunderbolt Security → set to No Security.
3. Run the Chimera Live ISO and test it.

3. Partition the Disk

lsblk -f

wipefs -a /dev/nvme0n1

# 1G for EFI
# 4G for swap
# Rest for Linux FS
# Remember to select the type!
cfdisk /dev/nvme0n1

mkfs.fat -F32 -n EFI /dev/nvme0n1p1
mkswap -L swap /dev/nvme0n1p2
mkfs.btrfs -L root -f /dev/nvme0n1p3

mkdir /media/root
mount /dev/nvme0n1p3 /media/root

# Create subvolumes
btrfs subvolume create /media/root/@
btrfs subvolume create /media/root/@home

# Remount with subvolumes
umount /media/root
mount -o subvol=@,noatime,compress=zstd:3 /dev/nvme0n1p3 /media/root
mkdir -p /media/root/home
mount -o subvol=@home,noatime,compress=zstd:3 /dev/nvme0n1p3 /media/root/home

# Mount EFI
mkdir -p /media/root/boot
mount /dev/nvme0n1p1 /media/root/boot

4. Chimera Installer

chimera-installer

Choose network install.
Set hostname, timezone, root password.
Create your user account during the installer.
Select kernel.
Install systemd-boot bootloader.
Install into /media/root/

5. Post-installation during live

# apk operations
apk update
apk add btrfs-progs flatpak ufw wget nano fwupd opendoas bolt bolt-dinit gnome gnome-tweaks gnome-shell-extensions papirus-icon-theme

# Enable important services
dinitctl -o enable networkmanager      # Networking
dinitctl -o enable ufw                 # Firewall
dinitctl -o enable gdm                 # GNOME DE

# Configure doas
echo "permit persist :wheel" > /etc/doas.conf
chmod 640 /etc/doas.conf

# Swap
swapon -L swap

# Exit and reboot

6. Post-installation after reboot

doas apk update && doas apk upgrade

# Firewall
doas ufw default deny incoming
doas ufw default allow outgoing
doas ufw enable
doas ufw status

# CPU microcode
doas apk add ucode-intel

# Flatpak
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
flatpak install flathub com.brave.Browser
flatpak install flathub org.telegram.desktop
flatpak install flathub com.mattjakeman.ExtensionManager

# fwupd
doas fwupdmgr refresh
doas fwupdmgr get-updates

7. Optional

# Bibata cursor
mkdir -p ~/.local/share/icons
wget https://github.com/ful1e5/Bibata_Cursor/releases/download/v2.0.7/Bibata.tar.xz
tar -xvf Bibata.tar.xz -C ~/.local/share/icons/
doas tar -xvf Bibata.tar.xz -C /usr/share/icons/

# GNOME extensions
AppIndicator Support
ArcMenu
Dash to Panel
OSD Volume Number

# GNOME settings
dconf load /org/gnome/ < chimera_settings.dconf

# Shell
doas apk add bash
chsh -s /bin/bash
nano ~/.bashrc
PS1='\[\e[38;2;255;0;255m\]\u@\h\[\e[0m\] \[\e[38;5;39m\]\w\[\e[0m\] \$ '

8. Maintenance

# Remove unused kernels
chimera-prunekernels rm all

# Upgrade firmware fails. Make efivars rewritable. Reboot should make it read-only again.
doas mount -o remount,rw /sys/firmware/efi/efivars

---

KDE Plasma

# Export
cd "$HOME"

OUT="$HOME/chimera_kde_settings.tar.gz"
LIST="$(mktemp)"

for f in \
  .config/kdeglobals \
  .config/kcminputrc \
  .config/kwinrc \
  .config/kxkbrc \
  .config/kcmfonts \
  .config/plasma-org.kde.plasma.desktop-appletsrc \
  .config/konsolerc \
  .config/dolphinrc \
  .config/mimeapps.list \
  .local/share/konsole
do
  if [ -e "$f" ]; then
    printf '%s\n' "$f" >> "$LIST"
  fi
done

if [ -s "$LIST" ]; then
  tar -czf "$OUT" -T "$LIST"
  echo "Created: $OUT"
else
  echo "No KDE configuration files found to export."
fi

rm -f "$LIST"

##########

# Import
tar -xzf ~/chimera_kde_settings.tar.gz -C "$HOME"