Programs

Desktop

• artix (runit) – Operating System
• dwm – Window Manager
• st – Terminal
• zsh – Shell
• neovim – Text Editor
• vimwiki – Notes
• lf – File Manager
• nsxiv – Image Viewer
• mpv – Video Player
• mpd, ncmpcpp – Music Player
• zathura – Document Viewer
• pass – Password Manager
• abook – Address Book
• neomutt, mutt-wizard – Email Client
• newsboat – RSS Reader
• ffmpeg – Video/Audio Editor
• imagemagick – Image Editor
• ufetch – System Information

I use LARBS with Luke Smith’s dotfiles. See my extended programs list for more, & the Artix installation page.

In my Termux dotfiles, I have tmux & fzf substitute for dwm & dmenu.

I use old Thinkpad models, currently I only have a T400. Used to have an X200. They’re durable, easily repairable, & list for cheap on eBay—around $100 or $200. The disc tray can instead be used for a second hard drive with a SATA to SATA 2nd adapter. Get one Librebooted if you can, or do it yourself.

Phone

• LineageOS – Operating System
• F-Droid – App Store
• Termux – Terminal
• Simple Keyboard – Keyboard
• Open Camera – Camera
• Fossify Gallery – Image Viewer
• mpv – Video Player
• MuPDF viewer – Document Viewer
• Organic Maps – Navigation

Fossify has other apps for phone calling, texting, contacts, alarm clock, &c. I use Lawnchair for a launcher, but its purely decorative.

If you must install a proprietary app, quarantine it with Shelter. If you can’t—or plain won’t—use the command line, these may also be of use:

• Auxio – Music Player
• K-9 Mail – Email
• Read You – RSS Reader
• LibreTorrent – Torrent Client
• KeePassDX – Password Manager
• OpenKeychain – File Encryption
• Syncthing – File Transfer
• Seal – Video Downloader
• Aard2, GCIDE – Dictionary
• QR & Barcode Scanner – Bar Code Reader

I use Google Pixels, currently a Pixel 2. They’re easy to flash & list for cheap on eBay—I purchased mine for around $50.

General privacy & security advice:

• Set a lock-screen password of 8-12 letters or numbers.
• Disable internet GPS (“assisted GPS”), USB debugging, &c.
• Disable mobile data, Wi-Fi, blue-tooth, GPS &c. while not in use.
• Block microphone & camera access while not in use.

To disable the rotation pop-up, run via ADB or as root:

settings put secure show_rotation_suggestions 0

Termux

Arch Linux’s pacman can be used. Install Termux:API so programs can use the clipboard & open files in apps.

To make backups:

tar -cp /path/to/files | gpg -r your@email -o output.gpg -e

How to use GPG keys.

De-bloating

Use Magisk to de-bloat system apps by making a module to overlay a blank file or directory over the system app’s APK. See my script for creating one. If the device boot-loops, go into safe mode by pressing volume-down while booting (Pixels only it seems), disables all modules. Universal Android Debloater has information on what the different system apps are.

To see where an app is located, run:

cmd package path app

De-Bloater may be of use if you insist on using an app rather than the command line.

DNS

Open the Settings app:

• Network & internet → Private DNS
  • Private DNS provider hostname:dns.mullvad.net

If you’re using a VPN or proxy, then the DNS should be resolved with it, so do not set a system DNS. But if an app (e.g. Fennec) is configured to use a SOCKS5 proxy, it won’t the system DNS.

Termux by default uses Google DNS in its etc/resolv.conf, so be sure to change it, e.g. too Quad9:

nameserver 9.9.9.9

Or 127.0.0.1 for Tor.

Captive Portal

Disable Google connections, run via ADB or as root:

settings put global captive_portal_mode 0
settings put global captive_portal_use_https 0
settings put global captive_portal_http_url about:blank
settings put global captive_portal_https_url about:blank
settings put global captive_portal_fallback_url about:blank
settings put global captive_portal_other_fallback_urls about:blank

NTP

Use NTP Pool instead of Google, run via ADB or as root:

settings put global ntp_server pool.ntp.org