Linux barebones quickstart

Install the distro

Set up Ubuntu or Centos or some small embedded whateverism...

Set up IP

On home lan, bitpost dnsmasq doles out the ips based on MAC:

ip address # make note of MAC
ssh bitpost
emacs config/etc/dnsmasq.d/mdm_lan_dnsmasq.conf && sudo service dnsmasq restart
# reacquire IP on new box

Or, if this is a VM clone, CHANGE YOUR IP NOW before you tear your hair out.

(Optional) Set up hostname

Note that a fresh install of ubuntu will set the hostname. But if you've cloned a VM, for example, you'll need to change hostname:

sudo emacs /etc/hostname && sudo hostname newname  # use hostname cmd to set it right away
# NOTE that systemd can also be used: sudo hostnamectl set-hostname newname
# /etc/hosts changes should not be needed, if hostnames are properly configured (dnsmasq DNS -or- work DNS will provide resolution)

Install basic tools

sudo apt install git curl emacs-nox # ubuntu server
sudo apt install git curl emacs     # ubuntu desktop
sudo yum install git curl emacs-nox # centos

Copy ssh keys

mkdir -p .ssh/20##
bitpost# scp -r .ssh/20##/id_rsa* newguy:.ssh/20##/
cd .ssh && ln -s 20##/id_rsa .

Set up scripts

cd && mkdir development && cd development
git clone bitpost.com:development/scripts.git 
./scripts/setup_linux.sh [desktop|nodesk] # to continue bootstrapping

That's it, get on with your life.