ubuntu-post-install

Modular post-install system for Ubuntu servers. One repo, one entry point, install only what you need — interactively or by name.

Quick start on a fresh box

Public repo — paste on any new box:

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/outis1one/ubuntu-post-install/main/bootstrap.sh | sudo bash

USB thumb drive — works for public or private repos:

Prepare the USB once on any machine (no git required):

1. Go to the repo on GitHub → green Code button → Download ZIP
2. Unzip it — you'll get a folder called ubuntu-post-install-main
3. Copy that folder to your USB drive

On every new box:

1. Plug in the USB — it opens in the file manager
2. Navigate into the ubuntu-post-install-main folder
3. Either:
   • Right-click inside the folder → Open in Terminal → type bash bootstrap.sh
   • Or double-click bootstrap.sh → if prompted, choose Run in Terminal

The script asks for your password if needed. It detects it is running from inside the repo, copies everything to ~/ubuntu-post-install, then launches the wizard — the USB can be unplugged once setup starts.

Private repo — PAT (alternative):

sudo bash bootstrap.sh --pat ghp_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Use a fine-grained read-only PAT scoped to just this repo (Contents: Read). The PAT is stripped from the stored remote URL after cloning.

Usage

sudo ./setup.sh                        # interactive wizard
sudo ./setup.sh caddy immich           # install specific services
sudo ./setup.sh configure              # set site defaults (timezone, domain, Caddy network)
./setup.sh --list                      # list all services grouped by category
sudo ./setup.sh --dry-run immich       # preview without making changes
sudo ./setup.sh --unattended base      # non-interactive, use defaults

What the wizard does

First run:

1. Installs essential CLI packages (net-tools, ncdu, git, curl, wget, htop, tree, zip/unzip, ca-certificates, gnupg, jq, rsync, glow)
2. Checks for Docker CE + Compose plugin; prompts to install if missing
3. Offers to set site defaults — timezone, base domain, Caddy Docker network — so every service picks them up automatically instead of asking each time
4. Offers to install Caddy (the reverse proxy most services use)
5. Drops into a category menu — pick a group, tick services, install, repeat

Re-run: skips steps 1–2 (already done), goes straight to the menu.

Site defaults are saved to ~/docker/.config and pre-fill every service prompt. Update them any time with sudo ./setup.sh configure.

Services

Group	Services
base	net-tools, ncdu, git, curl, wget, htop, tree, zip/unzip, ca-certificates, gnupg, jq, rsync; glow (terminal markdown reader, Charm apt repo)
homelab	caddy, crowdsec, authelia, homeassistant, asterisk
utilities	actualbudget, ddclient, filebrowser, fmd, gatus, magicmirror, mail-archiver, mattermost, mealie, meshcentral, nextcloud, ntfy, onlyoffice, portainer, rustdesk, syncthing, traccar, unifi, uptimekuma, vaultwarden, watchyourlan, watchtower, wg-easy
media	arm, audiobookshelf, emby, immich, jellyfin, lyrion
cameras	frigate, frigate-audio, frigate-notify, sky-cam
gaming	js99er, minecraft, wolf, wolf-pair
extras	kdeconnect, silent-send, sync-cc
backup	backup — complete recovery: entire ~/docker/<service>/ for every service via Kopia (Minecraft: flush+snap, no downtime; others: stop/snap/start for DB consistency); borg-backup — same coverage via Borg (chunk dedup, SSH remote repos, Borgmatic/Vorta compatible); gaming-backup — frequent game-save snapshots (Minecraft world data, emulator saves, Steam — no downtime, run hourly)

Run ./setup.sh --list to see descriptions.

Layout

setup.sh          dispatcher — wizard, direct install, --list, --dry-run
lib/common.sh     shared helpers: logging, prompts, site config, OS detection
services/         one file per service (self-registering)
extras/           non-Docker assets bundled with the repo (e.g. sync_cc.py)
CLAUDE.md         contributor guide — how to add services, available helpers

Managing installed services

Every Docker service installs to its own ~/docker/<name>/ folder:

cd ~/docker/immich
docker compose up -d        # start
docker compose logs -f      # logs
docker compose pull && docker compose up -d   # update
docker compose down         # stop

Installing from a USB thumb drive

No git required. Works for anyone with a browser.

1 — Put the repo on the USB

1. On GitHub: click Code → Download ZIP
2. Open your Downloads folder — right-click the ZIP → Extract Here
3. Drag the ubuntu-post-install-main folder onto the USB drive in the file manager sidebar

To update later: download the ZIP again, extract, drag the new folder to the USB and replace the old one.

2 — Run on the target machine

Plug in the USB. Open the ubuntu-post-install-main folder in the file manager, then either:

• Right-click inside the folder → Open in Terminal, then run:

  sudo bash bootstrap.sh
  

• Double-click bootstrap.sh → click Run in Terminal → it prompts for your sudo password and starts the wizard automatically.

Notes

• Everything the wizard installs goes to ~/docker/ on the target machine's disk — only the setup scripts live on the USB.
• exFAT is the best filesystem for the USB — readable on Windows and macOS for easy ZIP extraction, and works fine on Linux.

Compatibility

Tested on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and 26.04 LTS. Works on any Ubuntu LTS ≥ 22.04; non-LTS releases also work. The wizard shows the detected OS in the header and warns on unknown versions.