ROM, 22/Nov/2015
This is the software side of installing Raspbian, assuming all the things in "Set-up" have been done to prepare the hardware. No changes have been made from the default installation, except the 'update' and 'upgrade' mentioned below.
The configuration program is "raspi-config", and this lets a number of configuration issues be set, including the amount of graphics memory (head-less Pis don't require much, if any). Possibly relevant things are changing the default user ("pi") password from "raspberry" (using 'passwd'), changing whether boots into the desktop, enabling SSH, and setting the hostname. It can be run directly by:
sudo raspi-config
Initially it is recommended to do:
sudo apt-get update
and then:
sudo apt-get upgrade
These update things from the initial install, via an Internet connection, and sensibly need doing every so often (once a week/month?) in case there are bug fixes.
This command sets-up a non-default NTFS disc handler, to allow read/write of external NTFS format HD:
sudo apt-get install ntfs-3g
It should only need to be done once; if it is already installed "ntfs-3g --help" shows this.
This is the command to start the Desktop:
startx
If you want a terminal prompt while running the Desktop then "tty1-6" are available by using "CTRL+ALT+Fn", where 'n' is 1 to 6; "tty7" seems to be the Desktop. Alternatively, run a 'Terminal' window on the Desktop.
The 'gcc' compiler is installed ready to use, as are all the usual UNIX tools; this is a port of Debian Linux. If it is desired to install a basic IDE for 'C' development on the Desktop then:
sudo apt-get install geany
An entry will be added for this to the Desktop Menu, under 'Programming'. For more information:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geany
Various maybe useful bits...
There is auto-completion on commands, particularly useful for long filenames, via the 'Tab' key.
It may be useful to look here:
https://www.raspberrypi.org/
Set audio output to use the headphone jack:
amixer cset numid=3 1
('2' instead of '1' is to HDMI) An alternative way of doing this is to use 'raspi-config'. To test sound either first get a '.WAV' file (puts it in the current directory), or use sounds in "/usr/share/sounds/alsa", then play it:
sudo wget http://www.freespecialeffects.co.uk/soundfx/sirens/police_s.wav
aplay police_s.wav
List what's plugged in the USB:
lsusb
Maybe useful:
http://www.raspbian.org/RaspbianDocumentation
There is a suite of demo programs here:
/opt/vc/src/hello_pi
They can be built by changing to that directory and using "./rebuild.sh".
Removing Wolfram Alpha (frees ~450Mb):
sudo apt-get purge wolfram-engine