This is the checklist that I follow for initial setup of a raspberry pi. This has been last updated for the release Raspbian GNU/Linux 9 (stretch). If you are running a newer version, there’s a chance these won’t work for you.

NOTE: Never simply copy+paste a command that you do not know what it does.

DISCLAIMER: While this guide aims to be 100% accurate, it may become outdated and commands may break or destroy your system. Use at your own risk.

Basic Setup

0. Login. username: pi, password: raspberry.

• If headless with no monitor / keyboard, run touch ssh on the boot drive when flashing. Creating a file named ssh on the boot drive allows you to ssh into the raspberry pi (which is disabled by default).
• Username / password is the same, hostname is raspberrypi.local by default.

1. Change the pi user’s password: run passwd and enter old/new passwords.
2. Enter Raspi-config sudo raspi-config
3. Enter “Network Options” sub menu.
4. Network Interface Names

• Enable predictable network names.

5. Enter “Localization Options”
6. Change Locale

• Press space to deselect en-GB (marked by an asterisk)
• Press space to select en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8

7. Change Timezone

• (set your timezone here)

8. Keyboard Layout

• NOTE: Will not work over ssh.
• press enter to confirm Generic 105-key (Intl) PC
• select “Other” Layout at bottom
• Choose “US English” at the top. You may change this depending on preferences for Dvorak, etc.

9. WiFi Country

• Choose US United States

10. Interfacing

• Set SSH to enabled
• (others depending on project.)

11. Enter Advanced Options

• Choose “Expand Filesystem”
• If using a TV, configure “Overscan”

12. Finish

• Navigate back to the main menu, and select “Finish”.

13. Reboot (it should prompt you. If it doesn’t, run sudo reboot)

Upgrading all packages

• run sudo apt-get update
• run sudo apt-get upgrade
• run sudo reboot

Optional Packages

Because I’m a vim fan, I install the latest vim with better support for source highlighting, etc. If you’re not comfortable with vim, I’d recommend nano for first-time users.

• run sudo apt-get install vim

Adding Users

1. Add User sudo adduser username (replace username with your username)
2. Add User to sudoers file

• Newer Raspian (tested on stretch)
  • run sudo visudo -f /etc/sudoers.d/010_pi-nopasswd
  • Duplicate the pi line, pi ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL, replacing pi with the username from step 1 on the new line.
• Older Raspbian
  • run sudo visudo
  • add line under the line reading pi ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL:
    • username ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL (replace username with your username)
  • duplicate