What to Do After Installing Fedora 43

1 Optimize DNF Performance

The first thing you should do on a fresh Fedora install is optimize DNF (Dandified YUM) - Fedora's package manager. This will make all future package installations significantly faster and more efficient.

Edit Your DNF Configuration

Terminal Command

sudo nano /etc/dnf/dnf.conf

The Optimal Configuration

Replace or update your dnf.conf with these settings:

/etc/dnf/dnf.conf

[main]
gpgcheck=1
installonly_limit=3
clean_requirements_on_remove=True
best=True
skip_if_unavailable=False

# Performance improvements
max_parallel_downloads=10
fastestmirror=True
deltarpm=True

# Keep system cleaner
keepcache=False

# Better dependency resolution
install_weak_deps=True

Understanding Each Setting

gpgcheck=1 - Enables GPG signature verification for security. This verifies that packages are authentic and haven't been tampered with. Never disable this.
installonly_limit=3 - Keeps only the last 3 kernels installed. Prevents your /boot partition from filling up with old kernels while keeping enough for troubleshooting.
clean_requirements_on_remove=True - Automatically removes unused dependencies when you uninstall packages. Essential for preventing bloat and keeping your system clean.
best=True - Always installs the latest/best available version of packages. Ensures you're getting the newest software and will upgrade dependencies if needed.
max_parallel_downloads=10 - Downloads 10 packages simultaneously instead of one at a time. Dramatically speeds up installations.
fastestmirror=True - Automatically selects the fastest mirrors for downloads. Optimizes download speeds based on your location.
deltarpm=True - Downloads only package changes, not full packages. Saves significant bandwidth on updates.
keepcache=False - Automatically cleans package cache after installation. Saves disk space by removing downloaded packages after they're installed.
install_weak_deps=True - Installs recommended packages alongside main packages. Provides a better out-of-box experience.

                    ⚡ Performance Impact: With these settings, your package installations will be noticeably faster. The combination of parallel downloads and fastest mirror selection typically cuts installation time by 60-70%.
                

2 Critical Security Settings

🔒 GPG Check (gpgcheck=1)

This is your protection against compromised packages. It verifies cryptographic signatures on every package before installation. This prevents:

Installing packages from compromised repositories
Man-in-the-middle attacks during downloads
Installation of modified or malicious packages

Keep this at 1 always. Only disable for testing custom repositories you personally control.

3 Automatic System Cleanup

Why These Settings Matter

Two settings work together to keep your Fedora installation lean:

🧹 clean_requirements_on_remove=True

When you uninstall a package like GIMP (which might pull in 50+ image processing libraries), this setting automatically removes those 50 libraries if nothing else needs them. Without this, you'd accumulate hundreds of orphaned packages over time.

💾 keepcache=False

After DNF installs packages, it can either keep the downloaded .rpm files (taking up disk space) or delete them. Since you can always re-download them if needed, keeping them is wasteful. This automatically cleans the cache after installation.

                    💡 Pro Tip: These settings are especially valuable if you like to experiment with different software. Uninstalling will actually free up the disk space properly instead of leaving behind dozens of unused libraries.
                

4 Keep Your System Updated

Now that DNF is optimized, run your first system update:

Update System

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

This will:

Refresh repository metadata
Download updates using your new parallel download settings
Install the latest versions of all packages
Automatically clean up the cache when done

📅 Regular Updates

Make it a habit to run sudo dnf upgrade weekly. Fedora releases updates frequently, and staying current keeps your system secure and stable.

5 What's Next?

With your DNF configuration optimized, your Fedora 43 system is now ready for efficient package management. Consider these next steps:

Install RPM Fusion - Access additional software not in default repositories (media codecs, graphics drivers)
Enable Flatpak - Already included in Fedora, great for sandboxed applications
Install Essential Tools - Development tools, multimedia codecs, your preferred applications
Configure GNOME - Customize your desktop environment with extensions and tweaks

                    🚀 Performance Note: Every package installation from now on will benefit from your optimized DNF configuration. You'll notice the difference immediately on your first multi-package installation.
                