diff --git a/.scripts/package_manager_run.sh b/.scripts/package_manager_run.sh
index fb3bdba010..f9ca4339a0 100644
--- a/.scripts/package_manager_run.sh
+++ b/.scripts/package_manager_run.sh
@@ -15,7 +15,22 @@ package_manager_run() {
     elif [[ -n "$(command -v yum)" ]]; then
         run_script "pm_yum_${ACTION}"
     else
-        fatal "Supported package manager not detected!"
+        if [[ ${ACTION} == "install" ]]; then
+            local COMMAND_DEPS=("curl" "git" "grep" "sed" "whiptail")
+            for COMMAND_DEP in "${COMMAND_DEPS[@]}"; do
+                if [[ -z "$(command -v "${COMMAND_DEP}")" ]]; then
+                    fatal "${F[C]}${COMMAND_DEP}${NC} is not available. Please install ${F[C]}${COMMAND_DEP}${NC} and try again."
+                fi
+            done
+        elif [[ ${ACTION} == "install_docker" ]]; then
+            if [[ -z "$(command -v docker)" ]]; then
+                fatal "${F[C]}docker${NC} is not available. Please install ${F[C]}docker${NC} and try again."
+            fi
+            if ! docker compose version > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+                warn "Please see https://docs.docker.com/compose/install/linux/ to install ${F[C]}docker compose${NC}"
+                fatal "${F[C]}docker compose${NC} is not available. Please install ${F[C]}docker compose${NC} and try again."
+            fi
+        fi
     fi
 }
 
diff --git a/.scripts/symlink_ds.sh b/.scripts/symlink_ds.sh
index 9803d3d205..ed9ef28b04 100644
--- a/.scripts/symlink_ds.sh
+++ b/.scripts/symlink_ds.sh
@@ -5,25 +5,26 @@ IFS=$'\n\t'
 symlink_ds() {
     run_script 'set_permissions' "${SCRIPTNAME}"
 
-    # /usr/bin/ds
-    if [[ -L "/usr/bin/ds" ]] && [[ ${SCRIPTNAME} != "$(readlink -f /usr/bin/ds)" ]]; then
-        info "Attempting to remove /usr/bin/ds symlink."
-        sudo rm -f "/usr/bin/ds" || fatal "Failed to remove file.\nFailing command: ${F[C]}sudo rm -f \"/usr/bin/ds\""
-    fi
-    if [[ ! -L "/usr/bin/ds" ]]; then
-        info "Creating /usr/bin/ds symbolic link for DockSTARTer."
-        sudo ln -s -T "${SCRIPTNAME}" /usr/bin/ds || fatal "Failed to create symlink.\nFailing command: ${F[C]}sudo ln -s -T \"${SCRIPTNAME}\" /usr/bin/ds"
-    fi
+    local SYMLINK_TARGETS=("/usr/bin/ds" "/usr/local/bin/ds")
 
-    # /usr/local/bin/ds
-    if [[ -L "/usr/local/bin/ds" ]] && [[ ${SCRIPTNAME} != "$(readlink -f /usr/local/bin/ds)" ]]; then
-        info "Attempting to remove /usr/local/bin/ds symlink."
-        sudo rm -f "/usr/local/bin/ds" || fatal "Failed to remove file.\nFailing command: ${F[C]}sudo rm -f \"/usr/local/bin/ds\""
-    fi
-    if [[ ! -L "/usr/local/bin/ds" ]]; then
-        info "Creating /usr/local/bin/ds symbolic link for DockSTARTer."
-        sudo ln -s -T "${SCRIPTNAME}" /usr/local/bin/ds || fatal "Failed to create symlink.\nFailing command: ${F[C]}sudo ln -s -T \"${SCRIPTNAME}\" /usr/local/bin/ds"
+    if findmnt -n /usr | grep -P "\bro\b" > /dev/null; then
+        SYMLINK_TARGETS=("${HOME}/bin/ds" "${HOME}/.local/bin/ds")
     fi
+
+    for SYMLINK_TARGET in "${SYMLINK_TARGETS[@]}"; do
+        if [[ -L ${SYMLINK_TARGET} ]] && [[ ${SCRIPTNAME} != "$(readlink -f "${SYMLINK_TARGET}")" ]]; then
+            info "Attempting to remove ${SYMLINK_TARGET} symlink."
+            sudo rm -f "${SYMLINK_TARGET}" || fatal "Failed to remove file.\nFailing command: ${F[C]}sudo rm -f \"${SYMLINK_TARGET}\""
+        fi
+        if [[ ! -L ${SYMLINK_TARGET} ]]; then
+            info "Creating ${SYMLINK_TARGET} symbolic link for DockSTARTer."
+            mkdir -p "$(dirname "${SYMLINK_TARGET}")" || fatal "Failed to create directory.\nFailing command: ${F[C]}mkdir -p \"$(dirname "${SYMLINK_TARGET}")\""
+            sudo ln -s -T "${SCRIPTNAME}" "${SYMLINK_TARGET}" || fatal "Failed to create symlink.\nFailing command: ${F[C]}sudo ln -s -T \"${SCRIPTNAME}\" \"${SYMLINK_TARGET}\""
+        fi
+        if [[ ${PATH} != *"$(dirname "${SYMLINK_TARGET}")"* ]]; then
+            warn "${F[C]}$(dirname "${SYMLINK_TARGET}")${NC} not found in PATH. Please add it to your PATH in order to use the ${F[C]}ds${NC} command alias."
+        fi
+    done
 }
 
 test_symlink_ds() {