I was splitting a ton(ne) of firewood today; and the conversation about Unity, vs other DTEs got me thinking..... how about we build a PLUG distro/desktop? It would be interesting to see how we all use the system, and the choices that are made.
I figure we can use a free tier cloud provider, it's just for fun, afterall.
Thoughts?
Let's see what type of monster we can make :)
For a custom Distro, I would want to have a 1 click Shutdown button, on the Desktop.
Non of the nonsense, were you have to click an series of actions 2 or 3 times to shutdown the OS and computer.
Quote from: ssfc72 on May 31, 2021, 08:04:03 AM
For a custom Distro, I would want to have a 1 click Shutdown button, on the Desktop.
Non of the nonsense, were you have to click an series of actions 2 or 3 times to shutdown the OS and computer.
LOL - we can write a custom applet called PowerCord. Doubleclick and it turns the power off without warning.
Quote from: gmiller1977 on May 29, 2021, 08:35:06 PM
I was splitting a ton(ne) of firewood today; and the conversation about Unity, vs other DTEs got me thinking..... how about we build a PLUG distro/desktop? It would be interesting to see how we all use the system, and the choices that are made.
There used to be popular distros that allowed you to make all kinds of changes to their distro, including software selection, themes, and whatever, and then you could save it as an iso. That seems like a pleasant way to do it rather than building from the ground up. (My religion doesn't allow me to use the command line more than necessary.)
A desktop like a mac would be interesting, as was being done by Pear Linux a few years ago until it was shut down. That could be built fairly easily on a plasma base using Plank. Personally for building I would shy away from Gnome or Xfce for selfish reasons. And the default wall paper would have to be the lift-lock, preferably with a canoe in the foreground.
Quote from: buster on May 31, 2021, 11:56:57 AM
There used to be popular distros that allowed you to make all kinds of changes to their distro, including software selection, themes, and whatever, and then you could save it as an iso. That seems like a pleasant way to do it rather than building from the ground up.
....
I think that you are referring to Linux from Scratch (https://www.linuxfromscratch.org/). I wouldn't say that it is popular (#136 on DistroWatch), but it is being maintained (last update 3/2021), and even better, it's Canadian!
"I think that you are referring to Linux from Scratch. I wouldn't say that it is popular (#136 on DistroWatch), but it is being maintained (last update 3/2021), and even better, it's Canadian!"
Heavens no! Using Linux from Scratch would never cross my mind in a million years. (Nor would building a car from a box of parts.) This was a popular distro that had it as a feature maybe five, six year ago (?), but in all my searches today I cannot find it. But doggedly your intrepid warrior will keek looking.
I did find this a few minutes ago, and it holds some promise. If it does what it sort of says, we could modify a Ubuntu system, back it up to one sort of file, and from this make a bootable iso. However I do admit I skimmed the article, but if it works it would be pretty easy, and could be done from Kubuntu, Xubuntu or any offshoot besides the base Ubuntu I suspect.
https://linuxhint.com/create-iso-current-installation-ubuntu/
Quote: "Users can create a backup of their current installation in an ISO file format. The ISO file can also be used as an external drive, or you can make a bootable USB. "
Quote from: buster on June 01, 2021, 11:13:05 AM
I did find this a few minutes ago, and it holds some promise. If it does what it sort of says, we could modify a Ubuntu system, back it up to one sort of file, and from this make a bootable iso.
That's pretty cool, Buster. There are a few distros that offer something that sort of modification. PCLinuxOS does (or did) that as well. Thanks for the link.
Quote from: buster on June 01, 2021, 11:13:05 AM
I did find this a few minutes ago, and it holds some promise. If it does what it sort of says, we could modify a Ubuntu system, back it up to one sort of file, and from this make a bootable iso. However I do admit I skimmed the article, but if it works it would be pretty easy, and could be done from Kubuntu, Xubuntu or any offshoot besides the base Ubuntu I suspect.
https://linuxhint.com/create-iso-current-installation-ubuntu/
Quote: "Users can create a backup of their current installation in an ISO file format. The ISO file can also be used as an external drive, or you can make a bootable USB. "
Cool stuff indeed.
So, how about we make a list of applications that we'll need in this build?
What are your top open source applications that you can't live without?
Should we try to keep to just FOSS software or expand to allow closed source?
"What are your top open source applications that you can't live without? "
In my opinion the best torrent system is Qtorrent, which can be set to a default shut off when torrents finish. Also Synaptic is a must for me. We like software that can be used both in Win10 and Linux, like Thunderbird and Firefox.
However, there should be more important decisions at a lower level, because these are easy to add anyway. I do like the idea of a Linux Pear clone.
And Bill wants a one click 'off'. (This cannot be at the expense of other options - Marilyn's machine goes to sleep each night with a one key click. Wouldn't like to lose that.)
Quote from: buster on June 02, 2021, 10:41:15 AM
"What are your top open source applications that you can't live without? "
In my opinion the best torrent system is Qtorrent, which can be set to a default shut off when torrents finish. Also Synaptic is a must for me. We like software that can be used both in Win10 and Linux, like Thunderbird and Firefox.
However, there should be more important decisions at a lower level, because these are easy to add anyway. I do like the idea of a Linux Pear clone.
And Bill wants a one click 'off'. (This cannot be at the expense of other options - Marilyn's machine goes to sleep each night with a one key click. Wouldn't like to lose that.)
Agree on Qtorrent!
I'm good with a MacOS looking interface.
Quote from: gmiller1977 on June 01, 2021, 07:05:24 PM
What are your top open source applications that you can't live without?
Should we try to keep to just FOSS software or expand to allow closed source?
Brave for browsing, Tutanota for secure email/calendar, Timeshift, a notes app - Joplin is nice, Spotify, SpiderOak One Backup, Veracrypt, Zoom obviously :D, a basic image editor/viewer - cropping, resizing, rotating.
I like using Open Source whenever I can but I have nothing against proprietary software. But if we wanted to distribute the software, we'd likely have to stick with Open Source, I believe.
"Brave for browsing, Tutanota for secure email/calendar, Timeshift, a notes app - Joplin is nice, Spotify, SpiderOak One Backup, Veracrypt, Zoom obviously :D, a basic image editor/viewer - cropping, resizing, rotating."
Personal preference, but I like the idea of having all the necessary apps covered by vanilla, popular software as much as possible. BUT I think it is most important that we place a note on the desktop that can be opened and lists other software, for examples, under the heading browser we could point out the advantages of other browsers and why they might be chosen.
Some of those I've never even heard of Jason. Doesn't mean they're not good or even excellent, but I can see us arguing for the next year about choices. I like one app per function, with the above note explaining how to get some other ones recommended by others.
I think Mac works to simplify.
Here is the Link to my post about a Link for instructions, on how to create a one mouse click shutdown of the Mint distro.
https://plugintolinux.ca/forum/index.php/topic,198.msg1021.html#msg1021
I will have to install a virtual Ubuntu distro, to see if it works with Ubuntu, also.
Our PLUG distro maybe could include this modification.
Curious to hear if it works Bill.
So since I suggested it I thought I should test Plank in my Quark virtual install to help make it look like a Mac. What a mess I made of that! There are other choices of course, but I can't be sure if I messed up or the simplicity of Plank is a little too simple. I've used it before, and I don't remember any problems. Could be Quark. So I shall get back to you a little later. Like a day or two.
If your desktop environment still lets you create another user, do that and then log in as that user. The configuration files for the desktop environment will be set to their defaults. These configuration files are either in your base home directory (e.g /home/jason) or in a subdirectory. They begin with a dot. That dot tells Linux to hide them by default. So you need to turn on viewing 'hidden files' in your file manager to see them. After deleting the files, log out and back in and they should be reset. I usually just create a new user and do that. It's less work than a full re-install. Since these configuration files may also store the settings for various programs (e.g. browser bookmarks), you don't have to delete them all. If you peak inside the directories, you should be able to tell what you want you need to delete.
I can't finish this post without mentioning that Virtualbox is better than VMware Player in one way, the ability to take snapshots of the OS. Do one before making changes and you can easily roll back to the previous snapshot. I suppose another way would be to export the virtual machine files in VMware Player and import them into a new VM. Timeshift will also do it. The initial backup takes a bit of time but after that, it only has to record changes in files.
I gave entirely the wrong impression.Sorry. The "What a mess I made of that!" actually referred to the ugly, awkward, wretched desktop experience I had created.
Moved backwards and experimented again with fair success so far, and a different launch bar. We'll see.
Quote from: buster on June 09, 2021, 11:20:01 AM
I gave entirely the wrong impression.Sorry. The "What a mess I made of that!" actually referred to the ugly, awkward, wretched desktop experience I had created.
Oh, I thought you were referring to an ugly desktop, panels, planks, whatever. Doing what I mentioned would restore it to the original look if you had trouble with or didn't want to take the trouble to get it back. Oh, well, the info might be helpful to somebody else.
Three possible desktops, though maybe they are a bit obvious:
I finally was curious enough to look up what Quark and Plank, are. :-)
Quote from: buster on June 08, 2021, 06:48:47 PM
So since I suggested it I thought I should test Plank in my Quark virtual install to help make it look like a Mac. What a mess I made of that! There are other choices of course, but I can't be sure if I messed up or the simplicity of Plank is a little too simple. I've used it before, and I don't remember any problems. Could be Quark. So I shall get back to you a little later. Like a day or two.
Quote from: buster on June 11, 2021, 07:48:26 PM
Three possible desktops, though maybe they are a bit obvious:
Hmm. Someone seems to have an Apple fetish. ;)
Quote from: fox on June 12, 2021, 07:40:03 AM
Hmm. Someone seems to have an Apple fetish. ;)
I was going to say that but you beat me to it! Buster has a new love.
This pic shows the theme and I am wondering if it is at all like a Mac. Anyone know?
Assuming that this is a serious question, then yes and no. The dock is very Mac-like, as is the desktop picture. The icons and window controls are not. And there is no menubar.
Does the menu bar have to be at the bottom, or can it be on any of the other 3 sides? And if so, which one is the default?
Like this picture?
In the Mac OS, the default position of the dock is at the bottom in the middle, just like in your picture. The dock can be moved to the left or right sides. The menubar is always at the top.
If you start with a MATE desktop, I believe it comes with a menu bar at the top and you can add Plank. But you can also add a Panel in most desktop environments at the top. But if you want it to look like a Mac, elementary OS is the way to go. It even has the right look to it. Not perfect, but much closer. And I think its file manager is more like the Mac one although Fox would have to check to be sure. Why are you trying to make it look like a Mac anyway?
1. Glen suggested we design our own disto.
2. Bill suggested a one click off button.
3. I suggested a liftlock picture for wallpaper.
4. Nothing happened.
5. I suggested a Mac lookalike and Glen said sure.
6. I've been working with the stability of Ubuntu, the flexibility of Plasma, the speed of Q4OS using Ubuntu Quark.
That's how we got to this point, and here's a new picture.
I have no problem letting someone else moving us in a new direction.
I think that actually looks pretty nice, even the background which has a nice colour and texture. If I could change one thing, it would be to replace the apple with a Linux symbol, either a penguin or a distro-specific symbol.
Or something like this, with 'Peterborough Linux Club' somewhere in a similar picture?
Too busy in my opinion. Maybe if it was in black and white or grayscale.
How about this or a bit smaller?
Or if that sort of thing doesn't work, maybe some clever person could find on the Internet the original drafting plans (probably 3 perspectives) of the Lift Lock for wallpaper. I would prefer some indication of the club's centre and its name, and everyone associates our city with the Lift Lock. Greyscale pictures make me feel a bit depressed when I turn on the laptop. There is art, but not life.
And I prefer Peterborough Linux Club to Peterborough Linux Users Group as a name. The former indicates social activities and pleasant times, and the latter has a group defined by a specific activity. Imagine something like the Peterborough Golf Club Users Group.
Quote from: buster on June 15, 2021, 09:09:00 AM
That's how we got to this point, and here's a new picture.
Looking good. I'll probably read this in a comment after mine but I don't think the MacOS has icons in the top panel unless I'm mistaken.
Quote from: buster on June 15, 2021, 03:55:46 PM
And I prefer Peterborough Linux Club to Peterborough Linux Users Group as a name. The former indicates social activities and pleasant times, and the latter has a group defined by a specific activity. Imagine something like the Peterborough Golf Club Users Group.
I'm very much against changing the name for a number of reasons.
1. Across the globe, Linux "clubs" are known as Linux User Groups. It's normally the case with all computer "clubs" (PC user groups) as well groups for users with very specific interests like Java Users Group, C++ Users Group, etc.
2. The website domain would no longer have a double meaning.
3. You don't change the name of a group, a company, an organization when it's been known a long time a certain way. It's bad marketing. Now, if everybody started using a different name, that would be a different situation. For example, Federal Express became Fedex.
3. It's like you just suggested we rename my firstborn. It's not going to happen.
Another way to make use of such a picture but still make it easier on the eyes is to use an image editor to soften the image by blurring it a little bit. A less busy picture might be one of Little Lake with the fountain. Or looking over Peterborough from a hill seeing all the trees and Little Lake, maybe looking at the clock tower or some other landmark. Lots of greenery is nice. Are you a decent photographer, Buster? Get up to the water tower or the lookout point at the museum.
Maybe have the 2 desktop backgrounds (both the one Fox likes and Busters) as a choice, available? :-)
Quote from: buster on June 15, 2021, 02:48:50 PM
How about this or a bit smaller?