Announcing nFluxOS Linux; a Fluxbox based quad of distros!
Multidistro.com is becoming nFlux Linux!
nFlux is a Linux OS created from a triumvirate of the Best Linux distro’s available now, including Slackware Current(13), Ubuntu 10.04 LTS, and Debian Squeeze! All are LiveCD’s that can run from CD, USB, and Hard Drive in frugal persistent mode or traditional installed-to-Hard Drive mode (Slackware HD install postponed, but manual install is available). The Debian and Ubuntu releases are made with Remastersys, and include a remastersys-installer for the Debian release, and Ubuntu’s Ubiquity installer for the 10.04 release. The Slackware Current release is made with LinuxLiveScripts 6.3.0, and has a hard drive install script sourced from slack-mini-server and remastersys(still experimental). All three will feature a modified Fluxbox desktop and similar applications, under the “one-app-per-task” philosophy. nFlux will never try to compete with Slackware, Debian, or Ubuntu in any way. Additionally, nFlux will also never be a “pure” Linux distribution. By that I mean nFlux will be a collage of applications, scripts, etc sourced from a variety of resources. This “mutt” or “mongrel” approach is somewhat different from how most distributions build a distro. I make no apologies in the fact that nFlux will be using the most up-to-date and sometimes unstable software; thus it’s name “nFlux”. The only aims of nFlux will be to broaden the knowledge and usefulness of the Fluxbox Desktop in three of the best Linux distro’s available. All three will contain these “standard” applicatons Terminals: rxvt-unicode, xterm, terminator, and Terminal (xfce4-terminal) Network: Firefox 3.6.3 (Ubuntu/Slack) Iceweasel 3.5.9 (Debian) Flash 10+ Irssi Xchat Gftp Links Lynx Irssi Wifi-Radar wireless-tools WICD or Network-Manager aircrack-ng wireshark Editors,etc: Kompozer Leafpad Nano Gvim File Managers,etc: PCMANFM Rox-filer MidnightCommander Multimedia: Audacious Alsamixergui Alsaplayer Gxine Clementine(Slack) isomaster xcd-roast Graphics: Gimp Imagemagick Geeqie Office: Abiword Gaiksaurus Plus there are misc applications and utilities specific to each OS, like sbopkg for Slackware and Ubuntu’s many “helper” apps and settings,etc. As the name suggests, nFlux will always be “in flux”; as the distro evolves every attempt will be made to add or remove applications, scripts, etc in a effort to make each of the three varieties as similar to each other in form and function, without losing their identities. By size, the Debian version will always be the smallest because it doesn’t need many “helper” applications Ubuntu uses that are almost inseparable from Ubuntu. The Ubuntu version is very similar to the Debian version, except it has many apps used solely for Ubuntu, plus any needed depends, such as language-pack-writing-en, etc. The Slackware Current version will probably always be the biggest, near 700MB, because of Slackware’s unique binary/source makeup. Thus the Slackware version features all compiling and development tools needed to make packages, along with SBopkg and src2pkg. These first editions are fully working versions with fully updated apps. However, they should be regarded as RC1‘s for now, at least until 10.04 LTS, Squeeze, and Current become more mature. Install, etc info: Install to hard drive- Use remastesys-installer in debian version, Ubiquity installer for the ubuntu version. Install to USB- Use Unetbootin for debian version, use Ubuntu's USB creator for ubuntu version or Unetbootin. For persistent CD/USB, please see Debian and Ubuntu's persistent options here https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD/Persistence http://live.debian.net/manual/html/persistence.html Here’s the build info: Window Manager- Fluxbox Display Manager- Gnome Display Manager GDM Version Info: Slackware- 13/current Ubuntu- 10.04 LTS Debian- Squeeze/Sid The Slackware version will be released later this week. For now please enjoy the Ubuntu/Debian versions! User Names & Passwords! Debian version user name: guest password: 55 username: root password: 77 Slackware version (No premade users!, only root) username: root password: toor Ubuntu version username: guest password: 77 username: root password: toor Screenshots- Ubuntu 10.04 LTS “Lucid Lynx” http://multidistro.com/distros/ubunt...buntunflux.png Debian Squeeze http://multidistro.com/distros/debia...ebiannflux.png Slackware 13 (Current) http://multidistro.com/distros/slack...nfluxslack.png Download Links: nFlux-debian-Squeeze-i686.iso (469MB) http://multidistro.com/distros/debia...e-i686-RC1.iso MD5SUM dfcb83c300ac9ccbe46de36a46cb2b73 nFlux-ubuntu-10.04-i686-RC1.iso (556MB) http://multidistro.com/distros/ubunt...4-i686-RC1.iso MD5SUM c133e61e8a96b380b0c04d3670c75893 Please leave comments or ridicule if you wish; feedback is always appreciated! |
Hey Linus,
I'll download the Debian version and give it a try. Combining Fluxbox with Debian will pretty much always get a 'thumbs up' from me!. How do you intend to manage the transition of Squeeze from Testing to Stable?. Are you intending on using the Testing branch of Debian for future versions of nFlux?. One initial suggestion would be including the Gnumeric spreadsheet as well for your office suite. I'll post back after i have tried nFlux. Keep up the good work. :cool: |
Looks really good! Are you using specific apps to modify each distro? Automated somehow?
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Hey Trooper; I am going to be using some sid pkg's maybe
right now its 99% squeeze with only gtkdialog, hag-exit-fluxbox, etc being lenny. I included I think all the fluxxbo themes I got from you Trooper. I intend it to always be a "testing" version that works. when testing becomes sid or whatever whatever the "testing" or "unstable" versions are for buntu/deb/slack thats what I'll be using. and I agree about Gnumeric, just forgott it(: ctkroeker; The process is far from automated. Basically, I will be trying to make each one similar with similar apps, but the user should still be able to easily recognize its origins, ie slack, buntu, or debian. I'm making the preliminary slack version now after getting many upgrades last night, incl Xorg 1.76 The Slack version is the hardest as everything must be setup manually incl how its made; as linuxlivescripts is not as easy as remastersys. Note; you can easily remaster the buntu/debian ones using remastersys backup Also; if you choose hard drive install login to root desktop first goto system menu/user setup and creat your user, giving all priveledges, etc then logout of root desktop and login as user you made. then run remastersys-installer. The slackware version should be remasterable too, but I am trying to combine remastersys, linux live scripts and sms-text-installer into a combined remaster/install gui using gtkdialog. I'm sure that the 3 versions are pretty different right now but hope to make a "template" that will fit each one universally and maybe just release a package for each distro Like the nFlux-desktop.deb, etc It would pull in all needed things in debian/buntu and in Slack version I could make a SBopkg maybe So, you think it would be better to just make a "desktop" package for each vs making 3 distros? |
A desktop package would be useful to some users, but quite a few might prefer a clean install from and ISO. I think you could figure out a way to create your desktop packages so that they are in sync with your ISO's. Although there would still be some differences between the ISO and the package.
If you were to make a package, it would have to ask me before it starts removing apps and changing system configurations. Unless it was only adding to the current system and not removing anything already on it... Just my :twocents: |
OK
I got a preliminary Slackware-current version ready for testing if anyones interested. Its current as of 04/28 so it has Xorg 1.76, etc and newest upgrades. username: root password: toor Configure X? a script named vidconfig sourced from Absolute Linux will try to autoconfigure x for you if you answer "yes" at xconfigure screen. If you choose No it will use Vesa driver. If neither normal xconfigure works and vesa configure doesn't work aftre logging in, use nano or vi to edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf or copy existing vesa xorg.conf to reg xorg.conf cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf-vesa /etc/X11/xorg.conf How to start X? There are three ways to startx X 1) after logging in type in "startx" 2) after logging in type in "slim", and Slim will run desktop 3) after logging in type in "gdm", and GDM will run desktop. There are some bugs etc but all apps work fine and haven't had any program crashes,etc Runs just like Slax and can use Slax boot cheatcodes and persistency Screenshot http://multidistro.com/distros/slack...nfluxslack.png Download Link 600MB iso http://multidistro.com/distros/slack...c-i686-RC1.iso md5sum http://multidistro.com/distros/slack...RC1.iso.md5sum |
OK
I have uploaded improved and updated versions of debian and ubuntu versions now RC2's Heres new info for each debian http://multidistro.com/distros/debia...bian-nflux.txt slack http://multidistro.com/distros/slack...lack-nflux.txt ubuntu http://multidistro.com/distros/ubunt...untu-nflux.txt and heres new download links for rc2's debian iso http://multidistro.com/distros/debia...e-i686-RC2.iso debian md5sum http://multidistro.com/distros/debia...RC2.iso.md5sum ubuntu iso http://multidistro.com/distros/ubunt...4-i686-RC2.iso md5sum http://multidistro.com/distros/ubunt...RC2.iso.md5sum |
Just a quick follow up,
Tried rc1 of nFlux and it works nicely. Booted without problems on my machine and everything works as expected,even sound. I like the boot options including a 'toram' choice. The only thing i'm not too keen on is the graphic splash screen that is displayed at boot. But i think that's just my personal taste rather than a fault. I'd say it's probably your most polished release so far. |
Thanks trooper
wait till you see the rc2 for both but especially the debian one! Having one issue in the debian rc2 though seems every time I try to open apps as root it asks password each time in my other debian/buntu installs if I open a root app, it asks for password once and if I then open more apps it doesnt ask about password till a certain amount of time has passed. So, how do i fix that? and the passwords have changed for rc2 all are now user: guest password: guest user:root password: toor The Ubuntu boot and reboots very fast installed to hdd as for the splash trooper, its the standard debian splash how could I change it? I just wish i could make a 2.6.33.2 kernel for the slackware one each time i attempt to make a slax kernel with aufs,etc it always fails....sad |
Quote:
Certainly none of my installs have ever had one. I wouldn't sweat over changing it,some people may prefer it that way. |
Oh,
I was also seriously thinking about splitting the fluxbox desktop into 2 or 3 different variations. Like, one might be a basic fluxbox desktop with no apps staring, etc so Low-Ram Then maybe a second choice where fluxbox starts and conky, fbpanel, etc also start the third choice would be having pcmanfm or rox run the desktop so you could have icons,etc I'm sure I could do this, though I might have to have either three .fluxbox folders diff named or certain scripts that tell gdm,etc which variation to load... what does anyone think about variable fluxbox desktop Low-ram; just flux Mid range; conky, fbpanel,etc running Full; pcmanfm running desktop, fbpanel,etc |
I'll try the slackware one when it comes out.
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Hey H_TeXMeX_H;
the slack version is above at post #6 its pretty rough right now cause I cant compile a kernel myself so must use someone elses but it runs pretty good anyway:) |
Alright, I'm downloading it. So this is just a release candidate at the moment right ?
Why does the kernel fail to compile ? |
I wish I knew H_TeXMeX_H!
I have been trying for 2 mos to make a 2.6.33+ kernel patched with aufs, sqlzma, and squashfs either 3.4 or 4.0 and it never works, always bombing out when patching:( I tried using salixos' kernellive, but he set aufs in kernel, not as module, so linuxlivescripts wont work and he wont tell how he made his salixos live so, I can use slaxs 2.6.27.27 old kernel, or use a recent kernel already patched like pureos 2.6.33(which is what is in the nflux slack version) but its not a good choice so, I have choice of not making a slackware based distros or finding a way to make a live kernel I love slack, but its way behind in this area as any debian/buntu comes prepatched or has a pkg which is prepatched any ideas? |
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