I was working on creating a new distro with two other people. Those two other people have decided to disappear so I'm left with the idea and no where to go.

Here's the info

I've got the idea, the framework and a clear picture of what the final product should look like
I've got the resources for the management end of things
I've got a marketing "team" (two people) interested in promoting the new distro.
I've got avenues to release and make available a new distro.
I've got a person to advise me on any legal issues that a new distro may face

What I don't have is anyone to do the development.

Here's the goals of this distro

1. Stability - I'd like to create a very stable distro. Based possibly on Debian - Stable.
2. XFCE Desktop - GNOME 3 to me is horrible and I would like to use XFCE not as a "lightweight" desktop but focus on creating a solid desktop package.
3. Alternatives to more mainstream software - Chromium, instead of Firefox, something other then Thunderbird, etc.
4. Laptop focus - stability and driver availability for laptops
5. Less installed at first - looking to have basic internet software packages installed first, but avoid music software, image editors, video on first installation and provide solid tools to choose these as installations later
6. Target mid-level Linux users - not looking to create Ubuntu, Joli or anything that focus is making Linux easier, but also not looking to recreate Gentoo. I want hardware detection and setup to be easy, but choice for software to be extensive.
7. No commercial links - while avoiding the only use free software philosophy (because I think proprietary drives and such are needed) this project is not looking to become a commercial product. I'd like it to remain volunteer and community driver.
8. Artistic and Creative - I'd like to use XFCE but really try to make it an eye please desktop.

Now I'm sure people will post here with 1000 suggestions of distro what meet all these requirements. I know they are out there, and I use most of them and enjoy them.

If anyone is interested in hoping on board of a new distro and would like to see where it leads please feel free to msg me. We are looking for anyone who can help including developers, artists,testers and anyone who thinks they can add to the project. Please not this would be completely, and always, volunteer.

Who's going to jump onboard and waste their time trying to reinvent the wheel? You're not bringing anything new. In fact you admit what you are trying to do has probably already been done and that you are probably using it. So what's the point again?

1 members found this post helpful.

Isn't that exactly the point of distros? to offer choice even if only adding something small to the mix? How many different Ubuntu base distros are there, lots. I don't use just one distro, but use the distro that fits the computer and needs that I have at the time. I'm glad there are people making all sorts of small changes and remixing distros that are out there.

Even if only offer someone a different look, or different installed packages by default, the end result is something that offers choice.

It's way easier to say "why do it" then actually do it and see the result.

Yes choice is good. Introducing a distro that only offers slight tweaks and nothing significant only adds to the 'sea of confusion' over which distro to choose.

Unless it is your intention to take all these minor differences/offerings by all these other distros and roll them into one?

I've heard so many times that from those in the "Linux Community" that offering a new distro adds to the confusion. I don't get that. Part of Linux is just that, way more choices then you need. If everyone thought that way, we'd have Debian, SuSe, Fedora, PCLinuxOS, Ubuntu, Mint and some other top distro's and nothing offering anything more.

I love the fact that there are distros that offer things to a small audience. You need a distro to do music editing, it's out there. You want something just in your language, geared toward your religion, it's out there.

If you don't want another distro out there, don't create one, don't use it, but please don't stop other people from creating it.

My intention - to create a distro based on XFCE for desktop use. I understand there are options out there, but what I don't understand is why the community jumps on anyone who tries to create anything, even if it might have already been done.

Well this thread is useless It will now be a debate whether or not a distro should exist. Rather then letting someone create something the communities reaction to this is "Why". Got to love open source - its the only community that by in large wants freedom, but only if it follows some of the rules the loudest and most out spoken members wish to have in place.

Don't be so sensitive and defensive. My aim is not to stifle your possible creation, I am trying to get a better understanding of what you are going to do differently to all the other distros out there. There is indeed a sea of confusion, which is why you get new users asking 'Which distro should I use' I am all for distros that fill a niche market, as you point out that market has a specific need. If my light enquiries are all it takes for you to abandon this then perhaps you should.

Try to not take it personally. Keep in mind that FOSS programmers, technical writers, engineers, users, et al. are a finite resource.

Your point about freedom is well taken, but with freedom comes responsibility. If every project (including the glut of available Linux distros) were to continue to fork endlessly, we'd be left with a whole lot of unmaintained nothing.

Case in point:
Consider donating your time and experience to an existing distro instead.

Well you do have an excellent point.

The strength and excellence of Linux are choice, freedom, capability and whipuptitude (if I may borrow a word from perl). It boggles my mind how often I hear Windows users become confused and concerned when they learn there are two ways to do something. Even among the engineers I work with, the suggestion that there is another way is often scorned like treason or fascism. Unbelievable! But that's not so among Linux users.

Never-the-less, starting yet another distro when there are 300 to choose from seems like a huge task with little prospect of reward unless you have a really, really good idea that others haven't thought of. (At one point, DistroWatch posted the number 300, though I can't find it now.)

And here's another issue--commitment. If someone starts using your distro and is depending on you for updates, they'll be upset if you start slipping on quality and timeliness due to personal problems or waning interest. If a prospective user thinks the producer might not be fully committed for the long haul, they would be unwise to use their distro for other than a curiosity.

If wanting to build a spinoff. Debian Netinstall CD, or AntiX core Iso is a good starting point. Not much maintaining needed as Debian does all the heavy lifting. I guess (though I haven't tried this yet. A Ubuntu minimal install cd should meet these requirements also.

It takes a ton of work though as far as setting up a site. Writing good documentation and having a good wiki and forum. A lot to ask for just one person. NimbleX comes to mind and I respect the heck out of NimbleX developer as well as Absolute Linux Developer. Takes a workaholic for one single human to pull off such a venture though.

Edit: forgot to mention something. AntiX comes with a remaster.sh in it also.

http://www.mepis.org/docs/en/index.php?title=Main_Page

In fairness, I should post this encouraging point. DistroWatch said:

Did you catch the significance? Just five years ago a guy set out to improve on the reigning champ, Ubuntu.

So how is Mint doing today? Over the last three months it's occasionally been Number One in the page hit rankings.

So there is hope.

Mandriva 2011 wasn't released until the final quarter of the year. All other distros suffer from manpower shortages.

Any developer dedicated to the ideals of FOSS with a goal of expanding FOSS into the user population would look at the situation, pitch in and contribute where it would do the most good. Adding another obscure title to the long queue at Distrowatch is pointless.

Listening to the Distrowatch podcast I always get depressed and turn it off when he gets to the "new distros" segment. It sounds like the Evil Empire skillfully fragmenting the Rebel Alliance into tiny squads of competing, non-threatening units. A movie where the good guys DON'T win.

I've come to the conclusion that, sadly, this is all about ego and has nothing to do with FOSS ideals at all.

Mandrivas manpower shortage is self-inflicted. Having said that 2011 is shaping up to be one of their best releases in a long time IMHO.

CASE1 : distro for existing clients, you solid need support desk as it mainly will payoff. No need to go anywhere except branding theme development
CASE2 : you wish to create new market niche (like Jolicloud) then you need to be more specific to clients needs and write tech papers on jobs to create unique distro that suit client need. include CASE2 , include general distro rehaul/new repo on top of debians, some new tools coding. In case that market niche have already similar distro fallback to CASE1.

Hoi,

You might wanna take a look at openSUsE.
They have got an online "build service" with which you can assemble your own Linux Distro.
No need to actually program anything
just select the programs you want
configure the look and feel (GUI, background, installer, you name it)
There is even a facility to "play" with what you created before you generate your very own Linux Distro ISO !
You can also compare notes with other distro builders
(And let me assure you that there are some wacky distro's generated, But is seems to be all in good fun).
There are plenty of vids on the web about the How and Why, just a Google away.

Greets.

I run a stable Debian based distribution - Ubuntu - on a laptop using XFCE4. As you mention, it's been done. See the Xubuntu distribution. I chose Ubuntu because it was stable with good driver support, and offered the simplest setup. Ubuntu does its best to install and Just Work with minimal input from the user, and succeeds well.

Given that, why reinvent the wheel? You are not making it round. It comes that way.

As a general rule, if you wish to offer any product or service, the first question you have to ask yourself is "What do I do better than anybody else? What can I offer that is not already offered, or not done as well as I can do it?" If you don't bring something special to the table, why will anyone be interested in what you have to offer?

What you are attempting to build will be Yet Another Linux Distro, with nothing to make it stand out from the crowd. If you manage to create and release one, you'll have the satisfaction of having done it, but who will use it, and why? Personally, I'd measure success by the number of folks who download, install, and profess themselves happy with it because it meets their needs better than other distros. I really don't see more than a miniscule user base for what you plan.

Tell me what might make a Linux user choose your distro over Xubuntu or other Linux distro that uses XFCE4 as the default WM? If you don't have a convincing answer for the question, you are wasting your time in trying to do it.
______
Dennis