 DistroWatch Weekly |
| DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 35, 9 February 2004 |
Welcome to this year's 6th edition of DistroWatch Weekly. Disappointingly, the expected release of Fedora Core Test 1 did not materialise last week (there is still no word on when it might be released), but we did get a new KDE, as well as the second beta release of Mandrake Linux 10.0. At the moment it seems that Mandrake is ahead of the pack in integrating kernel 2.6 and KDE 3.2 into the next release.
Content:
Distributions with the 2.6 kernel
In recent weeks, we started getting email from visitors asking about distributions that provide the new 2.6.x kernel. Unfortunately, the current site structure does not allow for easy package-based distribution search (this feature is under development, although it will only be available to those visitors who support DistroWatch). Nevertheless, a simple "grep" query on the server was all that was needed to reveal this information. So which ones have the new kernel?
If you are holding your breath, you might be disappointed. As of today, the query returns 14 results, most of which are either development releases or specialist distributions with a particular target market. In fact, the only full-featured, general purpose distribution shipping with kernel 2.6 is Turbolinux 10 Desktop. Those of you who follow the news on this site will remember that Turbolinux 10 was released in October 2003 with kernel 2.6.0-test5. The distribution maker promised to provide a stable version of the kernel as soon as it became available and this has now happened - the users of Turbolinux 10 can either update via the distribution's update program, or they can download the full Update Kit, which includes all security and bug-fix updates since the product release, as well as kernel 2.6.0.
Besides Turbolinux 10, other Linux distributions with the new kernel include the following:
- Fedora Core, development branch (2.6.1)
- Mandrake Linux 10.0-beta2 (2.6.2rc3)
- Debian unstable, not the default kernel (2.6.0)
- Gentoo unstable, not the default kernel (2.6.2)
- Arch Linux 0.6 (development), not the default kernel (2.6.2)
- Sorcerer, not the default kernel (2.6.2)
- Conectiva Linux 10-TP2 (2.6.1)
- Magic Linux 1.2pre5, a Chinese desktop distribution (2.6.0)
- Berry Linux 0.36, a Japanese live CD (2.6.2rc3)
- Bluewall Linux 1.0, a minimalist distribution (2.6.0)
- JoLinux 1.0, a Slackware-based Brazilian desktop distribution (2.6.0)
- knoppiXMAME 1.2, a bootable arcade machine emulator (2.6.1)
- LinuxNetwosix 1.0, a specialist live CD for security operations (2.6.1)
- Shark Linux 1.06-beta2, a minimalist distribution for AMD-64, in early development (2.6.1)
As always, it is possible that we missed something, so if you know of another distribution with one of the 2.6.x kernel series, please mention it in the discussion forums below.
New package repositories
One of the more challenging aspects of Linux distributions is the question of keeping them up-to-date with the latest and greatest software releases, without sacrificing the stability of the product. Historically, commercial distributions have been reluctant to provide packages updates for stable releases, since this would require a lot of extra work without any financial return. Instead, they have focused their efforts on new releases, with all the latest and greatest included in them. Some of the most popular distributions, including Red Hat, Mandrake and SUSE all fall into this category.
Given the above, it's nice to see that some distributions are taking a more pro-active approach towards package updates. The following is an extract from a recent Libranet newsletter:
"We are very pleased to announce the release of the Libranet update-safe archive for 2.8 and 2.8.1 users. Using this archive you will be able to keep your system up to date without running into problems encountered when upgrading from the Debian archive. There are no costs involved and Libranet will continue to be 100% Debian compatible. The new archive will give users the option of running newer versions of software, and provides the Debian package management system a safe environment to work in."
Another distribution taking a similar approach is EnGarde Secure Linux:
"I'm happy to announce the immediate availability of an APT repository for supplemental EnGarde packages. These packages are suitable for use on either EnGarde Secure Community 2, or EnGarde Secure Professional v1.5. These packages are intended for the more advanced user or the user who wants to try out new and interesting packages. I've written a quick overview of how to get started. These packages will be supported via the engarde-users mailing list."
It remains to be seen how these initiatives work out in the long run, but they certainly provide an extra incentive for those users who would like to keep their systems up-to-date.
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| Released Last Week |
Kalango Linux 1.0
Kalango Linux 1.0 has been released: "Slightly delayed, Kalango 1.0 final is released. Based on Kurumin 2.05, some of the changes since the release candidate 1 include: added Samba, Swat and Smbfs; replaced Kword and Kspread with Abiword and Gnumeric; added CCK (Centro de Controle do Kalango), which provides for a more intuitive organisation of system configuration scripts; added SGP (Simple Gerenciador de Pacotes)..." See the full changelog (in Portuguese).
Screenshot: Plenty of eye candy in the Kurumin-based Kalango Linux 1.0
(full image size 304kB)
KnoppiXMAME 1.2
KnoppiXMAME is a bootable arcade machine emulator with hardware detection and autoconfiguration, powered by Knoppix, Debian, X-MAME, and gxmame. Version 1.2, with kernel 2.6.1, was released yesterday. From the changelog: "KnoppiXMAME 1.2 has changed it's GUI/WM again. Now it's pretty GTK+ with metacity. The newest GXMame also uses GTK+. The biggest new feature in 1.2 is the 'addroms' boot parameter. Giving this boot option will start up the new addroms utility which allows knoppixmame to remaster a custom ISO with ROMs added from within itself. All filesystems are supported, but NTFS write support is still experimental." See the distribution's project page for further information.
STUX GNU/Linux 0.6.3 and 0.6.4
Version 0.6.3 of STUX GNU/Linux has been released. Changes: "Fixed bug that prevented access to disk partition used to save configuration file (for FAT32 partitions only); fixed bug in Mozilla package that prevented location bar to work properly; Mozilla 1.4 upgraded to Mozilla 1.5; updated cloop; new look and feel; introduced a new experimental service that lets you download and install 'stux packages' (applications configured to work with Stux Live CD)." See the full changelog for further details.
LinuxTLE 5.5
LinuxTLE, version 5.5 and code name "Samila", has been released. LinuxTLE is a Linux distribution created in Thailand by the OpenTLE project (web site in Thai) and based on Fedora Core with many desktop-friendly enhancements. It includes a multitude of kernel driver modules, multimedia applications, Thai documentation, a Thai-enabled OpenOffice and other localised applications. The OpenTLE project is the main driving force behind Linux adoption in Thailand. The latest version of LinuxTLE is available for free download from mirrors.
Mandows 1.4
Mandows is a new Linux live CD (with a supported hard disk installation option) made in France, based on Mandrake Linux and with GNOME 2.4 as its default desktop environment. Version 1.4 was released yesterday. The new version includes a i686-optimised kernel 2.4.22, OpenOffice.org 1.1, k3b, a script to generate GeeXboX multimedia ISO images, and all the usual Mandrake utilities. Visit the distribution's web site for further information (in French) and screenshots.
ESware Linux 365 2.1
A new, freely downloadable version of ESware Linux has been released. Version 2.1 comes with an optional Linux kernel 2.6.0, as well as installation improvements, updated Spanish translations and various usability enhancements throughout the GNOME desktop environment. The release announcement (in Spanish) can be viewed on the distribution's community page.
KANOTIX 02-2004
The KANOTIX project has produced a new release of the Knoppix-based KANOTIX live CD, version 02-2004 and code name "Bug Hunter": "Compared to Bug Hunter 1 these are the differences: SMP enabled kernel due to user wish; Fritz!Card PCI/USB support via CAPI driver; fixed Eagle USB support (did not work with BH1); fixed kanotix-installer (this time installation on SCSI drives works); ALSA 1.0.1 included for live usage - will work after HD install too." Read the announcement in English or German.
Linux LiveCD Router 1.9.0
Version 1.9.0 of the Linux LiveCD Router has been released. From the changelog: "Version 1.9.0 February 2004. Added Webmin Web Manager and Shorewall Firewall; Linux kernel 2.4.24; driver for BeWAN PCI ADSL; updated documentation on /opt/doc." Visit the distribution's web site for more details about the product. Linux LiveCD Router is a Linux-based live CD designed to share a broadband connection over WiFi. It can be used with DSL, cable modem, T1, ISDN, and dial-up connections.
Knoppix 3.3-2004-02-09
The Knoppix live CD has been updated. From the changelog: "V3.3-2004-02-09 (Updates). Kernel 2.4.24-xfs; KDE 3.1.5 from Debian/unstable; Mozilla 1.6 from Debian/unstable; fixed Knoppix-Terminalserver problem with new libacl; XFree86 3.4 from Debian/experimental; removed prelink (caused memory leaks under certain conditions); removed for space reasons: kjots, kcoloredit; added prism54.org drivers for wireless cards..."
Development releases
Other releases
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| Upcoming Releases and Announcements |
Hancom Linux 4.0
Hancom Linux has published development details of the company's upcoming Hancom Linux Professional 4.0. Expecting to include kernel 2.6 and KDE 3.2, the first development release is scheduled for later this month, while the final version should be available in June. More details on this page (in Korean).
Dyne:bolic 1.2
The developers of the Dyne:bolic live CD are preparing a new release, version 1.2: "...two remarkable new things in the upcoming dyne:bolic. 1. Revamped PD framework: with the direct help of GEM developer Johannes Zmoelnig, IEM developer Thomas Musil and electromusician Michael Pinter, dyne:bolic now offers a full blown PD installation featuring fully functional GEM, Zexy and IEMlib extensions! 2. New Jack framework to connect input and outputs of various music programs: it will be possible to chain together different audio applications processing the output of one into the input of another, like with UNIX data pipes!" See this mailing list post for further details.
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| Web Site News |
DistroWatch T-shirts
Order your own official DistroWatch T-shirt from Hackerthreads.
New additions
- KANOTIX. KANOTIX is a Linux Live CD based on Knoppix technology using Debian/sid. The included XFree86 is from Debian/experimental. The main specs are: GRUB based startup from CD, ACPI support, DMA default on, additional support for DSL modems (Fritz!Card DSL and Eagle USB), optimal for HD install (you get a working Debian/sid install in about 10 minutes!), no SMP kernel (needed for some drivers), kernel with XFS, forcedeth (for nForce NIC) and device mapper patches.
- KnoppixMAME. KnoppixMAME is a bootable arcade machine emulator with hardware detection and autoconfiguration. It works automatically on all modern and not-so-modern hardware, including gameports and joysticks. It is powered by Knoppix Debian GNU/Linux, X-MAME, and gxmame.
- Shark Linux. Shark Linux is a new distribution of a Linux-based operating system. The goal of Shark Linux is to provide a stable environment with easy administration, targeting 64-bit AMD Opteron and Athlon 64 processors. Shark Linux aims to become a hardware optimised operating system with its own unique set of management tools and new functionality of the ANSI console for administrator use. Combined with ease of use and optimised code, it should outperform other out-of-the-box systems from the start. Shark Linux is derived from the Gentoo Linux project.
- Linux Guadalinex. Guadalinex is a Linux distribution based on Debian GNU/Linux and developed by the government of Andalucía (Junta de Andalucía) in Spain.
- Mandows. Mandows is a French live CD based on Mandrake Linux with support for hard disk installation.
New on the waiting list
- Antlinux. Antlinux will be a mini-distribution of Linux, with an eye on small footprint applications such as run-from-CD versions of Linux.
- 3DMAXX Linux. 3DMAXX Linux is a distribution bundled with many Linux hardware benchmarking applications like NBench, SPECview, and other great programs, including a soon-to-come full 64-bit Linux benchmarking suite designed to be a clone of Futuremark's famous 3DMark 01 and 03.
DistroWatch database summary
- Number of distributions in the database: 256
- Number of discontinued distributions: 31
- Number of distributions on the waiting list: 57
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| Reader Feedback |
On Apache2, KDE in Gentoo
"A couple of corrections concerning Gentoo. You have Gentoo listed as not supporting httpd (Apache2). That's not true--in fact, Apache2 is the default Apache! If I were to type "emerge apache" into my command line, it will download, install, and compile Apache 2.0.48. This applies to both a stable (export ACCEPT_KEYWORDS="~x86") and an unstable (export ACCEPT_KEYWORDS="x86") system. Secondly, Gentoo includes KDE 3.2 and current versions of related packages (KDevelop 3.0, Quanta 3.2) in its unstable branch ("~x86")."
Since similar questions concerning Apache2 in Gentoo arrive frequently in my mailbox, here comes the explanation. For some strange reason, Apache2 is not listed in Gentoo's online package database. Once it's listed there, it will magically appear on DistroWatch's Gentoo page as well. As for the KDE question, the Gentoo page on DistroWatch is only updated twice a day, so there might be up to a 12-hour delay between the time Gentoo packages are updated and the time the Gentoo page on DistroWatch is updated. This holds true for other distributions, too.
On PCQLinux
"I want to mention a particular distro/modification called PCQLinux, brought out from time to time by the PCQuest computer magazine of India, and distributed free with their magazine. It is only a slightly modified form of Red Hat, and the latest version was based on RH 8."
Unfortunately, PCQuest provides very little information in terms of technical details to consider it for inclusion in the DistroWatch statistics. Sorry, as far as I am concerned, PCQLinux doesn't even exist. Not until PCQuest creates a publicly accessible page with technical information (and preferably also download links) on it. All distributions providing insufficient technical details about them are listed on the Related Links page.
That's all for this week, see you next Monday :-)
Ladislav Bodnar
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| Reader Comments • Jump to last comment |
1 • New 2.6 distributions (by David` at 2004-02-09 14:56:24 GMT)
Thanks, Ladislav for a great resource for the community.
BTW doesn't Buffalo linux 1.1.2 qualify for the 2.6 list?
It has an option for including the 2.6 kernel at install
time. Slackware based (wish it was Debian Sid, no
offense Patrick) perhaps one day slapt-get or swaret
will catch-up with Debian)
2 • Distro with linux-2.6.x (by Grzegorz Dąbrowski at 2004-02-09 15:02:40 GMT)
Pingwinek GNU/Linux 1.0rc0 has 2.6.0-test9 kernel.
3 • Onebase supports linux kernel 2.6.x (by all4one at 2004-02-09 15:09:53 GMT)
I am surprised Onebase was not mentioned in the above list as it supports this kernel version from over a month ago.
However its OL-apps gallery is on hiatus for a few days in order to get its much expected OLM version 2.1 to release to compete against all major distributions :-)
olm -s linux-2.6
4 • bug or ban (by Nameless Foo at 2004-02-09 15:09:56 GMT)
Is my IP number banned or is DistroWatch buggy: no matter what distribution I want to read about, I can only get the home page.
5 • No subject (by craftyc on 2004-02-09 15:29:52 GMT)
Ladislav, you have written that Gentoo does have kernel 2.6, but it is listed as "unstable and not default". In fact Gentoo has no default kernel since it is up to the user to choose which kernel s/he wants to use. It is also available in the stable branch.
6 • Knoppix 3.4 Preview (by Anonymous on 2004-02-09 15:54:35 GMT)
There is a "Knoppix 3.4" with optional Kernel 2.6 (reduces boot time to desktop by 10 sec compared to Kernel 2.4 here) attached to the current issue of German "c't" computer magazine. See http://www.knoppix.net for Torrent etc. if you want to download it. Final Knoppix 3.4 is to be expected around CeBIT.
7 • New 2.6 distributions (by Carl Powers at 2004-02-09 20:52:56 GMT)
Lunar Linux offers two different versions of the 2.6 kernel ( 2.6.2-mm1 and 2.6.3-rc1) as linux-beta-mm and linux-beta respectively. The default stable kernel is currently at 2.4.24.
8 • small typo (by anon on 2004-02-09 22:06:50 GMT)
Distrowatch takes us into the future with the release of:
"Knoppix 3.3-2204-02-09." I hope they will have 3.4 out before then. :)
9 • RE: bug or ban (by ladislav at 2004-02-10 00:18:26 GMT)
Nobody is banned from DistroWatch. Can you give me some more details about the problem? Are you using a mirror or the main site? Which browser? The only redirection I have in effect is if you come from one of the web sites that explicitly asks users to "vote" for their favourite distro on DistroWatch. Those clicks get redirected to the main page.
10 • can't find Apache2 on apache website (by detailguy on 2004-02-10 01:30:32 GMT)
Odd reasoning about Gentoo and Apache. I quote your response:
"For some strange reason, Apache2 is not listed in Gentoo's online package database."
There is no apache2 listed on apache website. Go look for yourself:
http://httpd.apache.org/download.cgi
Gentoo's online package database correctly lists apache versions, with the 2.0 series being the latest.
There isn't a mysql4 listed on Gentoo's online package database yet DistroWatch correctly lists Gentoo supplying v4 of mysql.
11 • Mandows: Name Has GOT To Go (by JGabriel on 2004-02-10 01:31:22 GMT)
They really have to change the name of the Mandows distribution. It's typographical similiarity to the name "Manilow" is bound to recall traumatically disturbing memories to anyone who listened to the radio in the 70's and early 80's.
12 • can't find Apache2 on apache website (by ladislav at 2004-02-10 03:02:40 GMT)
Are you trying to make me look stupid, or what? It wasn't me who brought up "Apache2", it was a reader who complained that it is missing from the table.
OK, great! Apache version 2.x is now listed on Gentoo's online packages database (I belive it wasn't there until very recently). But we still have a problem, because it's still missing from the plain text list of Gentoo packages (go look for yourself): http://www.gentoo.org/dyn/gentoo_pkglist_X86.txt
It still appears to me that the problem is somewhere on the Gentoo side. Please write to Gentoo before you complain here.
13 • No subject (by detailguy on 2004-02-10 03:28:24 GMT)
First I love your website. Not trying to make you look stupid just pointing out a flaw in the logic.
Second it is time for me to find the responsible person at Gentoo to fix the out of date package list. I searched the package list you posted and couldn't find the latest apache in the list even though a v2 apache is installed by default now on Gentoo.
Oddly the logically interpretation of "dyn" in http://www.gentoo.org/dyn/gentoo_pkglist_X86.txt is "dynamic" as in "dynamic list generation" -- similar to Gentoo's http page with dynamic generation of use flag info.
Keep up the great work! I'll go find someone at Gentoo site that can fix the text package list.
14 • RE: can't find Apache2 on apache (by ladislav at 2004-02-10 04:44:58 GMT)
The "httpd" package is called "apache2" in many distributions, including Mandrake, Debian, SUSE and all their derivatives (I believe it also used to be called that in Gentoo, there is still a CVS entry referring to "apache2"). So the logic is not quite flawed - it is still known by that name to many people, even if there is no "apache2" on apache.org.
Having said that, I hate these various renaming schemes - why can't the distributions keep the original package names? That goes for Gentoo as well, the original package is called "httpd", so I don't understand why a need to rename it to "apache" or "apache2". Slackware is the only distribution that does not rename packages while Debian is the worst by far. Ah well...
15 • renaming gone wild! (by detailguy on 2004-02-10 05:08:58 GMT)
Agree with you about package renaming and it must drive you crazy trying to track distros. Now that you point it out I do recall that Gentoo used apache2 name before returning to a more sane naming although it can be argued that apache now should be called "httpd" since they got the brilliant idea to rename (except for Windows MSI installer package for v2 apache).
While I still use Debian on servers you are absolutely correct that package renaming and rebundling on Debian is maddening and only salvation for a user is dpkg and apt-cache.
I can't imagine how frustrating it must be for you to maintain the info on this site!
Thanks again for your outstanding work -- it has saved me countless hours in the past while supporting customers that have no clue what version of RH/SuSE they are running.
16 • Re: bug or ban (by Ariszlo at 2004-02-10 11:14:30 GMT)
I had the problem with the Bratislava mirror using Konqueror or Mozilla 1.6. No problem with Internet Explorer :(
17 • onebase switch (by d on 2004-02-10 12:56:30 GMT)
i get onebase last week.. supposed to be a one a year thing, come back this week to check my md5.. the files are offline until 2k4-r1 edition comes out.. but like this has happened several times that the current version gets taken offline until the next one comes out.. is that not annoying?
18 • Re: onebase switch (by jlowell at 2004-02-10 16:41:29 GMT)
Annoying, most certainly, but not surprizing, d. When it comes to onebase, you always need to be wearing a pair of rubber boots.
jlowell
19 • headers though? (by ChrisS at 2004-02-10 22:32:32 GMT)
cool, but what distros are built with 2.6 headers?
20 • Xandros (by Fed up Penguin on 2004-02-10 23:00:57 GMT)
I can't believe it!
If I read yet another review, 'Xandros is ohh soo purrfect, it is the best thing after sliced salami', I'll be sick!
Is Xandros the M$ of the Linux distros? (it would seem so, if you read their licence and if you consider all the rest-price included)
21 • 2.6 is included in Ark Linux (by Bernhard Rosenkraenzer at 2004-02-11 05:52:50 GMT)
While it's not our default kernel, kernel 2.6 (2.6.2) is included in Ark Linux (install the kernel26 package).
22 • Re: Xandros (by IinstalledXandrosToday) :-) (by Gnobuddy at 2004-02-11 08:37:05 GMT)
Oddly enough, I just finished installing Xandros Desktop 2 , Deluxe Ed., on a new home-built PC today. This PC is being built for my wife, who teaches Photoshop at work and therefore *must* have Photoshop at home, along with one or two other Windows apps. I am sick of the ongoing battle of trying to keep her current Win98 box reasonably healthy and virus-free. So what I need is to run a few select Windows apps on a Linux box. Xandrows 2 Deluxe Ed. is the obvious answer.
Yes, you can what I want with Wine on any other Linux distro; I tried, and even got Photoshop and one other app working with Wine on a Mepis Linux box. However: I also suffered through the headaches of hand-tweaking Wine config files, trying to diagnose mysterious error messages from crashing Windows apps, hand-copying various Windows dlls into the Wine library folders, updating to what turned out to be a broken version of Wine, and finally trying to create menu entries and desktop icons manually for the installed Windows programs. All of this took me several days (I was learning as I went).
How did Xandros do at the same task? Pretty darn well. All the Windows apps I need installed flawlessly, with *no* manual tweaking of any kind; necessary dll and dcom files were automatically downloaded and installed; and nice menu entries, with icons, for the newly installed Windows apps were automatically created.
Since you're sick of hearing good things about Xandros, here are a few bad things I've found in one day of testing: One, the KDE "first time wizard" segfaults if you click the button to preview the KDE theme you've selected. Two, my Wacom Intuos 2 graphics tablet didn't work. Three, when I emailed for support on this issue I got an automatically generated response telling me that I would get a response within *FIVE WORKING DAYS*. That's way too slow IMHO.
Bottom line: for a Linux box for myself, I wouldn't buy Xandros 2. It's too pricey, has some old software (Mozilla 1.4, and no available online update to Mozilla 1.5 or 1.6 as of today, for instance), and is not designed to be heavily tweaked by the end user. It is also not bug-free, as witness my comments above, after only one day of testing. However, for my wife, or any other OS-agnostic person who simply wants a stable computer that runs the software they need, with a nice easy to use GUI, it boils down to this: Xandros has raised the bar for desktop Linux. It is so much better than the other desktop Linux's I've tried that its almost startling.
Even at a pricey $89 USD, Xandros is way cheaper than WindowsXP (yuck!) or a new Apple OS - all the OS X update's I've seen are priced at $129 USD, not counting the expensive Apple hardware needed to run them.
If we're all lucky, maybe some free Linux distro will get this good in a year or so. Until that happens, Xandros is the Linux I would recommend to my grandmother or my non-techie neighbours and friends.
-Gnobuddy
P.S. I solved the Wacom problem by simply unloading and then reloading the wacom module: su, rmmod wacom, insmod wacom. Apparently the wacom module is being loaded too early in the boot process??
23 • Re: bug or ban (by Ariszlo at 2004-02-11 09:06:16 GMT)
The Bratislava mirror does not work with Internet Explorer either (earlier, it possibly used the cache). The Budapest mirror gives a 'not found' message. http://www.distrowatch.com is fine.
24 • Re: Re: Xandros (by Gnobuddy) (by Fed up Penguin on 2004-02-11 11:53:08 GMT)
Thanks for your balanced reply.
Well, you see, if we must talk about value for money Suse Personal plus Wine Rack are cheaper and certainly you get more (Wine Rack is both Crossover and Winex-plus a nice game)
If you buy Suse Pro and Wine Rack, the difference is in what you get is beyond belief, and the cost only $20 more, maybe.
Suse is also not that difficult to use, once it is installed and configured by somebody slightly more experienced.
On the other hand if you need a really idiot-proof distro I prefer Lindows after all: it is cheaper (yes, only $50 a year subscription, and their releases are very frequent) and to me it looks a lot more polished (only the tutorial with the 'Developer's' release deserves to be seen)
True, you won't get Crossover included in the price, but maybe you can have it at a discount (from Lindows)
Also, I don't think that it is going to take a year for a good free, user friendly distro to come out: watch out for Ark, PCLinuxOS and Ares.
25 • KALANGO (by spearmint on 2004-02-11 14:10:23 GMT)
Good to see Kalango Linux here!
It's a excelent distribuition! Made for Brazillian and Portuguese people!
It is Kurumin-based (another excelent brazillian distro) but more "polished".
I recommend it to anyone! Especially if you are from Brazil or Portugal. Just boot with the CD to give it a try.
I sure hope that Kurumin and Kalango can work together to make even better distros!
cheers
26 • Xandros vs Suse+Wine Rack (by Gnobuddy at 2004-02-14 00:53:10 GMT)
Fed up Penguin wrote:
Well, you see, if we must talk about value for money Suse Personal plus Wine Rack are cheaper and certainly you get more (Wine Rack is both Crossover and Winex-plus a nice game)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
That does sound interesting!
Never having used Suse, I didn't think of the option you suggest. (I actually bought Suse a few years ago - I think around 2000 or thereabouts. I had troubles with the installer not liking my partitioning scheme - Windows was also on the hard drive - and then failing to boot, post-install. Today I know it was because I exceeded the 1024 cylinder / 8 Gig limit for the end of all bootable partitions, at the time I never figured it out and so gave up on Suse. Various negative reviews over the years and the thought of another wasted forty bucks have kept me from trying it again, too, since there's no easy way to try it for free.)
I did look at Crossover Office ($69 USD) and thought it worth spending the extra 20 bucks for Xandros 2 on the chance that the Xandros folks had ensured Crossover Office on Xandros worked properly. Dunno if Xandros developers tweaked either Crossover or Xandros 2 itself to fit each other, but certainly I was able to install Microsoft Office 97 and Adobe Photoshop 5.5 on Xandros 2 with no problems.
Of the free Linux distros I've used, the one that came closest to being as easy to use as Xandros 2 was the now-defunct JAMD linux. I hope Ares rises from the ashes of JAMD even better than its predecesser. I have also been impressed with Mepis. I have yet to try Ark and PCLinuxOS - maybe it's time to download and test them out!
Certainly these are exciting times in the Linux world. When Corel Linux came out, I remember being frustrated that it did not configure my ethernet card, and not being able to successfully do it manually. Today any number of Linux distros (Knoppix, Mepis, Mandrake, Xandros, etc, etc) will routinely configure eth0 and get you online with no intervention if you're on a network using DHCP. What with world-class software like Mozilla 1.6, KDE 3.2, OpenOffice 1.1 and Evolution 1.4, and the already-good Linux underpinnings, the next wave of Linux distros is going to be really fun to use.
-Gnobuddy
Number of Comments: 26
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| Archives |
| • Issue 1151 (2025-12-08): FreeBSD 15.0, fun command line tricks, Canonical presents plans for Ubutnu 26.04, SparkyLinux updates CDE packages, Redox OS gets modesetting driver |
| • Issue 1150 (2025-12-01): Gnoppix 25_10, exploring if distributions matter, openSUSE updates tumbleweed's boot loader, Fedora plans better handling of broken packages, Plasma to become Wayland-only, FreeBSD publishes status report |
| • Issue 1149 (2025-11-24): MX Linux 25, why are video drivers special, systemd experiments with musl, Debian Libre Live publishes new media, Xubuntu reviews website hack |
| • Issue 1148 (2025-11-17): Zorin OS 18, deleting a file with an unusual name, NetBSD experiments with sandboxing, postmarketOS unifies its documentation, OpenBSD refines upgrades, Canonical offers 15 years of support for Ubuntu |
| • Issue 1147 (2025-11-10): Fedora 43, the size and stability of the Linux kernel, Debian introducing Rust to APT, Redox ports web engine, Kubuntu website off-line, Mint creates new troubleshooting tools, FreeBSD improves reproducible builds, Flatpak development resumes |
| • Issue 1146 (2025-11-03): StartOS 0.4.0, testing piped commands, Ubuntu Unity seeks help, Canonical offers Ubuntu credentials, Red Hat partners with NVIDIA, SUSE to bundle AI agent with SLE 16 |
| • Issue 1145 (2025-10-27): Linux Mint 7 "LMDE", advice for new Linux users, AlmaLinux to offer Btrfs, KDE launches Plasma 6.5, Fedora accepts contributions written by AI, Ubuntu 25.10 fails to install automatic updates |
| • Issue 1144 (2025-10-20): Kubuntu 25.10, creating and restoring encrypted backups, Fedora team debates AI, FSF plans free software for phones, ReactOS addresses newer drivers, Xubuntu reacts to website attack |
| • Issue 1143 (2025-10-13): openSUSE 16.0 Leap, safest source for new applications, Redox introduces performance improvements, TrueNAS Connect available for testing, Flatpaks do not work on Ubuntu 25.10, Kamarada plans to switch its base, Solus enters new epoch, Frugalware discontinued |
| • Issue 1142 (2025-10-06): Linux Kamarada 15.6, managing ZIP files with SQLite, F-Droid warns of impact of Android lockdown, Alpine moves ahead with merged /usr, Cinnamon gets a redesigned application menu |
| • Issue 1141 (2025-09-29): KDE Linux and GNOME OS, finding mobile flavours of Linux, Murena to offer phones with kill switches, Redox OS running on a smartphone, Artix drops GNOME |
| • Issue 1140 (2025-09-22): NetBSD 10.1, avoiding AI services, AlmaLinux enables CRB repository, Haiku improves disk access performance, Mageia addresses service outage, GNOME 49 released, Linux introduces multikernel support |
| • Issue 1139 (2025-09-15): EasyOS 7.0, Linux and central authority, FreeBSD running Plasma 6 on Wayland, GNOME restores X11 support temporarily, openSUSE dropping BCacheFS in new kernels |
| • Issue 1138 (2025-09-08): Shebang 25.8, LibreELEC 12.2.0, Debian GNU/Hurd 2025, the importance of software updates, AerynOS introduces package sets, postmarketOS encourages patching upstream, openSUSE extends Leap support, Debian refreshes Trixie media |
| • Issue 1137 (2025-09-01): Tribblix 0m37, malware scanners flagging Linux ISO files, KDE introduces first-run setup wizard, CalyxOS plans update prior to infrastructure overhaul, FreeBSD publishes status report |
| • Issue 1136 (2025-08-25): CalyxOS 6.8.20, distros for running containers, Arch Linux website under attack,illumos Cafe launched, CachyOS creates web dashboard for repositories |
| • Issue 1135 (2025-08-18): Debian 13, Proton, WINE, Wayland, and Wayback, Debian GNU/Hurd 2025, KDE gets advanced Liquid Glass, Haiku improves authentication tools |
| • Issue 1134 (2025-08-11): Rhino Linux 2025.3, thoughts on malware in the AUR, Fedora brings hammered websites back on-line, NetBSD reveals features for version 11, Ubuntu swaps some command line tools for 25.10, AlmaLinux improves NVIDIA support |
| • Issue 1133 (2025-08-04): Expirion Linux 6.0, running Plasma on Linux Mint, finding distros which support X11, Debian addresses 22 year old bug, FreeBSD discusses potential issues with pkgbase, CDE ported to OpenBSD, Btrfs corruption bug hitting Fedora users, more malware found in Arch User Repository |
| • Issue 1132 (2025-07-28): deepin 25, wars in the open source community, proposal to have Fedora enable Flathub repository, FreeBSD plans desktop install option, Wayback gets its first release |
| • Issue 1131 (2025-07-21): HeliumOS 10.0, settling on one distro, Mint plans new releases, Arch discovers malware in AUR, Plasma Bigscreen returns, Clear Linux discontinued |
| • Issue 1130 (2025-07-14): openSUSE MicroOS and RefreshOS, sharing aliases between computers, Bazzite makes Bazaar its default Flatpak store, Alpine plans Wayback release, Wayland and X11 benchmarked, Red Hat offers additional developer licenses, openSUSE seeks feedback from ARM users, Ubuntu 24.10 reaches the end of its life |
| • Issue 1129 (2025-07-07): GLF OS Omnislash, the worst Linux distro, Alpine introduces Wayback, Fedora drops plans to stop i686 support, AlmaLinux builds EPEL repository for older CPUs, Ubuntu dropping existing RISC-V device support, Rhino partners with UBports, PCLinuxOS recovering from website outage |
| • Issue 1128 (2025-06-30): AxOS 25.06, AlmaLinux OS 10.0, transferring Flaptak bundles to off-line computers, Ubuntu to boost Intel graphics performance, Fedora considers dropping i686 packages, SDesk switches from SELinux to AppArmor |
| • Issue 1127 (2025-06-23): LastOSLinux 2025-05-25, most unique Linux distro, Haiku stabilises, KDE publishes Plasma 6.4, Arch splits Plasma packages, Slackware infrastructure migrating |
| • Issue 1126 (2025-06-16): SDesk 2025.05.06, renewed interest in Ubuntu Touch, a BASIC device running NetBSD, Ubuntu dropping X11 GNOME session, GNOME increases dependency on systemd, Google holding back Pixel source code, Nitrux changing its desktop, EFF turns 35 |
| • Issue 1125 (2025-06-09): RHEL 10, distributions likely to survive a decade, Murena partners with more hardware makers, GNOME tests its own distro on real hardware, Redox ports GTK and X11, Mint provides fingerprint authentication |
| • Issue 1124 (2025-06-02): Picking up a Pico, tips for protecting privacy, Rhino tests Plasma desktop, Arch installer supports snapshots, new features from UBports, Ubuntu tests monthly snapshots |
| • Issue 1123 (2025-05-26): CRUX 3.8, preventing a laptop from sleeping, FreeBSD improves laptop support, Fedora confirms GNOME X11 session being dropped, HardenedBSD introduces Rust in userland build, KDE developing a virtual machine manager |
| • Issue 1122 (2025-05-19): GoboLinux 017.01, RHEL 10.0 and Debian 12 updates, openSUSE retires YaST, running X11 apps on Wayland |
| • Issue 1121 (2025-05-12): Bluefin 41, custom file manager actions, openSUSE joins End of 10 while dropping Deepin desktop, Fedora offers tips for building atomic distros, Ubuntu considers replacing sudo with sudo-rs |
| • Issue 1120 (2025-05-05): CachyOS 250330, what it means when a distro breaks, Kali updates repository key, Trinity receives an update, UBports tests directory encryption, Gentoo faces losing key infrastructure |
| • Issue 1119 (2025-04-28): Ubuntu MATE 25.04, what is missing from Linux, CachyOS ships OCCT, Debian enters soft freeze, Fedora discusses removing X11 session from GNOME, Murena plans business services, NetBSD on a Wii |
| • Issue 1118 (2025-04-21): Fedora 42, strange characters in Vim, Nitrux introduces new package tools, Fedora extends reproducibility efforts, PINE64 updates multiple devices running Debian |
| • Issue 1117 (2025-04-14): Shebang 25.0, EndeavourOS 2025.03.19, running applications from other distros on the desktop, Debian gets APT upgrade, Mint introduces OEM options for LMDE, postmarketOS packages GNOME 48 and COSMIC, Redox testing USB support |
| • Issue 1116 (2025-04-07): The Sense HAT, Android and mobile operating systems, FreeBSD improves on laptops, openSUSE publishes many new updates, Fedora appoints new Project Leader, UBports testing VoLTE |
| • Issue 1115 (2025-03-31): GrapheneOS 2025, the rise of portable package formats, MidnightBSD and openSUSE experiment with new package management features, Plank dock reborn, key infrastructure projects lose funding, postmarketOS to focus on reliability |
| • Issue 1114 (2025-03-24): Bazzite 41, checking which processes are writing to disk, Rocky unveils new Hardened branch, GNOME 48 released, generating images for the Raspberry Pi |
| • Issue 1113 (2025-03-17): MocaccinoOS 1.8.1, how to contribute to open source, Murena extends on-line installer, Garuda tests COSMIC edition, Ubuntu to replace coreutils with Rust alternatives, Chimera Linux drops RISC-V builds |
| • Issue 1112 (2025-03-10): Solus 4.7, distros which work with Secure Boot, UBports publishes bug fix, postmarketOS considers a new name, Debian running on Android |
| • Issue 1111 (2025-03-03): Orbitiny 0.01, the effect of Ubuntu Core Desktop, Gentoo offers disk images, elementary OS invites feature ideas, FreeBSD starts PinePhone Pro port, Mint warns of upcoming Firefox issue |
| • Issue 1110 (2025-02-24): iodeOS 6.0, learning to program, Arch retiring old repositories, openSUSE makes progress on reproducible builds, Fedora is getting more serious about open hardware, Tails changes its install instructions to offer better privacy, Murena's de-Googled tablet goes on sale |
| • Issue 1109 (2025-02-17): Rhino Linux 2025.1, MX Linux 23.5 with Xfce 4.20, replacing X.Org tools with Wayland tools, GhostBSD moving its base to FreeBSD -RELEASE, Redox stabilizes its ABI, UBports testing 24.04, Asahi changing its leadership, OBS in dispute with Fedora |
| • Issue 1108 (2025-02-10): Serpent OS 0.24.6, Aurora, sharing swap between distros, Peppermint tries Void base, GTK removinglegacy technologies, Red Hat plans more AI tools for Fedora, TrueNAS merges its editions |
| • Issue 1107 (2025-02-03): siduction 2024.1.0, timing tasks, Lomiri ported to postmarketOS, Alpine joins Open Collective, a new desktop for Linux called Orbitiny |
| • Issue 1106 (2025-01-27): Adelie Linux 1.0 Beta 6, Pop!_OS 24.04 Alpha 5, detecting whether a process is inside a virtual machine, drawing graphics to NetBSD terminal, Nix ported to FreeBSD, GhostBSD hosting desktop conference |
| • Issue 1105 (2025-01-20): CentOS 10 Stream, old Flatpak bundles in software centres, Haiku ports Iceweasel, Oracle shows off debugging tools, rsync vulnerability patched |
| • Issue 1104 (2025-01-13): DAT Linux 2.0, Silly things to do with a minimal computer, Budgie prepares Wayland only releases, SteamOS coming to third-party devices, Murena upgrades its base |
| • Issue 1103 (2025-01-06): elementary OS 8.0, filtering ads with Pi-hole, Debian testing its installer, Pop!_OS faces delays, Ubuntu Studio upgrades not working, Absolute discontinued |
| • Issue 1102 (2024-12-23): Best distros of 2024, changing a process name, Fedora to expand Btrfs support and releases Asahi Remix 41, openSUSE patches out security sandbox and donations from Bottles while ending support for Leap 15.5 |
| • Issue 1101 (2024-12-16): GhostBSD 24.10.1, sending attachments from the command line, openSUSE shows off GPU assignment tool, UBports publishes security update, Murena launches its first tablet, Xfce 4.20 released |
| • Issue 1100 (2024-12-09): Oreon 9.3, differences in speed, IPFire's new appliance, Fedora Asahi Remix gets new video drivers, openSUSE Leap Micro updated, Redox OS running Redox OS |
| • Full list of all issues |
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KolibriOS
KolibriOS is a tiny open-source operating system with a monolithic preemptive kernel and video drivers for 32-bit x86 architecture computers. KolibriOS is a fork of MenuetOS, written entirely in FASM (assembly language). However, C, C++, Free Pascal, Forth, among other high-level languages and compilers, can also be used in application development. KolibriOS features a rich set of applications that include a word processor, image viewer, graphical editor, web browser, and over 30 games.
Status: Active
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| Tips, Tricks, Q&As | | Tips and tricks: Transitioning from PC-BSD to TrueOS |
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| Questions and answers: AppArmor, home movies, tabs in Vim, syntax highlighting |
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| Tips and tricks: Find common words in text, find high memory processes, cd short-cuts, pushd & popd, record desktop |
| Tips and tricks: Digital cameras, mobile phones and music players under Linux |
| Questions and answers: Using systemd to hide files |
| Questions and answers: Removing system user accounts |
| Tips and tricks: Dealing with low-memory performance |
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Star Labs - Laptops built for Linux.
View our range including the highly anticipated StarFighter. Available with coreboot open-source firmware and a choice of Ubuntu, elementary, Manjaro and more. Visit Star Labs for information, to buy and get support.
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