 DistroWatch Weekly |
| Tip Jar |
If you've enjoyed this week's issue of DistroWatch Weekly, please consider sending us a tip.
(Tips this week: 1, value: US$10.00) |
|
|
|
 bc1qtede6f7adcce4kjpgx0e5j68wwgtdxrek2qvc4  lnurl1dp68gurn8ghj7ampd3kx2ar0veekzar0wd5xjtnrdakj7tnhv4kxctttdehhwm30d3h82unvwqhhxarpw3jkc7tzw4ex6cfexyfua2nr  86fA3qPTeQtNb2k1vLwEQaAp3XxkvvvXt69gSG5LGunXXikK9koPWZaRQgfFPBPWhMgXjPjccy9LA9xRFchPWQAnPvxh5Le paypal.me/distrowatchweekly • patreon.com/distrowatch |
|
| Linux Foundation Training |
|
| Reader Comments • Jump to last comment |
1 • WOL is my alternative approach to power on computer remotely beside of iDRAC/iLO (by LiuYan on 2017-05-29 01:27:05 GMT from China)
iDRAC / iLO are for powerful solution server machines, but not for PC machines. So Wake-on-LAN is an alternative approach to power on computer remotely.
For Fedora users, there's tool 'ether-wake' provides by 'net-tools' package.
There was a bug of NetworkManager package in Fedora: after NetworkManager upgraded, the 'wake-on' flag becomes something else other than 'g', it caused all my machines can't be woke after reboot.
2 • Featured Story (by Chris on 2017-05-29 02:08:22 GMT from United States)
I see you mentioned that Void can use glibc or musl libraries; however, I missed which you chose for your install(s) in the review. Please advise.
Also, did you try both glibc and musl, how did their resource use compare? I only see one set of resource numbers provided.
Thank you.
3 • WOL for my NAS and my two htpc (by Ti-Paul on 2017-05-29 02:37:18 GMT from Canada)
Couldn't live without it.
My HTPCs always awake my NAS when we want to see a movie, music video or get on youtube.
After x minutes of not seeing the HTPC on the network, it goes back into sleep mode...
4 • voidlinux package search (by tim on 2017-05-29 03:08:07 GMT from United States)
From the voidlinux.eu homepage, clicking the "Packages" headerbar button leads to a nifty search available packages page. No need to repeatedly submit webform, results are updated as-you-type.
http://www.voidlinux.eu/packages
5 • @4 - void linux GUI package search and management (by Hoos on 2017-05-29 04:44:48 GMT from Singapore)
There is now available in the void repositories a package called octoxbps.
This is a graphical package manager from the developer of octopi which does for Void what octopi does for Arch/pacman-using distros, namely it enables you to search, install, remove packages.
While I don't use it for upgrading my system, it's a great tool for searching the repositories and checking on what's installed (or not) on one's system. It's also very convenient for carrying out piecemeal installation/removal of targeted packages.
6 • octoxbps (by Somewhat Reticent on 2017-05-29 05:31:51 GMT from United States)
Glad to see this! Hope to try it soon.
I tried to run as Root with the live Parabola Mate ISO but was told "You cannot run octopi with administrative privileges." (use pacman CLI? Why include octopi on the ISO then?)
7 • Get Voided (by Arch Watcher 402563 on 2017-05-29 05:33:06 GMT from United States)
Thanks for the review. It's great for DW to showcase indy distros outside the Canonical/RedHat axis of evil. Steve Litt of Manjaro Experiments fame uses Void and praises its virtue.
The review focused too much on 'minimalism' which isn't even a Void goal. I would term it 'choice' since there's quite a matrix of options.
- You can run an insane list of kernels old and new
- You can run glibc or musl
- You can run ARM ARM64 x86 x86_64
- You can run any damned DE you like (without systemd)
- You can run any damned Flatpak you like
- You get fresh and updated packages by the thousands
- You get LibreSSL, yay
- You can update over tor or regular mirrors
Getting your head around vkpurge is a good idea but little advertised. Old kernels never die until purged. You also get the latest upstream kernel. There are details, but that's the basics.
The Void lead was a NetBSD dev, reflected in Void ports. Void's buildbot.net tooling ships binaries. Why can't other distros and you lazy BSDs use buildbot.net?
Void ISOs rot quickly on its rolling release. Arch does monthly ISOs, Void only does 'whenevers.' The ncurses installer? Don't hold your breath for anything graphical. The best thing that could hit Void is a white knight on a horse with thick armor and attitude to build an indy graphical installer on github and tell Void to suck a lemon if they don't like it, much as Antergos did to Arch Linux. Who knows, Void might adopt it.
Void has a few downers. The forum mod needs a personality upgrade and reminds me of Arch mods. Void hates derivatives as much as Arch. Now what was the point of open source, again? Fortunately such issues we mere end users can ignore. Newbies, tourists, tinkerers, conversationalists, and wanne-bes might ask LinuxQuestions.org for now and avoid Void's prefab discussion scene.
That said, I admire the crew's dedication, especially the lead dev, a real workhorse who maintains fine quality control on git PRs. I tip my hat to you, Juan. Sir, you rock. Your baby Void is the best thing that has happened to distroland in years.
8 • Void Linux GUI package manager (by Frankie Wilde on 2017-05-29 05:35:48 GMT from Malta)
Long time Void user here. Thanks for the review. I just wanted to add that actually there is a package management GUI wrapper called octoxbps which is similar to Calamares in Manjaro.
Feel free to check it out here: https://forum.voidlinux.eu/t/package-browser/1650
9 • WOL (by cykodrone on 2017-05-29 06:20:00 GMT from Canada)
I have no need for it, so it's one of the first things I turn off, to me, it's just another security hole.
10 • @7 (by Jeffrey on 2017-05-29 07:07:21 GMT from United States)
>> build an indy graphical installer on github
Please use GitLab instead. =)
11 • @6 - running octopi as root? (by Hoos on 2017-05-29 07:15:44 GMT from Singapore)
" ...tried to run as Root with the live Parabola Mate ISO but was told "You cannot run octopi with administrative privileges." "
Do you need to?
I don't know anything about Parabola, but with respect to octopi I believe you are supposed to run it as normal user, and then when you actually execute your chosen actions like installing or removing a package, that's when the program asks you for your password.
12 • Parabola Maté ISO (by Somewhat Reticent on 2017-05-29 08:37:47 GMT from United States)
Did I need to run as root? I hope not. And yet there I was, running Live as Root. Go figure! (Is that normal/expected?)
(I ran OBrevenge live once and wondered what the root password was...)
13 • The root/user schizophrenia. (by OS2_user on 2017-05-29 09:43:32 GMT from United States)
From the review: [Void] "sets up a root account for us and also sets up sudo. This means we can use su to gain administrator access, and select user accounts can also use sudo to perform admin tasks. ... by default, the root account uses the minimal dash shell while other accounts default to using bash." -- Just another sly way to confuse users.
The 2014 PCLinux would log into root with just click to select, no password. 2017.04 will not, and insists on two-character "password". "They" change things if useful is all I can conclude. To install and run ProFTP for one requires root. I guess might use another account MOST of the time but it's a pain switching back and forth, and any customization is per-user.
Right from login I'm hit with the cult aspects of Linux/Unix: "they" simply don't want mere users running as root and coerce you. The Tor Browser won't start as root. -- Perhaps that can be changed if find the script, but that's to jump head-first down the rabbit hole into DEEP arcana, just trying to wrest control away from "them".
But I have a PERSONAL computer to do with as wish. That's what the revolution was all about, remember? PERSONAL.
Nannying is the most off-putting aspect of Linux. Most new triers aren't expecting all to be "easy" like Windows, but certainly do NOT wish to "learn" 70's-style arcana and be frequently forced to get "permission"!
If Linux is ever going to be widely popular, all the 70's internals necessary for normal choice and administration have to be hidden under GUI wrappers, and you MUST give up the notion of "permissions" on personal computer. Permission to tinker with the system is sheer unneccessary obstacle. Hardly anyone changes items unless annoyed, and then you annoy further with "permissions"!
Only maniacs keep at Linux long enough to learn how to dodge the "permissions". -- It's a measure of how well you know Linux. -- But once know what you're doing on your own personal system, does "permission" help or hinder?
So just make root the default. Experienced users can make their own strait-jacket if want.
I know that Linux types don't want to read this. All Linux forums seem to suppress any complaint about its out-dated arbitrary time-sharing design and arcane rituals. That's a key problem holding you back! It's the 21st century, but Linux is almost literally steam-punk.
Ordinary users want to USE the system, not tend it, not learn the rituals, and especially not get "permission" to change the wallpaper (actual case on one distro).
14 • One more point, then done, not here for flame war. (by OS2_user on 2017-05-29 10:19:40 GMT from United States)
I can always find in the review or other comments pretty much my complaints, but you all go on as if the root/user distinction is normal and desirable. It's neither normal nor desirable for Average Desktop User, only for those who administer systems / servers. You're trying to force every Average up to Guru status through the hard knocks school, and that just isn't going to happen.
For that reason don't tell me I can "be root" all the time if I just put in the effort. No, I have put in a deal of effort on Linux over the course of ten years now, and always ends less well than the very experienced Jesse Smith does in his reviews. Remember, those are the distros he got working.
It's a fundamental flaw to require high degree of knowledge and persistence to use Linux. I think my experiences and uses are entirely typical, and that yours are not. People stumble into needing "permission" -- for trivial cases like setting the desktop wallpaper! -- and have no idea how to proceed, so they DON'T.
15 • @OS2-user: (by dragonmouth on 2017-05-29 12:34:51 GMT from United States)
"Most new triers aren't expecting all to be "easy" like Windows"
Windows is 'easy' only if you already know it. To learn any O/S from scratch is no harder or easier than to learn Windows from scratch.
"you all go on as if the root/user distinction is normal and desirable. It's neither normal nor desirable for Average Desktop User"
Maybe in your isolated world. One of the reasons Windows is so vulnerable is that it DOES NOT separate admin and user. A program running in user space can crash the entire system. In Linux or BSD it crashes only the user session while the system keeps running. Therefore, the distinction is not only desirable but essential.
16 • Into the Void (by Jesse on 2017-05-29 13:04:34 GMT from Canada)
@2 I was using the glibc build of Void's MATE edition in the review. I did not run the musl build this time. I have in the past and haven't noticed any difference from a practical point of view. I believe musl uses a little less memory, but not enough you're going to experience a difference on any semi-modern computer.
17 • @13 - root permission (by Hoos on 2017-05-29 13:07:32 GMT from Singapore)
Is it really that difficult to have to input either the root or user password when one wishes to update the system, install or remove a package, or change system files? It just seems a prudent measure to me.
I have no desire to "dodge" the permissions at all, since it isn't a huge imposition on me. I'm an ordinary user. I just browse the web, do work on documents, listen to music and watch videos. So most of the time I won't need the root password. Entering it maybe once a week to update my system does not vex me at all the way it seems to have affected you.
I am also curious to know what distro needed root permission for setting desktop wallpaper. I have never encountered that.
18 • Debian 9 Release (by Neon User on 2017-05-29 15:15:21 GMT from Greece)
As a big Debian fan, i am really disappointed by the lack of progress in the Debian website design and the Debian installer about a months time before a new release, again. TBH, the installer froze some months ago so, nothing new. What we get for Debian 9 is a website that you need to be a Pro to find the ISO you are looking for and an installer that most users will find scary, the least. Even if they install the system successfully they will end up with a horrible selection of packages (i.e konqueror is still in there) and at least two programs for the same job (i.e konqueror and dolphin, konqueror and firefox, apper and discover, konsole and uxterm). Last time i had to reinstall, i just couldn't take the pain (this situation persists at least from Debian 5) and i installed Neon since the Debian tools are still in there and some Ubuntu tools are there too as a bonus (i.e PPAs, snaps etc)... Hoping things will change, but as far as the installer is concerned, not before 2-3 years at least.
19 • To root or not to root (by Kragle von Schnitzelbank on 2017-05-29 15:45:16 GMT from United States)
"One of the reasons Windows is so vulnerable is that it DOES NOT separate admin and user." Haven't seen an enterprise installation, then, eh? Windows was designed to be set up with a Minimum of three authorization levels (admin, user, & guest). Many consumers prioritize ease-of-use over security, so that's the (apparent) default on most installs aimed toward consumers.
Having to enter a complicated password for nearly every system tweak (no matter how trivial) endlessly aggravates customers who aren't admins in large organizations. (Vista UAC (User Account Control) became a snarled epithet.) Of course, requiring the highest level of authorization for each and every system adjustment isn't good security, it's egregiously bad practice.
After enduring the whining of thoughtless users victimized by their own malfeasance, one may be tempted to include a modicum of nanny-state'ism, but this should be tempered with respect for their right to make their own decisions - a (nagging?) warning (or two?) should suffice, though that should be specific, clear, and complete, with a link to proper documentation.
[…]
Some refugees from the proprietary-first world are power users; many are children looking for toys. One size will never fit all.
20 • Linux permissions (by sydneyj on 2017-05-29 16:27:36 GMT from United States)
Took me about 30 seconds to find this in my sudoers file:
## User privilege specification
## Uncomment to allow members of group wheel to execute any command
# %wheel ALL=(ALL) ALL
## Same thing without a password
# %wheel ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL
## Uncomment to allow members of group sudo to execute any command
# %sudo ALL=(ALL) ALL
Also, this from the Arch wiki:
To disable asking for a password for user USER_NAME:
Defaults:USER_NAME !authenticate
All of this whining about passwords is just belaboring a triviality; tilting at windmills. Not a good idea to disable passwords, though.
21 • LiveCDs - one which includes the latest kernel version and another with NVIDIA (by Name (mandatory) on 2017-05-29 17:25:11 GMT from France)
Is there a distro which offers a LiveCD including the latest kernel at the time of release? I'd like to use a LiveCD with the most recent kernel without installing anything. Most distros with a LiveCD option almost always ship an older kernel. Obviously, if you only wish to use their LiveCD, you won't be rebooting to update the kernel.
I'm also searching for a distro which includes a recent [proprietary] NVIDIA driver version in the LiveCD.
But it doesn't have to include both.
22 • Live CD with latest Kernel? re:comment 21. (by Bobbie Sellers on 2017-05-29 17:44:10 GMT from United States)
Well this seems impossible to me given the speed of kernel releases and the time
it takes to produce a Live CD or more lIkely a Live DVD.
If you want access to later kernels PCLOS is up to 4.11.03 and its nVidia is up-to-date.
but if you want to make sure of the NVidia release start reading the package lists.
But running these live will not give you much of an idea of how the kernels will
work on these hardware from an install.
If you really want the latest kernels learn to compile them from source code. Then learn
to get your particular programs and all the little programs that work with the
kernels to work with your self-compiled kernels.
Apparently this is interesting work to know how to do because lots of people
are doing it. Which is why we have an embarrassment of riches at least
as far as distributions go.
bliss
23 • @ 13 root/user.... (by OstroL on 2017-05-29 19:08:08 GMT from Poland)
>> From the review: [Void] "sets up a root account for us and also sets up sudo. This means we can use su to gain administrator access, and select user accounts can also use sudo to perform admin tasks. ... by default, the root account uses the minimal dash shell while other accounts default to using bash." -- Just another sly way to confuse users. <<
An interesting thought. "Just another sly way to confuse users." Whether you touch you nose straight or around you neck, you still touch the nose. Su or sudo, you still change the insides.
What you have as an installed distro is installed as root. And as root, you give name to a user (pseudo user?) and let that user use your own computer. That user is you, whatever name you give yourself. Still it is the root, who owns the distro you installed and everything inside it. Only thing you can do as the "user" put something, change something in the "username' folder. You can't even write anything the folder called home. That's owned by the root, the real owner of the system you installed. You can write something in the username folder, inside the home folder. But, you can't change the name of the username folder, without becoming the root (su or sudo).
Anyone, who is using a Linux live distro can take over your computer, whether you are using Windows, OS X, BSD or Linux.
Puppy Linux's user was and still is the root, and most probably it is the most safest distro to use today.
>> But I have a PERSONAL computer to do with as wish. That's what the revolution was all about, remember? PERSONAL. <<
There aren't any multiple users nowadays, and never had been for a decade or so.
24 • @Name (mandatory) (by AV on 2017-05-29 19:59:35 GMT from India)
Try Solus - https://solus-project.com/
It has the latest kernel and does switchable graphics properly, although, you'll have to install the nvidia drivers (nothing additional needs to be done for switchable graphics to work properly).
25 • devuan torrent reminder (by david esktorp on 2017-05-29 23:11:58 GMT from United States)
Folks, when you go to download the Devuan torrent, don't be dumb like me.. remember to check the whole thing and only download what you need unless you REALLY want to seed or you actually need the whole thing. I started it and quickly walked away, not even considering that it was way more than I needed.. I came back and it was at 12gb.. (I only wanted one iso lol)
Convincing Transmission to give up on the unneeded chunks was an interesting couple of minutes.
26 • Root / god like power (by some random user on 2017-05-30 00:43:23 GMT from United States)
On my Lubuntu computer I tried to run that command, but I did not get the output that I expected.
I had to run:
sudo ethtool eth0 | grep Wake
27 • Void testing (by mikef90000 on 2017-05-30 00:47:00 GMT from United States)
Jesse was Far more patient than I was, attempting to install void in a Virtualbox VM. First time in a long time that basic VESA video was hosed (dog slow) even after installing randr and virtualbox-ose-guest (which ironically went fast).
Attempting to install octoxbps resulting in a 'missing dependencies' message. Back to the RedHat bad old days ....
And I've never seen so much whining about password prompts in Linux. I've never been prompted for the usual desktop preference actions like changing a desktop background. Perhaps these whiners are using my ancient copy of RH Linux.
28 • Footnotes Falling from the Sky (by Arch Watcher 402563 on 2017-05-30 03:49:25 GMT from United States)
@16 One hardly does notice musl being more secure and stable than glibc. One only notices glibc segfaulting and granting hackers access. Likewise, dash shell for root is more secure (no history, no autocomplete) and Void does root right.
@27 Jesse needs VMs for good reason. You can try a cheap USB boot stick.
@Legacy cruft curious: Autologin is easy to set up. The responsibility for 1970s login cruft lies with DEs wedded to silly login managers nobody wants or needs. The distros just ship what they do.
29 • WOL (by AxisMann on 2017-05-30 03:56:40 GMT from United States)
My experience with WOL is that the computer I want to wake must have previously been suspended. If it was turned off by someone, then I am unable to wake it up with the WOL feature and have to physically go turn the computer on.
30 • Latest, Live (by Somewhat Reticent on 2017-05-30 06:53:52 GMT from United States)
Some ISOs can be used to generate modified ISOs; surely one such modification could include different kernel(s), or GPU driver(s)?
Most Live ISOs contain "older" kernels because most testers use them on "older" hardware first - but that doesn't mean you can't change it, and be the first to find new bugs in a new kernel.
Another approach might be to install to separate portable storage, like a USB flash stick, and restart after changes.
Eventually, it'll be possible to update kernel and drivers while running (live), of course.
31 • @21 • LiveCDs - which one includes the latest kernel version (by Hoos on 2017-05-30 08:18:59 GMT from Singapore)
You may be interested in MX Linux (current version = MX16).
It has a Live-USB kernel updater, see manual at:
https://mxlinux.org/user_manual_mx16/mxum.html#toc-Subsection-6.6
When you first write your live USB from the MX Linux iso you have downloaded, it will of course contain only whatever kernel was used by the developers to create the iso image.
However, once you are running the live system on USB, you can check the Debian backports or MX's own repositories for other kernels (MX usually has an up-to-date Liquorix kernel in their repo) , and install the one that suits you on the live system. Then run the kernel updater tool and you can write the newly installed kernel to the live USB, thus modifying your live USB on the fly.
32 • @31 (cont); @30 (by Hoos on 2017-05-30 08:23:19 GMT from Singapore)
@30 said: "Some ISOs can be used to generate modified ISOs; surely one such modification could include different kernel(s), or GPU driver(s)?"
MX Linux has easy graphical tools to help you install AMD/ATI and Nvidia drivers.
And then there is a tool to remaster your live USB, once you have installed your new kernel and the proprietary graphical drivers that you want.
https://mxlinux.org/user_manual_mx16/mxum.html#toc-Subsection-3.2
33 • debian (by ausrocker on 2017-05-30 08:40:29 GMT from Australia)
Debian Stretch is still pretty broken in "kde and mate". What happened to release when its ready.
Serious graphical flaws in Kde with severe screen tearing and garbled txt on moving windows. WTF
Mate desktop: Wallpapers dont work the wallpaper wont change lol...removed it immediately.
Xfce working well no problems so far all good.
34 • Void Linux (by Simon Wainscott-Plaistowe on 2017-05-30 09:00:07 GMT from New Zealand)
Looking forward to trying Void. Perhaps it will strike a good balance between functionality and resource usage, to breathe new life into some of the older hardware gathering dust in my garage.
35 • Void Linux (by NoName on 2017-05-30 09:57:30 GMT from Czech Republic)
Very happy that distrowatch is giving review to really original, independent Linux distributions like Void beside others is.
I have no problem with installing system via text commands, why not? What is wrong in that? Do I need to see colorful icons and progress bar to get things done? No, I would rather to observe what is going underneath, what installer is really doing.
I have absolutely no issue with managing packages via command line, it's fast, direct approach with minimum distractions and you can see what is really being installed. Why I would need to graphical interface? What is so big benefit from it? Do we need to have everything in graphical interface? Why? Or it's better to have visible awareness what is going on?
Things which are important for me are:
* It has its own packages system, repository is quite big and you can really select what will be installed and what not.
* It has its own init system, which is fast, readable and understandable and trustworthy.
* It provides a lot options regarding Windows Managers or Desktop Managers
* Sane secure and stability approach in order to chose good ways like LibreSSH, MUSL library, independent and readable init system etc.
Thes are - for me, really important things and features, not how beautiful are icons, wallpapers and meanwhile using the very same bases like systemd, DM, libraries etc.
I wish more distributions like Void Linux is, and perhaps less so call distributions, which in fact are not
Best regards
NoName
36 • Void Linux (by Jordan on 2017-05-30 12:25:13 GMT from United States)
I have come to see dlstros such as Void, Gentoo, Arch, etc as learning distros; to know what is needed to accomplish various tasks and what is being done "in the background." There was a time when I thought I'd end up with a favorite base linux such as one of those and just make my own and that would be that.
I've since come around to the understanding that I do like the gui and some of the other included conveniences of a "polished" distro such as Solus, which is my default now on two laptops.
Learning is good. It gives another range of choices on what one might land on as a favorite distro later on.
37 • @36 about learning Linux (by OstroL on 2017-05-30 14:28:34 GMT from Poland)
Have a look here, http://www.funtoo.org/Category:Articles
38 • @33 (by denethor on 2017-05-30 14:31:27 GMT from Serbia)
???????? Debian Stretch is not yet released!
39 • funtoo (by Jordan on 2017-05-30 21:38:25 GMT from United States)
@37
I should have added that I began this "learning" journey in 1996. I confess to .. ... .... .....
...... b e i n g v e r y w e a r y o f d i s t r o h o p p i n g a n d b u i l d i n g .
zzzzzzzzz ;)
40 • Count me another... (by Reziac on 2017-05-31 00:00:30 GMT from United States)
...who wants to run as root and not have all the damn passwords. I've been trawling distros again looking for one I can love, and some demanded...
...a password to access my own network??! (the box I wanted to access isn't passworded; it was the linux distros that wanted a password) ... in one case, re-enter the password for each file! mind you these were recent, up-to-date distros, not hoary old UNIX wannabes.
If someone breaks into my house and has their way with the linux box, I already have more trouble than a password can prevent. Just let me do what I want on my own box and stop telling me I can't, or "you might harm your computer" (I know that, why do you think it's a test box?) I'm not a server farm, I'm not a sysadmin, I'm a user. Let me USE the damn thing without hindrance.
Might be part of why the distro with the best longevity at my house is... Puppy.
41 • Doofus Patrol Report (by Arch Watcher 402563 on 2017-05-31 05:22:05 GMT from United States)
@23 "Anyone, who is using a Linux live distro can take over your computer, whether you are using Windows, OS X, BSD or Linux."
@40 "If someone breaks into my house and has their way with the linux box, I already have more trouble than a password can prevent."
Not if "your computer" means a USB stick or SSD in a portable USB case. That device you may carry or store in a safe. All the attacker has, even with physical site access, is a barebones computer, not your data. Lesson: If you guys want to redo *nix security, at least think outside the box. Literally: your PC is the box.
And involve real experts. This talk of running as root is stupid. It was a poor choice for Puppy. Sure, it makes things easier. Some things should not be easy. What's easy for you is easy for intruders, frenemies, hackers, botnets, spammers, and spies.
It's possible to change 1970s timeshare cruft, but just gutting it out is dense. Only do that with replacements ready. Meanwhile consider who wrote ConsoleKit and systemd if you dislike how things were "fixed."
The general trend in security is isolation/sandboxing. Giving processes root just so you can forget a password is crazy. If you have trouble remembering passwords, go visit diceware.com and apply that method. There are simpler ways to manage security than ripping it out.
@35 "Why I would need to graphical interface?"
A package dependency graph is hard to emit to TTY, or a timeline of package install history, or sorting options for listings. Show me world time zones or locale country flags in your TTY. How about keyboard layouts? Good luck with that, captain.
The typical ncurses installer thingy is shell script, hardly a decent language. I see no problem having one, only in pointless resistance to graphics BECUZ MUH LEANNESS. A ready-made solution called Calamares can use Nuitka to emit machine code if you want that. It's just wasted effort to stick with ncurses and shell script.
Thinking it's less effort to maintain a faux-GUI shell script mess over a real-GUI real-language app is incorrect. Besides, gurus install by hand. Presumably ncurses serves non-gurus. For them a graphical installer would do best.
My pet peeves about installers: (a) stop requiring a swap partition (b) allow ext4 creation sans journal (c) allow user assignment of kudzu like /var/cache to tmpfs (d) make RAID an expert option, stop obsessing on it (e) let expert users set all $XDG_ and $KDE_ variables.
@35 "Things which are important for me are"
Another real draw is the buildbot.net setup. I'm mystified why other distros can't get a clue. They still build packages by hand. The robots are here, put them to work!
42 • Void Linux review (by Andy Mender on 2017-05-31 12:56:44 GMT from Austria)
Nice to see a review of Void Linux once more. Also, tons of "agreed" to Arch Watcher. However, I feel like sometimes the DW reviews spend too much time on "I installed app X, Y, Z" or "this is my desktop", rather than on the unique features of a distribution. Void Linux uses runit and LibreSSL by default (it's NOT a drop-in replacement for OpenSSL btw!), and offers musl libc as an alternative to the venerable glibc. Surely, size and fast booting are not the only goals of runit, correct? Furthermore, what's special about musl libc? Maybe a few words on that? Instead, there is too much focus on MATE, which we all know anyhow :(.
43 • WOL and Mint: The Incredible State of Almost (by Vakkotaur on 2017-05-31 13:50:17 GMT from United States)
I've been trying this for a couple days now and gotten... well, not nowhere, but not where I think I ought to be, either.
1. WOL (PCI Wakeup...) is enabled in "BIOS"
2. I can set WOL to be "g"
3. I can suspend the machine, wake it remotely.. ONCE.
Something is re-setting WOL to "d" - despite various scripting suggestions here and various places on the web. The network interface config GUI has a WakeOnLAN section, and I've checked "Magic" and that seems to... do nothing, despite a reboot or three.
Obviously I am missing something. I'll happily RTFM. Can anyone point me at "TFM" so I can R it?
44 • #42 • Void Linux review (by mandog on 2017-05-31 13:52:39 GMT from Peru)
I've been using void for over a year and you know i have not even signed in to the forums,
Easy setup with the CLI installer only the most basic applications so I can choose what I want installed nearly as good as the netinstall,
LTS and current kernels installed after update so you always can fall-back very fast and very stable.
Void is a Gem
45 • Debian-Reiser4 (by Jordan on 2017-05-31 14:32:47 GMT from United States)
Ugh... I still get uneasy when I see that name.. the name of a man who confessed to strangling his wife. And it's still the name of a file system.. and now a distro. Just have to live with some things in the world.
46 • Reiser • RTFM • Void_Linux • … (by Fairly Reticent on 2017-05-31 15:28:42 GMT from United States)
@45 Part of dealing with humans is realizing they are not singularities.
I prefer to encourage good behavior (developing better software).
Better than throwing out the baby … and confession should be good therapy.
…
@43 I remember the Full Manual from bygone days - complete documentation, critical examples, cross-referenced, self-documenting code. Trackable updates.
Nothing like the pile of obfuscation, irrelevancies, and contradictions from Go-Fish (Giiggle).
…
There's a thoughtful 2015 presentation of reasons for (and against) Void_Linux at troubleshooters.com/linux/void/whyvoid.htm by Steve Litt.
…
Much security is theater, including passwording.
47 • Reiser (by Brian Vaughan on 2017-05-31 16:58:09 GMT from United States)
@45 Almost as bad as Reiser himself was his legion of admirers and apologists; collectively, they represent the very worst of the tech community, with callous disregard for human life and outright misogyny.
He should not be granted any honors by retaining his name on software, and I refuse to use any software with his name on it.
48 • @46 (by Vakkotaur on 2017-05-31 17:46:48 GMT from United States)
I was ready to take that seriously until I saw "self documenting code."
I've met more unicorns than self-documented code.
49 • huh? (by Jordan on 2017-05-31 21:22:56 GMT from United States)
I'm really happy that the murderer had "good therapy." Whether he fancies himself a "singularity" or not.
Meanwhile, let's change the name of that file system and the distro.
50 • Reiser (by dragonmouth on 2017-06-01 00:03:05 GMT from United States)
@Jordan:
I guess that you drive a car with no license plates because they are made by criminals, many of them being convicted rapists and murderers. :-) Do you also absolutely refuse to use Linux Mint because of Clement Lefebvre's political views?
51 • Reiser (by mcellius on 2017-06-01 01:11:53 GMT from United States)
@Jordan
Perhaps I'm strange, but I use Ubuntu and have never bothered to check out the criminal records of Mark Shuttleworth, of the employees of Canonical, nor of the many contributors to the project. Heck, I don't even know the criminal histories of either Deb or Ian, and since Ubuntu is based on Debian I guess I should care about such things, too. Linus himself has used bad language! I use the Ext4 filesystem: what if it turns out some of its contributors might be serving time? For that matter, I use software that might have been written in C or Python or other programming languages that might have contributors who are not model citizens! Oh, and since I use the Internet I rely upon TCP/IP - I'm sure at least a few of its contributors are at least somewhat less than perfect!
Come to think of it, I don't know the criminal records of the checkers at my grocery store, either, or of the mechanics who work on my car, or of the construction workers who built my home. Sheesh!
Unlike you, I don't get uneasy thinking about any such things. I guess I must be older than you, because I always figured that learning to deal with such things was part of growing up.
52 • Common sense (by Doug on 2017-06-01 03:04:58 GMT from United States)
@51
I love to read common sense. It is so rare these days.
We have all done bad things, some of us got caught.
Even if someone did prison time, or are in prison still, why can't they contribute?
If we didn't allow those who have done time to contribute, how would they be able to live and not commit another crime?
I prefer Reiserfs for my computers.
53 • Good Actors Bad Actors (by Arch Watcher 402563 on 2017-06-01 03:51:53 GMT from United States)
@46 "Much security is theater, including passwording."
If you mean the way most people do it, yes: "p@ssword" and "12345" are jokes.
If you mean real passwords, no: diceware.com gives real entropy. Intelligence agencies would not build cracking supercomputers to defeat theater.
Installers could link to diceware.com when they prompt the user to set passwords. Use real dice unless you want "all your base are belong to us" from stupidass website implementations. Some things should not be done online.
I will say *nix should adopt additional security techniques, like keyfile fobs triggered by udev, or password autoentry to cover forgetfulness and deniability use cases. You can't surrender a password you don't know yourself.
I don't know much about USB Armory, but Void runs on it.
54 • @ 51 "I use Ubuntu" (by OstroL on 2017-06-01 05:48:20 GMT from Poland)
I'm glad someone said "I use Ubuntu." I was thinking of asking, if anyone here use Ubuntu, and at least mcellius is using it. Some people come out to say, they use Mint emphasizing they don't use Ubuntu. As though Mint is made out of Fedora.
55 • @54 @51 "I use ...." (by zcatav on 2017-06-01 12:14:52 GMT from Turkey)
I use Debian Jessie, Ubuntu 16.04 and TrueOS current (formerly PC-BSD) on different machines with different purposes.
56 • Sleep command in KDE after WOL? (by Dojnow on 2017-06-02 09:50:51 GMT from Bulgaria)
Is there a sleep command in KDE like this one: DISPLAY=:0 qdbus org.kde.ksmserver /KSMServer logout 0 2 2 #remote shutdown
57 • @56 Re: Sleep command in KDE after WOL (by far2fish on 2017-06-02 10:31:18 GMT from Europe)
I got a bit confused when you said 'sleep', 'logout' and 'shutdown' in the same sentence.
Is what you are looking for a way to suspend or hibernate the computer?
If that is the case, you can use one of these on a systemd distro:
sudo sudo systemctl suspend
sudo systemctl hibernate
Or on a non-systemd distro:
sudo pm-suspend
sudo pm-hibernate
58 • Void (by Scuttlebuck on 2017-06-03 07:10:29 GMT from Nicaragua)
I gave Viod a try about a year back and to be fair i haven't used it much , but it was easy to install and set up and has updated with no issues and is running very nicely
I now run Gentoo, calculate, slackware , Salix, and Void......in 3 different countries...I dont see me ever drifting back to distro hopping I think I have found the best you can get
Reiser ......Never heard of Him never knew he strangled his wife....but why does that stop him making useful contributions to the Linux community ? is he supposed to crawl into a hole and die with his ideas going to waste..Reiser FS is supposedly good though never had a need to try it
59 • TrueOS (by Dave Postles on 2017-06-03 07:49:31 GMT from United Kingdom)
Anyone else having issues with this? I performed an upgrade (leaving my laptop to do it overnight) - disaster - can't even login now. I therefore used the torrent to obtain a new version of stable - K3B aborted writing the disk of the .iso. Although I like the product, it's not the first time that I've had issues with it (not least using AppCafe).
60 • I use... (by OstroL on 2017-06-03 08:48:22 GMT from Poland)
I use Ubuntu with Openbox (my own from scratch) and also trying Ubuntu 17.04 with Unity and added Gnome 3. Had been using Debian, Devuan (created few isos and uploaded to internet for others Openbox and Xfce), but I prefer the Ubuntu base and Openbox. Its a waste of resources to use a desktop environment, even in a 8GB ram touch screen laptop. I don't need a DE, just the apps.
A desktop environment has a launcher, a panel to hold open apps and a whole lot of interconnected apps, which one really doesn't need. With Openbox, you add what you want, and most importantly, you have access to the menu on any point on the screen. The booting and shutting off is so quick, its a pleasure. Openbox can be quite pretty too, once you configured it. Tint2, plank dock help you with your work and and conky gives you the info you need. Why waste energy on a DE? Cannonical had found that in a hard way, spending lot of energy to build and maintain a DE for last 6 years.
61 • @57 Re: Sleep command in KDE after WOL (by Dojnow on 2017-06-03 14:56:04 GMT from Bulgaria)
No. "DISPLAY=:0 qdbus ..." allows clean KDE-session exit and shutdown|reboot|logout remotely without sudo.
62 • Void_Linux (by Fairly Reticent on 2017-06-03 16:46:15 GMT from United States)
Is Void_Linux able to run Live? For how long? Several ISOs I've tried start ignoring attempts to start an app, even when nothing else is running - after only a few minutes.
63 • @62 Void_Linux (by mandog on 2017-06-03 18:01:53 GMT from Peru)
Yes works fine but does not like to have programs installed in live mode its not designed to do that, writing this in live mode from ram
64 • BSD on the desktop (by M.Z. on 2017-06-04 03:51:21 GMT from United States)
@59 - TrueOS
"Anyone else having issues with this?"
I tried BSD on the desktop a number of times, at least before they switched the name from PC-BSD to TrueOS. Sadly it never really worked out for me. I understand there are a fair number of tools to revert to old 'Snapshots', but I haven't really tried desktop BSD in a while. FreeBSD based systems were always rock solid when I used it as a firewall OS, but an utter failure as a desktop. Anyway, no tips, but I feel your pain.
65 • Void Linux / Linux Boot Speed (by Winchester on 2017-06-04 09:45:17 GMT from United States)
I have tried Void Linux twice last year. Both the Cinnamon and Enlightenment versions. The live ISO's worked but,I could not log-in after installation on my hardware. Maybe the other versions such as MATE,LXQt,and LXDE are better with Void??
As far as boot times go (post # 60) ..... the fastest operating systems to boot-up of those which I have tried have been Solus with its in-house desktop and WattOS r8 LXDE (the Debian based version with the OpenBox window manager).
66 • BSD (by scuttlebuck on 2017-06-04 12:47:20 GMT from Nicaragua)
@59
I have had quite a history with BSD failures from my first attempt early 2000s ...even when i have got it running OK it always seems to have a serious breakdown along the way
the old PC-Bsd at times i could get going and seemed quite nice but if you dared update or do anything overly adventurous it would usually end up beyond repair.
Had a lot more success with Ghost BSD but it was a 1 man show and seemed a bit slow to develop which was a shame
Though I have seen and still do see BSD systems running good as Desktops and Servers with no problems at all...
Number of Comments: 66
Display mode: DWW Only • Comments Only • Both DWW and Comments
| | |
| TUXEDO |
TUXEDO Computers - Linux Hardware in a tailor made suite
Choose from a wide range of laptops and PCs in various sizes and shapes at TUXEDOComputers.com. Every machine comes pre-installed and ready-to-run with Linux. Full 24 months of warranty and lifetime support included!
Learn more about our full service package and all benefits from buying at TUXEDO.
|
| Archives |
| • Issue 1046 (2023-11-20): Slackel 7.7 "Openbox", restricting CPU usage, Haiku improves font handling and software centre performance, Canonical launches MicroCloud |
| • Issue 1045 (2023-11-13): Fedora 39, how to trust software packages, ReactOS booting with UEFI, elementary OS plans to default to Wayland, Mir gaining ability to split work across video cards |
| • Issue 1044 (2023-11-06): Porteus 5.01, disabling IPv6, applications unique to a Linux distro, Linux merges bcachefs, OpenELA makes source packages available |
| • Issue 1043 (2023-10-30): Murena Two with privacy switches, where old files go when packages are updated, UBports on Volla phones, Mint testing Cinnamon on Wayland, Peppermint releases ARM build |
| • Issue 1042 (2023-10-23): Ubuntu Cinnamon compared with Linux Mint, extending battery life on Linux, Debian resumes /usr merge, Canonical publishes fixed install media |
| • Issue 1041 (2023-10-16): FydeOS 17.0, Dr.Parted 23.09, changing UIDs, Fedora partners with Slimbook, GNOME phasing out X11 sessions, Ubuntu revokes 23.10 install media |
| • Issue 1040 (2023-10-09): CROWZ 5.0, changing the location of default directories, Linux Mint updates its Edge edition, Murena crowdfunding new privacy phone, Debian publishes new install media |
| • Issue 1039 (2023-10-02): Zenwalk Current, finding the duration of media files, Peppermint OS tries out new edition, COSMIC gains new features, Canonical reports on security incident in Snap store |
| • Issue 1038 (2023-09-25): Mageia 9, trouble-shooting launchers, running desktop Linux in the cloud, New documentation for Nix, Linux phasing out ReiserFS, GNU celebrates 40 years |
| • Issue 1037 (2023-09-18): Bodhi Linux 7.0.0, finding specific distros and unified package managemnt, Zevenet replaced by two new forks, openSUSE introduces Slowroll branch, Fedora considering dropping Plasma X11 session |
| • Issue 1036 (2023-09-11): SDesk 2023.08.12, hiding command line passwords, openSUSE shares contributor survery results, Ubuntu plans seamless disk encryption, GNOME 45 to break extension compatibility |
| • Issue 1035 (2023-09-04): Debian GNU/Hurd 2023, PCLinuxOS 2023.07, do home users need a firewall, AlmaLinux introduces new repositories, Rocky Linux commits to RHEL compatibility, NetBSD machine runs unattended for nine years, Armbian runs wallpaper contest |
| • Issue 1034 (2023-08-28): Void 20230628, types of memory usage, FreeBSD receives port of Linux NVIDIA driver, Fedora plans improved theme handling for Qt applications, Canonical's plans for Ubuntu |
| • Issue 1033 (2023-08-21): MiniOS 20230606, system user accounts, how Red Hat clones are moving forward, Haiku improves WINE performance, Debian turns 30 |
| • Issue 1032 (2023-08-14): MX Linux 23, positioning new windows on the desktop, Linux Containers adopts LXD fork, Oracle, SUSE, and CIQ form OpenELA |
| • Issue 1031 (2023-08-07): Peppermint OS 2023-07-01, preventing a file from being changed, Asahi Linux partners with Fedora, Linux Mint plans new releases |
| • Issue 1030 (2023-07-31): Solus 4.4, Linux Mint 21.2, Debian introduces RISC-V support, Ubuntu patches custom kernel bugs, FreeBSD imports OpenSSL 3 |
| • Issue 1029 (2023-07-24): Running Murena on the Fairphone 4, Flatpak vs Snap sandboxing technologies, Redox OS plans to borrow Linux drivers to expand hardware support, Debian updates Bookworm media |
| • Issue 1028 (2023-07-17): KDE Connect; Oracle, SUSE, and AlmaLinux repsond to Red Hat's source code policy change, KaOS issues media fix, Slackware turns 30; security and immutable distributions |
| • Issue 1027 (2023-07-10): Crystal Linux 2023-03-16, StartOS (embassyOS 0.3.4.2), changing options on a mounted filesystem, Murena launches Fairphone 4 in North America, Fedora debates telemetry for desktop team |
| • Issue 1026 (2023-07-03): Kumander Linux 1.0, Red Hat changing its approach to sharing source code, TrueNAS offers SMB Multichannel, Zorin OS introduces upgrade utility |
| • Issue 1025 (2023-06-26): KaOS with Plasma 6, information which can leak from desktop environments, Red Hat closes door on sharing RHEL source code, SUSE introduces new security features |
| • Issue 1024 (2023-06-19): Debian 12, a safer way to use dd, Debian releases GNU/Hurd 2023, Ubuntu 22.10 nears its end of life, FreeBSD turns 30 |
| • Issue 1023 (2023-06-12): openSUSE 15.5 Leap, the differences between independent distributions, openSUSE lengthens Leap life, Murena offers new phone for North America |
| • Issue 1022 (2023-06-05): GetFreeOS 2023.05.01, Slint 15.0-3, Liya N4Si, cleaning up crowded directories, Ubuntu plans Snap-based variant, Red Hat dropping LireOffice RPM packages |
| • Issue 1021 (2023-05-29): rlxos GNU/Linux, colours in command line output, an overview of Void's unique features, how to use awk, Microsoft publishes a Linux distro |
| • Issue 1020 (2023-05-22): UBports 20.04, finding another machine's IP address, finding distros with a specific kernel, Debian prepares for Bookworm |
| • Issue 1019 (2023-05-15): Rhino Linux (Beta), checking which applications reply on a package, NethServer reborn, System76 improving application responsiveness |
| • Issue 1018 (2023-05-08): Fedora 38, finding relevant manual pages, merging audio files, Fedora plans new immutable edition, Mint works to fix Secure Boot issues |
| • Issue 1017 (2023-05-01): Xubuntu 23.04, Debian elects Project Leaders and updates media, systemd to speed up restarts, Guix System offering ground-up source builds, where package managers install files |
| • Issue 1016 (2023-04-24): Qubes OS 4.1.2, tracking bandwidth usage, Solus resuming development, FreeBSD publishes status report, KaOS offers preview of Plasma 6 |
| • Issue 1015 (2023-04-17): Manjaro Linux 22.0, Trisquel GNU/Linux 11.0, Arch Linux powering PINE64 tablets, Ubuntu offering live patching on HWE kernels, gaining compression on ex4 |
| • Issue 1014 (2023-04-10): Quick looks at carbonOS, LibreELEC, and Kodi, Mint polishes themes, Fedora rolls out more encryption plans, elementary OS improves sideloading experience |
| • Issue 1013 (2023-04-03): Alpine Linux 3.17.2, printing manual pages, Ubuntu Cinnamon becomes official flavour, Endeavour OS plans for new installer, HardenedBSD plans for outage |
| • Issue 1012 (2023-03-27): siduction 22.1.1, protecting privacy from proprietary applications, GNOME team shares new features, Canonical updates Ubuntu 20.04, politics and the Linux kernel |
| • Issue 1011 (2023-03-20): Serpent OS, Security Onion 2.3, Gentoo Live, replacing the scp utility, openSUSE sees surge in downloads, Debian runs elction with one candidate |
| • Issue 1010 (2023-03-13): blendOS 2023.01.26, keeping track of which files a package installs, improved network widget coming to elementary OS, Vanilla OS changes its base distro |
| • Issue 1009 (2023-03-06): Nemo Mobile and the PinePhone, matching the performance of one distro on another, Linux Mint adds performance boosts and security, custom Ubuntu and Debian builds through Cubic |
| • Issue 1008 (2023-02-27): elementary OS 7.0, the benefits of boot environments, Purism offers lapdock for Librem 5, Ubuntu community flavours directed to drop Flatpak support for Snap |
| • Issue 1007 (2023-02-20): helloSystem 0.8.0, underrated distributions, Solus team working to repair their website, SUSE testing Micro edition, Canonical publishes real-time edition of Ubuntu 22.04 |
| • Issue 1006 (2023-02-13): Playing music with UBports on a PinePhone, quick command line and shell scripting questions, Fedora expands third-party software support, Vanilla OS adds Nix package support |
| • Issue 1005 (2023-02-06): NuTyX 22.12.0 running CDE, user identification numbers, Pop!_OS shares COSMIC progress, Mint makes keyboard and mouse options more accessible |
| • Issue 1004 (2023-01-30): OpenMandriva ROME, checking the health of a disk, Debian adopting OpenSnitch, FreeBSD publishes status report |
| • Issue 1003 (2023-01-23): risiOS 37, mixing package types, Fedora seeks installer feedback, Sparky offers easier persistence with USB writer |
| • Issue 1002 (2023-01-16): Vanilla OS 22.10, Nobara Project 37, verifying torrent downloads, Haiku improvements, HAMMER2 being ports to NetBSD |
| • Issue 1001 (2023-01-09): Arch Linux, Ubuntu tests new system installer, porting KDE software to OpenBSD, verifying files copied properly |
| • Issue 1000 (2023-01-02): Our favourite projects of all time, Fedora trying out unified kernel images and trying to speed up shutdowns, Slackware tests new kernel, detecting what is taking up disk space |
| • Issue 999 (2022-12-19): Favourite distributions of 2022, Fedora plans Budgie spin, UBports releasing security patches for 16.04, Haiku working on new ports |
| • Issue 998 (2022-12-12): OpenBSD 7.2, Asahi Linux enages video hardware acceleration on Apple ARM computers, Manjaro drops proprietary codecs from Mesa package |
| • Issue 997 (2022-12-05): CachyOS 221023 and AgarimOS, working with filenames which contain special characters, elementary OS team fixes delta updates, new features coming to Xfce |
| • Issue 996 (2022-11-28): Void 20221001, remotely shutting down a machine, complex aliases, Fedora tests new web-based installer, Refox OS running on real hardware |
| • Issue 995 (2022-11-21): Fedora 37, swap files vs swap partitions, Unity running on Arch, UBports seeks testers, Murena adds support for more devices |
| • Issue 994 (2022-11-14): Redcore Linux 2201, changing the terminal font size, Fedora plans Phosh spin, openSUSE publishes on-line manual pages, disabling Snap auto-updates |
| • Issue 993 (2022-11-07): Static Linux, working with just a kernel, Mint streamlines Flatpak management, updates coming to elementary OS |
| • Full list of all issues |
| Star Labs |
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.
|
| Shells.com |
Your own personal Linux computer in the cloud, available on any device. Supported operating systems include Android, Debian, Fedora, KDE neon, Kubuntu, Linux Mint, Manjaro and Ubuntu, ready in minutes.
Starting at US$4.95 per month, 7-day money-back guarantee
|
| Random Distribution | 
QiLinux
QiLinux was a Linux distribution completely made from scratch in Italy. Its ambitious aim was to integrate the work of the vast community of free software developers in order to create a modern, high-performance, safe and easy-to-use operating system for system administrators and desktop users.
Status: Discontinued
|
| TUXEDO |
TUXEDO Computers - Linux Hardware in a tailor made suite
Choose from a wide range of laptops and PCs in various sizes and shapes at TUXEDOComputers.com. Every machine comes pre-installed and ready-to-run with Linux. Full 24 months of warranty and lifetime support included!
Learn more about our full service package and all benefits from buying at TUXEDO.
|
| Star Labs |
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.
|
|
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
