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Porteus Live Mate : no browser? no package manager?

Posted: 23 Apr 2017, 17:17
by Timmi
I downloaded Porteus live Mate desktop (recently after the build server was discontinued).

I'm trying to convince my 11yo daughter to let go of her PepperMint6 in favor of something faster on her eeePC1000he (2gb ram)

I'm running it live, but there is no browser, and there appears to be no software installer (only a Porteus intaller to install the OS).

So my question is, do I need to take a Linux course to make Porteus usable?
Or is there an installer that I have overlooked (or not included in the Live Mate edition)?
and would it manage dependencies automatically or would I need to guess?

FYI: I'm at beginner level, have experience with Mint, PepperMint, Bodhi. I'm accustomed to Synaptic package manager and their more modern Software manager, and Bodhi's web-based installer. But I see nothing resembling any of those in the menus of Porteus.

Re: Porteus Live Mate : no browser? no package manager?

Posted: 23 Apr 2017, 17:34
by Blaze
Timmi, open terminal and type what you want

Code: Select all

su
toor
update-firefox
update-chrome
update-opera
update-palemoon
update-libreoffice
update-wps-office
What about USM (Unified Slackware package Manager) GUI or CLI version?

Code: Select all

su
toor
usm -h
usm -u usm
usm -u all
usm -g here_name_of_app
Cheers

Re: Porteus Live Mate : no browser? no package manager?

Posted: 23 Apr 2017, 22:46
by Bogomips
Welcome to Porteus. Please also see http://forum.porteus.org/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=6552 :)

Re: Porteus Live Mate : no browser? no package manager?

Posted: 23 Apr 2017, 23:16
by Evan
Evan wrote:It's not adding a menu or taskbar entry when it completes and you have to start Firefox from command line , can anyone else confirm this?
Ed_P wrote:Yup. Confirmed.
viewtopic.php?f=117&t=6519&start=105

Don't know if Mate is any different but Update-Firefox under Cinnamon doesn't show up after install.

Re: Porteus Live Mate : no browser? no package manager?

Posted: 24 Apr 2017, 03:02
by Timmi
Bogomips wrote:Welcome to Porteus. Please also see http://forum.porteus.org/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=6552 :)
Yeah, regarding the instructions I didn't understand how one gets to that directory (in 1.) or can paste the url into a browser (in 2.) when one doesn't yet have access to a browser in order to do that.

ps:
btw I have no printer, and only access to this computer at the moment - either I boot in peppermint6 to discuss here or I reboot in porteus but don't have a browser to access this thread. (normally I do have another, but yesterday a few drops of water got into my other laptop's keyboard and I haven't been able to get everything dried out under the membrabe yet).
but thanks

Re: Porteus Live Mate : no browser? no package manager?

Posted: 24 Apr 2017, 03:16
by francois
Just begin with command line to get a browser:

Code: Select all

update-opera
Are you on linux filesystem or on fat32?

Re: Porteus Live Mate : no browser? no package manager?

Posted: 24 Apr 2017, 03:17
by Ed_P
Timmi wrote:Yeah, regarding the instructions I didn't understand how one gets to that directory (in 1.) or can paste the url into a browser (in 2.) when one doesn't yet have access to a browser in order to do that.
Try the instructions Blaze posted. :wink:

Re: Porteus Live Mate : no browser? no package manager?

Posted: 24 Apr 2017, 03:31
by Timmi
Ed_P wrote:
Timmi wrote:Yeah, regarding the instructions I didn't understand how one gets to that directory (in 1.) or can paste the url into a browser (in 2.) when one doesn't yet have access to a browser in order to do that.
Try the instructions Blaze posted. :wink:
Regarding Blaze's post, forgive me for asking this, but wouldn't update be used for something that is already installed?

...so there is no GUI package manager then? Accessible from the menus?
So I suppose you have to guess all the names and exact syntax of the programs you want to add, and there is no gui installer that would list choices by search results or by categories?
(for example, sometimes its mozilla not firefox, chromium not chrome, I would have never guessed the syntax for wpsoffice, and I haven't got a clue as to the graphics viewers/editors that are available or their syntax).

@FRANCOIS: this one is ext4 with peppermint6 installed on it. But when I boot Porteus from the live usb... it might be fat32 I'm not sure: I used YUMI multiboot to set it up.

ps: I'll check that out and report back later if needed. thanks

Re: Porteus Live Mate : no browser? no package manager?

Posted: 24 Apr 2017, 05:03
by ncmprhnsbl
Timmi wrote: but wouldn't update be used for something that is already installed?
in this case, these commands can be used for both installing and updating..
Timmi wrote:...so there is no GUI package manager then? Accessible from the menus?
in menu: System Tools> USM is the gui for usm (it will prompt you to update the databases then must be restarted to use)
it operates around a search function so if you dont know a specific package name try a 'keyword' search..

Re: Porteus Live Mate : no browser? no package manager?

Posted: 24 Apr 2017, 13:42
by Bogomips
Timmi wrote:
Bogomips wrote:Welcome to Porteus. Please also see http://forum.porteus.org/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=6552 :)
Yeah, regarding the instructions I didn't understand how one gets to that directory (in 1.) or can paste the url into a browser (in 2.) when one doesn't yet have access to a browser in order to do that.
Thanks for the feedback. After thousand over views, some more feedback. :) Made the assumption that the link could only be read with a browser, however if lynx is being used, not sure if capable of downloading. :unknown: Anyway if forum is being read ny a browser with download capability, a download link can be found here http://forum.porteus.org/viewtopic.php? ... 212#p51719, which will also pay you to read. Will also update former link with this link.

Re: Porteus Live Mate : no browser? no package manager?

Posted: 24 Apr 2017, 17:41
by Timmi
Following the links it brings me to a place where it states that for Chrome only 64bit is available.
@Bogomips: Like I mentioned, I have to reboot into PepperMint in order to access this forum, as there is no browser in the Porteus I obtained from download recently. Links crashes: unable to connect to remote host and it closes.

I followed instructions, found usm from the menu. Updated as requested. Search does not work 90% of the time. It usually does nothing. Eventually, after half an hour, it found a few matches for browser, and I had it download mozilla firefox. But then nothing. It doesn't seem to actually install or anything. There's another place to view a module or mount it, if I point it to the forefox, it just shows an empty list and no actions.

I really am wondering just for who this Porteus is designed for. Is it for a select few, and I am an intruder here?


Also I see no mention of Midori.
Including a lightweight browser such as Midori by default in the base iso would't be a bad thing. Certainly better than no browser at all (just what percentage of live-triers turn away from Porteus giving up because they can't see where to get a browser you will never know). Many distros are including Midori, letting people choose which one to add according to their preference. Midori is in a pretty good state now - much better than before. I would say it's sufficient for the majority of websites - you might encounter some exceptions, like an online game or something that your kid plays, but for the most part it works well.

Re: Porteus Live Mate : no browser? no package manager?

Posted: 24 Apr 2017, 23:14
by roadie
Timmi,

Using USM, I searched for "midori", got a result instantly, and downloaded it. I was also prompted to download webkitgtk, which is a dependency. It then prompts you to choose whether or not you want to make a module, and in this case, merge the modules into one. Choose both options, it will download and merge them and a prompt will ask if you want to open the folder containing the module....this will be in /tmp/usm.

If you open the folder, you can then activate the module by right clicking and choosing "activate". You'll then get a Midori entry in the Mate menu, and it works well here, using it right now.

Porteus is not designed for the select few, it's designed for the masses, and very well done at that. Sometimes that sentiment doesn't really come across the wires all that well. I myself tend to encourage new users to "get under the hood" as much as possible. I use Mate daily on the same laptop you want to put Porteus on.

Agreed, Porteus should ship with a browser, Links/Lynx doesn't cut it with a new user. Midori seems seems okay, got me here to post this anyway. One thing with USM, as mentioned above by ncmprhnsbl, after updating you must close it and restart, or you will get no results.....possibly thats what happened with it not doing anything "90% of the time". Some other actions will require a restart as well.

Re: Porteus Live Mate : no browser? no package manager?

Posted: 24 Apr 2017, 23:34
by Ed_P
Timmi wrote:
Bogomips wrote:Welcome to Porteus. Please also see http://forum.porteus.org/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=6552 :)
Yeah, regarding the instructions I didn't understand how one gets to that directory (in 1.) or can paste the url into a browser (in 2.) when one doesn't yet have access to a browser in order to do that.
Why can't you just use the system that you used to download the ISO to download a browser module at the same time? :Search:

Re: Porteus Live Mate : no browser? no package manager?

Posted: 24 Apr 2017, 23:40
by Evan
roadie wrote: Agreed, Porteus should ship with a browser
Then lots of people will end up with a browser they don't like set as the default browser.

I think it would be better if BrokenMan added a * Read-me * or * First-Start * text file shortcut to the deskstop that instructs people on what to copy and paste into command line to get setup for the first time.

So not to confuse people with install and update i think update-browser should be renamed to something like get-browser

Re: Porteus Live Mate : no browser? no package manager?

Posted: 25 Apr 2017, 23:49
by fulalas
Evan wrote:Then lots of people will end up with a browser they don't like set as the default browser.
Back in the old days, Porteus website had a dynamic ISO builder so you could include a browser (and other stuff) inside the ISO. It was really great and unique! Since we don't have this anymore and considering that people want a ready-to-use operating system (which includes a browser), I think brokenman could include Firefox as a separated xzm module in all ISOs. If someone, like me, doesn't like Firefox, the solution is simple: get another browser and remove the xzm module. :good: