New Slax is Coming !

[hypomania]

New Slax is Comming
http://www.slax.org/en/blog/24198-New-S ... mming.html

in short describtion:
- Slax next release will be based on Debian instead of Slackware.
- Size of iso is 800kb to run over network or 210mb standard iso.
- No Gui file manager, no video player, no messaging programs.
- Slax included fluxbox, qalculate, xterm, leafpad and chromium.





- Tomas mention to use apt-get instead of making 1 GB iso.

So, What do you think of new Slax based on Debian with a few softwares?

[donald]

--> Slax next release will be based on Debian instead of Slackware <--
Hmm...why is it even called SLAX then....?

...systemD....no thanks

imho....let sleeping dogs lie..

[abelM]

I agree whith donald. I've been using Porteus and Debian both for years. Finally I've given up Debian and I keep Porteus and Salix. No systemd for me though I respect others' choices.

[fulalas]

208 MB with just Fluxbox as the WM and Chromium. Oh, and systemd, of course

[fulalas]

I've just tried it and here are my impressions.

Highlights:
1- first time I see a Debian based distro that is really small: 208 MB;
2- boots pretty quick: 14 seconds;
3- takes just 190 MB of RAM after a fresh boot;
4- apt-get can be bloatware, but we have to admit: it simply works;

Things that I didn' t like:
1- no wifi support;
2- doesn't come with a Desktop Environment, but a very raw Window Manager;
3- doesn't even come with a file manager;
4- no Mesa installed, so no 3D;
5- audio mixer is in fact a console application;
6- no icon change when we put the cursor over a window border;
7- pretty old LLVM version: 3.9

My impression is that this new Slax is not a full operating system, but a really minimalist system prepared to be built by advanced users. However, since it doesn't support wifi connections, it's simply broken for many people.

It's funny because Slax creator decided to squeeze the ISO to just 208 MB, going against his own statement (some years ago) that people usually don't care about the size of an OS so it doesn't worth the effort to squeeze it. To sum up, Slax now is a totally different thing when compared to the old one, which was amazing.

[normalGuy]

If I install the debian minimal / network install I just have to apt install some login manager and I have a minimal desktop with net & wifi...

[fulalas]

@n0ctilucient and normalGuy, good points! I totally agree.

[brokenman]

Congratulations Tomas M! You did a great job in setting up a lightweight debian based live distro. I'm sure many people will love it. It allows one to get up and running and onto the net quickly which is what the majority of people want these days.

[fanthom]

"1- first time I see a Debian based distro that is really small: 208 MB;"
Puppy was earlier (it was based on Ubuntu but still) and was actually usable with less size.

As far as i understand new Slax supposed to be used with persistence + apt. Its not modular anymore?
How is it different from other distros? What does it bring to the table?

Dont get me wrong - not trying to bash Tomas. We all know he can do better. Right now Slax 9 is just starting.
Really hope it will take off and bring some innovations - like it happened in the past.

Thanks

[neko]

neko 2017-11-17 03:47

New version, Congraturation !!
The ISO size is surprise small !!


I am studying the initrfs of new "slax".

Now, I understand as follow.
1. It uses "init" command same as old version instead of "systemd" command.
But new "init" is symbolic linkaged to "systemd".

2. "pivot_root" space is assigned with "run/initramfs" instead of "mnt/live".
---------------
diff -r initrfs-7.0.8-x86_64/lib/livekitlib initrfs-64bit-9.2.1/lib/livekitlib
644c777,779
< mkdir -p mnt/live
---
> mkdir -p run
> mount -t tmpfs tmpfs run
> mkdir -p run/initramfs
646c781
< pivot_root . mnt/live
---
> pivot_root . run/initramfs
---------------

3. "Shutdown" script is changed to "shutdown" from "cleanup".
Only in initrfs-7.0.8-x86_64/lib: cleanup
Only in initrfs-64bit-9.2.1: shutdown


I will study more.
I expect that next version "slax" will employ "systemd" as start command instead of "init".

Thanks.

Tomas M 2017-11-18 16:33

Your observations are all correct.
But there is no more systemd integration needed.
Slax (and LiveKit scripts in general) will continue to call "init".
Because Linux is calling /sbin/init.

New Slax doesn't employ "systemd".
(Nemesis too doesn't employ "systemd".)

I wonder as follow.
In live system, "systemd" is not fit well ?
APorteus employs "systemd".
I have done somthing wrong, haven't I ?


Thanks.

[brokenman]

I have done something wrong, haven't I ?

Not at all! I also used systemd in one of the nemesis spinoffs. He is talking about the problem with shutdown and unmounting. If you have solved this problem, then the init/shutdown system is not important.

BTW, I believe the new slax DOES use systemd. He changed base for the same reason I wanted to. To make life easier for himself. This means using what debian uses as standard. I don't think he will want to maintain a non systemd system.

[francois]

xlunch as app launcher is supposed to be able to launch any type of application. Though, not easy to install new application with that launcher. At present time it is not very intuitive. Tomas wrote that linux is linux. Eric Hammerlee has written a word of encouragement with some bitterness as the decision to go for debian.

Personnally, plank dock is easier and more intuitive to use than xlaunch. With plank, you just drop a .desktop application on the dock an the applications icon starter is there.

In fact, elementary os that uses the plank dock was a source of inspiration for him, he wanted to build something along the same lines but much more performant. In this interview he explains his view of the ideal desktop:
Ideal desktop environment starts within few seconds (I mean TWO) and gives the user a simple way to run programs and switch between them. That's it, it's nothing special at all. The old well known start menu can be replaced by a bubble with icons (as like slingshot in Elementary OS), taskbar doesn't necessarily have to show all the long window names...

[apollo]

Hi,

i used slax a long time ago and i´m pretty happy to see it updated.
For me it is a bit too "basic", i don´t wont to fiddle around wifi and so on. apt-get may be a nice approach, but i prefer the module approach that porteus (and the old slax) uses. I can go back to a "clean" install with all apps i need very easy.

Can´t want to get my hands on Porteus 4.0

[raja]

A Debian 9.1 base, puppy/porteus derivative (dog stretch). takes up just 85-95 mb of ram on fresh boot.

[francois]

Interesting experience. A very small debian Debian 9 Stretch system. Tomas found a way to make clean shutdown of systemd. He explains in details how he has constructed his slax-debian system in details. For now, to me the interface seems rough and not polished. I added plank and synaptic and changed the wallpaper. There is no module building device. I am not shure there ever will be. Oh! And and a big advantage is that it is in root mode.

Fluxbox.
Startup file is in /root/.fluxbox/

Adding an autostart folder for .desktop files /etc/xdg/autostart and installing plank.

Code: Select all

apt-get install xfce4-terminal thunar    # to be able to copy paste from the web to the file manager or to the terminal
apt-get install apfbautostart plank     # xcompmgr is already installed for plank

Then add plank and after any desired package thru apt-get and dragging from application from /usr/share/application.

Add at the end of /root/.fluxbox/autostart any command needed to start some needed package, for example for plank:

Code: Select all

plank &

Mod4+d key to ShowDesktop.

Changing the wallpaper:

Code: Select all

fbsetbg /path/to/my/image.image

Plank and xfce4.

Code: Select all

root@slax:~# apt-get update
root@slax:~# apt-get install xfce4 terminal             #to be able to copy paste from webbroser
root@slax:~# apt-get install mpv smplayer ristretto kodi minidlna
root@slax:~# apt-get remove wicd
root@slax:~# apt-get install xfce4
root@slax:~# apt-get install plank xcompmgr xarchiver gparted leafpad network-manager network-manager-gnome
#and proceed to final settings before saving plank+packages (see the following)

Modify ~/.xinitrc to include

Code: Select all

startxfce4

Modify /etc/xdg/autostart to add
plank.desktop
xcompmgr.desktop

To mount the hard disk drive partitions:

Code: Select all

blkid    #to find the partion UUID

then:
https://crunchbang.org/forums/viewtopic.php?id=18613

File structure. The partition structure where slax reside is at
/run/initramfs/memory/data/
I am sure that a brokenman wrapper on that type of system would be a great asset.