COMP 3000 2011 Drhill's Report: SalineOS 1.4 - Revision history

Drhill: /* References */

2011-11-24T11:54:05Z

References

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	I also appreciate how they spruce up their Debian package, with stuff that, realistically, 95% of the people are going to install later. It saves time and hassle on the user end, and if you don't want it, it is all optional. The codecs are nice too. They are quite explicit in informing you in the user guide that you should have a legal right to them before you install them. And since one of my greatest pleasures in life is to religiously abide by codec patent and copyright laws, I made sure to click 'no' when consulted about them. I can't watch any videos on my Saline distribution, but I can look at myself in the mirror, even if its not quite as much fun.		I also appreciate how they spruce up their Debian package, with stuff that, realistically, 95% of the people are going to install later. It saves time and hassle on the user end, and if you don't want it, it is all optional. The codecs are nice too. They are quite explicit in informing you in the user guide that you should have a legal right to them before you install them. And since one of my greatest pleasures in life is to religiously abide by codec patent and copyright laws, I made sure to click 'no' when consulted about them. I can't watch any videos on my Saline distribution, but I can look at myself in the mirror, even if its not quite as much fun.

	== References ==		=== References ===
	<references/>		<references/>

Drhill: /* Usage Evaluation */

2011-11-24T11:53:48Z

Usage Evaluation

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	It comes with plenty of software, including Open Office, Remastersys, Parole media player, Xfburn, Fotoxx (for photos), and Rhythmbox, to name a few. You can download Iceweasel (which is a version of Firefox rebranded by Debian)<ref name = "Wikipedia">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozilla_Corporation_software_rebranded_by_the_Debian_project Wikipedia] (Last accessed October 18, 2011).</ref> through Synaptic in place of Chromium if you wish. Also available on the forums under "Announcements" is Firefox 4 available for download.		It comes with plenty of software, including Open Office, Remastersys, Parole media player, Xfburn, Fotoxx (for photos), and Rhythmbox, to name a few. You can download Iceweasel (which is a version of Firefox rebranded by Debian)<ref name = "Wikipedia">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozilla_Corporation_software_rebranded_by_the_Debian_project Wikipedia] (Last accessed October 18, 2011).</ref> through Synaptic in place of Chromium if you wish. Also available on the forums under "Announcements" is Firefox 4 available for download.

	== Usage Evaluation ==		=== Usage Evaluation ===

	Overall, aside from a few issues (in particular the problems with wifi, which I was by no means alone in), I had a good impression of Saline. Overcoming their wireless problems is of course a must for future versions, and could help propel Saline into the mainstream. In particular if you like your Linux quick and responsive, this is the OS to keep in mind. I found it impressive that it was running in a virtual environment and was still noticeably crisp.		Overall, aside from a few issues (in particular the problems with wifi, which I was by no means alone in), I had a good impression of Saline. Overcoming their wireless problems is of course a must for future versions, and could help propel Saline into the mainstream. In particular if you like your Linux quick and responsive, this is the OS to keep in mind. I found it impressive that it was running in a virtual environment and was still noticeably crisp.

Drhill: /* Basic Operation */

2011-11-24T11:53:31Z

Basic Operation

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	The VirtualBox on my mac supplied a virtual wired connection, so there was never a problem there.		The VirtualBox on my mac supplied a virtual wired connection, so there was never a problem there.

	== Basic Operation ==		=== Basic Operation ===

Drhill: /* Installation/Startup */

2011-11-24T11:53:12Z

Installation/Startup

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	They also have a server edition,<ref name = "Saline Server">[http://www.salineos.com/personalserver.php Saline Server] (last accessed Oct 19/2011)</ref> intended for use in a personal server, not really suited for large commercial servers. It lists its possible uses as a torrent seedbox, or an ftp filesystem, among many other uses. For the purposes of this report I will be focusing on the desktop (laptop) application.		They also have a server edition,<ref name = "Saline Server">[http://www.salineos.com/personalserver.php Saline Server] (last accessed Oct 19/2011)</ref> intended for use in a personal server, not really suited for large commercial servers. It lists its possible uses as a torrent seedbox, or an ftp filesystem, among many other uses. For the purposes of this report I will be focusing on the desktop (laptop) application.

	== Installation/Startup ==		=== Installation/Startup ===

	SalineOS was installed in Oracle’s VirtualBox in a MacOSX environment. The virtual environment was set up with approximately 20 GB of hard drive space and 2GB of ram, of 4 GB available. I also did an install on my HP laptop.		SalineOS was installed in Oracle’s VirtualBox in a MacOSX environment. The virtual environment was set up with approximately 20 GB of hard drive space and 2GB of ram, of 4 GB available. I also did an install on my HP laptop.

Drhill: /* Background */

2011-11-24T11:52:54Z

Background

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	== Background ==		== Part 1 ==

			=== Background ===

	SalineOS is a lightweight and fast open source operating system built on the Debian GNU/Linux repositories and uses Xfce as the desktop environment. The keyword here is fast. Saline still seems young, and its exciting to see how it will grow.		SalineOS is a lightweight and fast open source operating system built on the Debian GNU/Linux repositories and uses Xfce as the desktop environment. The keyword here is fast. Saline still seems young, and its exciting to see how it will grow.

Drhill: /* Software Packaging */

2011-11-16T18:17:32Z

Software Packaging

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	Sometimes packages are only available on a website, not a repository. For these use the Debian release, and not the .deb intended for Ubuntu. For this purpose, GDebi is used, which attempts to install using dependencies. It will automatically run when you click on the downloaded package. I've installed a couple of things this way, and had no problems.		Sometimes packages are only available on a website, not a repository. For these use the Debian release, and not the .deb intended for Ubuntu. For this purpose, GDebi is used, which attempts to install using dependencies. It will automatically run when you click on the downloaded package. I've installed a couple of things this way, and had no problems.

	You can load from the command line using saline-get (saline-get install <package name>). It is a wrapper for aptitude ~~(apt-get install)~~.		You can load from the command line using saline-get (saline-get install <package name>). It is a wrapper for aptitude.

	Saline 1.x is compatible with all software packages for Debian 6.0 "Squeeze"		Saline 1.x is compatible with all software packages for Debian 6.0 "Squeeze"

Drhill: /* Major Package Versions */

2011-11-16T18:14:51Z

Major Package Versions

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	Osmo, Chromium, Parole, and Fotoxx tout themselves as lightweight and/or fast (which is the Saline philosophy), and are included as part of Xfce, which is both the desktop and the additional package [http://goodies.xfce.org/projects/applications/start Xfce goodies]. Other packages are fairly consistently part of the Debian architecture. Saline runs on top of Debian, and they don't stray too far, as evidenced by being solely compatible with Debian packages. Debian is known for their strict adherence to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix_philosophy Unix] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software free-software] philosophies.<ref name = "Debianwiki">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debian Debian Wiki]</ref> Saline not so much. They take a looser view, including [http://www.winehq.org/ Wine] repositories and other repositories, but are still mainly dependent on Debian flavoured free software.		Osmo, Chromium, Parole, and Fotoxx tout themselves as lightweight and/or fast (which is the Saline philosophy), and are included as part of Xfce, which is both the desktop and the additional package [http://goodies.xfce.org/projects/applications/start Xfce goodies]. Other packages are fairly consistently part of the Debian architecture. Saline runs on top of Debian, and they don't stray too far, as evidenced by being solely compatible with Debian packages. Debian is known for their strict adherence to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix_philosophy Unix] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software free-software] philosophies.<ref name = "Debianwiki">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debian Debian Wiki]</ref> Saline not so much. They take a looser view, including [http://www.winehq.org/ Wine] repositories and other repositories, but are still mainly dependent on Debian flavoured free software.

	So the majority of their system remains tied to the current Debian distribution, and the software that they run and rely on, as well as the software tied to the Xfce desktop environment. They have made some minor changes, mainly of convenience ~~it seems~~, but there is no major rewiring of the Debian or Xfce environments, as you might find in, say, Ubuntu.		So the majority of their system remains tied to the current Debian distribution, and the software that they run and rely on, as well as the software tied to the Xfce desktop environment. They have made some minor changes, mainly cosmetic or of convenience, but there is no major rewiring of the Debian or Xfce environments, as you might find in, say, Ubuntu.

	== Part 2 References ==		== Part 2 References ==

	<references/>		<references/>

Drhill: /* Major Package Versions */

2011-11-16T18:13:51Z

Major Package Versions

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	Ps is version 3.2.8 and ls is version 8.5. Both of these are the versions found in Debian "Squeeze".		Ps is version 3.2.8 and ls is version 8.5. Both of these are the versions found in Debian "Squeeze".

	Xfce is version 4.6.2, which is ~~also~~ the same version Debian "Squeeze" runs. Debian uses Xfce 4.8 in the current version ("Wheezy"), so presumably the next major Saline version will be running that as well. The GUI uses [http://www.gtk.org/ gtk+](v 2.20.1, current version is 3.2).		Xfce is version 4.6.2, which is the same version as Debian "Squeeze". Debian runs Gnome by default, but you may choose and run Xfce version 4.6.2 if you wish. Debian uses Xfce 4.8 in the current version ("Wheezy"), so presumably the next major Saline version will be running that as well. The GUI uses [http://www.gtk.org/ gtk+](v 2.20.1, current version is 3.2).

	Saline explicitly preloads the bottom panel with software, as opposed to the usual drop down menu (or drop up) of many other Linux distros. I've included some of them in the above list, as the developers clearly attached some significance to them.		Saline explicitly preloads the bottom panel with software, as opposed to the usual drop down menu (or drop up) of many other Linux distros. I've included some of them in the above list, as the developers clearly attached some significance to them.

	Osmo, Chromium, Parole, and Fotoxx tout themselves as lightweight and/or fast (which is the Saline philosophy), and are included as part of Xfce, which is both the desktop and the additional package [http://goodies.xfce.org/projects/applications/start Xfce goodies]. Other packages are consistently part of the Debian architecture. Saline runs on top of Debian, and they don't stray too far, as evidenced by being solely compatible with Debian packages. Debian is known for their strict adherence to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix_philosophy Unix] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software free-software] philosophies.<ref name = "Debianwiki">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debian Debian Wiki]</ref> Saline not so much. They take a looser view, including [http://www.winehq.org/ Wine] repositories and other repositories, but are still mainly dependent on Debian flavoured free software.		Osmo, Chromium, Parole, and Fotoxx tout themselves as lightweight and/or fast (which is the Saline philosophy), and are included as part of Xfce, which is both the desktop and the additional package [http://goodies.xfce.org/projects/applications/start Xfce goodies]. Other packages are fairly consistently part of the Debian architecture. Saline runs on top of Debian, and they don't stray too far, as evidenced by being solely compatible with Debian packages. Debian is known for their strict adherence to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix_philosophy Unix] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software free-software] philosophies.<ref name = "Debianwiki">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debian Debian Wiki]</ref> Saline not so much. They take a looser view, including [http://www.winehq.org/ Wine] repositories and other repositories, but are still mainly dependent on Debian flavoured free software.

	So the majority of their system remains tied to the current Debian distribution, and the software that they run and rely on, as well as the software tied to the Xfce desktop environment.		So the majority of their system remains tied to the current Debian distribution, and the software that they run and rely on, as well as the software tied to the Xfce desktop environment. They have made some minor changes, mainly of convenience it seems, but there is no major rewiring of the Debian or Xfce environments, as you might find in, say, Ubuntu.

	== Part 2 References ==		== Part 2 References ==

	<references/>		<references/>

Drhill: /* Major Package Versions */

2011-11-16T18:08:20Z

Major Package Versions

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	<nowiki>*</nowiki>Current as of 11/11/11 <br/>		<nowiki>*</nowiki>Current as of 11/11/11 <br/>
	<nowiki>**</nowiki>~~It is changed to LibreOffice in~~ Saline 1.5.<br/>		<nowiki>**</nowiki>Saline 1.5 now uses LibreOffice<br/>
	<nowiki>***</nowiki>Not a mistake. Changelogs and/or websites not up to date.<br/>		<nowiki>***</nowiki>Not a mistake. Changelogs and/or websites not up to date.<br/>
	<nowiki>****</nowiki>Saline 1.5 now uses NetworkManager		<nowiki>****</nowiki>Saline 1.5 now uses NetworkManager

Drhill: /* Major Package Versions */

2011-11-16T18:06:55Z

Major Package Versions

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:06, 16 November 2011
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	Saline explicitly preloads the bottom panel with software, as opposed to the usual drop down menu (or drop up) of many other Linux distros. I've included some of them in the above list, as the developers clearly attached some significance to them.		Saline explicitly preloads the bottom panel with software, as opposed to the usual drop down menu (or drop up) of many other Linux distros. I've included some of them in the above list, as the developers clearly attached some significance to them.

	Osmo, Chromium, Parole, and Fotoxx tout themselves as lightweight and/or fast (which is the Saline philosophy), and are included as part of Xfce, which is both the desktop and the additional package [http://goodies.xfce.org/projects/applications/start Xfce goodies]. Other packages are consistently part of the Debian architecture. Saline runs on top of Debian, and they don't stray too far, as evidenced by being solely compatible with Debian packages. Debian is known for strict adherence to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix_philosophy Unix] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software free-software] philosophies.<ref name = "Debianwiki">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debian Debian Wiki]</ref> ~~While~~ Saline ~~takes~~ a looser view, including [http://www.winehq.org/ Wine] repositories and other repositories, ~~it is~~ still mainly dependent on Debian flavoured free software. So the majority of their system remains tied to the current Debian distribution, and the software that they run and rely on, as well as the software tied to the Xfce desktop environment.		Osmo, Chromium, Parole, and Fotoxx tout themselves as lightweight and/or fast (which is the Saline philosophy), and are included as part of Xfce, which is both the desktop and the additional package [http://goodies.xfce.org/projects/applications/start Xfce goodies]. Other packages are consistently part of the Debian architecture. Saline runs on top of Debian, and they don't stray too far, as evidenced by being solely compatible with Debian packages. Debian is known for their strict adherence to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix_philosophy Unix] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software free-software] philosophies.<ref name = "Debianwiki">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debian Debian Wiki]</ref> Saline not so much. They take a looser view, including [http://www.winehq.org/ Wine] repositories and other repositories, but are still mainly dependent on Debian flavoured free software.

			So the majority of their system remains tied to the current Debian distribution, and the software that they run and rely on, as well as the software tied to the Xfce desktop environment.

	== Part 2 References ==		== Part 2 References ==

	<references/>		<references/>