Whats in the works

Forum: DSL Ideas and Suggestions
Topic: Whats in the works
started by: Vacendak

Posted by Vacendak on Nov. 12 2003,08:58

How about telling us what the future plans are, post it in site news and see what kind of feedback there is and keep us hungry for the next release. I know I am.

Vacendak

Posted by davide on Nov. 12 2003,15:39

me too!

Posted by roberts on Nov. 12 2003,18:08

OK guys, I will speak up. I won't post this in site news beacuse this is not official until John releases it. But since this thread is "What's in the works" I feel free to post info on parts that I have worked on and completed.

This is primarily for LiveCD users. No hard drive needed! But you will need a usb pendrive or a floppy to use these new features.

I have been watching the board and trying to give us LiveCD users some of the benefits of the hard drive users. To that end:

1. A local .xinitrc file
This will allow the user to control what X programs to startup. Like the popular "enhance"

2. Save/Restore user settings menu option
The user can control what file/directories to backup/restore. So now your modem settings, X window settings, X startup programs all can be saved.

3. Boot time "restore" option
Once you have your system the way you like it. Save it then:
Boot from LiveCD "hands free" by-passing the usual X window questions right into your enhanced desktop and starting your favorite programs!
At the boot prompt type knoppix restore

4. "Smart" Firebird Icon
This will allow someone who only has a floppy to save/restore the .phoenix and .xtdesktop after the usual download of Firebird.
Then upon boot time "restore", be able to click the Firebird Icon and the icon has the "smarts" to either download it if needed or run it if it is already downloaded.

5. the mount.app program now recognizes the usbdrive. One click to mount the pen drive.

6. Firebird now runs as user damnsmall, which means no more permission problems when downloading files.

Of course the benefits to the LiveCD users will also apply to those who hard drive install too. They may not use the save/restore, as they don't really need it. But now an easy and more "standard" way to startup X programs via the .xinitrc

Plus more in the works.

Posted by davide on Nov. 12 2003,18:57

wow! it sounds great!
I look forward to downloading it!

Posted by Randy Boehm on Nov. 13 2003,04:15

Interesting. I was going to ask whether something similar to the "knoppix restore" boot prompt could be done, and am glad that it is already in the works.

One thing that is most enjoyable with DSL is that when run in RAM it is a damn quiet linux. It is fantastic to have a highly usable operating system and set of programs running silently. I am assuming that the restore option will work with the toram mode? Is this correct?

Posted by roberts on Nov. 13 2003,07:27

Yes, thats the way I like to run it.

knoppix toram restore

I don't know what the Knoppix restore is like. So, I don't know if what I wrote is similar or not. Actually I was trying not to have to type anything and have a total autodetection of possible restore devices. But the way some bios, especially laptops with hot pluggable floppy drives work, required me to make up some boot time option to signal me to look for a restore device. Otherwise you end up waiting for timeout errors. Anyway, I am always looking to make DSL work better as a LiveCD, make that ram based, system. I use it as my main desktop. John, has made a great system. I am happy to be able to contribute back something.