I used the scripts to build a usable "office image"
desktop is an icewm/rox combo with XFE tools.
It includes Libre Office, Icewease/Icedove+owl, Media player, gimp etc..
Wireless, Wicd and many drivers are included
get scripts with:
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git clone https://github.com/emilwidmann/Debian-light-builder.git
Download build scripts: CAT-scripts-0.41.tar.gz (6,7 MB)
Download ISO: CAT-0.41.iso (412 MB)
md5sum
Changes:
+starts X as 'root' not as 'user'
+ mounts home medium rw
+ synaptic
+keyboard setter
+keep command (create squashfs from apt-get)
+grub2
+rsync, openssh-client
+CD/DVD Tools
+ hfs, reiser, fuse-posixovl, ntfs-3g filesystems
+ Libreoffice, cups, Iceweasel, -dove, evince
+ Smplayer, audacious, gimp. mtpaint, mirage
+ volumeicon
+ some other customisations and little improvements
Interface is still very basic with no frills, I use mostly rox filer for opening configuration directory, showing available apps or also to open the /media folder for attached drives.
The build scripts are split into modules even more, the main config script is named now CAT. I still use live-build version 3 with persistence file with included persistence.conf.
A size of 4 GB for persistence file works for me until now. System on a dual core with 1 GB is still very responsive. Will test this system during the next months
cheers
emil
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Original Post 05.02.14
Hi,
there is some interest in small and light debian live systems which have a puppy look and feel (e.g. Light-Debian-Core-Live-CD by saintless and other forum members).
Light-Debian-Core-Live-CD is produced by making a minimal debian live installation and then by a step by step remaster of the iso file. Thierry Monteil, a mathematican from France, who maintains a project "sage debian live" has written a build system based on the live-build tools (you can download the original build scripts from his page).
build scripts md5sum : 60534785efc54b457f8a1998124a6665
Using his scripts I wrote a module which produces a 130 MB iso.
download md5sum c1ffbba66cf6c45ca82da58419ca07c7 CAT-0.2.iso
it includes icewm, rox, xfe tools, iceweasel browser, wicd network manager, wireless network tools and free firmware drivers.
How does it work:
1) install Debian-Light-Wheezy or the CAT-0.2.iso
installation is similar to puppy, you can make frugal installations with the files vmlinuz, initrd.gz, filesystem.squashfs in a directory /live and use a grub entry like
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title CAT
root (hd0,5)
kernel /live/vmlinuz boot=live config persistence quickreboot noprompt autologin nonetworking
initrd /live/initrd.img
We have to run debian, because for the build scripts the debian live tools are necessary. In principle you could install those in puppy and use the scripts, but I have not tried this.
2) Boot Debian/CAT, download the build scripts to a suitable location
3)
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tar xvf Debian-light-builder.tar.gz
5) install the necessary tools with
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sudo ./build.sh install
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sudo ./build.sh icewm
The build system is organised into modules and corresponding config files. Thanks to Thierry Monteil the code is structured clearly and is rather easy to navigate.
With the build system one can automate the creation of the Debian live systems which are similar to classic puppy system in size and functionality, To share work it is not necessary to exchange full isos, but only the modules for creations (a few MB), It would be possible to setup the build scripts on a git, svn, mercurial repo for cooperative developement. The strong points at the moment are a working apt-get package managememt and e.g. multi user capability. Regarding small apps, MIME integration and general user friendliness, the project could learn much from the puppy linux world.
Some closing remarks:
1) I propose the name CAT for the build scripts of small debian live systems for historical reasons as a tribute to forum member sickgut. If the best case scenario happens and the project is improved with puppy apps and ideas, then the product could be a CATDOG.iso
2) In a follow up post I will give more details on some technical aspects.
3) There might be discussion if this is a puppy linux project and if it is the right place to post on the murga forum. Please don't discuss this or flame on this thread, If there is a problem please moderators move or delete this thread as you feel appropriate. Forum members who want to flame me can pm me or even send me an email (emil.widmann!AT!gmail.com), I might be slow to respond though.
My oppinion is, that this is a puppy linux related project, because it grew from the puppy community and seeks to incorporate and learn from puppy to get better.
4) Although I cannot expect that saintless and the team who works on the "Light-Debian-Core" project will change their present remaster-workflow I think the build scripts have a lot of advantages. In the beginning progress might be slower and more complicated, but in the end it will be worth to have a coherent system which can build all sort of variants (like pae/non pae or 64 bit)
5) my original goal was to develop a new small sage live CD, but I have not much time and I couldn't quite finish it, so I just share what I have.
all the best
emil