Pussy: potentially a Puppy with a perfect package manager

[sickgut]

hdd install is never gonna be noobish

I'm not really certain if that's good or bad. Actually, I have no idea if "noobish" is called for in my situation sickgut.
Here are some of my assumptions:
*Pussy is a miniaturized linux distro like Puppy, except it has a much more universal package management system. (witness hotROXpussy synaptic)
*Learning how you guys are squeezing and squashing an OS (any OS) down to it's component parts, could be very useful to a dedicated system.
*Pussy is no more inherently unsafe than any other linux because it is linux.
*Pussy should always be about portability; usb & dvd/cd & whatever comes next, the ability to plug-play-unplug-walkaway-plug & play, data & OS somewhere else is awesome!
Please note; I'm not trying to hijack this development or the conversation towards hdd install, it might leak out at times because of my outdated equipment and perhaps that leads to a question:
How dedicated should Pussy be to old stuff? I believe Puppy makes that something of importance, perhaps I'm wrong about Puppy? But is there a direction here where Pussy and Puppy differ?

i dont think that hdd install in the be all and end all. Hdd install generally means that it wont be used on other computers and therefore no point in running a live system, a non live system is a little smaller and faster and can be tailored to your specific hardware needs easier and ofc no need for a save file setup. Also a live system setup like pussy that doesnt ask for setup stuff like puppy does when it boots will only ever support 95% if hardware, its a crapshoot sometimes if it doesnt work it just doesnt work and nothing you can do about it.

if we where already beta quality i would have no hassles releasing pussy on distrowatch as a live linux distro that is made to run from cdrom. dvd or usb stick, ofc there are ways to turn the iso into a usb stick bootable thingy but i see it wise to keep the dd imagable .img version as it allows for better troubleshooting because the resulting USB stick is byte for byte, 0 and 1 identical to the master usb stick that it was made from.

debian is appealing to base pussy on as it is generally older, runs an older kernel and is well tested and stable, this is also better for older systems by its very nature as its really mostly about the older kernel that benefits older systems. the squeeze kernel is ancient compared to most other distros and because of debians very long support and release cycle, if you notice newer distros dont work on your older puter, but debian does, then you can feel safe in the knowledge that for the next 5 years or so you will be able to get support for the current stable debian that works on your computer. I see older system support is more important as who the f*** wants to pay actual money for a recent model computer every few years. The magic combo of a free OS running on a free computer system you scored because your picked it up from the side of the road before it rained is very appealing. Forcing an OS to be efficient is always good but older puters force us to do this.

pussy isnt a mini distro like puppy as everything is there, there arent any shortcuts taken to make it smaller. Only the compression of squashfs 4 and deleting unwanted files that do nothing make pussy small. It runs a full sized kernel with all available features. It is every bit as functional as any other debian. I think the similar application choice and desktop environment to puppy give the impression that pussy is also a mini distro but it really isnt.

[saintless]

We have announcement from Sickgut here:
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic. ... 145#613145
I hope he will get better soon. Meanwhile I will add the fixes we have chosen in Pussy linux and I will give download link to make the testing easier.

And some not directly related to Pussy linux information:

I have started to work together with JBV on a similar project based on Debian live which will not aim to run on very low RAM computers but it will aim to have the most user friendly desktop environment in favor to the new linux users. This is what I like to achieve with this project. I'm sure JBV will add more to this later.

This doesn't mean I will abandon Pussy linux project but the opposite. It will give me better ability to help to improve Pussy linux.

Cheers

[saintless]

Does anyone has errors starting mplayer with the base or extra version?
When I start mplayer from the debian menu it just freezes the system.
When I start it from Pussy menu it opens a Terminal and start opening windows with the errors on the pictures.
I suspect something in my hardware may cause the problem because I have this error with fresh downloaded ISO without live-rw save file.
You can see the error on the attached pictures.

Anyway mplayer still plays most of the video files I have.

[jpeps]

Did you compile your own (ffmpeg/mplayer), or are you using someone else's binary?

[saintless]

Did you compile your own (ffmpeg/mplayer), or are you using someone else's binary?

No, Jpeps,
mplayer is included in the ISO. I suppose Sickgut installed it with apt-get.

[jpeps]

Did you compile your own (ffmpeg/mplayer), or are you using someone else's binary?

No, Jpeps,
mplayer is included in the ISO. I suppose Sickgut installed it with apt-get.

You'll need different versions not only for the distribution, but for the computer.

[saintless]

You'll need different versions not only for the distribution, but for the computer.

Thanks, Jpeps,

I think this means we should re-think what applications to include in the ISO. We will do this when Sickgut feels better.

Thanks again

[saintless]

Including the main fixes in Pussy linux is done.

I used only 2-pussyOSbase2.squashfs to include all the fixes. All other squash files are untouched.

I have uploaded the squash file in:
http://www.mydrive.ch/
username: guest@saintless
password: download

The file is called 2-pussyOSbase2_fix.squashfs
There is a text file with the same name.
Just replace the original 2-pussyOSbase2.squashfs with the fixed one. It works with the base and with the extra version.

If someone think I should rebuild the ISO with the fixed squash file I don't mind to do it.

I attach here a small delta file for Aarf with the changes from 2-pussyOSbeta2.squashfs

If I get confirmation the fixed squash file is working without problems I will send it to Sickgut for the site.

Here is a list of the included fixes. You can see them in the text file also.

Fixes in 2-pussyOSbeta2.squashfs:

1. Rox-filler focus problem - created new /etc/profile with export GDK_NATIVE_WINDOWS=true line which will override the profile file from 1-filesystem.squashfs

2. Special keyboard keys fix from Emil - change in the /etc/jwm/jwmrc file:
?<!-- #DEBIAN unused -->
<Key mask="A" key="Tab">next</Key>
-->

3. Bigger fonts for X-term from JBV:
New lines in /etc/X11/app-defaults/XTerm:

*faceName: Mono
*faceSize: 14

And one line for standard IBM-PC type keyboard for Function keys to work properly:

*sunKeyboard: true

4. Auto mount and unmount all drives script from Emil:
Added in /scripts folder + automount-all-drives script is copied in /etc/profile.d for auto mount on boot. You can find the mounted drives inside the media icon on the desktop
or in /media folder.

The /etc/profile.d folder is created in 2-base and will override the same folder from 1-filesystem.squashfs

5. Exit X problem fix from Emil:
Created new zz-xinit.sh file in /etc/profile.d with this content:
if [ -z "${DISPLAY}" ] && [ $(tty) = /dev/tty1 ]
then
startx
fi

[aarf]

xtra delta under 8 Mb! a little late but better than never
http://puppylinuxstuff.meownplanet.net/ ... shfs.delta

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df6d6e8d74f388d67481489b44437851  4-pussyxtra-beta2.squashfs
e60599a41f7d0afa5a94e0b246772e4b  4-pussyxtra-beta.squashfs
6c7ad9190e2b40ffbad651cb78454705  4-pussyxtra-beta.squashfs___4-pussyxtra-beta2.squashfs.delta

works locally. check all md5sums before start and at finish. advise if not correct.

[aarf]

I have a hybrid still have the older biggest squashfs, and have problems with native webcam that werent there before the latest upgrade.

Hi, Aarf,
do you mean you didn't have webcamera problem with the extra squash file with VirtualBox inside and with the last extra squash file you have a problem to run this camera?

Sickgut, If this is case may be the last extra squash file is missing some video related package from the previous one.

]No saintless i dont have the latest extra squashfs at all.

now with the latest beta2 squashfs my webcam works in LUVCview.

still to test zoneminder. spent so much time on it and failed so i am afraid it will now work using motorcitys instructions.

[sickgut]

Does anyone has errors starting mplayer with the base or extra version?
When I start mplayer from the debian menu it just freezes the system.
When I start it from Pussy menu it opens a Terminal and start opening windows with the errors on the pictures.
I suspect something in my hardware may cause the problem because I have this error with fresh downloaded ISO without live-rw save file.
You can see the error on the attached pictures.

Anyway mplayer still plays most of the video files I have.

I get this error with pussy and also normal debian live, on both my desktop amd semperon 2800 + with 512mb ram and nvidia video and my new toshiba laptop and my eeepc 701sd, but like i said it also happens with normal debian live AND normal non live debian squeeze. I think its another example of a debian problem that will fix itself in their next revisions etc.

the problem seems to follow no particular pattern, i can go an entire day without it happening then it will happen 4 times in a row before mplayer finally decides to work. I have looked at solving the issue but there doesnt seem anything i could figure out to do that made a difference.

mplayer still works even if you get the error, just click on mplayer again, sometimes you get the error a few times in a row before it loads.

i havent seen this problem mentioned anywhere until now, i kinda thought i was doing something wrong, but obviously its not just me.

[sickgut]

pasted from the announcements section of this forum:
------------------------
i was hoping i wasnt going to have to do this but im having to take an extended break for a while, not specificly from puppy/ pussy and stuff but from computers in general in an attempt to prevent a reoccurring problem with some form of epilepsy that isnt currently being treated very well.

the computer screen etc and reading text and looking at bright moving and flashing objects all day is only part of the problem, the thing that is causing the most problems is a stressful life style. I had to give up work in a computer full retail plus shipping business due to stress and ever since then i have not been able to strike a good balance between boredom/ learning new things/ and working myself till something breaks. It seems that for the last year maybe ive been putting as much effort into computer related linuxy type stuff as a real job, with none of the benefits, ive basicly been working and suffering work related stress on the mind and body (24 hour shifts of intense coding at times) with none of the actual benefits of real employment. I wasnt well enough to be working before but now im basicly working again and im falling prey to the same things that was happening to me before (big surprize). When im in a cycle like this im driven by boredom and a sense that i am not accomplishing anything. Then i decided to start a small business or throw myself into doing something then i over extent myself and have to take time off and the cycle begins again.

after the most recent relapses i thought i would be back and at it within a few days or at most a couple of weeks, but that has turned into months and this problem isnt going to get any better unless i adopt a more stress free lifestyle.

this isnt a bitch about linux, doing stuff for free or whatever, or the community here or the puppy vs pussy thing or whatever. its more of a realization of a problem and finding a solution. For me i think the solution is to take a break and return a little fresher and without strange siezure type things that have been worsened to some extent by stress and too long sessions in front of a computer.

so im letting you all know that i wont be around much for a while but i plan to return maybe in a more balanced fashion that is part of a more balanced lifestyle.

i will return after maybe a couple or a few months or so. I dont think the current project im doing will die over night, even if it fades a little im sure it can be resurrected once ive returned and released a new version that is updated and better.

in the mean time i would like to thank saintless, jbv especially for holding down the fort while i have been absent in recent months.

ok ppl, bbl i promise.

----------------------------

im not abandoning pussy, i just need to get my life in order and ill be back soon to work on pussy. Most likely ill start a new thread when i get back. Thanks to saintless for posting his new squashfs that has all the recent fixes, i think ill add this to pussy in an official manner so when people download pussy they are running something that is at the catting edge of meowyness,

altho i wont be actively developing pussy for a bit, i will still check my murga messages and also my email: sickgut@gmail.com and also ill be checking the forum here and will help out where i can.

if anyone has any other improvements / files that are pussy related (or just linux related but run on pussy ok) that you would like to make available at the pussy website then please, PM me and ill supply you with a ftp login so that you can upload to the site, then PM me again when the upload has finnished and ill move them to the webserver dir of the server, please include documentation like a readme.txt or instructions for installing and or using your package etc. Packages can be any format you like zip, gz, squashfs... whatever., as long as instructions for installing are provided its all cool.

i want to remind everyone that i dont mind people developing pussy, if you want to remaster it or fork it or whatever its all good. Also no one has to check with me to release packages, fixes etc at all as this is a community project. I will actively encourage people to do whatever the hell they want with pussy and please do not wait on me to return to make changes, suggest things here or release stuff.

in essence ill be around if im needed and ill check in and help with questions etc here, but it will be maybe a few months before im under the hood again and we start on the next release.

[sickgut]

apparently drinking 5 or 6 litres a day of water gives you siezuires.....

i was just drinking when i was thirsty and it wasnt till i measured the water i was drinking that i realized that it could possibly be causing the problems. I seem to get super thirsty but its some other cause not diabetes or anything. Docs always saying "You can never drink too much water..."

i just realized this recently when i was too sick to move much from a flu type thingy and i didnt drink anything all day and surprize surprize, no siezure type thingies. Now im over that flu thingy and ive moderated my water intake to 3 litres a day max and no problems with seizure type things for a week now.

aparently being extremely thirsty doesnt mean you need to drink water

now i finally have a handle on what has been happening with my health and now im able to look at a screen much better than before. Ive still got some residual after effects that will take a little time to get rid of but i think ill be back and working on pussy soon but in a much more balanced way than before, no more 24 hour coding sprees and subsequent burnouts.

see yall soon

[aarf]

apparently drinking 5 or 6 litres a day of water gives you siezuires.....

i live in the tropics and drink commercially bottled water (mostly where i am tap water isnt processed to drinking quality so everyone has to drink bottled water) so i therefore know exactly how much water i drink every day. there has never been a day where i drink even close to 6 litres of water even in the hottest summer day. no matter what brand or type of water. my body weight is 90-100kgs. so for you living in taswegia this amount of water is definitely excessive.

[greengeek]

.
Good to see you back. Pussy needs to keep ticking along but put your health first.

[saintless]

Nice to read you feel better, Sickgut.
Welcome back

[gcmartin]

Great that we, sometimes, feel that prayers work.

Welcome back

[jpeps]

Could also be too much pussy.

[RSH]

Yes, welcome back!

No more 24 hour coding sprees and subsequent burnouts.

Yes, that's what i always try to do and mean to be able to do so. But it fails. A few days or perhaps a few weeks trying well and then still missing some. There is always just one single night of programming, drumming, composing, to get me back into the creative rhythm. I am always grateful for that night!

---

Life is the price for living!

BTW: i did not try your Pussy Linux yet - still too busy. But i have already downloaded and will take a look at it.

[saintless]

Sage on Pussy linux:
Tested with the base version. If you use the extra version the new installed packages will be less.

1. Download the ubuntu binary (32 or 64-bit) from here and follow the instructions there how to extract it:
http://mirrors.fe.up.pt/pub/sage/linux/index.html
There is a Readme.txt with instructions inside the archive.

2. Install these packages with apt-get:

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apt-get update
apt-get install gcc
apt-get install g++
apt-get  install make
apt-get install perl
apt-get install m4
apt-get install libxrandr-dev

Not sure if the last one is needed. I think it is a replacement version of ranlib which is needed.

3. Open a Terminal, navigate to the extracted sage folder and type:

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./sage

It is possible you will get warning your processor doesn't support SSE2. If this happens navigate to the extracted sage folder --> local --> lib and delete or rename the file sage-flags.txt

Then run ./sage again. This time you will get a message about moving the path from the compiled binary to your new location. Don't interrupt this process. It will take only a few minutes.
This is it.

If you need to compile Sage from source you will need to install the same packages for Pussy linux base version (less packages for the extra version) + 2 more packages:

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apt-get update
apt-get install gcc
apt-get install g++
apt-get  install make
apt-get install perl
apt-get install m4
apt-get install libxrandr-dev

+ those 2:

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apt-get install build-essential
apt-get install cfortran

Then download the Sage source from here and extract it:
http://sage.igor.onlinedirect.bg/src/index.html

Open a Terminal, navigate to the extracted sage folder and type:

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make

The process may take a long time (up to 10 hours). Depends of your computer. You will need 2,5 Gb of free space.

The first and maybe the second time it is possible to get an error message about missing folder. If it happens just type the make command again and the process will continue.

Here is a link with information how to use Sage:
http://www.sagemath.org/doc/reference/

And link with information how to make the package smaller:
http://boxen.math.washington.edu/home/emil/sagelithe/

A big thanks to Emil for the information.