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if you want firefox in kiosk mode then I suggest this linux MorphixLiveKiosk 0.03. Goto here http://www.morphix.org/index.php?option=com_conten t&task=view&id=80&Itemid=59 the 7" lcd screen is actually 800*600 but I think that would be good enough, it would cause more I strain if it was a higher resolution(1024*768 for example) on the same screen size.

The poster didn't ask about embedded distros -- i.e. the Linux distro running on an embedded target. He wants to know what developers have on their desktops, which is probably something completely different.

I would recommend shipping a live CD with your tools pre-installed. It would be straightforward for you to master a Debian-based CD based on Morphix and/or TROM. This allows your less sophisticated users to get off the ground quickly developing with your SDK. It's also good for evaluations, as people will want to make sure they can at least talk to their embedded development boards first.

For most developers, providing a src.tar.gz and an RPM is adequate. I recommend RPM's because most people too dumb to build a source tarball are probably using RedHat/Fedora. Bonus points for .deb but it's really not necessary to provide multiple packaging formats.

you would be far better served using a custom rebuild of the new Morphix Lite.

Full code is in the CVS, nice GUI, you can either /home, /home and configs or everything back to the LiveCD. Save Incremental changes or full changes. CD-Persistent allows the use of a CD-r or even a better CD-RW. For further details see the HowTo with screenshots. (Disclaimer - I am the main developer for this module)

I was just discussing this earlier about whether Knoppix could do just that..

Morphix a modular based which basically takes away the hard work of re-mastering a Knoppix CD The base, the part based upon Knoppix contains the kernel, kernel modules, hardware detection, etc. This base is left untouched. You can either a change a mainmod or add lots of minimodules to make different liveCDs

I submitted a note on the Knoppix mailing list, in May 2004 offering to add this code/feature to Knoppix, but did not get much feedback.

I feel I was the first to have a liveCD save data back to its own CD - all code GPL'ed, buy hey that development, he who shouts the loudest.

Another LiveCD based on Morphix.

Use http://www.morphix.org/ and make your own main module? It's basically a chroot Debian install.

You bootstrap Debian (stable, testing, unstable), pack it up into a compressed file, and plop it into your Morphix directory and generate the ISO. It can be as bare-bones as you want it to be.

You do all your work within a Debian chroot, so you get to use all the wonderful Debian tools.

Morphix, which is what I've been basically using as "Knoppix-Lite," and it does the trick for me. I use the Light-GUI iso, which is about 200MB. It's basically a modular Knoppix (it is, in fact, based on Knoppix). You can also roll your own. Say, if you don't need the GUI module, you can opt for other modules. Pretty neat.

A great live distro just for fun! http://www.morphix.org/

You probably want Knoppix or Morphix. http://www.knoppix.net/docs/index.php/KnoppixRemas teringHowto has useful info. So does: http://www.morphix.org/modules/sections/index.php? op=listarticles&secid=2 G

The Morphix ISO's and derivatives are some of my favorite LiveCDs. I think my very favorite is GNUStep 0.5 because it is built on GNUStep; and because it has GRUB and parted and QTParted, even though the installer still uses cfdisk by default.

Close second is Morphix LightGUI, an XFCE-based full desktop system, since it's only 200 MB. Unfortunately, the ISO builds are very seemingly outdated. (Firebird!)

After that, I would probably go with plain old Knoppix, or maybe Gnoppix being a GNOME-ish person.

And Chris writes "Gnoppix 0.8.1 now appears to be Ubuntu Linux based. "

The Ubuntu LiveCD and the Gnoppix LiveCD are based upon Morphix, which basically takes away the hard work of re-mastering a Knoppix CD. The base, the part based upon Knoppix contains the kernel, kernel modules, hardware detection, etc. This base is left untouched. You can either a change a mainmod or add lots of minimodules to make different liveCDs

The Ubuntu LiveCD is built using one of Morphix Tools Module Maker. Feed you XML file into module maker and out pops your mainmodule for the LiveCD.

There are a range of tools Morphix tools available to make a LiveCD. Such as Module Maker ibuild and TROM. It is even possible to save you files, configuration and setting to the Morphix LiveCD you using using CD persistant, ready for next boot up. Did I mention the GUI Morphix installer ?

And Chris writes "Gnoppix 0.8.1 now appears to be Ubuntu Linux based. "

The Ubuntu LiveCD and the Gnoppix LiveCD are based upon Morphix, which basically takes away the hard work of re-mastering a Knoppix CD. The base, the part based upon Knoppix contains the kernel, kernel modules, hardware detection, etc. This base is left untouched. You can either a change a mainmod or add lots of minimodules to make different liveCDs

The Ubuntu LiveCD is built using one of Morphix Tools Module Maker. Feed you XML file into module maker and out pops your mainmodule for the LiveCD.

There are a range of tools Morphix tools available to make a LiveCD. Such as Module Maker ibuild and TROM. It is even possible to save you files, configuration and setting to the Morphix LiveCD you using using CD persistant, ready for next boot up. Did I mention the GUI Morphix installer ?

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Wow... We slashdotted IBM! But to the point: I wonder what is your experience. What is better for system recovery? Standard Knoppix which is a general purpose desktop system meant to be an impressive demonstration tool but lacking many security programs, or some specialised versions like Knoppix STD or Local Area Security which have more tools but are kind of "script kiddie friendly" and look very unprofessional with their Martix themes, leet-speak, "proving no localhost is safe" slogans etc. making them look more like intrusion than recovery tools? Or maybe Morphix is the answer thanks to its ease of customisation and apt-getting new packages on the fly? Do you have any Real World(TM) experience?

10 MB? Yes, but don't expect a GUI. If you want a desktop Linux on CD, you can try Morphix in the LightGUI variant, but that's still 20x as big as you want it.

Or, with the help of Google, you could have found this page, which is a list of live CDs. But don't expect a complete desktop OS in under 10 MB. Even the basic font files take about half of that.

Of course, it's based on Knoppix, but you can build your own custom Knoppix if you wish.

When you work two, three days a week you still have plenty of time left for your own projects, and it's not like you have 4 mouths to feed. More importantly than just having more time, you also keep the fun in programming. After 5 days of hacking, you're not likely to do any in your two days off. After 3 days of hacking, you have both time to relax and to ponder about your own projects. Not to mention double the all-nighters you can do (everyone knows your most productive hours are between 12 and 5am :)

Another tip is to take a programming job not directly related to your hobby interests, motivating yourself is then much easier. My job consists of PHP/MySQL/CMS/webmonkey stuff, while in my spare time I work on my distro, mostly C and Bash. After a dull day in the office, I often find myself hacking until the sun rises. Totally wasted the day after, but nothing a good cup of coffee doesn't cure.

It's especially unlikely since the Java Desktop FAQ has passages like

39. Q. The evaluation CD boots successfully but when it comes up I am presented with a license but no way to 'accept' it. What do I do?

A. It is possible that your system booted at too low of a screen resolution. When you insert the CD and boot from it, the very first screen allows you to set the screen resolution, but you only have a few seconds before it automatically continues booting. Press the F2 key as soon as you see that initial screen. This will take you to a help page explaining the option. You can enter settings directly into the "boot:" input area at the bottom of the screen. Example settings would be:

* morphix screen=800x640
* morphix screen=1024x768 (preferred minimum)
* morphix screen=1280x1024
* morphix screen=1400x1050

Other combinations are possible. If one doesn't work you can try another. Note that these parameters are specific to the evaluation CD.

Wow, are the drugs contageous?

You could more easily say JDS is Debian based because of it's roots in Morphix

But seriously guys - Sun's incorporating the best (ITHO) of many ditros, Debian/Morphix, Suse, etc. Sun's big enough and capable enough of creating their own distro by (shamelessly stealing and/or exercising the true spirit of free software) from other open source projects.

Yes, it has some Morphix components. Yes it has some Suse components. You're telling me it has Redhat requirements.

[Take the best of all the vendors - the software of SuSE, the hw support of Morphix/Knoppix, and documentation of redhat --- ducks]

So what you really need is a bootable CD with software so simple and stripped down that it lets you browse the web and nothing else.

Nicholas Brand (who I believe has posted here before) has compiled a great looking List of Live CDs.

Looks like they are even categorized quite extensively too. You should find at least something to ease your paranoia. But if you don't, you can make your own with Morphix, which is sort of a customizable Knoppix, and even has a how-to for something similar to what you want.

You could also download it from your linux machine, and then do the whole installation offline

Or better yet, use a morphix bootCD. You should be able to download the patches to Welchia et al directly (not using windows update), then reboot w/o the network cable in, patch, reboot, and you should be able to get the other less critical updates without being infected by RPC viruses.

I'd recommend building yourself a simple "run from RAM" setup using Knoppix (or something similar)

Then you have you operating system, and photos all on the CD. Very low power and if you have enought memory to hold all the photos in ram it will run cool.

Where on the CD-ROM (READ ONLY) did you expect Knoppix to save it?

You can use the CD Persistant MiniModule. With a LiveCD burnt as a multisession CD you can then to save you setting/files back to the LiveCD, Not bad hey ?

See the How To

Morphix is definitely interesting, but it's not for the faint of heart. Building a Morphix ISO is one part education, one part command line voodoo, and one part dumb luck. ;-)

To start off there is how to do simplest morph, then how to build a Mini-Module, then how to Add Modules to the Live CD. Then how to do bigger changes in by changing one of the Main-Modules.

The How Tos inlcude all the command line voodoo. It even possible to make a live-cd (image) by using the live-cd. There are different pre-made CD images with a whole range of (currently GUI-cantered) software. It also has an easy-to-use installer.

You're looking for morphix - modular knoppix.

BTW, Sun Java Desktop is just a lame rip-off of Morphix.

http://www.morphix.org/modules/news/article.php?st oryid=41

Shame shame...

Take the GPL original !

I am sure that before I have finished writing this comment many people will have already suggested GNUWin, TheOpenCD, Knoppix, Morphix, Dyne:bolic, Debian and GNU CDs but instead of jumping on the bandwagon and posting links to them (even though with no doubt those are great examples of software which every library should definitely have) I will suggest including some software which is less popular but which students might learn much more from (and in the end, is that not the whole purpose of a library?), id est: Debian GNU/Hurd, OpenBSD and EROS. Lots of useful software one can buy with a magazine, but these systems are much harder to find, while much more revolutionary and unquestionably invaluable if we want people to actually learn something important instead of only "clicking" the mouse. It is also very important to note that these systems would introduce students to real security, something which is hard to find and understand, yet even much harder to overestimate in the terrorism era and the invasion of our privacy with things like NSAKEY in Windows and NSAttributedString in Mac OS X. That is why I think that actively promoting them in every library would be the most insightful idea.

g1powermac already created a livecd using Morphix that has xpde5 inside. Just boot it using desktop=xpde5 boot parameter. It will default to 0.4.2 since xpde5 is still lacking some of the features. Sourceforge download

Have a look at Morphix. It is exaclty Knoppix which breaks out the ISO images into categories (gamer, full GUI, light GUI, etc) and supports GNOME. I'm not sure if it supports a per-package granularity though.

Indeed, considering that they made this work well with the debian-based morphix-core module.

"Sun's director of Linux Software Engineering contacted me and apologized, ... they used our Morphix-base module

Looks like Sun's doing a good job at bringing together the best of all worlds.

I always boot off a customized Knoppix CD that has A/V software (clamav) on it. There is another live-cd based distro that has the A/V stuff by default (possibly Morphix, I can't remember).

Then I can scan and fix all the filesystem in peace. Used in combination with the full NTFS driver you can repair just about any Windows machine.

Of course that won't allow you to run Norton or whatever but I've never had a problem with Clam AntiVirus. Sometimes it seems they get virus definitions before the commercial guys.

I wish there was a free Linux alternative to AdAware then I could run that off my live-cd as well.

Perhaps what they are looking for is something like this from the Morphix guys. It has the q3a and ut2003 demos too.

Get the ISO
The morphix site

There's a Morphix module (Morphix Gamer) that already provides this. Plus there are related projects like KnoppixMame.

However, I tried Morphix-Gamer a week or two back and feel compelled to point out that easily half of the games that came included either would not run at all (at least not from the CD), or were unbearably slow and clunky (TuxRacer for one). My machine at home is nothing to brag about (Athlon XP 1800, 1/2 gb ram), but it seemed to me it should have been sufficient to run whatever was bundled with the gamer module.

Not sure why they bothered included games that wouldn't run tolerably well from the CD. Sure someone might choose to install it to HD, but the whole point of a live-cd is just that.

Morphix, grab the games iso in the downloads , burn to CD and off you go

try Morphix. Its a Knoppix clone with an emphasis on customizability. Its not too hard at all to roll your own iso. Just check out their docs.

Compilation Enhancements

I hear the argument about faster executables a great deal, and it isn't a bad argument. However, Gentoo will allow you to install binary packages, and similarly Debian will allow you to install from source packages. More than that, you can actually find or create apt repositories with dependencies that are multiplexed across a set of architectures (for example, the nerim.net Mplayer repository; just tell it "mplayer-k7" and you get all the nice optimizations for Athlons with it).

Modularity

Again, Debian can be quite modular. Have you heard of Knoppix or Morphix? They are very popular, and quite modular. There are probably more Debian derivitives than any other distro because they are so modular. I realize that Gentoo might also be good in this regard, but if it isn't provably better, I don't see a reason by Debian still wouldn't be a great choice for this project.

His idea sounds very close to Morphix. It allows easy building of customized live-cd distributions. It supplies its own installer too.

Morphix is modular, and can be adapted with less effort

The base, the Knoppix part contains the kernel, kernel modules, hardware detection, etc. This base is left untouched. You can either a change a mainmod or add lots of minimodules.

The are four basic images to start off with. So making you own LiveCD is much easier.

It even possible to save you files, configuration and setting to the Morphix CD you using, ready for next boot up.

Did I mention the GUI installer ...

Brendan Mentioned before and here

There are a lot with low hardware requeriments. Of the few I tried, Damn Small Linux should work with fewer resources even, and Morphix Light should work also, and is more comfortable for end users.

I would like to see a live Boot CD build system which allows you to customize the payload *easily* (easier than it is to actually 'install' something on a local dedicated machine, individually, and administer it, anyway)

The base, the Knoppix part contains the kernel, kernel modules, hardware detection, etc. This base is left untouched. You can either a change a mainmod or add lots of minimodules.

The are four basic images to start off with. So making you own LiveCD is much easier.

Brendan

phlak, although based on Morphix it has just about every security utility you could imagine.

Morphix is modular, and can be adapted with less effort

The base, the Knoppix part contains the kernel, kernel modules, hardware detection, etc. This base is left untouched. You can either a change a mainmod or add lots of minimodules.

The are four basic images to start off with. So making you own LiveCD is much easier.

It even possible to save you files, configuration and setting to the Morphix CD you using, ready for next boot up.

Did I mention the GUI installer ...

Brendan

Because i tried out Morphix, the rocking liveCD distro that Sun SEEMS to have ripped off, see "Morphix goes stellar" news item and later follow-ups.

Sun's Java is a Morphix based CD.

You should look at Morphix, a knoppix-like which is intended to be "morphed" (customized to fit your needs). What you are saying is exactly what i have done: create a custom bootable image that fits into a mini cd, all the apps want (GTK2 only to save space, but i'm at 140 MB of 200 on the mini cd, so i could still fit KDE ^_^.

I created a GnuPG key for the user settings: knowing the passphrase (or decrypting my files), I can load them to have mail, bookmarks, ICQ and everything else set up on the fly.

Really great distro.

I mean, he could have supported Morphix, which is moving in exactly the direction Bruce wants to go (even the 3D-drivers), and I really could use all the help I can get on it. I love the competition, but if you want integration of distributions the last thing you need is yet another one.

Bruce, if you want integration: put your weight behind one of the existing distro's (doesn't have to be mine, but I wouldn't mind ;) If you want yet another distro then go right ahead with UserLinux. I hope it would rock well enough for me to (ab)use in the true Free Software spirit, but get ready for a serious amount of work getting everything up to speed. I've been there and am still enjoying the ride after 8 months of work :)

Cheers,
Alex

But I prefer morphix BMS

And of course, it automatically detects NVidia graphics cards and boots into accelerated mode. If it doesn't, go back to the boot prompt and type "morphix xmodule=nvidia". Not sure they have acceleration for recent ATI Radeon boards though.

The problem was the XFree drivers: trying to use the open-source drivers - regardless of distro - did exactly the same thing; whereas nVidia's closed-source drivers worked perfectly.

A simple solution is to use xserver=fbdev (or whatever the option is, I can't recall and don't have access to a knoppix disc at present).

Of course, the best solution would be to include nVidia's closed source drivers, but this would have issues with Debian's open-source only policy ... There is at least one knoppix spin-off that does include the nVidia drivers: Morphix - which also has the advantage of providing "light" versions that don't use either KDE or GNOME. However, last time I tried (half a year ago), morphix had more hardware-compatibility issues.