DSL v4.1RC1

Forum: Release Candidates
Topic: DSL v4.1RC1
started by: roberts

Posted by roberts on Nov. 13 2007,01:12

The first release candidate of DSL v4.1 is now posted.

Change log for v4.1RC1

* New boot option user=name
* New boot option settime (settime=its_server_name) must have boot time net access. Use with tz=XX/Yyyyy for accurate local time.
* New mini-icons in jwm mydsl menu when available.
* New iconView.lua - View & Edit xpm icons.
* Updated torsmo to v0.18 - now supports noswap
* Updated .dfminfo now a plain text file.
* Updated processing order of extensions with .tar.gz now last to better support myconf.tar.gz
* Root menu solely under user control - defaults to selected window manager menu.
* Added 'toram' to frugal installed grub checkfs menu item.
* Updated several murgaLua programs to reflect the dropped fl_ask GUI widget.
* Dropped SWM - Small Window Manager.
* Fixed System.map link error.
* Better support for alternate window managers. - see /opt/.mydsl_menu/ and ~/{wm}.inc
* Streamlined MyDSL download procedure - dropped use of sudo and download location prompt.
* Dropped unsued emelfm wrapper.

Many, many programs, files, and their locations have changed to support the new user=name option and the window manager processing support. Most noteably .filetool.lst and .xfiletool.lst are now under /opt.

Posted by roberts on Nov. 13 2007,01:18

Changed files likely in your backup.

.bash_profile
.jwmrc
.jwmrc-tray
.fluxbox/menu
.torsmorc
.dfminfo
opt/powerdown.sh

Note: Again system critical files .filetool.lst and .xfiletool.lst have changed and their location has changed to /opt/.

Test carefully, with so many system file changes, it is critical to ensure that you are running with the correct files and structure.

Always test with options base norestore before reporting any bugs.

-- Robert

Posted by kuky on Nov. 13 2007,22:26

i have load 4rc1 to hard drive no frugal ...

the drag and copy icons to create a direct acces do not run ...in box command is !o¡ and when change by the path to program no run if i made a direct icon in desktop its the same problem...

i mount these programs uci ...only works with emlfm or click direct on icons...

Posted by roberts on Nov. 14 2007,01:49

Quote (kuky @ Nov. 13 2007,14:26)

Although MyDSL extension applications were never intended for traditional hard drive installations. 4.1 has better support MyDSL applicatons in a traditional hard drive installed environment that prior versions.

When copying DSL's base applications, hold down the Ctrl key when dragging applications from the Apps folder to the desktop.

Do not drag MyDSL applications from the special MyDSL folder.

MyDSL applications are dynamic (not installed). They should remain in the special folder so that upon shutdown a proper cleanup can occur.

If you are an advanced user of a traditional hard drive installation you can always use the tar command and permanently install them, and update your selected window manager menu. That is to install outside the scope of the dynamic MyDSL system.

There should be no problems when run in this fashion.

Posted by meo on Nov. 14 2007,13:00

Hello Robert!

Just got my copy of the DSL-book. Great, but I haven't had opportunity to dig deeper into it yet. I just tried out DSL 4.1RC1-embedded with no restore etc. It seems that some modules for a wireless card with an atheros chip is missing. It worked just fine with DSL 4.0. I checked the changelog but couldn't find anything relevant to this problem there. I'll try the new RC1 on a cd to and see if there is any difference. Thanks for your hard work on DSL!

Have fun,
meo

Posted by roberts on Nov. 14 2007,14:19

No modules were cut. So please do report back any differences in modules loaded.

Posted by meo on Nov. 14 2007,14:42

Hello again Robert!

I'm sorry, this was entirely a mistake from my side. I started the dsl embedded version with "fromhd=/dev/sda1" etc. and used a cd of an older version of DSL. I burned a cd with the new RC and tried it out and it worked just as it should. After that I started the embedded version with the new cd and it also worked just as it should. I'm posting this from the embedded version in question. So the whole thing was an error from my part so I'm truly sorry for my mistake.

As always have fun and keep up the good work,
meo

Posted by roberts on Nov. 14 2007,19:02

meo, Thanks for the update.

Posted by roberts on Nov. 14 2007,19:24

When one publishes an new or radically different system, one never quite knows how it will be received or what will be common issues.

What I am talking about here is Wallpapers, backgrounds. With 4.x it is confusing as there are three system competing for background control. And, if one partakes in adding new window manager, the completion would only increase. With the new window manager structure in 4.1, I am thinking of using a netural corner for background independence. That being the {wm}.inc file.

I would take away background control from dfm and .xinitrc. I would use, as in 3.x versions, xsri which is quite capable of many image formats (jpg, gif, tif, etc). This would allow for far more background choices without having to convert to xpm.

The xsri command would be specified in the window manager include file. By doing so, I could bring back my wallpaper.lua program and set the background via the include.

Any additional window managers using the new structure of the .inc would then also be supported.
We would have a common known location to manually change backgrouds if so desired.

Each window manager could easily have its own background.

Example:
.jwm.inc
xsri --scale-width=100 --scale-height=100 /opt/.backgrounds/lance-blue.xpm

.fluxbox.inc
fluxter -w &>/dev/null &
xsri --scale-width=100 --scale-height=100 /opt/.backgrounds/envane.tif

.

Posted by meo on Nov. 15 2007,15:00

Hi again!

Sounds nice. I've been missing the wallpaper-tool and the icon-tool. That's why I generally use DSL 3.3-embedded.

Have fun in your hard work knowing it's really appreciated,
meo

Posted by humpty on Nov. 16 2007,07:03

Fluxbox feedback.

1. The fluxbox style loads after the [xsri in .fluxbox.inc ] which overrides it.
This means all system styles selected will trump the backgound.
To get around this, copy the system style to a user style (in
.fluxbox/styles/ ) then edit out the xsri. Add your xsri in
.fluxbox.inc.
If you opt to just replace the xsri in .fluxbox/styles/a_style then
you might need a 'sleep 1' before it otherwise it doesn't always
manage to stay after restarting X.

2. On a blank desktop (no windows showing), pressing 'esc' will
do some sort of refresh (dfm ?) and then the background pic
disappears. Need to restart X to get it back. Also happens after
dfm changes e.g 'Apply' after modifying an icon property.

Otherwise, it's looking pretty good. :;):

I also noticed the boot-loading and shutdown-unloading of extensions has no more delays, great!.

Posted by roberts on Nov. 16 2007,10:32

Of course a style would trump the include. Just as a non-empty dfm would, or a background specified in .jwmrc.

The point is to not use the specifics of each of the competing subsystems but instead to use the netural location of the include.

With no background selected in dfm, .jwmrc, style, fluxbox/init, or .xinitrc and only use .jwm.inc and (optionally a different one) in .fluxbox.inc it is working well in rc2. I will post rc2 early next week.

Posted by meo on Nov. 16 2007,19:14

Hi!

Will it be possible to change backgrounds easily, even when the noicons cheatcode is used in the new RC2? (I don't like icons). Or will I have to rewrite my collection of styles to do that? What should I use as rootcommand in that case?

Have fun,
meo

Posted by roberts on Nov. 16 2007,19:49

Yes, wallpaper.lua will update the xsri command found in the window manager include file with either a chosen color or from a collection of images at /opt/.backgrounds/.

This change is to effect window manager independence.

Example include files in RC2:

cat .fluxbox.inc
fluxter -w &>/dev/null &
xsri --scale-width=100 --scale-height=100 /opt/.backgrounds/AlmostX-0.5.png

cat .jwm.inc
xsri --scale-width=100 --scale-height=100 /opt/.backgrounds/lance-blue.gif

Posted by meo on Nov. 17 2007,19:38

Hi Robert!

Sounds very nice since I'm aiming at making a Remastering HOWTO that will work nicely with the 4.x series of DSL.

As always have fun out there,
meo

Posted by humpty on Nov. 18 2007,03:40

Quote (roberts @ Nov. 16 2007,13:32)

The point is to not use the specifics of each of the competing subsystems..

i guess then you can dispense with fluxbox's included system styles
and save a few bytes eh? or perhaps leave one there as an example.

Posted by roberts on Nov. 18 2007,03:48

Quote (humpty @ Nov. 17 2007,19:40)

Quote (roberts @ Nov. 16 2007,13:32)

The point is to not use the specifics of each of the competing subsystems..

i guess then you can dispense with fluxbox's included system styles
and save a few bytes eh? or perhaps leave one there as an example.

No. You can continue to use Fluxbox styles. I am only talking about backgrounds/wallpapers and a common tool and location to set them.
Just simply do use or remove the rootCommand: in the style or in .fluxbox/init files.

Posted by kuky on Nov. 18 2007,22:01

In hd instalation no frugal ....

with tar programs instalation the direct access procedure by drag and copy (press ctrl and drag) do not run ....i writte the path in command and nothing is done , first the command box is with !o! ....
also with direct acces procedure in desktop....
any sugestions...any more have the same problem...

saludikis (salud y kikis)

Posted by roberts on Nov. 18 2007,22:27

Not sure what you are experiencing.

On a traditional hard drive installation, I open the Apps folder and others and drag-n-copy to my desktop

firefox
sylpheed
Run
Exit

All of these program run fine.

What specific program are you having an issue with?

Posted by jpeters on Nov. 18 2007,23:43

Quote (kuky @ Nov. 18 2007,17:01)

Make sure that apps using a command window have "aterm -e !o!"

Posted by roberts on Nov. 18 2007,23:53

Quote (jpeters @ Nov. 18 2007,15:43)

Quote (kuky @ Nov. 18 2007,17:01)

Make sure that apps using a command window have "aterm -e !o!"

Good point!

Posted by roberts on Nov. 19 2007,21:02

Moving on to RC2. Thanks to those who help test and provide feedback.

-- Robert