site
contact
newsCherryTree notes manager
I was reminded about CherryTree when forum member 'wiak' posted about it:
https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?t=7189
I have compiled it in Easy Scarthgap, and it is now a PET package. After updating the PKGget databse, it can be installed from the "pet-scarthgap" repository.
I haven't checked, but presume for Easy Daedalus it is in the
Devuan package repository.
If you download it individually, it will also need the 'vte', 'uchardet' and 'fmt' packages. Scarthgap already has 'vte9', which is for gtk+2, whereas 'vte' is for both gtk+3 and gtk4 -- 'vte' has some gtk4-related dependencies, but CherryTree only uses the gtk+3 vte lib -- meaning that, if you use PKGget to install 'vte', you can ignore all the deps, just install 'vte' only.
Here is the CherryTree homepage:https://www.giuspen.net/cherrytree/
And project site:
https://github.com/giuspen/cherrytree
CherryTree is nice, but I am not motivated enough to replace the
builtin NoteCase. NoteCase is simpler and the package is much
smaller; I think that it works OK as a notes manager.
Tags: easy
PKGget ask install non-root
A unique feature of EasyOS is that an application may run non-root, as its own unique user. For example, the Chromium browser runs as user "chromium", with home folder '/home/chromium'. This gives a very high level of security, isolating the application from other applications that also run as their own user. Note also that Chromium is able to read and write in /files/apps/chromium, that other non-root apps can't even see into.
Flatpaks, AppImages and "orange ball" menu entries (you will see these in the menu; that are applications that are important to be entered in the menu but not yet installed), all install non-root.
I have modified PKGget, the package manager, to ask if an app is to be installed to run as root user or non-root. To test this, I installed Gthumb image viewer. Running PKGget, after the install it asks:
...yeah, decided it is polite to ask, rather than just go ahead
and install non-root.
There are many apps that I would prefer to run as root. SeaMonkey for example, as I use the Composer HTML editor module, and I really want to be able to edit files anywhere in the system. Same goes for a file manager and various utility/system applications.
For Gthumb, I clicked the "non-root" button, then got this:
...chose to create a desktop icon, and Gthumb works
nicely.
Tags: easy
Lite XL text editor
I'm over the moon, this is a wonderful text editor!
Lite XL is a small binary, about 500KB, and requires very little
system libraries. Compiled and installed in Scarthgap:
# ldd /usr/bin/lite-xlIt has a Lua interpreter compiled into the binary, rather than require a system install of Lua. Rendering is done with SDL2, and it does a pretty good job of creating a GUI. Some of the plugins require 'yad', for example the "GUI file picker" uses yad to bring up a gtk file chooser.
linux-vdso.so.1 (0x00007ffec57be000)
libSDL2-2.0.so.0 => /usr/lib/libSDL2-2.0.so.0 (0x00007f7a96ebf000)
libfreetype.so.6 => /usr/lib/libfreetype.so.6 (0x00007f7a96e0d000)
libpcre2-8.so.0 => /usr/lib/libpcre2-8.so.0 (0x00007f7a96dad000)
libm.so.6 => /usr/lib/libm.so.6 (0x00007f7a96cd5000)
libc.so.6 => /usr/lib/libc.so.6 (0x00007f7a96b05000)
libz.so.1 => /usr/lib/libz.so.1 (0x00007f7a96aeb000)
libpng16.so.16 => /usr/lib/libpng16.so.16 (0x00007f7a96ab5000)
libpthread.so.0 => /usr/lib/libpthread.so.0 (0x00007f7a96ab0000)
/lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2 => /usr/lib/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2 (0x00007f7a970ee000)
Here is the homepage:
I downloaded the source code and plugins from here:
https://github.com/lite-xl/lite-xl
https://github.com/lite-xl/lite-xl-plugins
The inbuilt plugins at /usr/share/lite-xl/plugins:
autocomplete.lua autoreload.lua contextmenu.lua detectindent.lua drawwhitespace.lua language_c.lua language_cpp.lua language_css.lua language_html.lua language_js.lua language_lua.lua language_md.lua language_python.lua language_xml.lua lineguide.lua linewrapping.lua macro.lua projectsearch.lua quote.lua reflow.lua scale.lua tabularize.lua toolbarview.lua treeview.lua trimwhitespace.lua workspace.lua
I added these extra plugins, in the plugins folder:
gui_filepicker.lua language_diff.lua language_ini.lua
language_make.lus language_nim.lua language_perl.lua
language_po.lua language_rust.lua language_sh.lua
I have created a PET package for Scarthgap, will also compile it in Daedalus -- that latter one will be good for other pup-distros that are same vintage or newer than Debian Bookworm. Will upload the PETs soon and announce on the forum; probably here where we have been discussing text editors for Zig:
https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?t=12993
Lite XL will be builtin in the next releases of Easy Scarthgap
and Daedalus.
Tags: easy
EasyOS Daedalus-series version 6.4.1
I posted just two days ago, both Scarthgap-series and Daedalus-series version 6.4 released:
- EasyOS Scarthgap and Daedalus version 6.4 — October 28, 2024
Daedalus 6.4.1 has been brought up to be more directly comparable with Scarthgap:
- The builtin browser changed from Firefox to Chromium
- Zig support in the "devx" SFS.
Why Chromium? ...it is my personal preference. It does solve one issue with 6.4; it has Firefox ESR which is installed in /usr/lib/firefox-esr, whereas the "Download latest Firefox" menu entry installs into /usr/lib/firefox, which requires a manual fix to /usr/bin/firefox.bin0
One "downside" of not having Firefox; FF supports DRM (Digital
Rights Management), Chromium doesn't. DRM is required to play some
videos on YouTube. Example here.
See further release notes here:
https://distro.ibiblio.org/easyos/amd64/releases/daedalus/2024/6.4.1/release-notes.htm
The obligatory snapshot:
If you load the devx SFS, then you will get a complete compile
development environment, now including Zig support. The devx SFS
is downloaded and installed by clicking on the desktop "pkg" icon
and choose "SFSget".
You may choose to download the devx only, in which case you can install later (or uninstall), via these two routes:
- Menu "Filesystem -> Easy BootManager -> Load extra SFS files"
- Click desktop "setup" icon -> "EasyOS" button ->
"Bootup" button
The devx has Zig version 0.13.0 and Gvim text editor. Left-click on a .zig file still opens the default text editor which is Geany ...hmm, could change that to Gvim. For now, right-click on a .zig and Gvim is offered, and you get syntax highlighting:
The ZLS (Zig Language Server) is installed, but an editor that
supports it is required. The Devuan package repository does have
NeoVim for example. I do intend to post some simple Zig tutorials
soon.
Download Daedalus 6.4.1 from ibiblio:
https://distro.ibiblio.org/easyos/amd64/releases/daedalus/2024/6.4.1/
Fast mirror in Europe, courtesy of the Netherlands Linux/Unix User Group:
https://ftp.nluug.nl/os/Linux/distr/easyos/amd64/releases/daedalus/2024/6.4.1/
And in Australia mirrored by AARNET:
https://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/easyos/amd64/releases/daedalus/2024/
Install help is in this file:
https://distro.ibiblio.org/easyos/amd64/releases/daedalus/2024/6.4.1/readme.htm
Feedback welcome at the forum:
https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?p=134509#p134509
Have fun!
Tags: easy
Vim text editor supports Zig
I didn't know!!! Scarthgap has the Vim text editor available via PKGget (compiled in OE). I have overlooked it, as always thought that it is a terminal-mode application, like its predecessor 'vi'. However, it also has a gtk3 GUI, when started with "gvim" or "vim -g".
I installed it, and discovered that it supports Zig syntax highlighting out-of-the-box. Snapshot:
Here is my earlier post, looking around for text editors that support Zig:
- Zig development in Scarthgap devx — October 27, 2024
I also mentioned that "Dude the Builder" uses NeoVim; this is one of many "successors" to Vim. Though, the original Vim remains a very active project. Vim homepage:
This is the Zig support, that is already builtin to Vim:
https://github.com/ziglang/zig.vim
I will be very happy to remove VSCode from the 'devx' SFS. VSCode
is a PET package, so anyone can install it with PKGget if they
wish.
Vim is quite small, so might put it into easy.sfs, so offering an
alternative to Geany. Just need to tweak a few things -- like, it
currently creates menu entries in the "Utility"
category.
Note, I will likely post some simple getting-started tutorials
for Zig soon.
Tags: easy
EasyOS Scarthgap and Daedalus version 6.4
I'm currently maintaining three Linux distributions; EasyOS Scarthgap-series, EasyOS Daedalus-series and QV (Quirky Void). maybe in a year or so, that will be rationalized down to one "winner", but for now, there are three to choose from.
Scarthgap
Scarthgap is the main guy, packages compiled entirely from source
in my fork of OpenEmbedded (here).
The other two are newcomers, and Scarthgap is most mature and
likely to continue to be my main focus going forward. So if you
are new to EasyOS, I recommend choose Scarthgap.
Scarthgap release notes:
https://distro.ibiblio.org/easyos/amd64/releases/scarthgap/2024/6.4/release-notes.htm
Download:
https://distro.ibiblio.org/easyos/amd64/releases/scarthgap/2024/6.4/
Mirror in Europe, thanks to the Netherlands Linux/Unix User Group:
https://ftp.nluug.nl/os/Linux/distr/easyos/amd64/releases/scarthgap/2024/6.4/
There is also a mirror in Australia, though right now 6.4 hasn't arrived there:
https://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/easyos/amd64/releases/scarthgap/2024/
If you are new to EasyOS, you might find it helpful to read the announcement for 6.0, the start of the 6.x versions:
- EasyOS Scarthgap-series version 6.0 released — June 18, 2024
Forum feedback for Scarthgap is welcome here.
Daedalus
Daedalus-series has been built with Devuan Daedalus (Debian
Bookworm) DEB packages, with some Kirkstone OpenEmbedded-compiled
packages. The main advantage is that PKGget, the the package
manager, has access to the large Devuan/Debian package repository
(Scarthgap has a much smaller repository, but both have support
for AppImages, Flatpaks and SFS files).
There are no release note; just read recent blog posts:
- EasyOS Daedalus-series 6.3.93 (6.4RC) released — October 21, 2024
- Mime handling fix for KDE apps — October 20, 2024
- EasyOS Daedalus-series version 6.3.92 (6.4RC) — October 19, 2024
- EasyOS Daedalus-series version 6.3.90 (6.4RC) — October 16, 2024
- Playing with Easy Daedalus — October 14, 2024
Download:
https://distro.ibiblio.org/easyos/amd64/releases/daedalus/2024/6.4/
Forum feedback welcome here.
QV
This is totally different. EasyOS is experimental; QV is
experimental on steroids. It does not use aufs or overlay layered
filesystem. It uses BTRFS and exploits the snapshot capability.
PKGget has access to the fairly large Void Linux package
repository. The project page at github has some introductory
notes:
https://github.com/bkauler/woof-quantum-vis
Download:
https://distro.ibiblio.org/quirky/quirky-void/amd64/releases/base/
Version-numbering is by date, most recent is 24-10-07. There is supposed to be an update mechanism, but I haven't got around to that yet.
Forum feedback is welcome here.
A final note: I have been exploring ways to add another package
repository to Scarthgap. KDE apps for example, are wanted by some
users; though, they are available as AppImages and Flatpaks.
Anyway, I do intend to explore strategies for offering more
packages in Scarthgap.
Have fun!
Tags: easy
Zig development in Scarthgap devx
Zig was introduced a few days ago:
- The Zig language — October 21, 2024
Fascinating language; decided to go with it and Zig development support will be in the "devx" SFS in Easy Scarthgap 6.4 (coming very soon).
The devx SFS will have Zig version 0.13.0, which is the current stable release. It will also have VSCode text editor with Zig syntax highlighting. Also there is 'zls' language server, which can be used with VSCode.
Note that VSCode also supports Nim language syntax highlighting. Geany text editor does support Nim but not Zig -- there is an experimental Zig support in a branch of the Geany source repository; however, it doesn't work.
There are several text editors with Zig support. Here are some that I found:
Helix
https://helix-editor.com/
https://github.com/helix-editor/helix
Lapce
https://lapce.dev/
micro
https://micro-editor.github.io/
https://github.com/squeek502/micro-zigfmt
Sublime
https://www.sublimetext.com/
https://github.com/ziglang/sublime-zig-language
https://github.com/aidenfoxivey/sublime-zig-unofficial
--i'm using this
Zag
https://github.com/seanpm2001/Zag
Zenith
https://codeberg.org/zenith-editor/zenith
VSCode
https://code.visualstudio.com/
https://github.com/ziglang/vscode-zig
Sublime is a commercial product, supposedly free for a limited time; yet no cutout date is published for the free personal usage. I have made it into a PET and it will be installable via PKGget.
ZLS is a Zig Language Server, which I have also made into a PET, which will be builtin to the devx. ZLS project:
A language server does more than just syntax highlighting; such as code completion. See the Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_Server_Protocol
I don't know if VSCode will automatically use it, if found in the $PATH.
So, after Easy Scarthgap 6.4 is released, install the 'devx' SFS and you are good-to-go with learning Zig. The previous blog post has links to some getting-started tutorials. I also found a superb YouTube channel, by "Dude the Builder":
Zig in Depth (50 videos)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtB7CL7EG7pCw7Xy1SQC53Gl8pI7aDg9t
Zig Master (24 videos)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtB7CL7EG7pDKdSBA_AlNYrEsISOHBOQL
... the first series was done with Zig 0.11.0, latter with 0.12.0
(current release is 0.13.0). Dude the Builder uses NeoVim, which
is another editor that supports Zig.
Tags: easy
Kernel 6.6.58 compiled for Scarthgap
Bumping from 6.6.52. Kernel source, patches and build scripts here:
https://distro.ibiblio.org/easyos/source/kernel/6.6.x/6.6.58-20241026/
There are also matching nvidia and kernel source SFS files, that
will be available via SFSget, and broadcom PET installable via
PKGget.
Tags: easy