Mint Debian

npap · Post by **npap** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 6:09 am

Thanks for your approval Rivenought.

My only complaint about Debian has always been the long time that it takes to install.
So, with a free ride on Anti X 8, I got a Debian (by accident) that took much less time.

Besides, isn't the installer that has been an issue with the Mint Debian?

You seem to know more than I do on this matter, so why not take an initiative to give this project a push.
I don't think that Mepis will object to taking advantage of their very good installer. And Anti would probably be
eager and happy to help.

Thanks again,
Greetings, npap

rivenought · Post by **rivenought** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 7:08 am

I agree that the installation time for a plain Debian install took longer than Mint. However, after downloading DVD 1 and not adding a mirror to begin with, the installation was much faster. When all packages are pulled from the DVD, time is cut down to about 35 or 45 minutes on my system. I have a sources list to add once I have everything up and running to get multimedia and backports set up. Then, it only takes a few little blocks of code/scripts I have put together to have the system rocking. Yes, it took me numerous times of trial and error, as well as lots of note-taking with good old Zim, to get as far as I am at this point. I am learning just like everyone else. It is slow, but I am making progress.

I am not, and most likely will never be, in the league with Anticapitalista. He is much more talented than I am. If he was to decide to do a project over this way, I know I would be happy to help him do some testing. I do try to help out where and when I can.

I keep wondering what Warren could come up with in regards to using GNOME with his MEPIS instead of KDE. I still need to do some experimenting over in his campground sometime soon.

npap · Post by **npap** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 7:34 am

rivenought wrote: I am not, and most likely will never be, in the league with Anticapitalista. He is much more talented than I am. If he was to decide to do a project over this way, I know I would be happy to help him do some testing. I do try to help out where and when I can.

I keep wondering what Warren could come up with in regards to using GNOME with his MEPIS instead of KDE. I still need to do some experimenting over in his campground sometime soon.

Good work Rivenought

As a matter of fact, I suggested the idea of a Gnome version to Anti.
He seemed to accept it but he said that he didn't have the time to maintain two different distributions.

Cheers,
npap

maybeway36 · Post by **maybeway36** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 6:38 pm

If someone wanted to make a Mepis-based "minty" CD, that would be great. You can't use remastersys with Mepis; it uses its own system, and I don't really know much about it.
You could look here if you're interested:
http://www.mepis.org/docs/en/index.php/ ... ing_script
EDIT: Just saw exploder's post. Didn't know remastersys had an installer. Nice!

anticapitalista · Post by **anticapitalista** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 7:15 pm

I'll join the thread to mention that there is someone called vampirefo already making a gnome MEPIS

http://www.mepislovers.org/forums/showt ... nome+MEPIS

You could quite easily do the same with antiX (as has been done) or maybe even better by using the antiX-base version.

How well MINT tools would work on an antiX (or MEPIS) Debian base I have no idea, but I'd be interested in finding out.

Good luck with the project.

anticapitalista

npap · Post by **npap** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 7:24 am

You're a great guy, Anti

Having followed Mepis during its evolution, I have been wondering when this extremely well-designed distribution will finally come out with a Gnome desktop.
So, your information on the matter is great news.
I have been using Mepis for years as an alternative, for reliability, when my other distribution in my dual-boot system fails.

Will download Mepis-Gnome and give some feedback as soon as possible..

I would surely like to see Mepis and Mint get together. Mepis IMHO deserves a better place in the "Linux Hall of Fame"

Cheers,
npap

Rebel · Post by **Rebel** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 5:14 pm

* Report this post
* Reply with quote

Re: Mint Debian/ A POSSIBLE WORKAROUND

New postby npap on Mon Mar 16, 2009 8:57 pm
Just curious.
What would you Gurus think of the following scheme?

1) Get Mepis AntiX 8, IceWM desktop (Advantage: The fast and simple Mepis installer.).
http://mirror.cs.vt.edu/pub/MEPIS/antix/antiX-M8.iso

2) Add Gnome using Synaptics.
The result is a Debian Lenny-based version using the fast Mepis installer.

3) Clean up any unwanted branding and software.

4) Add all the Mint goodies to it.

Sounds good. Here is another idea....install Parsix. (Debian based with Gnome interface.) Then add the Mint goodies and do the clean up. What do ya think?

merlwiz79 · Post by **merlwiz79** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 3:42 am

Here is how to make Debian Minty, with custom mintmenu, mint-info and mintsystem packages.
http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p ... 99#p174593

Post by **clem** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 10:14 am

Hi,

Just a little note to say that I'm planning on working on the Debian edition again, and this time the goal won't be just an ALPHA experiment.

- mintconstructor is now compatible with Debian Live. I pushed the code change in github yesterday.
- I'm planning to write an installer.
- It will be a rolling distribution.
- Neither the release cycle nor the version numbers will follow those of the other Mint editions.
- Improvements will be pushed towards it incrementally, so it will miss features at first, and slowly but surely it will catch up with the other editions.
- It should be based on Debian testing, possibly Debian Unstable.

Clem.

rivenathos · Post by **rivenathos** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 2:53 pm

Clem,
This is excellent news! I am looking forward to helping with testing. I already run Debian Lenny 64-bit, as well as the 32-bit version on another machine. Please keep us updated on your progress.

tawan · Post by **tawan** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 1:11 am

Cool news.

kanishka · Post by **kanishka** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 4:14 am

Fantastic!!! This is great news indeed. I would put this announcment in the main page!

Zwopper · Post by **Zwopper** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 4:40 am

Great news indeed!

exploder · Post by **exploder** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:38 am

I would like to see this happen with KDE too. I love the idea of a rolling release.

Fred · Post by **Fred** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 10:40 am

Great news! That's about all I can say.

Fred

Post by **clem** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 3:34 pm

Sorry ikey, it's too late

I've already done the GUI for it and most of the underlying system, so the installer is well on its way. I'll publish the code to github soon so you'll be able to fork it and propose changes.

As you can see I didn't include any fancy options and only one partition can be selected. I want things to work asap so I can then take my time and improve this edition as I go along, incrementally.

Clem.

Fred · Post by **Fred** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 3:51 pm

clem,

I like your approach to this. I have always thought it better to pre-make partitions before the install. I would much rather see the installer doing fewer tasks well, especially in the beginning, than being bloated with confusing "features" done poorly.

Fred

Post by **clem** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 3:59 pm

Partitioning will be added at a later stage. When that happens, I'll make sure not to confuse the user. I'll introduce more and more options but I'll keep the whole thing as simple as possible. As always, I'll use good default values, complemented with both optional and advanced alternatives. We'll please both novice and advanced users.

Clem.

dlkreations · Post by **dlkreations** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 5:23 pm

clem wrote:

Only one problem here... You may want to change that to Advanced.

merlwiz79 · Post by **merlwiz79** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 5:54 pm

The only think I don't like about Debian is that they use unauthorized patches for the Mozilla software.
This means that they can introduce a bug and they wouldn't know about it.
They make a Linux Distro, not a browser and should leave the patches to Mozilla.
This way it would be more secure and I would feel safer.
I have Squeeze already installed on an old laptop with only 256MB of RAM.
It runs well and it look just like Linux Mint. http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p ... 99#p174593
Some of the apps has bugs, like gdebi crashing instead of installing.
One think I don't like is having to manually setting up the sudoers file, just so i can use it to install packages.
I think one think I would like to see is Hardware Drivers from Ubuntu ported to Debian.
It makes it so easy to get the hardware working.