Xwoaf with apps.
After working with the 1diskxwin project (see below) I became fascinated with the concept of X windows on a boot linux floppy. Working with the 1diskxwin project presented a major problem: the apps were neither readily customizable nor programmable, nor was there any expansion room. The app source was not available, although source for the basic kernel, uClibc, busybox, libtinyX11 and X server were.
So in response, I put together an xcurses module that turns a typical ncurses based app into a libX11 only app. This allowed removal of most of the toolkit libs that took a lot of the available space.
Since the initial release of Xwoaf, the major feedback I have received is "can Xwoaf do rdesktop?". The result is Xwoaf now has two forms: without oxelmo, but with rdesktop and with oxelmo, but without rdesktop. Both include minix, vfat and ext2 file systems, xcmd X run command, improved module support and help files for all major apps.
Xwoaf is a stripped down version of the linux-2.2.25 and X 4.0.9 kdrives.
THERE IS NO NLS (Native Language Support)!
If you need NLS then you might want to check out:
Just Another VNC and RDesktop Floppy Distribution v2.0
or a distro from
FrozenTech's LiveCD List.
The X apps available are: edx text editor, rdesktop client for MS Windows, retawq text only web browser, txplor dual-pane tree/dir filemanager, OXElmo email client, xcmd X-run command, bcalc 4 function calculator and a popup calendar with day/date/time. Also includes jwm window manager and all modules for NICs, block devices and file systems.
Specifics:
Size (bytes) - Name - - - - Function
*** You can have oxelmo email client or the rdesktop client and app help files, but not both on a floppy. If you want/need both then you will have to merge your own and then run the initrd from a different medium than a floppy.
Minimum RAM required: 24Meg. 4M RAMDISK, rest for kernel & apps.
Download:
Xwoaf-0.2.0g
: 2.1M X Windows On A Floppy archive w/doc, floppy image, modules
and pack/unpack scripts. Nov. 2, 2005
Xwoaf-0.2.0g with framebuffer
: 2.01M X Windows On A Floppy archive w/doc, floppy image, modules
and pack/unpack scripts. Nov. 4, 2005
Custom Xwoaf kit
: 3.6M Mix and match video modes, apps and qemu for debugging. Nov. 2, 2005
Xwoaf apps: 1.94M Source and Xwoaf
construction howto. Nov. 2 2005
NOTE: if you are one of those types who want all the floppy they can get see http://www.phys.uu.nl/~heukelum/xdflinux/ for a method of writing up to 1920KB on a 1.4M floppy.
After switching completely over from Windows to Linux, had to recreate my Windows development style environment for linux. This archive contains the latest personalized (read: hacked) versions of my operational programs used on a daily basis.
Included are a suite of programs aimed at the most gui in the least space. Includes several web browsers, filemanagers, and text editors. See README, below, for a complete list and description.
A small set of xlib only window manager (jwm, karmn), windows style task-bar (fspanel), menu program (menu), X text mode web browser retawq and the X file manager txplor are included from my XWOAF project.
These source packages include my operational Makefiles for reference. If they do not work for you, rerun either ./configure or xmkmf -a with your preferences edited into the appropriate files as noted in the individual packages. These packages come with absolutely no binaries or warranties. Compile and use at your own risk.The archive is evolving due to encountering new programs. The old ones are still available in lhafh-02, newer hacks and integrations in lhafh-03. Dillo is now also a tabbed container for both edx text editor and uxplor, while continuing to be the best small fast static graphic web browser.
LMW is a bash shell script, released under the GPL, for producing a minimal linux initrd image from your resident linux installation, suitable for booting from a floppy, hard-disk or solid-state memory device. You, too, can join the PDA/Internet appliance boom in the privacy of your own home.
Default X configuration includes the Xvnc server, allowing remote control of the target system. Using Xvnc eliminates the necessity of a graphics card in the target system, at the cost of requiring a network interface. Options are also provided for conventional X servers.
You can build a minimal floppy disk size compressed image of 1.22Mb and/or an X capable compressed image of 3.7Mb (these are functional sizes, not minimums. Depending on your linux and selected applications, the size can vary wildly). This does not include a bootable kernel which you will have to provide.
Be forewarned, this is NOT a distribution. This is a framework for creating your own distribution. This package assumes that you have built your own kernel; know what a soft link is; know how to download, unpack, configure and compile source packages; know how to understand man pages; and are comfortable performing routine edit/compile/boot functions as user root. If any of the above does not make sense, I recommend starting your education at http://www.linux.org/docs/index.html.
This script and supporting framework was developed on Slackware 7.2 beta, using a 2.4.3-pre6 kernel. Older linux systems will have different lib and file names. You will have to determine any required name changes and edit lmw.sh to match.
The supplemental binaries included in the default package were built using GNU libc-6. If you are building from a libc-5 or older system, they will not run. Download and compile the modified sources from below.
Credits
This project stands on the shoulders of giants. Lots of people have contributed. Without GNU Linux or the GPL, this would not exist. The following three hold a special place, since they came before with such definitive excellence:
Required/recommended packages:
Questions, feedback or flames can be directed at
"loveall at iinet.com". (Replace " at " with an @ symbol)