EasyOS Scarthgap-series version 6.4.5

[BarryK]

I am checking old right-click pet , that nice option it provide , run-in-terminal for executable , that feature would be nice too !!
Less click = happier users

Your wish is my command! ...well, sometimes

This request is now done, see blog post:

https://bkhome.org/news/202411/rox-righ ... minal.html

very nice addition. thanks. will the commit be limited to woofq or extended to woofqv? I second don570 suggestion for an md5sum command entry in the right click menu.

The problem with woofQV is that it is a separate project.
The changes being made in woofQ can be ported to woofQV (and hence to Quirky Void / Quantum Vis) but I will have to do it manually.

First, I want to consider an improved method for implementing Run-in-terminal, then will probably get stuck into porting to QV.

QV promises to have a simple update mechanism, just by installing a PET, which is something not yet tested.

[Federico]

Dear all,
for the ones who use the KDE apps like me, I've written a small script which can be used to automatically fix the Dolphin contextual menu after the system has been updated, which is used to choose the application for opening a particular file, among all the available ones, and to define file associations for any extension within the system.

Code: Select all

#!/bin/bash

file="libkf5service-data_5.103.0-1_all.deb";

Australia="http://ftp.au.debian.org/debian/pool/main/k/kservice/";
Address=$Australia;

#EU_Germany="http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian/pool/main/k/kservice/";
#Address=$EU_Germany;

#North_America="http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/k/kservice/";
#Address=$North_America;

#Sud_America="http://download.unesp.br/linux/debian/pool/main/k/kservice/";
#Address=$Sud_America;

#China="http://ftp.cn.debian.org/debian/pool/main/k/kservice/";
#Address=$China;

#Africa="http://debian.mirror.ac.za/debian/pool/main/k/kservice/";
#Address=$Africa;

# Download the package libkf5service-data_5.103.0-1_all.deb and save it onto /files/archive 
cd /files/archive/
U=$Address;
FILE=$file;
[[ -z "$U" ]] && echo -e "Usage: $0 repo-url [file to download]\nwithout give \"file to download\" this script will list the files inside the repo\n";
for i in $(curl -l "$U" 2>/dev/null|grep -i 'href='|sed -e 's/.*href=//g' -e 's/>.*//g' -e 's/"//g'|grep -v '/$'|grep "$FILE")
do
 if [[ -z "$FILE" ]]
 then
  echo "FILE: $i"
 else
  echo "Download file: $i"
  curl -q "${U}/${i}" --output "$i" 2>/dev/null
  ls -la "$i"
 fi
done

sleep 3;

# Extract file kf5-applications.menu from package and save it onto /etc/xdg/menus
dpkg-deb --fsys-tarfile libkf5service-data_5.103.0-1_all.deb | tar -xOf - ./etc/xdg/menus/kf5-applications.menu > /etc/xdg/menus/kf5-applications.menu 

sleep 1;

# Close Dolphin instances if present
kill `pidof dolphin`;

sleep 1;

# Rebuild Dolphin applications-contextual-menu
kbuildsycoca5 --noincremental;

The curl package is needed (also available on the Scarthgap repository). This script works also fine on Daedalus. What this script does is extremely simple:

- Downloads the package libkf5service-data_5.103.0-1_all.deb from the Debian repository and saves it onto the /files/archive folder
- Extracts the file kf5-applications.menu from it onto the folder /etc/xdg/menus
- Closes all active Dolphin instances if present
- Executes the needed command to rebuild the Dolphin menu

The default url for the package is the australian one. If you want to select another location, just comment the 2 lines for Australia and uncomment the 2 lines for the desired source location. Just name this script as you wish (give it obviously the .sh file extension) and don't forget to give it execution permissions.

[BarryK]

for the ones who use the KDE apps like me, I've written a small script which can be used to automatically fix the Dolphin contextual menu after the system has been updated, which is used to choose the application for opening a particular file, among all the installed applications, and to define file associations for any extension within the system.

I looked at the man page for kbuildsycoca5:

https://man.archlinux.org/man/kbuildsycoca5.8.en

...note, the debian kbuildsycoca5 does not support that "--global" option.

The utility writes to file ${XDG_CACHE_HOME}/ksycoca5_*
where XDG_CACHE_HOME=${HOME}/.cache
for Dolphin running as root, that will be /root/.cache

A session save or update, .cache folders are not saved.
So it would seem that all you need to do is save that file /root/.cache/ksycoca5_* somewhere and restore it.

But what I don't understand is why file associations work when dolphin is first installed, when haven't run that kbuildsycoca5

[Federico]

I looked at the man page for kbuildsycoca5:

https://man.archlinux.org/man/kbuildsycoca5.8.en

...note, the debian kbuildsycoca5 does not support that "--global" option.

The utility writes to file ${XDG_CACHE_HOME}/ksycoca5_*
where XDG_CACHE_HOME=${HOME}/.cache
for Dolphin running as root, that will be /root/.cache

A session save or update, .cache folders are not saved.
So it would seem that all you need to do is save that file /root/.cache/ksycoca5_* somewhere and restore it.

But what I don't understand is why file associations work when dolphin is first installed, when haven't run that kbuildsycoca5

Dear Barry,
I wouldn't like to say anything incorrect but my experience is that the file kf5-applications.menu gets deleted after a while (probably after the next system boot - not sure about that -). So just copying the file there again does not look to be a permanent solution.
For sure instead, re-executing the command kbuildsycoca5 --noincremental is a permanent solution which works until the next system update.
Anyway, what really matters in my opinion is just the idea. We could add a menu folder for KDE Dolphin which contains a link to this script called "Dolphin fix after system update" and maybe also a link for installing the Breeze icon theme, why not?
In this way the integration of the KDE apps wouldn't still be perfect but would be at least much more comfortable I think.

Thanks so much for the attention.

Best regards.

[Caramel]

...
I wouldn't like to say anything incorrect but my experience is that the file kf5-applications.menu gets deleted after a while (probably after the next system boot - not sure about that -).
...

(EasyOS Scarthgap 6.4.2)

In the script init (inside initrd), after a update, the modifications of the directory /etc/xdg/ are deleted.

Lines 1756 to 1759 :

#200830 this folder must always be pristine...
#20230718 this also erases etc/xdg/rox.sourceforge.net which has right-click menu for user-installed apps,
# so have put code into /etc/rc.d/rc.update to run build-rox-sendto after switch_root...
[ -d /mnt/${WKG_DEV}/${WKG_DIR}.session/etc/xdg ] && rm -rf /mnt/${WKG_DEV}/${WKG_DIR}.session/etc/xdg

This code is executed only after an update
See line 1608 :

if [ ! -d /mnt/${WKG_DEV}/${WKG_DIR}releases/easy-${INIT_DISTRO_VERSION} ];then

[BarryK]

...
I wouldn't like to say anything incorrect but my experience is that the file kf5-applications.menu gets deleted after a while (probably after the next system boot - not sure about that -).
...

(EasyOS Scarthgap 6.4.2)

In the script init (inside initrd), after a update, the modifications of the directory /etc/xdg/ are deleted.

Lines 1756 to 1759 :

#200830 this folder must always be pristine...
#20230718 this also erases etc/xdg/rox.sourceforge.net which has right-click menu for user-installed apps,
# so have put code into /etc/rc.d/rc.update to run build-rox-sendto after switch_root...
[ -d /mnt/${WKG_DEV}/${WKG_DIR}.session/etc/xdg ] && rm -rf /mnt/${WKG_DEV}/${WKG_DIR}.session/etc/xdg

This code is executed only after an update
See line 1608 :

if [ ! -d /mnt/${WKG_DEV}/${WKG_DIR}releases/easy-${INIT_DISTRO_VERSION} ];then

Thanks for finding that.
Instead of putting in a hack to preserve just that one file, fixed it a bit more laboriously:

Code: Select all

 #200830 this folder must always be pristine...
 #20230718 this also erases etc/xdg/rox.sourceforge.net which has right-click menu for user-installed apps,
 # so have put code into /etc/rc.d/rc.update to run build-rox-sendto after switch_root...
 #20241112 a kde pkg installs /etc/xdg/menus/kf5-applications.menu, need to retain...
 #[ -d /mnt/${WKG_DEV}/${WKG_DIR}.session/etc/xdg ] && rm -rf /mnt/${WKG_DEV}/${WKG_DIR}.session/etc/xdg
 if [ -d /mnt/${WKG_DEV}/${WKG_DIR}.session/etc/xdg ];then
  for aD in autostart rox.sourceforge.net templates Xwayland-session.d
  do
   if [ -d /mnt/${WKG_DEV}/${WKG_DIR}.session/etc/xdg/${aD} ];then
    rm -rf /mnt/${WKG_DEV}/${WKG_DIR}.session/etc/xdg/${aD}
   fi
  done
  if [ -d /mnt/${WKG_DEV}/${WKG_DIR}.session/etc/xdg/menus ];then
   for aF in archived-cascading archived-inline
   do
    if [ -d /mnt/${WKG_DEV}/${WKG_DIR}.session/etc/xdg/menus/${aF} ];then
     rm -rf /mnt/${WKG_DEV}/${WKG_DIR}.session/etc/xdg/menus/${aF}
    fi
   done
   for aF in applications.menu hierarchy preferences.menu puppy-business.menu puppy-calculate.menu puppy-desktop.menu puppy-document.menu puppy-filesystem.menu puppy-fun.menu puppy-graphic.menu puppy-internet.menu puppy-multimedia.menu puppy-network.menu puppy-personal.menu puppy-setup.menu puppy-system.menu puppy-utility.menu settings.menu
   do
    if [ -f /mnt/${WKG_DEV}/${WKG_DIR}.session/etc/xdg/menus/${aF} ];then
     rm -f /mnt/${WKG_DEV}/${WKG_DIR}.session/etc/xdg/menus/${aF}
    fi
   done
  fi
 fi

[Federico]

@ BarryK and Caramel,

Dear BarryK and Caramel,

this looks really good and sounds very promising!

Do you mean that Dolphin will keep on working perfectly, even after a system update?

Will this also work on Easy Daedalus (on which it's even more important)?

Thank you so much!

[BarryK]

Do you mean that Dolphin will keep on working perfectly, even after a system update?

Will this also work on Easy Daedalus (on which it's even more important)?

Yes

[Federico]

Yes

Dear Barry, if this is true, these are really great news!
I'm looking forward to testing the next versions of Easy Scarthgap and Easy Daedalus, featuring these corrections and also the new JWM 2.4.7 (to be honest I don't think that there will be many reasons to stay with Scarthgap if Daedalus gets perfected).

This could be really a great hit in the Linux world: a compact and jet extremely powerful and versatile operating system, which opens up the same possibilities of the main-stream distros by using just one quarter of the disk space, removing most unnecessary logic procedures, adding many useful security features and even being extremely suitable for running on flash memories.

I apologize in advance for not having much time for testing. I also hope that the network applet will be fixed on Daedalus: it's the last thing with which I'm having trouble on Daedalus, but maybe it only concerns my hardware, even though I must report, that it works perfectly on Scarthgap and on the same hardware.

[BarryK]

Simultaneous releases of Scarthgap and Daedalus, both version 6.4.4.
Blog announcement:

https://bkhome.org/news/202411/easyos-s ... eases.html

[james2]

Both updated, all smooth going. brilliant. Big thx to Barry and all who got us here.

[BarryK]

I'm looking forward to testing the next versions of Easy Scarthgap and Easy Daedalus, featuring these corrections and also the new JWM 2.4.7

While I remember:
I only updated jwm to 2.4.7 in Scarthgap, not in Daedalus.

But, jwm is one of those things that just works, regardless of version, so you are unlikely to notice any change with 2.4.7 compared with older versions.

[BarryK]

You can run Easy Daedalus in a container in Scarthgap:

https://bkhome.org/news/202411/run-easy ... thgap.html

So, can install from the huge Devuan/Debian package repository, no need to have a separate Easy Daedalus.

[BarryK]

I re-uploaded 'daedalus_6.4.4_amd64.sfs' with a fix, and have edited the blog post, see text in bold green:

https://bkhome.org/news/202411/run-easy ... thgap.html

Tested Daedalus in container on another computer, ran "Download latest Firefox", yep, problem fixed.

On that computer, the function keys are not the default, have to hold down FN-ALT-F6 to flip the screen back from Daedalus to Scarthgap desktop.
Maybe it would be good to have some sort of button on the Daedalus desktop, then just click on the button to flip back.

[LHESTIA]

Good morning,
Until now, I was running bookworm in a container for kde applications. I tried daedalus. It works well but it is not possible to add icons to the desktop or change the wallpaper. When you close easyos, everything disappears when you launch it again. I deleted PuppyPinBACK but PuppyPin is still in its original state.
Thank you for giving me solutions and at the same time, learning.
Kind regards.

[CF-DKS]

Good morning,
Until now, I was running bookworm in a container for kde applications. I tried daedalus. It works well but it is not possible to add icons to the desktop or change the wallpaper. When you close easyos, everything disappears when you launch it again. I deleted PuppyPinBACK but PuppyPin is still in its original state.
Thank you for giving me solutions and at the same time, learning.
Kind regards.

I am running into similar problems. I do retain the wallpaper (I did put that file in puppy reference), but any files in downloads or media disappear after shutdown and reboot. I can save them by putting them in "shared". My browser setting seem to be retained. Have just started experimenting with Daedalus in a container. Have not tried adding icons yet.

[BarryK]

Good morning,
Until now, I was running bookworm in a container for kde applications. I tried daedalus. It works well but it is not possible to add icons to the desktop or change the wallpaper. When you close easyos, everything disappears when you launch it again. I deleted PuppyPinBACK but PuppyPin is still in its original state.
Thank you for giving me solutions and at the same time, learning.
Kind regards.

I am running into similar problems. I do retain the wallpaper (I did put that file in puppy reference), but any files in downloads or media disappear after shutdown and reboot. I can save them by putting them in "shared". My browser setting seem to be retained. Have just started experimenting with Daedalus in a container. Have not tried adding icons yet.

Good, I want feedback, as currently giving Easy Containers some TLC.

Alfons sent me an email, reporting on success installing some apps in the Daedalus container. He also requested to be able to copy the clipboard in and out of the container. I'm working on that, first steps reported:

https://bkhome.org/news/202411/enhanced ... ainer.html

[CF-DKS]

Good, I want feedback, as currently giving Easy Containers some TLC.

I may be the only one reporting this, as I prefer the icons in the tray, but it seems that whatever choice you make in Scarthgap, it must be the same in Daedalus. Also, I can't add icons to the tray in Daedalus, only to the desktop when I choose that option. Minor detail and of no great importance. I have installed Thunderbird in Daedalus and it appears to work and persist through rebooting. Wallpaper changes back to the default at odd times when one makes changes, but that is an easy (pun intended) fix!

[james2]

Hi all. wondering if this script is still current to turn off journalling and enable encryption in Scarthgap 6.4.4. i found the script under -Installing easy to drive. tune2fs -O encrypt,^has_journal /dev/mmcblk0p6. (used my HD sda2)

When I ran it all that appeared to happen was it brought up #tunefs 1.4.7.0 (5-Feb-2023)

[LHESTIA]

Good morning,
I'll get back to you about daedalus in a container. I downloaded kstars. This software works perfectly even after closing/opening scarthgap. On the other hand, I tried foxtrotgps. After downloading, everything is fine but after shutting down the PC, the software is present but no longer launches.
I installed daedalus 6.4.4 on a USB key, everything works normally. I tested daedalus in the container of this key and did not encounter the problem.
There you go, hoping that these few attempts will be useful.
Kind regards.

[BarryK]

Quick flip out of container with button on desktop, with clipboard copy:

https://bkhome.org/news/202411/quick-fl ... ainer.html

[BarryK]

Good morning,
I'll get back to you about daedalus in a container. I downloaded kstars. This software works perfectly even after closing/opening scarthgap. On the other hand, I tried foxtrotgps. After downloading, everything is fine but after shutting down the PC, the software is present but no longer launches.
I installed daedalus 6.4.4 on a USB key, everything works normally. I tested daedalus in the container of this key and did not encounter the problem.
There you go, hoping that these few attempts will be useful.
Kind regards.

I installed foxtrotgps in daedalus in container. The gui starts but reports "No GPSD found".

I presume that some kind of gps device is required. is this a usb device?

EDIT:
package 'gpsd' is required. I ran "/etc/init.d/gpsd start" and it failed, needs the full 'sysvinit-utils' pkg installed.
Then gpsd started and foxtrotgps started ok.

I haven't tested after reboot, but it looks like you will have to manually run "/etc/init.d/gpsd start" in the container.

[BarryK]

Good morning,
I'll get back to you about daedalus in a container. I downloaded kstars. This software works perfectly even after closing/opening scarthgap. On the other hand, I tried foxtrotgps. After downloading, everything is fine but after shutting down the PC, the software is present but no longer launches.
I installed daedalus 6.4.4 on a USB key, everything works normally. I tested daedalus in the container of this key and did not encounter the problem.
There you go, hoping that these few attempts will be useful.
Kind regards.

I installed foxtrotgps in daedalus in container. The gui starts but reports "No GPSD found".

I presume that some kind of gps device is required. is this a usb device?

EDIT:
package 'gpsd' is required. I ran "/etc/init.d/gpsd start" and it failed, needs the full 'sysvinit-utils' pkg installed.
Then gpsd started and foxtrotgps started ok.

I haven't tested after reboot, but it looks like you will have to manually run "/etc/init.d/gpsd start" in the container.

I have posted about this to the blog:

https://bkhome.org/news/202411/fix-for-foxtrotgps.html

[BarryK]

Hi all. wondering if this script is still current to turn off journalling and enable encryption in Scarthgap 6.4.4. i found the script under -Installing easy to drive. tune2fs -O encrypt,^has_journal /dev/mmcblk0p6. (used my HD sda2)

When I ran it all that appeared to happen was it brought up #tunefs 1.4.7.0 (5-Feb-2023)

It should work, but enabling encrypt is only useful for a new install of EasyOS, before the folders are populated.

Turning off journaling doesn't really matter if you are booting Easy in the default mode of running in ram.

[AmStaff]

Hello, I missed it if someone else has already posted about it and there's an easy fix somewhere, but I have no sound in Scarthgap 6.4.4.
Hardinfo tells me that the audio device is an Intel 100/C230 Chipset Family HD Audio Controller. Could it be a missing driver?
I've unmuted everything that was muted and turned up everything that will turn up in the mixer and still there is no sound. I tried it in StreamTuner2 and also in Firefox. I haven't tried plugging in an external CD or downloading a file to see if that will work, but I didn't see how that might be different anyway.

[BarryK]

Hello, I missed it if someone else has already posted about it and there's an easy fix somewhere, but I have no sound in Scarthgap 6.4.4.
Hardinfo tells me that the audio device is an Intel 100/C230 Chipset Family HD Audio Controller. Could it be a missing driver?
I've unmuted everything that was muted and turned up everything that will turn up in the mixer and still there is no sound. I tried it in StreamTuner2 and also in Firefox. I haven't tried plugging in an external CD or downloading a file to see if that will work, but I didn't see how that might be different anyway.

Have you tried MSCW (Multiple Sound Card Wizard)?

Right-click on the audio icon in the tray to run it.

[BarryK]

Daedalus in container, fix for Network category in menu:

https://bkhome.org/news/202411/remove-n ... ainer.html

[AmStaff]

Yes, Barry, I have tried the MSCW. It correctly identified the hardware and gave me sound. But neither FF nor StreamTuner2 produce sound for me. Happily, I have sound in Bookworm64, and I had it in the Kirkstone series of Easy, and I'm going to try it on one of my laptops to see what happens. It's late here in Ohio now, so that will be tomorrow.

[BarryK]

Good morning,
Until now, I was running bookworm in a container for kde applications. I tried daedalus. It works well but it is not possible to add icons to the desktop or change the wallpaper. When you close easyos, everything disappears when you launch it again. I deleted PuppyPinBACK but PuppyPin is still in its original state.
Thank you for giving me solutions and at the same time, learning.
Kind regards.

Good news:

https://bkhome.org/news/202411/containe ... e-fix.html

There is still the other reported problem, of anything under /files not getting saved. I'll look into that this evening.

[BarryK]

Good morning,
Until now, I was running bookworm in a container for kde applications. I tried daedalus. It works well but it is not possible to add icons to the desktop or change the wallpaper. When you close easyos, everything disappears when you launch it again. I deleted PuppyPinBACK but PuppyPin is still in its original state.
Thank you for giving me solutions and at the same time, learning.
Kind regards.

I am running into similar problems. I do retain the wallpaper (I did put that file in puppy reference), but any files in downloads or media disappear after shutdown and reboot. I can save them by putting them in "shared". My browser setting seem to be retained. Have just started experimenting with Daedalus in a container. Have not tried adding icons yet.

I have fixed that, see blog:

https://bkhome.org/news/202411/containe ... e-fix.html

I'm wondering though, instead of just having /files/shared shared with the main filesystem, why not share the entire /files?

/files is for keeping all your personal stuff, such as photos, videos, projects, etc.
It might be practical to have access to all of that from within containers.

There is still some isolation, /files/apps have folders for apps that run non-root, other non-root apps not allowed to see into other folders under /files/apps

It is all very well to think of isolated containers, but for practical usage, might want apps inside containers to work with almost as much freedom as apps on the main desktop.