PocketHandyBox (Debian 12 "Bookworm" with NVIDIA drivers OOTB)

[Clarity]

@wiak has a solution already for KLs which is similar, yet more expansive than WoofCE's SAVESPEC file approach.
SAVESPEC file is this for me (self explanatory):

Code: Select all

# This file, when present, will be used by WoofCE PUPs at boot time.
# The file sets the SESSIONs directional for the booting distro.

# Indicate the label or UUID of the partition containing Sessions
SS_ID='Persistence'
# Indicate the folder-name containing Sessions
SS_DIR='/Sessions'
# Indicate the media type device containing Sessions
SS_MEDIA='atahd'

His file has more capability yet intends to serve the same purpose to identify where Sessions are/will-be located.

@fatdog has no such approach where a file present at boot time will direct its sessions-management. Today, users MUST change, at boot menu time, using its savefile=... parm to direct session identification. This parm approach is equivalent to what PUPs do, what DOGs do. Yet it does not, currently, offer a similar file-in-the-boot location for directing session management.

All of this surrounds the Session Management for Persistence in forum distros.

My efforts are CENTERED!!! THhis means that I have a partition, with a folder where ALL forum distros Persistence is kept. For all of the forum distros, a backup of this single folder (or partition) preserves the users distro use should something go wrong and needs restoration. On EVERY PC that I have touched for myself, students, people wanting to step into a forum distro, this arrangement is created at EVERY occasion, ONCE. And forever-more all sessions are directed to that partition-folder. Not only good-housekeeping, but all too simple for any use/user. My Persistence folder, for example,on this running PC:

Sessions on Persistence.jpg (13.36 KiB) Viewed 16832 times

So from a user perspective of persistence in this forum, WE see:

• a single "check-root folder ONLY(???)' approach for Persistence

• Menus useful for Persistence

• Parms useful for Persistence

• Files useful for Persistence

All intending to make the user boot experience useful and meaningful for Persistence.

[gumanzoy]

Default settings for GTK3 FileChooser Dialog

How to set Chrome download popup window size? <SOLVED>

Solved in DogLinux now.

I thought to simplify things (you seem to make it more complicated than it is IMO ), by just adding dconf/user to home/puppy/.config in dog-boot-bookworm-20221013 https://debiandog.github.io/MakeLive/do ... 013.tar.gz
(the dconf/user that was created when I logged in as puppy, it contains apparently the geometry setting of the popup window that I adjusted to much smaller)

But I'm looking for a better solution.

I know that is creating or modifying at run time. But it is contains many settings for other gtk3 apps currently running in system.
I just curious how to create .config/dconf/user only with settings for org.gtk.Settings.FileChooser
And not define any other desktop apps settings. To leave it as upstream default.

And I found this:

1. Edit this file with default settings /usr/share/glib-2.0/schemas/org.gtk.Settings.FileChooser.gschema.xml

2. At build time replace original file with modified version after all packages installed.
   For DogLinix build system can be added to zz_xfce_config.squashfs and other zz_*_config.squashfs

3. And then needs to re-create /usr/share/glib-2.0/schemas/gschemas.compiled by run command (depending on arch)
   /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/glib-2.0/glib-compile-schemas /usr/share/glib-2.0/schemas/

I already commit it Commit 377bb43
/usr/share/glib-2.0/schemas/org.gtk.Settings.FileChooser.gschema.xml
Enable Show hidden files
Enable Show folders first
Set default window size 800x600
Set Startup mode - current working directory

Code: Select all

--- chroot/usr/share/glib-2.0/schemas/org.gtk.Settings.FileChooser.gschema.xml	2023-05-22 07:22:08.000000000 +0500
+++ xfceconf/usr/share/glib-2.0/schemas/org.gtk.Settings.FileChooser.gschema.xml	2025-01-23 23:30:17.559019638 +0500
@@ -69,14 +69,14 @@
       </description>
     </key>
     <key name='show-hidden' type='b'>
-      <default>false</default>
+      <default>true</default>
       <summary>Show hidden files</summary>
       <description>
 	Controls whether the file chooser shows hidden files or not.
       </description>
     </key>
     <key type="b" name="sort-directories-first">
-      <default>false</default>
+      <default>true</default>
       <summary>Show folders first</summary>
       <description>
         If set to true, then folders are shown before files in the list.
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@
       </description>
     </key>
     <key name='window-position' type='(ii)'>
-      <default>(-1, -1)</default>
+      <default>(0, 0)</default>
       <summary>Window position</summary>
       <description>
 	The (x, y) coordinates of the upper-left corner of the GtkFileChooserDialog's
@@ -126,14 +126,14 @@
       </description>
     </key>
     <key name='window-size' type='(ii)'>
-      <default>(-1, -1)</default>
+      <default>(800, 600)</default>
       <summary>Window size</summary>
       <description>
 	The size (width, height) of the GtkFileChooserDialog's window, in pixels.
       </description>
     </key>
     <key name='startup-mode' enum='org.gtk.Settings.FileChooser.StartupMode'>
-      <default>'recent'</default>
+      <default>'cwd'</default>
       <summary>Startup mode</summary>
       <description>
 	Either "recent" or "cwd"; controls whether the file chooser

Add code to build script

Code: Select all

# After replacing org.gtk.Settings.FileChooser.gschema.xml with modified version
# Need update /usr/share/glib-2.0/schemas/gschemas.compiled file
if [ "$ARCH" = "amd64" ]; then
/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/glib-2.0/glib-compile-schemas /usr/share/glib-2.0/schemas/
elif [ "$ARCH" = "i386" ]; then
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/glib-2.0/glib-compile-schemas /usr/share/glib-2.0/schemas/
fi

Test and it is working. For first run .config/dconf/user file created with my settings.

If user have .config/dconf/user it will keep previous user settings. To use new settings need to remove it and restart.

[gumanzoy]

I remove filemnt-thunar package from bookworm-xfce.conf commit 966de81
Replace it with pfilemnt script

Combine changes from EasyOS filemnt version, and DogLinux filemnt-thunar package version.

Change losetup-FULL to losetup
Replace rox with xdg-open
Disable encrypted save-files (maybe temporary, I'm not sure now, but maybe remove cryptsetup and cryptsetup-dd)
Use notify-send, remove gtkdialog-splash, pupdialog, pupmessage

Screenshot_pfilemnt _notify-send.png (64.88 KiB) Viewed 16769 times

[Clarity]

Hello @gumanzoy Very nice work ongoing. I saw this:

... thinking about switch to fresh gtk3 ...

Curious: Would it be in your best interest going forward to move all to GTK4 to avoid that work in the future with future releases. Once, now, and forget about it over the next 4 years.

Just a thought for consideration. If you feel it best, I'm sure it will surface.

[gumanzoy]

Curious: Would it be in your best interest going forward to move all to GTK4 to avoid that work in the future with future releases. Once, now, and forget about it over the next 4 years.

Just a thought for consideration. If you feel it best, I'm sure it will surface.

No. Too early for gtk4. I try to avoid it for now.
Have some gtk2 software still used.

For example: i think nobody will port nvidia-settings-legacy-340xx from gtk2 to gtk3 or gtk4

[gumanzoy]

Re-write /usr/local/bin/freechk script

@fredx181

Hi

There is new version of freechk script.
If you interesting.

Commit 97597fb
Code on GitHub /usr/local/bin/freechk

Deprecated gtkdialog-splash replaced by notify-send (libnotify-bin package required)
When running out of space - shows permanent 'Warning:' notification by notify-send
Changed FREEMB df command params. Add check for overlay or aufs used on /
Add check free RAM left

Screenshot_lowram.png (31.89 KiB) Viewed 16706 times

Screenshot_enough_ram.png (24.74 KiB) Viewed 16706 times

Screenshot_enough_space_ram.png (42.8 KiB) Viewed 16706 times

[gumanzoy]

New instdeb script to install local deb(s) with dependencies from filemanager

Replacement for fixdepinstall package
Removed from bookworm-xfce.conf commit 81ade25

Code on GitHub /usr/local/bin/instdeb

Uses apt install instead of dpkg -i Don't need to run apt-get install -f Much simpler code.

Can install local packages missing in repos. And download dependencies from repos. Same as old instdeb-cli script.
For test - success install in bookworm meld_3.22.3-1_all.deb downloaded from sid repo.

Shows error when have unmet dependencies.

Screenshot_instdeb_meld1.webp (9.73 KiB) Viewed 16645 times

Shows error when have unmet dependencies. (if not run apt update first.)

apt ask confirmation before download and install dependencies packages.

Screenshot_instdeb_meld2.webp (11.62 KiB) Viewed 16645 times

apt ask confirmation before download and install dependencies packages.

Shows green color "Installed." message when success.

Screenshot_instdeb_meld3.webp (11.57 KiB) Viewed 16645 times

Shows green color "Installed." message when success.

Can install local packages offline. Not need to run apt update

Shows error when dependencies is not installable.

[gumanzoy]

Rebuild xfconf_4.18.3 with xfconf-gsettings-backend enabled
Uploaded to https://github.com/PocketHandyBox/phb-deb

Package xfconf-gsettings-backend added to bookworm-xfce.conf

dconf-gsettings-backend and dconf-service packages no longer installed.

For first run .config/dconf/user file created with my settings.
If user have .config/dconf/user it will keep previous user settings. To use new settings need to remove it and restart.

Binary file ~/.config/dconf/user is no longer created.
Settings stored in ~/.config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/gsettings.xml

[gumanzoy]

@fredx181 @Clarity

Hi

v0002 Pre release version .iso:
github.com/PocketHandyBox/pocket-handybox/releases

md5sum:
e90a43dba1c430be38d1f0a9b8a8386b phb_test_x64_12_25_0002_vtgrub2.iso

Includes all previous changes.

Plus custom extgrub.cfg support

I can add to boot/grub/grub.cfg in .iso some code to search (on all connected drives) additional grub.cfg and load menu items from it.
Search for live/extgrub.cfg and if it is not found - for phb/extgrub.cfg

For example. To use changes=/phb or changes=EXIT:/phb
Copy extgrub.cfg.example from root of .iso file to some ext4 partition to phb folder and remove .example extension.

And, of course extgrub.cfg is customizable. Edit it as needed.

Screenshot_extgrub.cfg_Entry.webp (2.3 KiB) Viewed 16444 times

Screenshot_extgrub.cfg_changes.webp (2.38 KiB) Viewed 16444 times

Screenshot_phb_changes.webp (15.74 KiB) Viewed 16444 times

[gumanzoy]

sfsload package removed from bookworm-xfce.conf

Scripts added to github Commit 0b23bff

/usr/local/bin/loadmodule updated for GTK3 version of yad (button labels and icons)

---

sudo and gsu packages removed from bookworm-xfce.conf Commit f577ec7

Replaced with new pkexec wrapper script /usr/local/bin/sudo
And /usr/share/polkit-1/actions/org.pkexec.sudo.policy

When run in X11 show policykit-1-gnome dialog.

Screenshot_sudo_pkexec_policykit-1-gnome.webp (10.42 KiB) Viewed 14839 times

When run in X11 show policykit-1-gnome dialog.

Works in tty console too.

Screenshot_sudo_pkexec_console.png (24.01 KiB) Viewed 14839 times

Works in tty console too.

For run X as puppy: add /usr/share/polkit-1/actions/org.porteusbootscripts.policy
to not ask password when run logout-yad, wmpoweroff, wmreboot, save2flash, pm-suspend

---

EDIT: Upd sudo wrapper script /usr/local/bin/sudo to pass options to original /usr/bin/sudo (if installed)
Commit 463d8e1 Commit 047dcfb Commit 43d9c0e

To run original sudo if installed

Run sudo -- command to pass command to original /usr/bin/sudo

Pass options to original /bin/sudo

Screenshot_sudo.webp (5.88 KiB) Viewed 14813 times

[dancytron]

You can create .policy files to eliminate any privilege escalation passwords that you want.

They are in javascript format, so using geany and choosing the javascript gives you a nice color coded text, auto commenting, etc.

This is a sample (some stuff deleted) of one I use in MX that applies only to users in the "superuser" group.

Code: Select all

// Note gparted commented out so you still need a password for it
// edit to add more actions, it's javascript so white space doesn't 
// matter unless it does



polkit.addRule(function(action, subject) {
    if ((action.id == "org.xfce.thunar" || 
//         action.id == "org.gnome.gparted" ||
         action.id == "org.mxlinux.apt-notifier.full-upgrade") &&
         subject.local && 
         subject.active &&
         subject.isInGroup("superuser")) {
        return polkit.Result.YES;
    }
});

Going by my notes, you can create a list of actions with:

Code: Select all

 pkaction > input.txt

Then format it with:

Code: Select all

cat input.txt | while read line; do echo "         action.id == ""${line}"" ||" >> output.txt; done

Then paste it into a .policy file and comment the lines for the things you still want to type a password for.

Code: Select all

pkaction --verbose

will give you more info on each entry if you need it.

[dancytron]

I did a manual frugal install this on my Windows 7 era grub4dos Intel i5 desktop.

Didn't spend much time with it yet, but everything worked as far as I can see.

The only comment is the yellow on gray dialog box when it was saving the changes as I logged off was hard to read because of the color choice.

[gumanzoy]

The only comment is the yellow on gray dialog box when it was saving the changes as I logged off was hard to read because of the color choice.

It is from DogLinux porteusbootscripts package.
I will edit it, and remove gtkdialog-splash later.

You can create .policy files to eliminate any privilege escalation passwords that you want.

Yes. But by default login as root. Not need it.

I write wrapper script to remove sudo package.

sudo package uses ~1M size of 01-filesystem.squashfs (with zstd compression)

Code: Select all

du -h phb-base/bookworm/amd64/01-filesystem.squashfs pocket-handybox/live/01-filesystem.squashfs 
189M	phb-base/bookworm/amd64/01-filesystem.squashfs
190M	pocket-handybox/live/01-filesystem.squashfs

Version in .iso phb_test_x64_12_25_0002_vtgrub2.iso - 190M
Now, after remove sudo package - 189M

[Clarity]

1. Distro's ISO file launched via Ventoy. Boot-Menu Copy2RAM option taken.

2. System booted and noticed nvidia driver loaded

3. Added required admin tools along with Hardinfo2.

Synaptic PM.png (92.22 KiB) Viewed 13625 times

Neofetch Report.jpg (106.51 KiB) Viewed 13571 times

Hardinfo Report1.jpg (50.73 KiB) Viewed 13535 times

[Clarity]

MtPaint installed via Synaptic PM has operational issues. Trying to add a text field in the image will not land.

Shutdown sessions-save manager allows location selection and saves without issue.

Nice!

[gumanzoy]

v0003 Pre release version .iso:
github.com/PocketHandyBox/pocket-handybox/releases

md5sum:
bea94b0ff5e708cbe551a9cdacbaf1f3 phb_test_x64_12_25_0003_vtgrub2.iso

Includes this changes.

Plus update grub.cfg and extgrub.cfg with new compact menuentry format. Easy to edit cheatcodes.

Code on GitHub grub.cfg extgrub.cfg.example

Old format:

Screenshot_grub2_menuentry_old.png (14.5 KiB) Viewed 8504 times

New format:

Screenshot_grub2_menuentry_new.png (12.34 KiB) Viewed 8504 times

Screenshot_grub2_menuentry_new5.png (12.86 KiB) Viewed 8504 times

[gumanzoy]

MtPaint installed via Synaptic PM has operational issues. Trying to add a text field in the image will not land.

Hi

I never try mtpaint before.
I install current bookworm version mtpaint_3.40-3.1 and add text field without problem.

I backport latest versions mtpaint_3.50.11 (build with gtk2) and fastfetch_2.35.0 from sid
And upload it to github.com/PocketHandyBox/phb-deb

You can install it

Code: Select all

apt update
apt install mtpaint fastfetch

I have no plan to add it to .iso. But you can build module with it.

Screenshot_fastfetch.webp (16.5 KiB) Viewed 7878 times

[Clarity]

Thanks @gumanzoy for a working mtpaint. I use it as an admin tool to report to you what is seen.

I had checked in the last version for Fastfetch but it was not available.

Will test v003, later today. From your Fastfetch report, I see you are advancing from GTK2 to latest versions.

[gumanzoy]

Thanks @gumanzoy for a working mtpaint. I use it as an admin tool to report to you what is seen.

Will test v003, later today. From your Fastfetch report, I see you are advancing from GTK2 to latest versions.

I rebuild mtpaint with gtk2 because (i think) gtk3 version not well tested.
For example filename entering box very thin in gtk3 version.

I had checked in the last version for Fastfetch but it was not available.

Try once again apt update.

I missing to do git add before git commit -a. Now fastfetch in repo.

Screenshot_apt_fastfetch.webp (10.72 KiB) Viewed 7442 times

EDIT:

From your Fastfetch report, I see you are advancing from GTK2 to latest versions.

Nothing changed. Picture shows only neofetch fastfetch detection method differences.

[gumanzoy]

Update

pup-volume-monitor_0.2w_amd64.deb pup-volume-monitor_0.2w_i386.deb

pup-volume-monitor_0.2w.tar.xz pup-volume-monitor_0.2w.dsc
Build from sources github.com/01micko/pup-volume-monitor

Added to repo github.com/PocketHandyBox/phb-deb

[Clarity]

Not sure how to get Fastfetch to show the gpu_driver as is shown by Neofetch (see pic below). In any event, I had an interesting occurrance in a bare-metal test. The video card in this PC is different from the earlier report and I am struggling to get boot-time to load the nvidia driver. I've tested normal, load=nv390 and load=nv320 as well but, nothing seems to change as it comes up at desktop as 'noveau". Xorg logs shows this

Code: Select all

 [    50.867] Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/live/vmlinuz1 noauto load=nv390 copy2ram nocd from=/BOOTISOS/phb_test_x64_12_25_0003_vtgrub2.iso extramod=/live/firmware mitigations=off nvme_core.default_ps_max_latency_us=550

Another phenom is that after installing all my admin packages via Synaptic, and shutdown, upon reboot with the 'changes' parm shown the folder is found during booting; BUT my packages are not present.This has got me scratching my head as I am sure this is a user misuse but not sure why.

Screenshot_.jpg (56.51 KiB) Viewed 1475 times

[Clarity]

During reboot, nvidia adapter messages, show 05fe chip not supported ... Boot-menu choice show this in Xorg log

Code: Select all

[    46.957] Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/live/vmlinuz1 noauto nvidia_detect copy2ram changes=/mnt/sda3/Sessions/changes nocd from=/BOOTISOS/phb_test_x64_12_25_0003_vtgrub2.iso extramod=/live/firmware mitigations=off nvme_core.default_ps_max_latency_us=5500

Still no packages, too. <=== will continue to investigate, tomorrow.

[gumanzoy]

@Clarity

NVIDIA Quadro FX 4800

Try to boot with Kernel 5.10

Check nvidia-smi maybe driver is working.

And show output lspci -nn
Maybe this GPU is not supported

Screenshot_2025-02-25_11-17-59.png (23.49 KiB) Viewed 1460 times

---

About 'changes'
Replace changes=/mnt/sda3/Sessions/changes
With changes=/Sessions

[fredx181]

During reboot, nvidia adapter messages, show 05fe chip not supported ... Boot-menu choice show this in Xorg log

Code: Select all

[    46.957] Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/live/vmlinuz1 noauto nvidia_detect copy2ram changes=/mnt/sda3/Sessions/changes nocd from=/BOOTISOS/phb_test_x64_12_25_0003_vtgrub2.iso extramod=/live/firmware mitigations=off nvme_core.default_ps_max_latency_us=5500

Still no packages, too. <=== will continue to investigate, tomorrow.

^^> /mnt/sda3/Sessions/changes If you chose that with the Create Save program, it possibly resulted finally in /mnt/sda3/Sessions/changes/changes
Do not specify "changes" folder, just changes=/Sessions/ should be ok ( "changes" folder will be automatically created) or even better perhaps: create "phb" folder inside Sessions and then boot with: changes=/Sessions/phb

[Clarity]

Thanks ever-so-much @fredx181

That's the better approach which provides a way to distinguish one DOG distro-version from another found for the "changes" subfolder within Sessions.

Very similar to earlier suggestion made from you on other threads.

I'm considering similar changes=/Sessions/PHB-v2502 for example per your suggestion to keep session house-keeping simple at-a-glance. This provides the consistency I seek to use for ALL forum distros.

THANKS, again

[gumanzoy]

v0004 Pre release version .iso:
github.com/PocketHandyBox/pocket-handybox/releases

md5sum:
7181d9ebe8fded64e59cb68e91ad3e07 phb_test_x64_12_25_0004_vtgrub2.iso

Packages updated:
pup-volume-monitor_0.2w
adwaita-icon-theme_47.0-2
adwaita-icon-theme-legacy_46.2-2
numix-icon-theme_0~20241212-1

Re-build whdd
ppa-whdd removed.

Added gnome-themes-extra
Contains gtk-2.0/2.10.0/engines/libadwaita.so
Fix Gtk-WARNING: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "adwaita"

l3afpad replaced with mousepad_0.5.4
Latest version without plugins (to avoid gspell dependency).
Re-build with root warning removed.

Mirror devuan.keff.org added to devuan.sources

Build script updated. Added 'apt-get upgrade' to force update packages from security.debian.org

apt2squashfs script updated.
Copy to chroot apt/*pkgcache.bin and apt/lists/* files.
To avoid of run 'apt-get update' in chroot each time of run script.

Added custom package: numix-colors-icon-theme_1.0_all.deb
Makes possible to choose color of numix folder icons in Xfce.

[Clarity]

Hello @gumanzoy

1st
I have NOT tested 2025 v4 as just completing v3 ISO file booting via Ventoy on bare-metal. One issue I did not report is that clicking the Home folder on the desktop open's /root. This may be inadvertent as I had expected the "/home" folder to open instead of /root.

Will test on next reboot when I test v4.

2nd
The 1st thing that was done was to do update on the pristine boot. Trying to run "Chrome" from the browser, I get

Screenshot_2025-02-26_07-15-59.jpg (10.57 KiB) Viewed 1219 times

3rd
Was not sure which is best on reboot:

Screenshot_2025-02-26_07-56-49.jpg (11.74 KiB) Viewed 1219 times

FYI

[fredx181]

Hello @gumanzoy
I have NOT tested 2025 v4 as just completing v3 ISO file booting via Ventoy on bare-metal. One issue I did not report is that clicking the Home folder on the desktop open's /root. This may be inadvertent as I had expected the "/home" folder to open instead of /root.

I'd say that's very normal. You are logged in as 'root' so your Home folder is /root.
If you would be logged in as a regular user, e.g. puppy (or e.g. clarity), opening Home would show /home/puppy (or /home/clarity) .
Also, the environment variable "HOME" shows /root :

Code: Select all

root@live:~# echo $HOME
/root

[Clarity]

Thanks @fredx181 YES, this is pristine and I am running as root.

[gumanzoy]

Hi

The 1st thing that was done was to do update on the pristine boot. Trying to run "Chrome" from the browser, I getScreenshot_2025-02-26_07-15-59.jpg

I remove /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list
You can install it by download deb from google.com

Later i will remove /root/.local/share/applications/google-chrome.desktop it comes from run-as-user doglinux package.
I will re-write scripts to make possible to build fresh chromium module with my settings.

Was not sure which is best on reboot:Screenshot_2025-02-26_07-56-49.jpg

changes=/Sessions/phb-2025