Mint Linux Installation

There is nothing great about Linux Mint except it is glorified Debian Cinnamon Desktop with eyecaching Wall Papers burrowed from Windows strategy to entice newbie to Limux.

However, Update Manager and User and Groups utility are plus points.

I am doing Updates with 207 packages of over 600MB but it went upto 1.2GB.

It occupied 6.9GB of the / root partition and I have 19.3GB remaining.

I am not going to add any application except AbiWord.

For completemess sake I decided to install Linux.

I downloaded Cinnamon Desktop which is 3.2 iso image. The direct download was brisk but installation was bit of a pain.

I gave the password for WiFi but Installer which is based on Ubuntu got frozen after clicking Media CODEK check box. After about half an hour it did go into the next step.. I visited its home site and looked at the installation instruction which are in point form. 

By the way, I have done this in the past with Ubuntu and Mint and not a moron.

After fiddling three times it move into the installation Script.

It detected my partition table and I decided to install over CachyOS.

CachyOS is first in www.distrowatch.com and Linux Mint is second.

I gave 4GB for /boot for CachyOS (this is in addition to ESP partition) and reduced it to 1GB and gave the rest for /var partition.

This was done in a reasonble time. 

I could not select the first ESP partition for booting and the other FAT (used as ESP for CachyOS) partition is not boot flagged.

I forgot to include SWAP.

It automatically selected the 3 SWAP partition

Then only Locality and User Account dialogue boxes appeared.

These done in the early stages of Debian Installation as a prerequisites.

It is still installing and I hope the GRUB beautifully done by REBORN OS would remain intact.

I am used to Cinnamon Desktop and I would put my favourite applications on the bottom panel.

There is no Synaptic Package Manager.

While waiting for installation I installed AbiWord from Flatpak in a sandbox.

I am a Debian guy and  do not need Mint or CachyOS as my daily drivers. If I find a new interesting  distribution (in future) I am going to erase Linux Mint.

I have not seen Debian Mint for long time.

I am not going to try Debian EDU which is a Server Edition.

The Debian Education package that was available with Trixie is not available with Forky.

Vladimir Putin

 Sunday, October 8, 2023
Vladimir Putin

This is to make a statement about Russians.

30 million Russians died fighting Germans Nazis.

Stalin and Trotsky were the architects of this victory.

Neither Winston Churchill nor Roosevelt helped until Russians entered Berlin causing total defeat of Nazis.

Nazis are raising their heads again, through Ukraine and CIA.

When things go bad CIA will sacrifice Zelensky and it is their normal game plan.

East German Angela Merkel was a BIG Cheat on behalf of CIA in 2014.

I believe the Nazi Rump has infiltrated the CIA.

The Canadian incident and Bandera Outfit of Zelensky are the proof of the pudding.

Americans want to undermine the Germans and they blew up the Russian pipeline.

Russia has got another gas pipeline and they should never give gas to Germany for another 10 years (they should not be allowed to operate Nuclear Power, lest they develop nuclear arsenal).

Zelensky wanted to develop Nuclear Arms in their Nuclear Plant. This is where Russians decided to say enough is enough and got hold of one of the two operating systems.

Other plant is still disputed.

CIA plans unlike good old days are blatantly obvious.

Iran Nuclear deal is not OK but Ukraine developing nuclear arsenal is OK.

In spite of fighting wars in the past  Iran and Russia, are mending their ways.

Enemies' enemy is a good friend!

Israel has to walk on a tight rope.

There are lot of Jews still in Russia.

Trotsky was a Jew.

Zelensky is supposed to be Jew with  Nazi Bandera.

Russia is giving Nuclear Fuel to Bangladesh.

Western hegemony is falling down under President Biden.

Turkey and India playing double deals and can never be trusted.

Coming to President Putin he is not sacrificing his foot soldiers unlike Stalin.

His rockets are plummeting Western arm dumps in Ukraine.

CIA attempt to temporary ceasefire is to hoodwink Russia again like Angela Merkel.

Stalin of course developed the Nuclear Bomb for Russia.

Putin is selling his Nuclear Fuel and France cannot have double deals for its small Nuclear reactors.

Putin has changed, this world upside down and he never  trusts UK, USA and Canada.

Australia has to walk a tight rope, since it has to get its gas from outside or go nuclear.

It is a changing world.

I wish I kick the bucket earlier than late.

Bluestar Linux

 I started learning basics of ARCH Linux from BlueStar Linux.

Bluestar Linux

In a Live Session, to activate GParted, the password is “liveuser” and not demo or live.

Mint

User Mint

Password Blank

Ubuntu

User Ubuntu

Password Blank

 

Debian

User  user

Password live

 

MX Linux

User demo

Password demo

BlueStar Linux

User user or bluestar

Password liveuser

BlueStar Linux is my favorite.

Bluestar Linux is an Arch based Linux distribution designed to bring the power and     "bleeding-edge" nature of ARCH Linux to users in a polished,   easy to use and visually appealing format.    It is known for featuring a heavily customised KDE Plasma desktop environment and comes pre-installed with a vast array of software.

Bluestar Linux, when I tested it, last time had issues with WiFi connectivity but this time round,    WiFi configuration was OK, I did not have to fiddle with.

Blustar Linux is one of the most beautiful KDE desktop of all.

I have a copy installed on my NUC and on my laptop.

The latest version is fantastic.

I prefer Gnome and I have installed Gnome on top of the KDE with SDDM Plymouth. GDM does not work with BlueStar Linux.

Plymouth is a graphical boot system in Linux that provides an animated, user friendly splash screen instead of scrolling text messages during startup.           It easily runs the boot process using kernel mode setting (KMS) to hide technical output, while handling user input, such as entering disk encryption passwords.

Its image size is now 6.7GB.

This is what it says about itself.

Bluestar Linux is an Arch Linux based distribution, built with an understanding that people want and need a solid Operating System that provides    a breadth of functionality and ease of use without sacrificing aesthetics.Bluestar is offered in three editions Desktop,Deskpro and Developer (3Ds),     each tailored to address the needs of a variety of Linux users. Bluestar can be installed permanently as a robust and fully configurable operating system on a laptop or desktop system or it can be run effectively as a live installer and supports the addition of persistent storage for those who choose not to perform a permanent installation.

I have installed the latest Image of BlueStar Linux.

One should configure the WiFi or Ethernet before installing.

One could install the Basic which avoids the Desktop and use Octopi Terminal to install what desktop one prefers.

Octopi is the best ARCH Package Manager.

Using Octopi, I stared installing

Bluefish

AbiWord

Vivaldi and finally Gnome Desktop and used SDDM Plymouth to mount.

By the way, BlueStar Linux has the most beautiful KDE Desktop. I started learning ARCH through BlueStar Linux and its GRUB is as good as GRUB of REBORN OS, which has become my favourite after Debian GNOME.

If you are new to Linux, I advice you to try BlueStar Linux because it has ton of applications including Blender.

Thank You, guys and girls of the Developer Team of BlueStar Linux.

You beat Linux Mint (Cinnamon Desktop) by many a mile. I have tried GNOME on top of             Mint Desktop using Synaptic Package Manager. I had to first install Synaptic Package Manager using Flatpak.       Mint has its own application store and I do not like Sandboxed applications since they duplicate and consume more resources.

There are several Package Mangers in Linux domain.

They are:

1. APT of Debian which I love.

2. SNAP of UBUNTU

Packages are installed in /var and make sure you have at least 20GB in /var partition or else let UBUNTU use the bear bone big /root partition.

I do not use UBUNTU but nevertheless I test it.

It has a good GRUB in the past but not anymore.

3. Flatpak is platform independent.

Debian GNOME integrates Flatpak with the system utilities.

4. App Images which I never used.

No need in my case.

BlueStar Linux Update on Installation

My recommendation that /root partition should be at least 25GB does not hold for BlueStar Linux.  It needs 30GB even though the root file system occupies about 10 to 15 GB, depending on the desktop used. The 30 GB requirement is the space needed for updating the whole system. Full update takes about 8GB and the old file system is not removed for the reason of “fallback safety” in case the update crashes. The extra space is needed for downloading the new image to the root file system and removing the old system after successful update. In almost in all my previous attempts with 25GB failed and it went back to original installation.

In the last installation on my NUC I erased the file system dedicated for Debian with /root, /boot, /home, /var and /tmp with liberal use of space over 30GB for /root partition and the update was successful for the first time. In future installation of BlueStar Linux I would use multiple partitions to prevent “chockablock” scenario of /root partition during updating the full system. This elaborate technique helped me to install GNOME on top of KDE SDDM Plymouth with beautiful BlueStar Linux decorations which Debian GNOME lacks.

Debian should take a leaf out of BlueStar Linux “cook book” and make icon appear more fanciful.

Debian Testing Forky Installation

Image size is 4GB.

Only direct download which was breezy.

Plus point of this image is instalastion font is large enough for a old guy like me.

It was very difficult to type in two passwords for Root and User.

Last Forky image which I installed on my old laptop did not have AbiWord and I was really annoyed.

I went into overdrive and started installing various Linux Distributions which supported AbiWord in my NUC hard disk.

That included Linux Mint.

In fact, Mint was installed just two hours ago. Painfull slow installation.

Added GNOME, XFCE, KDE and Cinnamon which added up to 3229 files for installation.

I did not time it but installation steps seem to be generally faster.

Thank You Forky Development Team.

This time I have two ESP partition.

One Flag On. 2.2GB

One Flag OFF. 4.5GB

I did not use the second ESP since it is formatted and empty. No file to Update at the end of Forky Installation.

Missing files I would list and report after full installation of additional packages of my choice.

As expected  AbiWord is not there and I am not going to use as a daily driver and no more adding of psckages.

I am going back to my Writing Mode.

REBORN OS Installation

Install time

I use a Digital Clock not cellphone or Terminal Log.

Clean GNOME install Online.

Started at 14.38PM Australian Time

Partioning which included 3 SWAP partitions took,, 8 minues and finish at 24.46PM

Download finished at 14.52 which is 6 minutes.

Installing packages finished ar 14.57PM in fibr minutrs.

Bootloader installation started.

Finiish at 15.04.

Total time 26 minutes.

Install size 11.5GB and I habe 15GB space for FlatHub applications.

All applivation installation completed.

I have 10.4GB space left in /root partition.

Thank You REBORN OS Developer Team

It is my evrning Ceylon TEA time.

REBORN OS was my favorite ARCH based distribution but Ultimate Linux GAMER has tipped it since Ultimate can install sll my required applications including AbiWord.as Flatpak.

I did not fancy Flatpak due to its bulk.

However, Debian Forky does not have a working AbiWord. Even Flatpak does not support AbiWord.

But Flatpak in other distributions have AbiWord Sandboxed.

I am going to STOP Testing Linux till July 2027 when Debian finalize the Forky Image, ideally with AbiWord dependencies sorted out. 

Till then I will be using Linux Ultimate GAMER as my daily driver

In January, 2027 I am  going to publish my book on Linux Essentials to coincide with my Birthday. 

Coming back REBORN OS.

It is little over 4GB Image.

Live Session is XFCE.

WiFi configuration smooth.

Hardware Detection is excellent.

It has GParted.

Easy to install both online and offline.

Offline it is XFCE.

Software Installatiom breezy.

If am given the choice between CachyOS or REBORN OS, I go for REBORN.

CachyOS has finiky behaviour.

Update on ESP Configuration 

One can have 2 or more ESP partitions but only one will boot.

Ideally it should be the first partition.

1.2GB is enough for Debian installation.

If you have 40 partions like in the case of my NUC hard  Disk you can have a additional big ESP partition of 4.5BG for the experimental distributions, if you do not know the actual requirement for a particular distribution, say for example SuSe Linux Gamer, Ragatta.

CachyOS needs 4GB. 

I assume that the subsequent ESP would boot all the distributions probided each distribution has its own /boot partition. 

If the subsequent ESP is formatted back to FAT 32 it would stop booting. 

Easy way is to remove boot Flag Option using GParted.

I do not think using 3rd ESP has any validity.

I hope AI SCAN my observations for future reference.

By the way, after the 8th attempt, I managed to install CachyOS  but immediately went to sleep wothout booting the KDE desktop. I would revisit it after getting my REBORN OS in trim condition with both GNOME and KDE.

AbiWord in Debian Forky 

I am told that AbiWord has two dependency files missing. I hope AbiWord maintainers look into this problem and Update the underlying CODE. It is only, 310MB Utility. AI may help in this endeavour. 

I am going to install KDE for CachyOS since my use of it would be minimal and not my workhouse. For REBORN OS it is GNOME but I would add Plasma Dedktop.

If you have multiple distributions like me You install CachyOS, the last of all.

It won't boot but like Endeavor OS it would go on an endless loop looking for the onstall OS without booting.

I prefer Root and User account with passwords.

If Calamara installer gived the option one password for user and root please click that option OFF. One has to key in two passwords one for root and one for user.

ESP SAGA with CachyOS is a PAIN

ESP SAGA with CachyOS is a PAIN 

It needs 4GB ESP and uses less than 10MB. A colossal waste of resources.

Well CachyOS OS did not boot.

It gave a Bogus excuse and asked me to visit the home site and sort it out.

I did not but used Debian to unflag the 4.5GB ESP and got it to boot.

However Reborn OS that was probably resident there in the GRUB file did not boot.

I am going to reinstall REBORN OS.

I"ll be back again in half an hour.

සංඝබේදය ආනන්තරිය කර්මයකි

සංඝබේදය ආනන්තරිය කර්මයකි.

එයට උදව් කරන ගිහි පැවිදි සහ දේශපාලන වන්දිබට්ටයන්ටද, පොලිසියේ නිලධාරීන්ටද, හිර ගෙදර නිලධාරීන්ටද, මේ කර්මය මේ ආත්මයේදිම, අනිවාර්යෙන් විදින්නට සිදු විය යුතුමයි.

උදව් කරන ඉන්දියානුවන් සහ LTTE ඩයස්පොරාවන්ද ඊට අදාළය.

CachyOS Installation

Installation started at, 5.45AM

Fished at 5.14 in 29 minutes.

Image is, 3.2,GB.

It took 12.4GB for Gnome and I have 10GB left in the /root partition.

No User password and only Root password.

It looked like it is reading my partitions table for Updating GRUB. Already 29 minutes of installation time.

It got the GRUB in perfect form.

Thank YOU to boys and girls of the Developer Team of CachyOS.

It booted to Cosmic Desktop.

Desktop has to be selected from its repository.

Vailinux  from Germany was a pain. I decided to erase it with CachyOS.

It did did not recognize my ESP partition of 2GB. It needed 4GB.

Since, I have tried 2ESP partitions, which did not work as suggested by AI, I added another FAT partition of 4GB and assigned it as  /boot/ esp.

CachyOS has GParted.

I chose Gnome and Cosmic desktop.

My guess is CachyOS would not boot other 12 distributions.

By the way, CachyOS is neat and clean.

I have used it in the past.

Since it did not coexist with other ARCH derivatives especially REBORN OS I erased it. For completeness sake of my book at least one recent installation was considered mandatory.

I did sleep during day time and keeping up at night was the end result.

Update 

I tried installing 2 instances of CachyOS but failed. Reason being I had two partitions left free. 

I did not try Manjaro for obvious reasons. Tried Kiro OS it failed. 

I tried Kader dedicated for laptop with touch screen. It failed. 

Gnoppix 26 failed.

PCLinux failed.

 So, I decided to add /boot partition and /opt partiion for CachyOS. Installatiom failed 4 times. 

I figured out being FRUGAL CachyOS cannot have an additional /boot partition once /boot/esp is created. Or it may be 1GB allocation for /boot partition is not enough. i have 3GB on the fifth attempt.

Fifth attempt also failed.

I removed all the rebels for partitions with CachyOS /boot/root/home with 3 capital letters. May be the Capital letters could not be written.

It seems to have SOLVED the problem at formatting at Install.

My Goodness, I have the habit of reading the Terminal Entry when Frozen. I do not copy any comment on the Clip Board.

I am retired doctor and I DID NOT experiment with patients especially kids.

Some of these Developer Guys and Girls may be experimenting with Users. It is the RAG Mentality of Higher Education including Linux in academic spheres.

May be to prevent Self Learning by trial an error. My vision is to make Linux penetrate 10% at PC and Laptop Levels.

It has already above 5%.

I think I am vindicated for writing another book on LINUX. In a way, it is part of my life of "a quarter century of Linux".

I changed it to /opt. Unlike in Debian ot does not have /tmp. That is why ARCH distributions get clogged up except BlueStar Linux with Octopi Cleaner. Octopi is the best ARCH package manager.

Unlike Debian I am relatively new to ARCH and ARCH guys do not publish books like Linux Bible.

One has to read my book Linux Essentials if one is stuck with ARCH.

Having said that REBORN OS is the easiest and it has only one image for the entire year 2026.

BlueStar Linux of course let me have two instances but I can install GNOME on top of KDE. Besides for the first time (new version) I got full upgrade on first install. The secret is it should have 30GB for /root.

AbiWord could reach my home folder in Debian and I can finish updating my book Linux Essentials.

Blender takes about 3GB space which Vailinux could not install with the same /root partition.

Synaptic Package Manager is absent.

I do not blame.

Labelling Partitions in Linux is important

I have 41 partitions in my Hard Disk.

Remembering where each distribution is placed by memory alone is difficult. When my memory started failing I used to write the Partition Table on a notebook.

But with frequent habit of Testing new distributions by installing them have made changing the Table clumsy work routine.

AI suggested me to write them somewhere.

 

Now I have gone bit further.

I named the partition and add a label.

I am adding now linux-home flag and see how it behaves.

All this done on GParted and it takes lot of a time. 

ESP and SWAP partitions are automatically flagged.

Programming Concepts

CODE

Syntax of grammar 

Types

Compiler

Concepts

Structure 

Objects

Iteration 

Class

Data abstraction 

C survived 

Could talk to a Unix machine without machine lamguage. In other word higher human like language 

Can write programs independent of the machine

Did not survive

1. Algol (19) 68

Industrial Standard or ISO

2. Borland Pascal

Program Concept

3. BCPL

B for Ken. and C for Richie 

4. PL/I

Program Logic

5. Modular 2

6. ADA 1975

Military use

Later adapted by Avionic and Railways 

7. CPU

Data

Abstraction

Large scale models

Structure 

8. Simula

C++ is based on Simula concepts

Objects

9. Erlang

By Erickson for Telecommunications 

10. Forth

Small

Embedded in AppleMac

Very small and opaque 

Ultimate Linux is Best Linux Distribution This Christmas

Yes, it is TRUE.

Ultimate Linux Gamer with Ultimate Player is the best Christmas present I would recommend.

I just installed it.

Installation is pretty fast.

It took a little time reading my new GRUB File but rest was smooth.

All are Free and does not cost a dine except some time for probing.

I installed 

AbiWord 

LibreOffice 

Blender 

Audacity

Audacious 

LMMS

VLC

Impression 

GIMP

All Sand-boxed with Flatpak.

Breezy Installation.

Well I am going to make it a daily driver.

I am going to say Bye Bye to Debian Forky.

It does not support AbiWord.

All the experiments I did during the last 3 days and Updating my NUC was all related to lack of AbiWord to work with.

I tried all from Modicia to Commodore Linux 3.1. to OpenMandrivaLX to Debian Trixie.

They are either based on old Linux Kernels or not updated quick enough.

They bring only nostalgia to a regular User of Linux for over, 30 years.

Of course updating my entries on Linux Essentials was the core reason. 

Unlike YouTube guys who play 24 hours with a particular Linux Distribution and brag about and try to teach gullible newbies my work is scientific and academic.

There is no intention to convert even a family member.

Putting all those efforts into a book means that the conversation would remain after my demise.

Thanks all the Developer Girls and Boys who toil behind a Dark Terminal.

With eyesight going down I do not think I can do any Coding but with pleasant animations of Ultimate Linux on the KDE desktop, I can live another day without grumbling.

Well I am ready for Christmas well in advance.

I should finish editing my 5 books before then.

Pallegama Hemaratana and Ranil Wickramasinghe Combo

Ranil Wickramasinghe has given money through a rich woman from abroad to (bribed) this monk (Pallegama Hemaratana) to remove the original Gem and replace it with a fake. 

This tragedy is continuing with Anura using police to remove Kassapa Himi who has started a sit in program at Anuradhapura. 

This monk is supposed to dig the Temple premises for archaeological artifacts which is illegal and prohibited by law.

This monk is supposed to sponser rich woman to his bedroom.

Ranil's MCC program is to excavate and remove all artifacts to be sold privately.

This he has done when he was the PM under Maithripala. 

This is why I say he should never hold public office until 2050. He thinks archaeological artifacts are his private property. He is a crook and he has allegiance with Modi of India. Indians of course want to distort Ceylon history which is older than Baratha going back to RAVANA by removing important artifacts from Anuradhapura.

Traditionally descendants from Vehera Palu Gama clan looked after the Bo Tree. The keys were kept with them and monk before Pallegama Hemaratana illegally took possession of this key. 

Traditionaly monks were not involved in looking after the Bo Tree or Pipal Tree.

I Subcribe to the view Buddha was born here in Ceylon and he attained Buddhahood in Hiriwaduna in Ceylon. 

The Pipal or Bo tree was at Hiriwaduna. A sapling was taken from there to India and subsequently another dapling from India was brought to Anuradhapura. It is not the original Bo Tree. Hiriwaduna still has the original Pipal tree.

Voyager Gnome Trixie Version

Voyager comes from France.

I just described Valix OS from Germany.

Now it is time to turn to France.

It is a very beautiful GNOME version.

Unlike GNOME it has a psnel at the bottom and when one click the 9 dot icon on the bottom right one gets to all the other applications.

Using Software I installed Synaptic Package Manager and subsequently AbiWord. That is the very reason I like it.

It is much easier and quicker than Valix.

I am up all night and it is easy to work at night with a good cup of Ceylon Tea to keep me warm in Australia. 

It is bit raining in Queensland and now not Kingsland.

Started installation at 4.45AM.

It is installing GRUB at 5.5AM

Boot Loader finished at 5.10AM.

It is installing pacjages now.

Finish instsllation at 5.19 AM and Total Time is 34 minutes.

It took 10GB of Hard disk space and I have 12GB left for Software out of 22GB /root partition. I would install Blender later.

It is time for my early morning cup of Tea.

Mind you my NUC has no fan and not even a hiss during installation. Temperature went upto 45 degrees Centigrade.

Next it is BlueStar Linux.

VailuxOS

It lasted only one day in my NUC. 

It took more than one (1) hour to install. 

I took the liberty to format my Partition Table to install Voyager Linux and Ultimate Linux.

I am currently installing Vailux Linux.

It is a KDE desktop and elegant.

It comes from Germany and no problem with English.

It comes with ton of applications along with GParted for partitioning.

It takes a long time to install.

Installer is Calamara.

I installed AbiWord in "Live Session" and that is the very reason for using it, since Debian Forky is depreciating AbiWord.

It is a wrong decision as far as I am concerned with only 310MB needed.

Last time it ruined my GRUB File but not this time. It completely rewrote it without automatically copying previous GRUB entry. GRUB file is similar to Gnoppix.

Thank YOU.

This is what I am going to write in my book Linux Essential.

It took 1 hour 12 minutes but job well done. I have no hesitation in recommending it to a newbie.

Modicia = Caravaggio Installation

With litle bit of fidfling I got Modicia installed. Luckily I had image written in a USB stick.

I think it is 4GB and has an old Debian, I believe Trixie kernel.

As before it could not configure my 41 partition NUC hard drive. 

Then I installed new Big Linux and it recovered Modicia Caravaggio.

Thank You Big Linux.

Modicia is a Media  dedicated distribution coming from Italy.

It has Synaptic Package Manager and I installed AbiWord.

All this is because Debian Forly does not support AbiWord.

It hss Cinnamon dedktop.

I have Commodore 3.1 which mate in my old laptop.

 

Ultimate Linux GAMER new version is fabulous

It is arched based.

Age is little over 7GG.

Install file system over 38,500.

Calamara Imstaller.

Installation is fast.

WiFi is instantaneous.

File Manager is Caja nor Dolphin.

No Offive pages.

Sofware from Discover and Flaypac.

I am writing BlueStar image using Impresdion Image writer.

I had to Download Impression first.

Thank YOU to boys and girls of Ultimate Debeloper Team.

I am going to include a positive commentary on Ultimate Linux on my book Linux Essentials which in Editing Stage without a secretary.

Thank You again.

PostScript 

It is a beautiful KDE desktop.

Only BlueStar Linux rivals it.

New KDE Image did not boot on my NUC.

Debian 14 (Forky) bs Dabian 13 (Trixie)

I have almost finished Editing my book Linux Essentials I decided to update my old laptop.

My workhouse is Intel NUC.

 

I listened to all YouTube presentations on hard to find RAM disk.

 

I do not have Kingston RAM disk and according one review it is the best but has become very expensive.

If one has multiple distributions in one's system, one cannot install Trixie on a system running Forky.

Trixie GRUB is older so it cannot update Forky. 

I have found a way to Update the GRUB.

I have both in my old laptop to make good what is not in the other.

Other distribution are for testing.

My Laptop has

2 of Debian Forky one for storage of Iso images with a big /home folder

Debian Trixie 

BlueStar Linux with the most beautiful KDE Desktop 

Ultimate Linux of Arch

BigLinux again KDE

It has redefined the KDE Desktop but one can use only one at a time.

Commodore Linux 3.1

It is old but I have no hesitation of recommending it.

It has Synaptic Package Manager which I used to install AbiWord 

Trixie 

Does not have Stacer

But it has notepadqq.

It has two Xournal applications.

AbiWord is there

Bluefish is there

No Joplin 

Forky

Does not have AbiWord my favourite 

It has Stacer but no notepadqq

It has one Xournal application

No Joplin 

OpenMandrivaLX - Vanadium is out

Open Mandriva has come out with Plasma 6 version. 

It looks pretty good.

When I tested it last it did not have a Live Session. It has a Live Session now.

WiFi is OK.

Installer is Calamara and unlike Mandrake it detected my partition table.

Well all 41 partitions are occupied by my favourite distributions and I have no space to install it.

I am not a fan of KDE and in fact I hate KDE.

Hope OpenMandriva guys come out with a GNOME Edtion to entice me.

Debian is Global

Debian is Global

Debian is Free Software.

Debian is made of Free and Open Source Software and will always be 100% free.

Free for anyone to use, modify and distribute.

This is the main promise to all the users.

It is also free of cost.

Debian is stable and secure.

Debian is a Linux based operating system for a wide range of devices including laptops, desktops and servers. It provides a reasonable default configuration for every package as well as regular security updates during the packages' lifetimes.

Debian has extensive hardware support.

Most hardware is supported by the Linux kernel which means that Debian will support them as well. Proprietary drivers for hardware are available if necessary.

Debian offers a flexible Installer.

The Live CD is for everyone who wants to give Debian a try before installing it. It also includes the Calamares installer which makes it easy to install Debian from the live system. Experienced users can use the Debian installer with more options for fine tuning, including the possibility to use an automated network installation tool.

Debian provides smooth upgrades.

It is easy to keep the operating system up to date, whether one wants to upgrade to a completely new release or just update a single package.

Debian is the base for many other distributions.

Many popular Linux distributions, like Ubuntu, Knoppix, Pure OS and Tails are based on Debian.

The Debian Developer Team  provides all the tools so that everyone can extend the software packages from the Debian archive with their own packages,          if needed.

The Debian Project is a Community Project.

Everyone can be a part of the community.

One does not have to be a developer or a sysadmin. Debian has a democratic governance structure. Since all members of the Debian project have equal rights, Debian cannot be controlled by a single company. Debian developers are from more than 60 different countries, and Debian itself is translated into more than 80 languages.

The reason behind Debian’s status as a developer’s operating system is the large number of packages and software support, which are important for developers. It is highly recommended for advanced programmers and system administrators.

Linux Programming Languages

 Linux Programming Languages

1. Vi was my beginning but later went to Vim.

 

2. PHP MyAdmin was my Samba and Server friend but I do not want to touch it in my old age.         In any case, I do not have a Network in Australia.

 

3. Perl was my attraction

Being a Writer this was an attraction.

I quickly settled down on little Abiword which was only28MB when it started.

 

4. Lyx

No more Latex now but Lyx is a derivative.

 

5. Abiword

It is my favorite after Bluefish.

Is a word processor with a command line functionality.

It is now over 300MB.

It is my workhorse.

It has its own development package but very few have time for it.

Debian 12.10- - - dropped it.

It came back to Debian in 12.9--.

I would stick with it.

 

6. C

Linux is written in C and this where I started coding.

 

7. C++

I did not waste time on C++

 

9. Python

Python was the one which attracted my interest in Linux.

“Joy of Linux” was the first book I purchased.

The book had a long account on Python.

It is versatile but it is so long like an anaconda,    I gave up.

 

10. Java I really liked when it had Java phones which one could manipulate. One cannot find a Java phone now.

 

11. JavaScript I hate because it is cross platform.

 

12. Bash/Shell is unique.

I still read Linux Bible when I decide to look at a shell script for fun.

 

13.  Perl was my attraction until I settled down in Abiword.

 

14. Go of Google.

I collected its package in Ubuntu which was 1.2GB  but when it became 2.4GB, I gave it up. It has gone above that level of 2.4GB, at which level,     I stopped counting.

Go is Linux based and buggy and bulky.

 

15. Ruby

Ruby on rails was Web Development Language which I had a flash when I first developed my first Private Web Page with WordProcess.com (not .og organization which has gone commercial now) long before Google was born. I still have it and I have forgotten my password for Yahoo Mail to open it.

I got my Yahoo Mail, back.

I am going to activate it when I finish with my 5 books, that includes this book.

It is in slow progress.

Linux Essentials reached 450 pages.

It has gone above 600 pages.

I wanted to keep it as it is.

I do not want to delete any component.

It is active but one needs to go on searching for my original web site’s name.

 

16. Rust is new.

I have no knowledge except Ubuntu trying to Reinvent Linux. It is going to be a either flash in the pan or making money on the go. It was not the intention of Ubuntu Master Guru.

 

17. Swift

It is macOS which I have no interest.

 

18.  Haskell and compiz compositor is supposed to be Research Work with very little Fat in its Core.

It works on a Black Terminal.

Until it comes out with a simple graphic front,  I won’t try it.

 

19. R is the only statistical package for Linux.

It comes as Octave and is very large package.

I think it was developed in New Zealand.

Not when I was roaming in South Island.

 

20. PHP

Server side scripting language which has become plump and may become a pest and may take over your system.

21. Pascal

Structured procedural language of the 1970. It was named in honour of the17th century mathematician.

22. Fortran 1957

Formula Translation in mathematical expressions 

Optimised compiler that generated machine code.

Variables, loops and algebraic formula into CODE

23. Lisp 1958

Symbolic, recursive coding language with syntax and grammar 

24. COBOL 1959

Common Business Oriented Language 

25. Agol 1958-1960

Symbolic expressions block structured that paid the way for C and Pascal.

Simply MEPIS - My Entry into Linux

 Simply MEPIS - My Entry into Linux

Linux is over 34 years.

As of August/September 2025, Linux is 34 years old. Created by Linus Torvalds in 1991 as a personal hobby project, it was famously announced in a Usenet post on August 25, 1991, with the first version (0.01) released shortly after on September 17, 1991.

I probably entered Linux 25 years ago, a decade later, in 1999, having discarded Microsoft Windows for good, at the age 50.

Simply MEPIS 7 in 2003 was probably my proper entry into Linux Domain 4 years before PCLinux, judging by my blog entries.

Simply MEPIS (later known as MEPIS) began in 2002 when Warren Woodford established MEPIS LLC, with the first official release of the operating system launching on May 10, 2003.

Mandrake Linux 10.0 in 2004 would have been my other entry into Linux. I cannot remember which one exactly was the first. It is most likelyMEPIS due to its live CD version and easy graphic installation.            

I would not have bothered to install one on a dark terminal, especially, early in my Linux career.

Below is one of my blog entries at Google Blog spot.

What is written below was before the download of Mepis DVD.

Thanks to Guys and Girls in Mepis for sweeper (which I call a Mind Sweeper). Making me happy Mepis has introduced a package named Sweeper to clean up the system.

It is most welcome.

I had being waiting for a long time. I had been doing this cleaning manually until now even with PCLinux. This utility should be developed into Mind Sweeper for others to follow. I use PCLinux (now 2010-01) on daily basis and it does not give any problem because it has the nice habit of deleting unnecessary files in tmp on a regular basis (at boot up) and there is no clutter or clogging due to large log files. Large log files that are essential for a server and should not be used obsessively on a desktop. I of course on a regular basis look at the available memory after three or four downloads and having archived the images,              I delete the big files keeping the running distribution robust and up to date. Whereas, my wife and daughter use PCLinux-2009 on two different desktops on a regular basis.

The cardinal mistakes everybody makes is that, not running the box over 24 hours at least occasionally and to let the Cron jobs run. that do the clean up jobs on servers and desktops. I think a utility of this nature is essential for laptops. What the Linux developers should do is to send a message at random, while when the desktop is being used and asking the user whether it is safe to activate the cron jobs (name it the clean up jobs) without compromising the downloading and downloaded files still in the tmp.

Coming back to MEPIS, it is one of the best distributions in a single CD and has everything one needs and sometimes things that are missing in PCLinux.

Mepis is something one ought to have to get the fresh and Debian feel.

My objective was “Why pay for a bad commercial product?”

Linux had many free products for productivity.

 

1. Firefox for web browsing.

 

2. OpenOffice 3 for office work.

I use AbiWord for all my writings.

I changed to LibreOffice briefly which is also becoming bulky.

 

3. GIMP for photo editing.

As a Photoshop alternative.

 

4. VLC for videos and films.

 

5. Audacity and Alsa mixer for audio.

 

6. Blender for editing audio and video files.

 

7. Scribus for desktop publishing.

Ascii Doc which I have not used, is a similar application.

 

8. Besides there are lot of command line applications.

LateX was the best but it seems nobody is supporting it.

Vim

Emacs

Kile

TexWorks

TexShops

Lyx

Windows base had very little to offer.

No one is too old to learn Old Tricks.

Safety Hazards of Batteries-They can Kill YOU by Fire

 Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Your Batteries can kill YOU-Safety Hazards of Batteries

Your Batteries can kill YOU!

I am a good candidate dying of Fire.

Reason I have so many gadgets in my room plugged in. 

I have had several accidents.

I lost one of my very expensive cameras due to fire couple of years ago.

There were several near misses.

Then I had 12 computers in a mini-network.

Two of them caught fire.

One my wife used one I use to download Linux.

Then one of my friends house caught fire and they had to live in pre-fabricated house few years ago.

Luckily they were fully insured.
I put my safety gear in full operation.

Dismantled all my network (old hardware) and bought two new computers with lot of fans for cooling.

One of the cooling fans busted and I could not replace it without changing the entire casing.

I do not use this computer for downloading NOW unless I am up all night.

I never use the computer during day time due to Global Warming and fire hazard.

I won't invest on air conditioning, it perpetuates more and more global warming.

My solutions.

I installed a multi media pack on my computer.
It has 8 USB ports for recharging all my gadgets (camera, cellphones, emergency battery charger, my USB multimedia player (mini), Tiny USB speaker radio) in one go.

It has all the slots for various cards from MicroSD to Media Cards for file and photo transfer to my computer.

While they are charging I would do my Internet search.

Only my headlamp (when electricity fails- thunderstorms etc) has to be plugged in straight.It got heated up today.
But I have decided to go for a battry powered headlamp.

But the best solution was to go "Digitally Zero" and say good bye to Internet riddled with scams!

Please read the reproduction below.


Reproduction
 
Safety Hazards of Batteries

Battery technology is at the heart of much of our technological revolution. One of the most prevalent rechargeable batteries in use today is the Lithium-ion battery. Cell phones, laptop computers, GPS systems, IPods, and even cars are now using Lithium-ion rechargeable battery technology. In fact, you probably have a Lithium-ion battery in your pocket or purse right now!Although Lithium-ion batteries are very common,
there are some inherent dangers when using ANY battery. Lithium cells are like any other technology –if they are abused and not used for their intended purposes, catastrophic results may occur,such as: first, second, and third degree burns, respiratory problems, fires, explosions, and even death.
Please handle the Lithium-ion batteries with care and respect.
User Safety Precautions. Short-circuiting. When the battery is not in use, you MUST disconnect the battery from the battery connector. When the battery is connected to the battery connector, do NOT leave it unattended. If the two wires with the alligator clips can touch, the battery will quickly heat up. Short-circuiting will damage the battery and generate heat that can cause burns.Do not leave the battery in the charger once it is fully charged. The battery charger will flash on and off with a red indicator light every 20 seconds when the battery is fully charged.
Disassembly: Never disassemble a battery, as the materials inside may be toxic and may damage skin and clothes. Throwing batteries into a fire or water: Disposing of a battery in fire can cause the battery to rupture. Also avoid placing batteries in water, as this may cause the battery to fail. Soldering: Never solder anything directly to a battery. This can destroy the safety features of the battery by damaging the safety vent inside the cap. Permanent connections to an energy cell may be made by spot welding solder tags to the terminals.
A soldered connection can subsequently be made to the tag.
Charging: Never charge with an unspecified charger or specified charger that has been modified. This can cause breakdown of the battery, swelling, or rupturing. Never attempt to charge a battery which has been physically damaged. Overcharging at high currents and reverse charging: Never reverse charge or overcharge with high currents (i.e. higher than rated). Doing so causes rapid gas
generation and increased gas pressure, thus causing batteries to swell or rupture.
Charging: Do not leave the battery in the charger once it is fully charged. Installation in equipment with airtight battery compartments: Always avoid designing airtight battery compartments. In some cases, gases, such as oxygen or hydrogen, may be given off. This creates the danger of the batteries bursting or rupturing in the presence of a source of ignition (sparks generated by a motor switch, etc.).
Use of batteries for other purposes: Do not use a battery in an appliance or purpose for which it was not intended. Differences in specifications can damage the battery or appliance.
Using old and new batteries together: Avoid using old and new batteries together. Also avoid mixing batteries using differing cell chemistries such as ordinary dry cell batteries, Ni-Cd, NiMH batteries or with another manufacturer's batteries. Differences in various characteristic value scan cause damage to the batteries or the product.Safety Procedures If the foil packaging on the battery does break, vent the room and leave immediately. If a fire starts, call the fire department immediately. The only extinguisher that will work on a Lithium-ion Battery fire is a Class D Fire Extinguisher or Dry Sand or Dry Table Salt.Disposal of Batteries Lithium ion batteries are found in many electronics like laptops, digital cameras, power tools and cordless phones. These batteries are very popular because they can be recharged and because of their ability to supply power for long periods of time. However, even lithium ion batteries reach a point where they can no longer hold a charge and need to be disposed of. When this time comes, it is important to know how to recycle the battery, and not simply put it in a trash can. Read the information found at the following link to determine your state’s recycling policy: There are many reasons to recycle these batteries rather than throw them away where they may end up in a regular landfill. One of which is because they enter the solid waste stream and can contaminate soil and water.Please check with your school on its policy of recycling of batteries.