The rock-solid Linvo 2010.12 release gets it's support update: 2010.12.5
Linvo is a multi-purpose and flexible operating system that is based around Linux kernel and GNU. Linvo's goal is to bring something new and experimental into the world of GNU/Linux, while still being a perfectly stable and usable for daily use! It comes in desktop Live CD form, which means that it can run simply from one CD, without installing it on your hard drive. An installer is included in the CD, so you can install it if you want.
Aside from those trivial features, Linvo includes an experimental system named LinvoApp.
This is the most destinctive feature of Linvo: the application managment system. It allows you to:
What LinvoApp is NOT: For the moment, the selection of software which you can install through LinvoApp is limited (about 150 packages). This software is still in alpha stage, and this project does not simply have the manhours to compile and test thousants of apps. However, as it's evolution progresses, automatic building/testing tools will emerge and the capacity for maintained software will increase. Another confusion about this project is that it would allow multiple versions of software. It WILL allow different versions of one program for seperate users at the same time, but it WILL NOT allow one user to use 2 different versions of a specific program AT THE SAME TIME. However, one user can switchly This can be worked around by a LinvoApp plug-in or by building the app to support multiple versions at the same time.
About the "atomic upgrades": What LinvoApp allows is seperating all the changes to the system made by the user, so that everything is retained after a re-install. That has the same effect as an upgrade, and technically this IS an "atomic upgrade". However, you should not expect a fancy/complex upgrade algorithm or a rollback system. In many ways, this solution is the best one because it ensures a 100% working system and in the same time it's dead-simple.
The project is founded by me, Ivo Georgiev, and the development happens mostly by me. Linvo no longer depends upon another distribution, it is mostly developed independently, but it uses packages from Slackware, Arch Linux, additional packages from Gnome SlackBuild, Slacky, SBo, and Live Scripts for the LiveCD.
If you are a distribution developer, you can get the Linvo kernel in the repositories. In each directory for each Linvo version, the kernel is in linvo/kernel. You can find the initrd's here. The 2010.12 one is a lzma-compressed ext2 file system used as an initrd, and the other is a lzma-compressed CPIO archive used as initramfs. Both are based on Linux Live, the second one being quite different since Linux Live was never adapted for initramfs (although planned by it's creator on his blog).
Some other links you might find interesting:
scripts-infrastructure
Public directory (repositories, SlackBuilds, etc.)
Metalists: lists describing how Linvo is being built
LinvoBuilding: an unfinished prototype system for making the whole process from sources to distribution automatic
The main goals are to be upstream, simple and easy. This is achieved by using a careful selection of software. The 3 things a user needs is a distribution that doesn't have technical problems (which can be achieved only with simplicity and upstream packages) and it's easy to use - it's easy to understand the basic things, like installing software for example. There is nothing easier then selecting the desired application from a list and installing it with a click. Users just need to be teached some basic things, so documentation is also important in Linvo, but it's mostly included in the distribution only. My inspiration distributions are Slackware, Slax and Ubuntu.
If you have technical skills, you're welcome to help. If you are an artist, you may create something, but I don't guarantee it will be included in the distribution.
If you have any questions, you can send e-mails on
ivo @ linvo [dot] org (main developer)
In order to use the full functionality of the Linvo Applications System, please upgrade to 2010.12. Else, use System->Administration->Gslapt Package Manager or go here and use the "static install" button.
Go to System->Preferences->Keyboard, then click on "Layouts", then "Add" and make the choice. The default keys to switch layouts are both Alts. To change it, go to "Layout options", select the combination you want in "Key(s) to change layout". If you want a helper applet on the panel, "Add to panel", and select the "Keyboard indicator" panel. If you use a non-standart method input, right click the keyboard icon in the right top corner, then go to "Preferences" and set it up.
Check this out: Frequently asked questions. If the answer isn't there, check the support page or ask in the forum.
Go to the software center
Go to System->Preferences->Keyboard, then click on "Layouts", then "Add" and make the choice. The default keys to switch layouts are both Alts. To change it, go to "Layout options", select the combination you want in "Key(s) to change layout". If you use a non-standart input method, navigate to System->Preferences->IBus Setup and click Yes if you are prompted to start the ibus daemon.
Check this out: Frequently asked questions. If the answer isn't there, check the support page or ask in the forum.
In order to use the full functionality of the Linvo Applications System, please upgrade to 2010.12. Else, use System->Administration->Gslapt Package Manager or go here and use the "static install" button.
Go to System->Preferences->Keyboard, then click on "Layouts", then "Add" and make the choice. The default keys to switch layouts are both Alts. To change it, go to "Layout options", select the combination you want in "Key(s) to change layout". If you want a helper applet on the panel, "Add to panel", and select the "Keyboard indicator" panel. If you use a non-standart method input, right click the keyboard icon in the right top corner, then go to "Preferences" and set it up.
Check this out: Frequently asked questions. If the answer isn't there, check the support page or ask in the forum.
Go to the software center.
Go to System->Preferences->Keyboard, then click on "Layouts", then "Add" and make the choice. The default keys to switch layouts are both Alts. To change it, go to "Layout options", select the combination you want in "Key(s) to change layout". If you use a non-standart input method, navigate to System->Preferences->IBus Setup and click Yes if you are prompted to start the ibus daemon.
Check this out: Frequently asked questions. If the answer isn't there, check the support page or ask in the forum.
This release features important core overhauls - LinvoApp 3.0 is implemented. It's main new feature is "user jails", which further isolate users: every user runs in his own chroot, under a separate AUFS filesystem, meaning that no other user can access the software he uses. This improves security greatly - because if SUID is disabled on applications that are not authenticated by the website, there is simply no way to pernamently break into the system just by installing software via LinvoApp.
The LiveCD no longer uses Linux-Live. Instead, Linvo Kickstarter is introduced. This new system is a universal initramfs replacement that can boot LiveCD and installed systems. It is extremely flexible, and loads only the needed hardware drivers for the storage devices that contain Linvo. It also replaces AUFS with Overlayfs for optimization purposes. For more information about the Kickstarter, see the Facebook note.
Of course, GNOME3 is also introduced to this release. Despite the negative feedback. However, tools and plug-ins will be featured, so the user would be able to bring back a familiar desktop look.
![Screenshot-Linvo 2010.12 [Running] - Oracle VM VirtualBox](screenshots//Linvo%202012.01/Screenshot-Linvo%202010.12%20%5BRunning%5D%20-%20Oracle%20VM%20VirtualBox.png "Screenshot-Linvo 2010.12 [Running] - Oracle VM VirtualBox")
