Ecopup 0.7 Beta [Depreciated]

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richard.a
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Re: superb

#61 Post by richard.a »

ecomoney wrote:Richard a great many thanks for setting up that server, it will make life my end considerably easier. I will do a post on my main website with a link to your site, and also update the post at the top of the page to include your mirror if I may. Let me know if you have any problems with your ISP and I can remove these links if you are going over bandwidth.
That's cool; I'm keeping an eye on access logs, but all I usually see is crawlers from search engines. If there's anything you'd like changed on that cover page, please let me know.
ecomoney wrote:With regards the stock puppy installer, there are reports of it not working, and I also consider it to be extremely confusing for new users. 99% of people I have observed use it in only one of two ways, either using the entire computer of dual booting with windoze. The ecopup discussion seems to be split at the moment, so this information can be found on the cybercafe thread at http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 956#143956.
I've responded on that other thread; there is necessary tidying-up needed; I mentioned elsewhere that I personally have had no problems with it, but that doesn't mean it's okay for a typical street user to use - which is what it needs to become imho.

My background in computing included teaching computer-illiterate draughtsmen how to transfer their skills to CAD, which (of course) had to evaluate how much they needed to learn about computer operating (not geek stuff) and how quickly (like can it be crammed into 5 minutes flat).

My perspective, like yours, is essentially totally at odds with the average developer lol :) :D
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richard.a
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#62 Post by richard.a »

Okay folks... have a look at this and see if it makes sense?

I've taken the verbose route because I believe that explanations should be offered.

Page is at http://micro-hard.homelinux.net/puppy/installing-puppy/

Comments are solicited please.

Richard in Oz
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ecomoney
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installer

#63 Post by ecomoney »

Richard I think your tutorial is excellent, you obviously have a lot of expertise in this. Ive never had to do more than either a dual-boot cd-in=linux-cd-out=windows or a full hard drive install to hda1 with all of the computers that have been through the drop in cybercafe so far. I think anyone reading would see at a glance exactly how complicated setting up puppy actually is!
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ecomoney
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Installer video

#64 Post by ecomoney »

While all this talk of installers was going on, our Lead Developer, (a very talented programmer from Australia) has been working on something that I think is a bit of a first for any linux distro (correct me if Im wrong). This is what will happen when the next ecopup cd is inserted into a running windows machine (95,98,98se,me,2000,NT,xp and Vista). :D

http://ecomoney.eu/ecopup/screenshots/i ... review.avi

This is still testing, and already weve altered the final screen to give instructions. Any more suggestions would be very helpful.
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richard.a
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#65 Post by richard.a »

Okay mate, it has my vote.

Is it possible to get hold of the installer and suggestions how to use it in conjunction with the ISO I successfully downloaded?

Testing by as many injuns as possible would be great :)

Richard
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Gekko
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#66 Post by Gekko »

The installer relies on two files that will be on the next version of Ecopup due in the next few days.

Here is a link to the video on youtube.

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cthisbear
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#67 Post by cthisbear »

Gekko

" No, I'm not staying. "

Good idea mate.
With people like me on this forum it's bound to spoil your dinner.
Look after yourself.

Chris

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richard.a
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Re: Installer video

#68 Post by richard.a »

ecomoney wrote:---snip---
This is what will happen when the next ecopup cd is inserted into a running windows machine (95,98,98se,me,2000,NT,xp and Vista). :D

http://ecomoney.eu/ecopup/screenshots/i ... review.avi

This is still testing, and already we've altered the final screen to give instructions. Any more suggestions would be very helpful.
Both can also be found mirrored at http://micro-hard.homelinux.net/puppy/Ecopup/installer/

Please let me know if there are any problems in access.

Richard
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ecomoney
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Release Date

#69 Post by ecomoney »

Hi, I havnt set a release date for the next ecopup as yet, although Im working furiously on it. There will be a lot of additions and improvements, including the windows installer, (and hopefully a linux one from the livecd as well, i.e. an install icon on the livecd desktop). As regards the windows installer, it relies on a set format for the files on the cd, so is not compatible with the format that is used currently on ecopup 0.7.1 That being said, it shouldnt be too much work to modify the existing 0.7.1 to include the installer so as to allow it to be tested. I understand Gekko has done some testing but only under virtual machines. I dont have ready access to an windows computer with which to try it.

Gekko has had the idea of using strict bz2 compression for the eco_save.2fs file, and along with space savings that have been made by removing a duplicate JAVA setup in the openoffice squash file (java is in the eco_pup.2fs file) it seems we now have an extra 69mb of space on the cd to add more apps. I want to fill some of this with more games, and also the opera web browser which seems very popular. I may also include a short video or some documentation about ecopups "roots" at the Riddings drop in cybercafe. Ive attached my rough working notes of issues that need resolving and features that I plan to add, and would welcome feedback about them.

Thanks again everyone for your interest in this project.
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cb88
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#70 Post by cb88 »

have you considered LZMA compression using 7-zip and p7-zip(command line linux verion)

has excellent compression in windows
Taking Puppy Linux to the limit of perfection. meanwhile try "puppy pfix=duct_tape" kernel parem eater.
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Gekko
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#71 Post by Gekko »

I did the testing on Windows in a VM initially when it could direly break something, but I've tested it on my actually setup.

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richard.a
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Re: Release Date

#72 Post by richard.a »

ecomoney wrote:I don't have ready access to an windows computer with which to try it.
I'm happy to test it on Windows2000 SP4 if you can provide me with the iso.

May I suggest that if you decide to send me a CD by mail, that you burn the iso file on to the CD? Rather than burning the CD as an ISO image?

I know that I would then have to burn a CD of the image myself, but that way, if the ISO works satisfactorily I can immediately put it up for download :)


Not related to this thread, but I made some observations in your other thread about difficulties on some not-so-recent computers with what I suspect is a conflict between their BIOS and more recent kernels, as I've found puppy 2.12 onwards (and several other distros) won't run on them either live or installed. You may be plain lucky with the particular computers you have installed on. But keep it in the back of your mind if you find recalcitrant machines that refuse to run with a 2.15ce base :)

And Gekko, thank you for your work there... and I'm glad to see you made it back after all :) :D

Richard
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veronicathecow
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#73 Post by veronicathecow »

Looking forward to Ecopup 3.00 if that's what you are basing the next version on.
Cheers
Tony

cthisbear
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#74 Post by cthisbear »

Ecopup is now on another Australian Server.

http://os.cqu.edu.au/pub/iso/puppylinux/

Thanks to Neville Richter.

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ecomoney
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Many thanks Chris

#75 Post by ecomoney »

Many thanks for setting up the links cthisbear and everyone. This will help the load on Ecomoney's servers considerably, and provide a more reliable download for people that want/need to use ecopup. I will post a link in the top of the

I think with the next version Ive created myself quite a lot of jobs for myself and it will take a while to complete them all. Expect a lot of changes and additions. Ive delayed the next classes at the centre and put my hours down to just one day a week so I can concentrate on it.

I welcome many of the enhancements in version 3. As you may know I have been invited to help co-ordinate the development of the next community edition of puppy, which will be based on puppy linux 3.2 when that comes out. I plan to use the experience I have gained working at the cybercafe where the ideas in ecopup were formed. Puppy 3 has several big base architecture changes, and I wish to wait until these have "matured" i.e. it has been well tested and driver support widened, before embarking on the community edition project (and afterwards an ecopup based upon it). After this next edition of ecopup is "complete", I only want to issue bugfix releases (no new major features) as I want to give my full attention to learning about puppy 3 in preparation of the next community edition. I envisage ecopup 0.8 series to be based upon puppy linux 3.3ce.

EDIT:

After some thought, I have added an extra item to the aims of ecopup (see the first post).
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Linux_chick
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puppy derivatives

#76 Post by Linux_chick »

I am using current version of ecopup and testing it out. I was using an imac for a short while, (freinds) while my pc was being fixed but after using ecopup, i prefer this. Its so easy to use, and self explanatory with the menu and desk top layout. It is excellent for communities to use and those that are beginners. There are things that need 'tweaking'. Havnt tested every thing yet, but amsn i manage to crash, altho it could be hardware fault as i was using firefox browser into a social network page at same time on diff desk top. When signing in forums, it loses memory for saving passwords and address's, not that that is a bad idea or great loss.
I esp like the radio, cd burner, games and drivers ready down loaded for printers.
It makes a change to have the icons saying exactly what they do, absolutely non technical and non frightening to the beginner. Seems to take a while to open when first booting up, but hey!...minor aesthetics. Recording studio feature is right up my street, can slow the music down while playing bass to learn new songs. Wooo wo!!

Victoria

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Linux_chick
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#77 Post by Linux_chick »

I have several people wanting to use this edition, they have always used windows XP, but love the way ecopup looks..(lovely desktop), and the information about everything in the menu and wizards etc....(great when something goes wrong and you hav'nt a clue what to do, it tells you, how to set up stuff and what they do, wow!!! Unheard of with microsoft.
Kids love the games...(need a few more grown up ones)?

Freinds cant believe that you can use 4 desktops at once..hahaha :roll: 8) :lol:

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ecomoney
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#78 Post by ecomoney »

Yes, I find that naming the icons with what things do rather than what they are called is a great way of increasing understanding for new users (although I have included the names of the actual programs on the tooltips of each icon).

Ecopup 7.3 is still in development, although progress has slowed now Im working on the next CE edition. Ive had word from gekko that his connection is capped and he wont be able to upload a base iso of the installer until the 19th when his bandwidth is reset. Expect a version with this included for testing shortly after that.

Because of my other commitments, Im going to scale down the changes in the next release to mostly bugfixes, and add the windows installer. I can only commit a few more days to this before things really hot up with the ce edition. The 0.8 series will be based on puppy 3.3 ce.
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oui

#79 Post by oui »

bonjour

is there a way to port puppy 3.0 into the harddisk installation of ecopuppy?

salut

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ecomoney
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#80 Post by ecomoney »

Not as far as I know, but Im not actually that hot when it comes to the inner workings. I did boot a 3.00 series cd yesterday on my hard disk installation and it started to do an upgrade. I didint let it finish though to see the results.

If you would like to get the modifications of ecopup over to the 3 series it would be very welcome, and it would save a lot of work on the next 3.00 series ecopup. Im busy on the future community edition, but if someone want to try porting then I would be happy to help with what knowledge I have.
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