Quirky Xerus 8.6 (Aug. 16), Beaver 8.7.1 (Sept. 21), 2018

[linuxcbon]

Using a frugal install to HD. Everything I tested works well and as expected except that I can not ad a printer. When trying to ad a printer, the browser says, “The connection was refused when attempting to contact localhost:631. Please check this out before releasing 8.2.

yes, executable permissions are missing, you can solve it with the command

Code: Select all

chmod +x /etc/init.d/*

There are other minor bugs though :

Code: Select all

# /usr/sbin/cups_shell
/etc/init.d/cups: line 183: echo_success: command not found
cups: stopped scheduler.
/usr/bin/cups-config: line 25: dpkg-architecture: command not found
/usr/bin/cups-config: line 26: dpkg-architecture: command not found
/usr/bin/cups-config: line 54: dpkg-architecture: command not found
/etc/init.d/cups: line 175: echo_success: command not found
cups: started scheduler.

[zygo]

Barry,

I have used Libre Office Write for the first time in a Quirky and I expected it to kill my live-flash in 2GB of RAM. But it was only very slightly sluggish and it even printed (and without the leading blank line that was guaranteed by Abiword). And when I asked it to do too much the offending applications crashed without crashing X or the OS (unlike other Quirkys since 733)!

[ETP]

@linuxcbon & doggone

Sorry linuxcbon but I do not agree with your shotgun code approach i.e. making
everything in /etc/init.d/ executable.

In previous Pups Barry has usually had cups starting and running by default.
In other words ticked in "BootManager:Manage system services". In this beta Pup
IIRC he did not, which would explain doggone's error message.
If you do tick cups you need to then reboot for correct operation.

The composite shot below shows the relationship between "Manage system services"
and the content of /etc/init.d/
A tick toggles the item into an executable state. A blank box removes the executable
permission.

In the composite shot below I am displaying executable files in blue as is my habit.
It is handy in many folders to quickly see at a glance what is and is not executable.

There is no need to turn on items that you have no intention of using.

[BarryK]

Quirky Xerus 8.2 final is released, see announcement, release notes and download links:

http://barryk.org/news/?viewDetailed=00609

My previous experience is that there are always more bugs found after an official release, so probably 8.2.1 is not far away.
It is expected to be a simple Service Pack PET.

I have not released a Service Pack to upgrade from Xerus 8.1.6, as there were some problems reported awhile back regarding the Service Packs not working quite as expected.
I decided to get 8.2 out, and then examine the Service Pack mechanism at my leisure.

There is a post above about printing not working, and one post with a fix. I did test printing with an earlier beta build and it worked, so I thought that one was OK. I will check it out.

[BarryK]

Using a frugal install to HD. Everything I tested works well and as expected except that I can not ad a printer. When trying to ad a printer, the browser says, “The connection was refused when attempting to contact localhost:631. Please check this out before releasing 8.2.

yes, executable permissions are missing, you can solve it with the command

Code: Select all

chmod +x /etc/init.d/*

There are other minor bugs though :

Code: Select all

# /usr/sbin/cups_shell
/etc/init.d/cups: line 183: echo_success: command not found
cups: stopped scheduler.
/usr/bin/cups-config: line 25: dpkg-architecture: command not found
/usr/bin/cups-config: line 26: dpkg-architecture: command not found
/usr/bin/cups-config: line 54: dpkg-architecture: command not found
/etc/init.d/cups: line 175: echo_success: command not found
cups: started scheduler.

Oh, I see. That is why printing was reported as broken. The change that I made was to disable most of the daemons, including /etc/init.d/cups. This is done by clearing the "execute" permissions of the file.

The reason why I did this, is because I am becoming increasing paranoid about security, and any daemon is a potential security hole.

You can right-click on /etc/init.d/cups and choose "Properties" then tick the "Exec" checkboxes.

Or, Menu -> Setup -> QuickSetup
then click the "Manage daemons" button.
Edit:
Or, Menu -> System -> BootManager
then choose "Manage System Services"

Edit:
Ha ha, I have just spotted a bug, in that "Manage daemons" window. There is a checkbox labeled just "functions" (file /etc/init.d/functions). Do not tick that, it is not a daemon.
It doesn't matter if ticked anyway, as it is only a collection of functions. This file comes from the OpenEmbedded project, so I put it in there for compatibility with OE.

I will filter that out of the list, to avoid user confusion.

[BarryK]

Barry,

I have used Libre Office Write for the first time in a Quirky and I expected it to kill my live-flash in 2GB of RAM. But it was only very slightly sluggish and it even printed (and without the leading blank line that was guaranteed by Abiword). And when I asked it to do too much the offending applications crashed without crashing X or the OS (unlike other Quirkys since 733)!

I have only used it on a laptop with 4GB RAM, and it is quite perky. No crashes, but then I have only given it fairly light duties.

[Billtoo]

I booted from the live dvd and installed to a 32gb SDHC card:

# inxi -b
System: Host: puppypc936 Kernel: 4.11.11 x86_64 (64 bit) Desktop: JWM git-976 Distro: Quirky 8.2 xerus64
Machine: System: ACER product: Aspire M5620 v: R01-A4 serial: PTS860X0348050CF642700
Mobo: ACER model: G33T-AM v: 1.0 serial: 00000000 Bios: American Megatrends v: R01-A4 date: 12/19/2007
CPU: Quad core Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 (-MCP-) speed/max: 1603/2403 MHz
Graphics: Card: NVIDIA GF108 [GeForce GT 430]
Display Server: X.org 1.18.4 driver: nvidia tty size: 133x26 Advanced Data: N/A for root
Network: Card: Intel 82566DC-2 Gigabit Network Connection driver: e1000e
Drives: HDD Total Size: 32.0GB (22.1% used)
Info: Processes: 155 Uptime: 46 min Memory: 193.4/7991.8MB Client: Shell (bash) inxi: 2.2.35
#

I haven't finished setting up but it's working well so far.
Thanks.

EDIT: I finished installing my must haves with QPM, got sound working
with the TV speakers.
It's working well.

[Gordie]

I have a wireless Microsoft Mouse and it won't work no matter what I try. Touchpad works.
The mouse works on Slacko64 but not Easy or Quirky

[Reneetje]

Thank you mr. Kauler for the final release of Quirky 8.2
From your hands we get the one and only official and trustfull and stable distro, announced on distrowatch.com .

What works in Quirky 8.2 is
- pwidgets-2.5.6-x86_64.pet
- pmcputemp-0.63-x86_64.pet
- Google Chrome Version 59.0.3071.115 (Official Build) (64-bit)

What I miss, is abiword 3.0.1 like Quirky 8.0
Using package manager to install abiword 3.0.1 doesn't work.

[ETP]

Install was to a 16GB USB2 stick using the 8GB image.
Items installed thus far:

• flashplayer-26.0.0.137-x86_64|Adobe Flash Player browser plugin and Preferences
  startup_sound-mk2|Startup sound with a few choices
  GetLatest64bitChromeVersionWoofQ-MK1|Get Latest Chrome Version
  libguess1_1.2-1.1|high-speed character set detection library
  librubberband2v5_1.8.1|audio time-stretching and pitch-shifting library
  libsdl2-2.0-0_2.0.4+dfsg1|Simple DirectMedia Layer
  libsndio6.1_1.1.0-2|Small audio and MIDI framework from OpenBSD runtime libraries
  mpv_0.14.0|video player based on MPlayer/mplayer2
  google-chrome-stable_current_amd64|Access the Internet
  ListDD-2.0|List dynamic dependencies
  PupClockset-2.5|PupClockset manager
  PupSnap-2.5.1_Scrot-0.8_64Bit|PupSnap screen capture
  PupShutdown-2.3|PupShutdown manager
  PupControl-3.1.1|Control panel
  Target_uuid|Change DLNA Repository
  tree_1.7.0-3|displays an indented directory tree in color

The only issue so far was the poor quality/clarity of the fonts in Urxvt.(Very weak in HTOP with coloured background)
That was resolved by installing additional DejaVuSans fonts & using DejaVu Sans Mono:Bold with the settings and result
as in the following screenshot:
Press F11 to toggle into full screen then click on link below.
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view ... 1lDdmJVMjQ

[belham2]

The only issue so far was the poor quality/clarity of the fonts in Urxvt.(Very weak in HTOP with coloured background)
That was resolved by installing additional DejaVuSans fonts & using DejaVu Sans Mono:Bold with the settings....

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view ... 1lDdmJVMjQ

What? ETP, no offense, but what is heaven's name are you talking about here? You do know that Barry included URXT Terminal Setup Control (it is a Menu entry if one looked, common in all pups) where you have the choice of 16 different fonts and their variations, plus customizing font sizes, shapes, shades, etc. DejaVueSans is/was already installed....why a need was felt (HTOP jumps off my screens in terms of clarity after using URXT Terminal Setup to quickly adjust URXVT's fonts) makes no sense. But, as usual, I guess none of the world makes sense to me....like the previous poster above ETP complaining about missing Abiword 3.0.1 when LibreOffice---as in Libre-Blows-Abiword-off-Earth-Office---Barry already included. Absolutely unreal.

Barry, I will say it again, this 8.1.94-8.2 is by far the best thing you've put out since Precise 5.7. The work you did on it, especially from the other Quirkies (7.0s up thru Werewolf, Xenial & Slaq Quirks) & taking into account many of the comments/tips we made to you, is very noticeable. Thanks again for all your hard work. The 8.2-on is set to become a "classic" imho.

[ETP]

Hi belham2,

If you have no problem with the existing fonts available in Urxvt Terminal Control then all well and good.

However, assuming that you looked at the screenshot, it troubles me that you failed to observe the Urxvt Terminal Control
window and the fact that the Monospaced font used is not present in 8.2

It may be that you need to take the advice in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQlKewo-kQY

[linuxcbon]

@linuxcbon & doggone

Sorry linuxcbon but I do not agree with your shotgun code approach i.e. making
everything in /etc/init.d/ executable.

Yes I know, but don't be so boring . It was only a quick and dirty workaround. Barry does the "real" fixing.

[BarryK]

Thank you mr. Kauler for the final release of Quirky 8.2
From your hands we get the one and only official and trustfull and stable distro, announced on distrowatch.com .

What works in Quirky 8.2 is
- pwidgets-2.5.6-x86_64.pet
- pmcputemp-0.63-x86_64.pet
- Google Chrome Version 59.0.3071.115 (Official Build) (64-bit)

What I miss, is abiword 3.0.1 like Quirky 8.0
Using package manager to install abiword 3.0.1 doesn't work.

Awww, don't you like LibreOffice Writer?

I am using Libreoffice now, for a few reasons, despite its size.

One reason is awhile back I had to download and fill in a form, that was a .docx file. It is a MS Office file, and had fields in it where I had to type in answers.
Anyway, Abiword just displayed a mess. LibreOffice displayed it perfectly and I was able to fill in the form and email it back.

Another reason. I discovered that Libreoffice is a very good WYSIWYG HTML editor, better than Composer in SeaMonkey -- with some caveats. Furthermore, now I'm trying to recall exactly what I did ...wanted to convert BaCon syntax-highlighted code from Geany to HTML, so as to be able to put it into a web page.
...no, can't recall exactly what I did, but did it with Libreoffice, SM wouldn't do it.

Then there's the LibreOffice Draw tool, I have gotten to like that.

[BarryK]

Hi belham2,

If you have no problem with the existing fonts available in Urxvt Terminal Control then all well and good.

However, assuming that you looked at the screenshot, it troubles me that you failed to observe the Urxvt Terminal Control
window and the fact that the Monospaced font used is not present in 8.2

It may be that you need to take the advice in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQlKewo-kQY

Note that for 8.2 I changed from Urxvtset to UrxvtControl.

The only reason I changed is because Urxvtset uses 'yad', and I reckon there are too many of those popup message thingies. Took the opportunity to get rid of one, as from the description Radky's UrxvtControl seems to do the same thing.

Let me know of any issues with UrxvtControl!

[musher0]

Hi guys.

Please stop arguing about fonts? The attached pic speaks for itself. BarryK
is only offering 4 DejaVu fonts in XerusQuirky whereas there are 22
available in all.

Ref.: https://dejavu-fonts.github.io

Please prove me wrong, but I believe no Puppy ever provided the full set
of DejaVu fonts, even as an add-on pet.

(Understanding why doesn't mean I am in agreement with this policy in
this particular case of fonts, since having a variety of good fonts to write
with is as essential in the computer age as ink was in the paper age.)

If you are interested, I have the whole DejaVu v. 2.37 set available for
download in this directory:

https://augras.eu/documents/ws-default/ ... tch/Fontes

as well as the still very beautiful classic and historical Liberation font
(which pulled Linuxian fonts away from WhineDose control)

and

some fixed fonts (look for "Fontes-fixes" in French in the list).

Plus a few others, if you are curious. (I find the Universal font absolutely
fabulous!)

Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~
Note --
Sorry for not giving URLs for each. For practical reasons, my generous
host, forum member augras, decided against it. And it's not any more
trouble to download them this way, is it?

[musher0]

@BarryK

I just noticed that you have included aemenu-pango and replaceit in your
Quirky-8.2 "Xerus", in addition to vovchik's bcm.
http://barryk.org/news/?viewDetailed=00600

Many thanks. Downloading the final and the devx now.

I will thus be able to refer 64-bit users who wish to use my Most Recently
Used Files (MRUF) history script to Quirky-8.2 "Xerus". (I've been asked
the question of a 64-bit version for MRUF a couple of times.)

As time allows, I might even try to integrate my aewm environment on
Quirky-8.2 "Xerus".

Again thanks. BFN.

[BarryK]

@BarryK

I just noticed that you have included aemenu-pango and replaceit in your
Quirky-8.2 "Xerus", in addition to vovchik's bcm.
http://barryk.org/news/?viewDetailed=00600

Many thanks. Downloading the final and the devx now.

I will thus be able to refer 64-bit users who wish to use my Most Recently
Used Files (MRUF) history script to Quirky-8.2 "Xerus". (I've been asked
the question of a 64-bit version for MRUF a couple of times.)

Yes, I have setup Quirky with the binary executables, so all you have to do is put in the script(s)!
I didn't try to do that, thought that you might like to give it a go after 8.2 is released, and sort out any issues better than I can.

[BarryK]

A couple of earlier posts have shown 01micko's pmcputemp tray applet installed.

Yes, it is useful to see the CPU temperature in the tray, so I have compiled it, and it will be in the next release.

See blog announcement:
http://barryk.org/news/?viewDetailed=00611

[BarryK]

Alpha Litebook progress
muggins gave me his Alpha Litebook laptop. It has issues for him, and he decided that he didn't want it. One thing he didn't like is that the UEFI-firmware doesn't have an option to set "legacy boot".

Here is my blog report, where I am posting updates:
http://barryk.org/news/?viewDetailed=00608

I booted Quirky 8.2 and discovered some problems. I fixed the wifi, it needed a realtek 8723bu driver. Touchpad not working still.

I fixed the slow bootup, by changing this kernel config from builtin to a module:
Device Drivers -> SATA ->
<*> Legacy ISA PATA support

...what I am wondering about now, is whether I should make that the default for Quirky kernels, or even remove that option entirely.
That option is described here:
http://cateee.net/lkddb/web-lkddb/PATA_LEGACY.html

There is one thing that is worrying me a bit. I copied the 8.2 devx pet to the usb stick, booted up on the Litebook, copied the devx pet to the hard drive in the Litebook. Tried to install the devx and got an md5sum error.
It is real good that pets have this md5sum appended, so picked up that the pet was corrupted. But where and when?
I am always careful to sync everything. The flash stick has been around for awhile, so maybe. Or, the Litebook RAM ... I had better do a memtest.

However, copied devx again, this time it installed, and compiled the kernel ok on the Litebook. Maybe it was "cosmic radiation"