Tech tips: June 2012

Nino Mint Project Learn - Play - Do - Build - Grow

Linux for Install on Older Computers for Educational use in Central America and Carribian

(work in progress)
Based on the success of my last build (see this link) plus enhancements like locking down some settings (aka partial Kiosk mode) and including a reset script.

I decided for my current build to utilize Linux Mint Debian (LMDE) 32 bit with XFCE windows manager. This will hopefully allow me in months and years ahead to update the build without starting from scratch. XFCE will also allow some nice features like Kiosk Mode. I am planning to implement some of Kiosk mode features combined with a RESET script to restore desktop areas which I do not lock. Another idea is to setup a pre-configured server with PXE boot support and Clonezilla loaded with an original image, so they can completely reformat the computers when needed.

Without further ado, below are the steps I took to create a full featured, ready to use system for distribution on refurbished computers.

Tale of Contents
OS Install
Programs Installed - Basic
Users and Groups
Directories for Shared Files
Additional Program Setup Steps
System Tweaks - only once
System Tweaks - each user
Hide and Uninstall Programs
Kiosk Mode and Reset Script

OS Install
Installed LMDE XFCE 32 bit with 1 gig swap, otherwise remaining disk partitioned with ext4, no LVM. Install all updates.

Programs Installed
The easiest way to install these is in terminal using command "sudo apt-get install" followed by a list of the programs listed below separated by a space (first letter of program is not normally capitalized and capitalization matters).

Accessories

Guake - nice f12 terminal application - I will use this if no one else (favorite)
Xournal - note taking program for mixing drawn and typed notes
Programs included with Linux Mint: (will hide or delete those in Red for listo user)

This list is too long to type here, so I will only include those we desire to hide or delete
Terminal de Root

Graphics

Darktable - professional quality photo program
Dia - Diagram editor
Inkscape - vector graphics program

ink-generator - to make pdfs and more

LibreCAD - CAD program
Picasa - Photo program
Pinta - simple, but flexible image editor
Gimp (Programa de maipulacion de imagenes de GNU)- powerfull and complicated image editor

abr2gbr - photoshop brush converter for importing custom brushes
gimp-data-extras - extra brushes, palates, etc for Gimp (installed by default)
gimp-gap - adds video editing to Gimp
gimp-help-es - help files for Gimp (installed by default)
gimp-plugin-registry - various add on tools
gimp-resynthesizer - makes large textures from small samples (add on)

Scribus - desktop publishing program

Scribus-doc - documentation (documentation English only)
scribus-ng-doc - additional documentation
scribus-template - more templates

Programs included with Linux Mint: (will hide or delete those in Red for listo user)

gThumb - photo thumbnail viewer
LibreOffice Draw - drawing program
Simple Scan - scanner interface
Visor de documentos - pdf viewer
Visor de imagenes - image viewer

Internet

Chromium-browser - fully opensource browser

chromium-browser-l10n - language packs
chromium-inspector - page inspector (lmde edition only)
chromium-codecs-ffmpeg and chromium-codecs-ffmpeg-extra (LM13 only)

Filezilla - gui FTP client
Programs included with Linux Mint: (will hide or delete those in Red for listo user)

client Thunderbird - email client
Client Pidgin - instant message client
GNOME PPP - dial up modem configuration tool
Darktable - professional quality photo programNavegador web Firefox - web browser
Transmission - download manager
XChat IRC - instant message client

Education

Basic256 - for learning basic programming language
BibleTime - Bible Study Program
Childsplay - education program for small children

childsplay-alphabet-sounds-es

El Pequeno Mago (littlewizard) - Learn basics of programing
GChemPaint - Chemistry Molecule Builder
GeoGebra - Geometry learning application
GNU Solfege (Solfege) - music education program

solfege-doc

GPeriodic - simple periodic table
JFractionLab - learning fractions
Kalzium - Periodic table of elements

KHelpCenter4 - Help center used for this and other KDE designed applications

Kbruch -- fraction learning application (not yet in Spanish language)
Kiwix - (see below how to install)
Klavaro - Typing tutor
KmPlot - Plotting program
KStars - Star map program

kstars-data-extra-tycho2 -- extra starmap info

KTurtle - Programming learning program (not yet in Spanish language)
Marble - Globe and map program

marble-plugins -- enables the shared libraries
libmarblewidget13 - shared libraries for Marble

MathWar - a math memorization game
Suite educativa GCompris (GCompris) - educational program for small kids

gcompris-sound-es -- Spanish language for gcompris
gnucap - electrical circuit plugin for gcompris

TuxMath - Math game
TuxPaint - painting program for very young kids (80Mb)
TuxType - Typing game

Games

Glchess (ajedrez) - faster chess game (3 Mb)

stockfish - computer AI player

Atomix - puzzle chemistry game
Biloba - strategy board game
Bovo - 5 in a row strategy game
Ceferino - platform (2Mb disk space)
Chromium-bsu - arcade style space shooter
ColorCode - like mastermind (1 Mb)
Enigma - marble puzzle
ExtremeTuxRacer - downhill ski game with penguin
Flobopuyo - color matching tetris like game
FreeCiv-GTK (freeciv-client-gtk) - turn based strategy game
Frogatto - classic platform game
Frozen-bubble - bubble matching game
gBrainy - puzzle game (automatically installs in Spanish language)
GRhino - Go clone (2 Mb)
Wesnoth (la batalla por) - turn based strategy game
lBreakout2 - like classic breakout
lMarbles - game like atomix
Mahjongg - classic tile game
Minas (gnomine) - clone of Minesweep
Neverball - tilting floor marble game
Neverputt - mini golf game
OpenArena - FPS like Doom
Pingus - like lemmings
PyRacerz - top down toy car racing game
Quadrapassel - tetris clone
Ri-li - train game for younger kids
Slingshot - physics based space battle
Sudoku (gnome-sudoku) - math puzzle game
Solitario AisleRoit (aisleroit)- Solitare game with many games in one
Suite ecucativa GCompris (gcompris) - also in Education
Supertux - Mario clone
Tuxfootball - Soccer game
Warmux - multiplayer war game

Multimedia

AcetoneISO - disk emulator to mount CD/DVD images
Audacity - multi-track audio editor
Bombono DVD (bombono-dvd) - DVD authoring program
GNU Solfege (solfege) (also above in education)
Imagination - Slide show maker
Openshot - create and edit videos

openshot-doc - documentation files

Programs included with Linux Mint: (will hide or delete those in Red for listo user)

Brasero - cd burning
Gnome MPlayer - media player
Grabadora de sonidos - simple sound recorder
Mezclador - volume conrol
Reproductgor de peliculas
VLC - media player (was included)

Office

Freemind - mind mapping program

freemind-doc - help files
freemind-browser - for viewing in web browser
freemind-plugins-svg
freemind-plugins-script
freemind-plugins-help

LibreOffice - all programs

libreoffice-help-es -- Spanish help files for LibreOffice
libreoffice-l10n-es -- Spanish language
openclipart-libreoffice -- clip art files
libreoffice-pdfimport -- pdf import filter
libreoffice-evolution - email plugin
libreoffice-filter-binfilter - legacy file filters
docvert-libreoffice - publish to pdf and other formats

Programs included with Linux Mint: (will hide or delete those in Red for listo user)

Diccionario - dictionary which requires online access
LibreOffice Base, Calc, Draw, Impress, Math, and Writer

System

Aptoncd - program to create backups, transfer packages to non-connected machines, etc I use this for burning a DVD of my full build for installing directly on another computer.
Virtualbox-nonfree - virtualization program

Other

OpenSSH-server - used for connecting to computer via SSH (for remote maintenance)

openssh-blacklist - know bad openssh keys
openssh-blacklist-extra

numlockx - turns numlock on automatically at startup
gnome-system-tools (LM13 only was missing users and groups plus other apps)

Users and Groups

Setup the following users via system/users and groups/add user

maestra: Installed with this user, will be utilized by instructors
listo: User for general use by students
itadmin: Reserved for IT admins only
adelante: Rarely used by students or staff with laptops
(change password for each separate machine)

Advanced User Settings

Under system/users and groups, then advanced settings/user privileges
All users should have all priveleges checked
EXCEPT listo user should NOT have "administer the system", "monitor system registries", or "configure printers" checked

Groups - Select Manage groups (from the users Settings app) and make the following changes

adm - select all users EXCEPT listo
admin - create and select select all users EXCEPT listo
sambashare - select all users EXCEPT listo
ssh - select itadmin only
staff - select maestra and itadmin only
sudo group - select all users EXCEPT listo
users group - select all users
vboxuser - select all users

must be done after installation of virtualbox

Directories for Shared Files

Make the following directories for shared file location

/share -- used to hold shared information via the following subdirectories

sudo mkdir /share

/share/basic

sudo mkdir /share/basic

/share/biblia

sudo mkdir /share/biblia

/share/foto

sudo mkdir /share/foto

/share/musica

sudo mkdir /share/musica

/share/wiki

sudo mkdir /share/wiki

/share/admin

sudo mkdir /share/admin

Now modify rights on these directories

/share rights - I want itadmin as owner with associated group as users (-R command makes it recursive to all subdirectories)

sudo chown -R itadmin.users /share

change rights so all users can read, write and execute files in these directories

sudo chmod -R a+rwx /share

Add sticky bit on these directories which disallows different users from renaming or deleting another users's files or directories. That way we can add content as itadmin or maestra that all users can access, but cannot delete or modify (e.g. bible and wiki files).

sudo chmod -R +t /share

Verify the directory structure... should be as follows

sudo ls -l /share

change rights on /admin directory .....

drwxr-xr-x 2 itadmin itadmin..... admin
drwxrwxrwt 2 itadmin users ....... basic
drwxrwxrwt 2 itadmin users ....... biblia

drwxrwxrwt 2 itadmin users ....... foto

drwxrwxrwt 2 itadmin users ....... musica

drwxrwxrwt 2 itadmin users ....... wiki

Additional Program Setup Steps
Programs that need additional setup to work perfectly

Basic256 - help files not fully included by default, plus add examples to share directory

go to basic256.org and download the latest program file
unpack download file into Descargas/basic directoy
Copy the 'help' folder to /usr/share/basic256/ and check correct ownership and permissions... after first removing the broken help files

sudo rm -R /usr/share/basic256/help
cd ~/Descargas/basic
sudo cp -R ./help /usr/share/basic256/
(this may not work in later version of the program)
ls -l /usr/share/basic

Copy the Examples directory into /share/basic/examples

sudo cp -R ./Examples /share/basic/

Copy the program icons

sudo cp ./resources/images/basic256.png /usr/share/basic256/
sudo cp ./resources/images/basic256.ico /usr/share/basic256/

Change menu to use the icon

gksudo gedit /usr/share/applications/basic256.desktop

change Icon= line to read
Icon=/usr/share/basic256/basic256.ico

save file

Kiwix - the latest Kiwix does not readily install, here are the steps I needed to take

log in as itadmin
Download Latest GNU/Linux version if Kiwix program from here: http://www.kiwix.org/index.php/Main_Page/en
From the same site, also download the Spanish language zim file (10Gb for March 2012 build)

test file with md5:
md5sum /home/itadmin/Descargas/wikipedia_es_all_03_2012.zim
checks out equal to sum listed on web site

move to share directory (in terminal)

mv /home/itadmin/Descargas/kiwix[.....] /share/wiki

move zim file to share directory

mv /home/itadmin/Descargas/wiki[...] /share/wiki

unpack program

tar xvjf /share/wiki/kiwix[...].tar.bz2 -C /share/wiki

remove original tar file

rm /share/wiki/kiwix[...].tar.bz2

tested kiwix program by navigating to /share/wiki/kiwix/kiwix and double clicking on it (it is executable)... success
Add a menu item for kiwix for all users

in terminal go to /usr/share/applications directory

cd /usr/share/applications

copy klavaro.desktop as kiwix.desktop

sudo cp klavaro.desktop kiwix.desktop

edit file

sudo nano kiwix.desktop
change the following lines

Name=Wikipedia_Kiwix
Comment=Offline Encycolpedia Browser
Comment(es)=Encyclopedia Wikipedia Local
Exec=/share/wiki/kiwix/kiwix
Icon=/share/wiki/kiwix/xulrunner/chrome/icons/default/default16.png

ctrl-o to save, then ctrl-x to exit

Try running program from menu.... Fails with permission issue (also icon did not show up

look at directory permissions...
cd /share/wiki
ls -l

shows kiwix owned by itadmin with owner permissions, but no permissions for group or other users....
of course this is because of sticky bit.... tricky

Correct permission issues by applying different permissions

sudo chmod a+rx -R /share/wiki/kiwix
Check permissions with ls -l on this directory
Shows read and execute permissions for all users

Try to launch from menu again -- success
Log out and try to launch from menu as listo user -- success

Build the index for listo user

User Specific Changes
Do each of the following steps while logged on as Listo user, and maybe other users as desired.

Program Changes (user specific)

Set language to Spanish for the following programs

TuxTyping
Scribus -- via File/Preferences/General/Language
LibreCAD -- via startup dialog

GlChess

select stockfish as the computer user

Marble educational program - install extra maps

Open application and install a couple of additional maps
Natural Earth III, Historical 1570, Historical 1786, all other Historical maps, climate zones, one of each planet

Libreoffice

After installed add Spanish Language for Spell check, and other extensions
Extensions: Espanol, PDF Import, Export as Images,

Tools/Extensions...

click on link to download more extensions
in web site click on Extensions sections, then type in Spanish and search
Download Spanish Dictionary from LibreOffice
Go back to Extension tool and add Dictionary from Descargas folder

Add the other Writer extensions in the same manner

Chromium preferences

select settings under the lined "customize and control" icon in upper right of browser app
Basics

Click on "Make Chromium My default browser"

Advanced settings

Passwords and forms

deselect "enable autofill"
deselect "offer to save passwords"

Privacy - Content settings

select "keep local data only until I quit my browser"

Location

select "do not allow any site to track physical location"

Notifications

select "Do not allow any site to show desktop notifications"

Firefox preferences

Edit/Preferences/Privacy

Tracking

select "tell websites I do not want to be tracked"

History

Select "Use custom setting for History" then
deselect "remember search and form history"
Keep cookies until "I close Firefox"
select "clear history when Firefox closes"

Security

deselect "remember passwords for sites

System Tweaks (user specific)

Add "Places" to panel (start bar)

right click on bottom panel and open panel preferences
on items tab, click add a new item, then select "Places" and close
in item list move places up to right after first separator then close

Audio Controls - add those needed

click on speaker icon on lower right
Select audio card "Playback: internal audio.."
Click on "select controls" button and add master control
now un-mute audio... and can adjust level as needed

"share" directory Link

Open file manager and navigate to the root directory
drag the /share directory onto the bottom of the left side of the file manager to create a permanent link (could have used symlink, but this works well)

Application AutoStart - remove unwanted program auto starts

settings/session and startup/Application Autostart (each user except adelante - may be often used on laptops for college students)
deselect the following

Blueman Applet
Guake (keep on for ITadmin)
mintUPdate (keep on for ITadmin)
mintUPload
mintWelcome (keep on for ITadmin)

Number of desktops = 1 (multiple desktops is confusing to windows users, maybe this will change over time, but too often someone tells me; "all my stuff suddenly disappeared")

Settings/Workspaces
Set # down to 1 (2 for itadmin)

System Tweaks - Which only need to be done once

Auto log-in for principle user

system/login window/security

check "Enable automatic login"
select listo user
check "Enable Timed Login"
select listo user
select 15 second pause

No font changes for login window

system/login window/accessibility

deselect "allow users to change...."

Turn numbers lock on automatically (seems to be no way to select it in a menu, so install a little program to run at start) - only done once

in terminal

sudo apt-get install numlockx (or use software manager)

Remove Unnecessary Grub Boot Menu Options - after several kernel options propogate in the boot menu, it may get busy. The easiest way to clean this up is to remove the older, associated packages linux-header-[kernel version & architecture] and linux-image-[kernel version & arc.]. This removes the older kernels and grub, stops listing them as boot options.

open synaptic package manager
search for older linux-image and linux-header packages (3 for each kernel version)
mark for complete removal

Move or Hide Menu Items for Programs

Hide the following programs as shown below:

Hide these by copying the .desktop file into local directory, then changing this file so it doesn't show the program in the menu. This does not remove the program, just hides it. Alternately, the program can be disallowed.

Add Kiosk Mode and Reset Script Functionality
Add functionality so it is hard to modify desktop beyond point of usable... and ability to reset for listo user. Possibly make desktop reset automatic on start-up (would be very useful in classroom setting). Also hide some menu items for some users.

Regarding a startup script which would reset the panel and other desktop settings, there seem to be a couple good suggestions (see additional resources below). Namely Cron jobs and a special start-up script. Since Cron jobs are ubiquitous across just about all Linux distros, this seems like a good method. Also, one can create a script which can be potentially run at another time and from a directory that itadmin user has rights to making it easy for modifying or replacing the script or adding other maintenance scripts with different functionality.

Scripts desired

- desktopsave -- will be used to save desktop configuration for user listo

Will need to be run as itadmin user, otherwise will not be able to write to config backup directory

- desktopreset -- will be used to reset desktop configuration for user listo

Should be allowed to run as any user

Script Setup Steps

Create Directory (from terminal as itadmin user)

sudo mkdir /share/admin
cd /share
ls -l (to see what it looks like)
sudo chown itadmin:itadmin /share/admin
ls -l (gives output like this which is good)

drwxr-xr-x 2 itadmin itadmin 4096 date time admin

Create save to directory (as itadmin user)

cd /share/admin
mkdir homesave

Create desktopsave script file

cd /share/admin
touch desktopsave
ls -l
chmod u+x desktopsave
ls -l

this gives... -rwxr--r-- l itadmin itadmin date time desktopsave
file is writable and executable by itadmin user only but readable by all. This way other users cannot execute this program and save a bad configuration.

desktopsave script... edit in your favorite browser and add the following lines

#!/bin/bash
# desktop save script, used to save listo user configuration

this first line is standard for scritps, second line is a comment

cd /share/admin/homesave
# delete the previous backup
rm -r /share/admin/homesave/listobak
# make a copy of the current backup
cp -r /share/admin/homesave/listo /share/admin/homesave/listobak
# delete the current backup
rm -r /share/admin/homesave/listo
# copy listo home directory (.config and .local only for now)
mkdir /share/admin/homesave/listo
cp -r /home/listo/.config /share/admin/homesave/
cp -r /home/listo/.local /share/admin/homesave/
# make readable to all users
chmod -R a+r /share/admin/homesave/listo

this is not really necessary based on permissions on the homesave directory, but I include it in case these permissions get changed

Create desktopfix script file

cd /share/admin
touch desktopfix
chmod a+x desktopfix
ls -l

this shows file is readable and executable by anyone, but only itadmin can write to it, so any user has the rights to run this script to reset the listo user desktop

desktopfix script... edit in your favorite browser and add the following lines

#! /bin/bash
# desktop reset script
# just copy configuration and local directories (for now) other files can be manually copied if needed
rsync -r --delete /share/admin/homesave/listo/.config /home/listo/
rsync -r --delete /share/admin/homesave/listo/.local /home/listo/
# the following restarts the bottom panel if it was closed
#xfce4-panel commented out - doesn't work well in script
# the following only applies to older xfce 4.2, starts taskbar if stoppped
#xftaskbar4 commented out - for older xfce
# the following only for xfce 4.4 lus, reloads windows manager (if borders missing on programs)
xfdesktop

desktopfixlistomenu script... edit in your favorite browser and add the following lines

similar to the above script, except rsync lines are commented out and the xfce4-panel is not

Create Menu items for desktopfix and desktopsave scripts
The following menu items are desired:
For listo user - REPARAR DESKTOP

For itadmin user - REPARAR DESKTOP
- GUARDAR DESKTOP

Copy .desktop programs to appropriate users to use as templates and change ownership of files

sudo cp /usr/share/applications/gparted.desktop /home/listo/.local/share/applications/reparar.desktop
sudo nano /home/listo/.local/share/aplications/reparar.desktop

change the following lines

Name=FIX DESKTOP
Name[es]=REPARAR DESKTOP
Name[fr]=FIXER BUREAU
GenericName=FIX DESKTOP
GenericName[es]=REPARAR DESKTOP
GenericName[fr]=FIXER BUREAU
X-GNOME-FulName=FIX DESKTOP
Comment=FIX LISTO'S DESKTOP
Comment[es]=REPARAR DESKTOP DE LISTO
Comment[fr]=FIXER BUREAU LISTO
Exec=/share/admin/desktopfixlistomenu
Icon=gparted
Terminal=true
Type=Application
....

save file

sudo chown listo.listo /home/listo/.local/share/applications/reparar.desktop
sudo cp /home/listo/.local/share/applications/reparar.desktop /home/itadmin/.local/share/applications/reparar.desktop
sudo cp /home/listo/.local/share/applications/reparar.desktop /home/itadmin/.local/share/applications/guardar.desktop
sudo nano /home/itadmin/.local/share/applications/reparar.desktop

change the following lines

Exec=sudo /share/admin/desktopfix

save file

sudo nano /home/itadmin/.local/shaore/applications/guardar.desktop

change the following lines

Name=SAVE DESKTOP
Name[es]=GUARDAR DESKTOP
Name[fr]=SAUVEGARDER BUREAU
...
Exec=sudo /share/admin/desktopsave

save file

sudo chown itadmin.itadmin /home/itadmin/.local/share/applications/guardar.desktop
sudo chown itadmin.itadmin /home/itadmin/.local/share/applications/reparar.desktop
ls -l /home/itadmin/.local/share/applications

shows itadmin as owner on all .desktop files here

____________________________________________________________________________

Problem Resolution - common

Disappearing [start] panel, desktop or windows borders
Because Xfce is modular, each of these can be inadvertently stopped, removed or crashed. Type the following command into terminal (Alt-F2), depending on the missing item. You may need to choose "Save session for furue logins when shutting down to make changes permanent.

Panel (start bar) missing --> xfce4-panel
Taskbar missing --> xftaskbar4 (xfce4.2 only)
Windows Manager missing (no borders on programs) -->xfdesktop (xfce 4.4 only)

Video not working smoothly - may need to change video drivers

Steps to change video drivers:

lspci -v | grep VGA

displays pci information about 'VGA'
shows the type of video card hardware you have

grep -B2 'Module class: X.Org Video Driver' /var/log/Xorg.0.log

run this command in terminal which states which video driver is being used by reporting info from the listed log file
output on current system shows openchrome and vesa drivers being used

press CTRL-ALT-F1 which opens a console screen
login as root
service mdm stop (stops display manager)
sudo Xorg -configure (creates setup file xorg.conf.new)
mv xorg.conf.new /etc/X11/xorg.conf (moves the file
nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf (change file as needed)
service mdm start (starts display manager)
startx (puts you back into the Xsession)

config files on this computer:

/etc/X11/default-display-manager (this file lists mdm at /usr/sbin/mdm)
/etc/X11/xorg.conf (this file is not there by default, to override hardware test and auto selection of video driver, you need to add an entry in this config file
/var/log/Xorg.0.log (log file for video startup)

Help files:

OverView of Graphics Drivers in Debian: http://wiki.debian.org/NvidiaGraphicsDrivers
Configure X video Driver: http://wiki.debian.org/Xorg?action=show&redirect=ConfigureX
Instructions from a forum: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/how-to-change-video-driver-in-debian-linux-474616/
http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?t=706&
Changing from Nouveau to Nvidia drivers: http://technologytales.com/2012/04/22/changing-from-nouveau-to-nvidia-graphics-drivers-on-linux-mint-debian-edition-64-bit/
Detailed steps to setup Xorg.conf file and modify: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1493835

____________________________________________________________________________

TO DO: For future Releases

Local update repository... for updating all computer without using Internet bandwidth. Probably should be added to the Zentyal server, maybe using virtual server

found this tip: install apt-proxy or approx on a server... maybe directly on Zentyal server, then can either configure each computer to point to Zentyal or maybe even configure the Zentyal server to send all update requests to it!
This caches all updates on the apt-proxy or approx server and keeps individual computers from downloading updates from the Internet.

Deployment/reinstall system

Clonezilla server.. side by side with Zentyal or as a VM under Zentyal (most secure)?
Clonezilla on DVD or USB boot?
remastersys? limited to 4GB, I believe

Configuration management program on server options include:

Puppet - or another auto configuration management program. Need to research and test first

Monitoring server program, e.g. Nagios?
Other Games Possibilities from http://beebom.com/2015/02/best-linux-games

Xonotic (was Nexuiz) -best in breed free fps
Voxelands - minecraft clone
The Dark Mod - like theif
Tales of Maj'Eyal (ToME) - a roguelike RPG
0 A.D. - like Age of Empires II
Supertuxcart
Hedgewars - like worms

____________________________________________________________________________

Additional Resources

XFCE desktop How To Guide: http://wiki.xfce.org/howto
Kiosk Mode:

Startup and Stopping scripts

Comments give 2 good way (cron And special script) http://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/20335/whats-the-cleanest-way-to-schedule-autoexec-bat-like-command-in-linux *** good reference ***
Writing a new startup, reboot or shutdown Script: http://en.kioskea.net/faq/3348-ubuntu-executing-a-script-at-startup-and-shutdown *** good reference ***
Writing new SERVICES (always running) and initiating from startup scripts: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UbuntuBootupHowto
Another idea using Cron Jobs, to run at startup... or whenever http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1046139
Various mentions of startup script location

/etc/rc.local -- edit this, adding desired commands, runs once each boot
/etc/init.d -- place for upstart scripts

Menu customization

Possible future addition of automatic management and updates within the same group of computers:

Puppet labs -- command line tool to manage many computers at once, including updates, computer state definition and enforcement, etc

http://downloads.puppetlabs.com/docs/learningpuppet.pdf

Skol linux - another iteration of KDE based complete educational software package -- very interesting for further investigation as used hardware gets better!

Programs installed - http://www.slx.no/take-a-tour#educational_software
Can use as server with thin clients... also can install and force use of LXDE window manager

Lock down Sudo (so not every user can use it)

taken care of by sudo group :)
Use sudo group to give/deny access to this command on command line
Advanced options shown here http://wiki.debian.org/sudo

BibleTime broken info: problem is with libsword8 bug

FIXED WITH RECENT UPDATE.... no longer relevant
possible solution is to pull in later libsword package from debian unstable see the following references:

newer package: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/libsword9
info on using unstable packages in testing: http://wiki.debian.org/DebianUnstable/#Can_I_use_sid_packages_on_testing.3F
very good how to: http://jaqque.sbih.org/kplug/apt-pinning.html
how to create a mixed system: (example is for stable and testing, but would use for testing and unstable) http://forums.spry.com/debian/620-how-install-testing-packages-debian-stable-apt-get.html or here: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/debian-26/installing-an-unstable-package-in-lenny-607482/
Bibletime debian info: http://packages.qa.debian.org/b/bibletime.html

shows testing and unstable are currently same version. Maybe I could/should uninstall, then re-install from stable repository using above described method in jaqque tutuorial?
Will look at libsword8 package as this is where the bug is. http://packages.qa.debian.org/s/sword.html
libsword9: http://packages.debian.org/wheezy/libsword9 not sure if this is even uses as libsword8 is referred to from bibletime
info on libsword bug and the fix being uploaded: http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=575131

Bibletime info on how to build directly from croswire packaging PPA... however, I don't think this would solve the libsword bug, so probably not worth trying http://blog.bibletime.info/en/download

____________________________________________________________________________

Programs to try

iTalc
DVDstyler, tremulus
WorldofGoo

Stuff Tried, but not Kept
Games and Programs which were tried, but did not work with either this configuration or the age of computers I am using.

Play on Linux: ... There are too many good games being ported to Linux, this is no longer critical to include.
Educational: Stellarium (did not open), Celestia (slow), Pysycache (slow kids program)
FPShooters: Hedgewars, Nexuiz, Sauerbraten, Alien arena, AssaultCube
Board Games: BrutalChess, DreamChess, LondonLaw, Mah-jong (complicated), Pychess, Quarry (complicated),
Strategy Games: rott-Rise of the Triad (fails to start), Warzone 2100, pioneers (complicated), stroq (hard to understand), Widelands (slow),
Archade Games: Blockout II (3d tetris, doesn't load), Zaz (doesn't load),
Platform Games: SMC (campy mario nock off),
Other: Flightgear (very large), Supertuxkart (slow), Titanion (fails to load), Frets on Fire (crashed), Oolite (hangs), Wormux (nice game, but hangs when quitting), rrotage (couldn't figure out how to play)
Those which would be worth trying on better hardware:

Widelands
Liquidwar

Dosbox... not installing this program which allows playing of old DOS games since this is no longer relevant, especially for better quality hardware
TuxGuitar - unable to figur out midi backend... tried installing Timidity, qmidiarp, qjackctl as options, then selecting in TuxGuitar... hmmm, I don't really understand this midi stuff, giving up for now.
Chemestry... Chemtool, EasyChem, GDIS Molecule modeler, ghemical, PyMol, and Viewmol (GChemPaint was chosen instead)
Games that were good or decent, but just had too many already

Berusky - lazy bug puzzle game
Konquest - complex strategy game
lTris - tetris clone, but I liked quadrapazzel better
Xmoto - 2d motorcross game - still needs just a bit of development work, was missing some levels

Obsolete Instructions from Previous version - now fixed or not aplicable

Childsplay - To get Childsplay to use Spanish alphabet sounds, need to specify at launch by changing the menu launcher as follows.

program needs to launch with the following command (caps important)
LANGUAGE=es childsplay
tested from command line... honestly the Spanish tract is not that great, hmm maybe I should keep it in English... learning English numbers not so bad ?

BibleTime

Bibletime is crashing when installing bibles and references...
This is a bug in the Sword module... easiest solution may be waiting for bug fix, then installing it
currently on libsword8 1.6.2 + dfsg-1 and bibletime 2.8.1-2

Tech tips

Friday, June 29, 2012

Nino Mint - XFCE Desktop for Spanish Education

Nino Mint Project Learn - Play - Do - Build - Grow

Linux for Install on Older Computers for Educational use in Central America and Carribian

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Fedora 16 lxde Laptop