After three and a half years since the last version, the new version of Linux distribution "GoboLinux 017". This distribution differs from many other distributions, since instead of handling a traditional file hierarchy Unix-based, the directory tree stack model is used, in which each program is installed in a separate directory.
The root in GoboLinux consists of the / Programs, / Users, / System, / Files, / Mount and / Depot directories. A Advantage is the ability to install different versions of the same application in parallel and simplify system maintenance, since for example, to remove a program, simply remove the directory associated with it.
For compatibility with the FHS, executable files, libraries, logs, and configuration files are distributed in the usual / bin, / lib, / var / log, and / etc directories via symbolic links.
At the same time, these directories are not visible to the user by default, thanks to the use of a special kernel module, as it takes care of hiding these directories.
To simplify navigation of the file types, the distribution contains the / System / Index directory, in which various types of content are marked with symbolic linksFor example, a list of executable files available in the / System / Index / bin subdirectory, shared data in / System / Index / share, and libraries in / System / Index / lib (for example, / System / Index / lib /libgtk.so refers to /Programs/GTK+/3.24/lib/libgtk-3.24.so).
To build packages using the achievements of the ALFS project (Linux automated from scratch). The build scripts run in the form of "Recipes", when started, the program code and required dependencies are loaded automatically.
For quick installation of programs without reconstruction, Two repositories are offered with binary packages already assembled: the official one, supported by the distribution development team, and the unofficial one, made up of the user community. The distribution kit is installed using an installer that supports both graphical and text mode operation.
Main news of GoboLinux 017
In this new version, the developers propose a simplified model to manage and develop Recipes, which is fully integrated with the GoboLinux build assembly tools. The Recipes tree is now a normal Git repository, managed through GitHub and cloned within the system to the / Data / Compile / Recipes directory, from which Recipes are used directly in the GoboLinux build.
Utility ContributeRecipe, used to create a package based on a Recpie file and upload it to the GoboLinux.org servers for review, now create a branch of the local clone from the Git repository, le add a new recipe and send a withdrawal request tol main tree on GitHub.
Another change mentioned in the announcement is the continuous improvement of an environment minimalist user-based window managerawesome.
Moreover, by connecting plugins in the Lua language based on Awesome, work is done with floating windows, familiar to most users, while preserving all the possibilities for a mosaic design.
Widgets were improved to control Wi-Fi, sound, control battery power and screen brightness, plus a new widget for Bluetooth has been added and a screenshot creation tool has been implemented.
Of the other changes:
- Updated versions of distribution components.
- New drivers added.
- Support for the Python 2 interpreter has been discontinued, which has been completely removed from the distribution, and all linked system scripts have been redone to work with Python 3.
- The GTK2 library has also been removed from the composition (only packages are shipped with GTK3).
- NCurses is created by default with Unicode support (libncursesw6.so), the libncurses.so option, limited to ASCII, is excluded from delivery.
- Sound subsystem changed to PulseAudio.
- The graphical installer has been translated to Qt 5.
Download
If you are interested in knowing more about the distribution or obtaining the images of the system, you can do so from its official website.