The story of RT77 ----------------------------------------------- Hello I am looking into making my own OS based on Debian, I am not a programmer but do have a bunch of my own ideas about what I would like to do with this project. Hoping to start here and see if I can get some help and advice on starting out with this project. I am looking to use the smallest debian package possible and try to cut down/uninstall things that I will not need/use as one of the first goals, then to modify the look of the menus and desktop environment, basically I will want to develop my own desktop environment, this will probably be difficult as I am not a programmer so I will be making my own development website for all of this and trying to get interested programmers involved. Also I will want to change the way it does certain things, like how it will install software packages. The goal is to make my own OS that will be able to do regular stuff like internet browsing, text editing, audio recording, video editing, etc.. but also be able to have it kind of act like Kodi in that it can be used as an entertainment center. This post is very general right now I realize.. but just hoping to get some advice on how I could or should start this process.. ----------------------------------------------- I have a bunch of ideas that I want to branch out with.. started looking into openbox to customize the look of the themes but I do not know jack about any of this stuff at the moment. Trying to learn and see what my options are as far as customizing the look goes.. I would like to have a look something like windows to be honest I know it's rather cheesy to say but the menu always was so straight forward on that from windows 95 through windows 7. I do not really care for fancy docking like mac and ubuntu and apps on the desktop and such like clock and weather although It is fine if I am able to do that as well just not required. To be honest I wanted to make my own Linux OS because later down the line I am hoping to make a set top box.. I mean manufactured. But in order to do that I need plans for the software before the hardware. It should be a lot of things, a gaming machine being one of the main things as well as other media.. video, audio and a fully loaded desktop as well. Be able to switch from PC Mode To Media Center Mode. Use of gamepad controller to Media Center Mode.. Lots of other thing but that should give an idea for now. Was also hoping to somehow make it so installing software was more easy like windows as well, where, you just kind of have 1 file and are able to install just with that 1 file. Also if user needs to uninstall the software program they would be able to see it in a list of installed programs like on windows and uninstall from there. From my own user experience with Linux it has been a frigging nightmare to install software much of the time and I am really just sick of it to be honest so that would be something I would love to have done. Too many times I tried to install software only to have issues with dependencies and conflicts of file versions. That is a nightmare I would like to get figured out and fix that somehow. i realize many Linux users get scared off by that exact thing, it is just too difficult and time consuming. I hope to crush that issue and make Linux more accessible to people in general. Like I said I am not a programmer just a guy with a lot of ideas who feels inspired to do some big things. ----------------------------------------------- Well I am in this for the long haul and will probably be hiring programmers eventually at some point. Just looking to get learning and try to get some type of direction and plans going on. Right Yes, it is definitely NOT work for 1 person at all I realize this. There is so much I would want to be done and it could take a very long time. This is a bucket list project but I am still young enough to try to get it done. Always wanted to make/design my own video game console but this would even be a step above that with the OS also there, at least that is my plan at this time. Really into retro video games and honestly always wanted to see 2D games make a comeback, still not sure why they don't really make them much these days. I still love the old 16bit SNES, Sega Genesis and Arcade games. Would like to see 2D games with todays graphics (OpenGL) Also would do 3D games of course but yeah I have so many ideas about what I might want to do. I need to start with the Linux Software first, hardware is another story I can worry about as I keep planning this out. Very ambitious project but that is also why I would like to get people involved. Hope to setup a temporary website and get some people and ideas going on there. Kind of a Cult Vibe, it's really like a "scene" thing.. kind of like Amiga Scene, The old AOL days with the proggies, the old music tracker scene. I am inspired by stuff like this. Amiga really was ahead of it's time. I never owned one but if you look at some of the old youtube videos on it that thing was awesome for the time. I am kind of trying to achieve what Amiga did back then which was to sort of have a machine that does a bit of everything in a way.. from Music Creating/Recording, Video Games, Music/Video Player, Image Editing, Video Editing.. etc.. Looking to find some people who want to make something that has not really been done yet and have it's own vibe to it. ----------------------------------------------- I agree there is some good stuff already out there and I will definitely want to use a bunch of it for sure but for some other stuff, I may want to think about what can be done in certain cases. Many times I install linux and it just looks like a pieced together train-wreck to me lol.. because of all the different/odd program names.. what the hell is "conky"? lol.. I have to look that up, but I would want to if possible and only in certain cases use the program source code change a few things up and change the name of the program with permission of course. For example if a text editor was KText, KEditor, KTextEditor etc.. I would want to just name it Text Editor and have that as the system default. I would like to "Gel" the default system together and make it look a bit more easy of the eyes if you know what I mean. But yeah I don't really want to reinvent the wheel here either, for example I have seen a distro have it's own version of firefox but I said to myself what is the point of that though? They always update it and that would mean I would need to update it also, at least I should.. if I did that as well. Unless it had some special features or something.. all stuff to think about but the starting point for me is trying to figure the best route to go. The Look Of the desktop, The Installation Process would need to be redone and Branded with new my OS name. Lots to think about.. ----------------------------------------------- ok also was researching last night about selling my OS.. ok so I am kind of confused about this, I really wanted to use Debian as my base system. So I am wondering if it would be legal to Modify it, repackage it as another name and sell it. I mean sell it like Windows or Amiga OS where users would have to Buy the OS and get the software Licensed. What would be the conditions of something like this? I was reading and read that I would have to package it with the source code? Ok but what if I changed some source code and I did not want it open source for that particular program? If I changed a program and made it better or different..? Can you sell a modified Debian OS and have people pay for Licensing? I am not talking just a debian system that is debian and says debian but actually is modified for the installation process, has my OS name there, new backgrounds, new desktop, totally new look in general and of course a new default setup for the software that might be installed with it. I realize there might be some issues with proprietary software/drivers.. maybe MP3 or Video drivers? What advice could you give me on those type of issues? I see on some distros it would just let you know that they are non free or proprietary drivers before use.. is that all I would have to do is let the users know about it before installing those? ----------------------------------------------- [ now the derisive replies start coming in... took long enough ] ----------------------------------------------- Hey man calm down, you are assuming these things.. no morals? What the heck? Don't attack me when you have no idea what it is I am trying to do. I have not asked anyone here to help me abuse the rights of others in any way shape of form, you need to relax. I did not say I want to make the whole OS closed source, I said only certain parts for example, If I hire programmers to create a program from scratch, yes I may want that 1 program closed source.. and that is only a maybe. I am not a troll I am a business person who has many ideas and goals in this life. You are the troll coming out to attack someone for no good reason. I love Linux and in fact am trying to make my own Linux OS so I can switch myself and others from Corporations like Microsoft who are greed driven and spy on their users for advertising and profits. ----------------------------------------------- I appreciate the responses, but wow you guys are a hard crowd here, my intention is not to rip anyone off, I am not delusional, many people make their own Linux Distro I just want to make my own as well. Nothing wrong with that right? Can we at least agree on that? Ubuntu sucks and the owner is just another wanna be, I could care less about Ubuntu owned by some rich fool for God knows for what purposes. Ok Lets say that I don't want to sell it then.. I just want to make a Linux OS my way.. the end. If it comes out really good hey maybe I can ask around and get some permissions from the owners of some programs I would like to have modified. If they say yes and that is ok then what is the problem with that? Nothing, exactly.. I have no intention of ripping anyone off so please relax.. ----------------------------------------------- Without Dreamers the world would be shit, uninspiring.. I don't see what the problem is? I have dreams and goals so what.. ----------------------------------------------- I am not trying to reinvent the wheel here and it has been done a million times by others all I ask is some support or at least to be friendly. ----------------------------------------------- Thanks Garry well it is really not worth arguing over this kind of stuff. I want to start a project therefore it will be done in a certain way or at least try to achieve certain goals for this project. The entertainment part of it. I think I am going to just stick with a solid OS and ditch that idea for now it has been done already with Kodi and others. My ideas are constantly changing.. until things seem to make more sense. I'm not perfect and sometimes a good idea in one moment now becomes a horrible idea, it happens.. No I do not want to make it like windows, what I meant it to come off as was a simple interface, no trendy app bars and widgets. Simple to read menu's.. that is what "like windows" means to me.. simple and not cluttered like today's desktops. Windows 8 comes to mind, what a nightmare that OS is.. Tiles? Whoever though of that I hope was fired. Anyways I am here to make friends not enemies. ----------------------------------------------- If anyone can point me in the direction I would appreciate it. One of the things I would like to do is make my own desktop environment but where do I start with this? I have tried some like Gnome, Mate, Cinnamon, LXDE KDE, etc.. but still hope to customize my own. I have seen openbox and they say it is a window manager not a desktop environment so what else would I need to do to achieve this? Sounds rather complicated, hey I am only human and that is why I'm here to ask questions. I appreciate any help offered. Thanks. Where do I start with something like creating my own desktop environment? Do I create it while in another Desktop Environment and then switch to the newly created one? Sorry I am a complete NOOB to all of this so please be kind to this old dude.. ----------------------------------------------- Thanks yes I was checking into BSD actually for a hardware project and otherwise, thanks for the info, I did not know BSD was a part of windows NT.. interesting. From what I have read Game Consoles use BSD as well. ----------------------------------------------- [ a few days and more sarcastic replies later. The meta-discussion begins. ] ----------------------------------------------- Thanks guys for all the personal attacks, very classy.. I remember back in the old AOL days I would hang out in the VB programming rooms and people would treat me in a similar way because I was new to that particular scene. Some people were helpful Thank God but Everyone has to start somewhere or have you guys forgotten that? Unreal how people treat each other these days.. Honestly, learn some manners.. Yes it's the internet but people are still human and have feelings. Calling me a fat troll is not cool my friend and I don't appreciate it. I am sorry I am all over the place with this post. For people that did give any good advice thank you, I appreciate it and I will be experimenting more with Debian as soon as possible and try to make more focused posts in the future. I am here to make friends not enemies. Try to stay positive, I may be a Noob but at least I don't go attacking people who know less than I do about a topic, that is just immature. ----------------------------------------------- [ Op is changing their tone again. First they complained against being called troll, now "I now wished I was trolling though, it seems funnier that way". ??? Opportunism is scary. ] ----------------------------------------------- Looking back on it it was kind of funny really, would you all laugh your asses off if I said I was trolling?.. I know it's kind of hilarious now thinking about it, some dude just comes out of nowhere and wants to build this super custom dream Linux system with references to windows.. lol.. It seems that people with Dreams or Life Goals are always the one to be made fun of.. maybe for lack of understanding or lack of compassion for others OR of course, for being a complete noob asking too many questions without just diving in first to get my hands dirty. I understand.. I have had this happen all throughout my life but I guess hey that is how the story goes for me personally. I now wished I was trolling though, it seems funnier that way. Oh well either way, hope to come back to this memory in years from now and just laugh about it and hopefully be on my somewhat custom Linux system. More educated on Linux and how it operates.. ----------------------------------------------- Thanks Lysander, you hit it perfectly.. Yes Thank You, you sound like a good dude and I appreciate your honesty about it. Very True.. I will come back when I actually have something real to talk about sorry about wasting time. I was just kind of trying to make conversation as well though. "I'll Be Back" and Thanks everyone for your responses good or bad. See you all next time. ----------------------------------------------- [ Thanks everyone for abusing me! ] ----------------------------------------------- Yeah man I agree, it was like accidental trolling you know.. -----------------------------------------------