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[Syllable] The free desktop and server operating system family

Kaj
6-Jun-2010
[1990x12]
I haven't officially announced it yet, but I just released Syllable 
Server 0.4:
http://web.syllable.org/Linux/downloads.html
This release focuses on maturing existing functionality, improving 
security, ongoing system restructuring, and making the system a suitable 
base for third-party package managers.
Many included software packages have been upgraded, including REBOL/Core 
(2.7.7), Cheyenne/UniServe (current development version with WebSockets) 
and QuarterMaster
This is the first Syllable release to include Boron, the successor 
to ORCA, the open source REBOL implementation
For those familiar with Linux and other Unix systems, it's interesting 
to note that some heavy system restructuring has been applied to 
make the system more understandable, by ditching as much of the ancient 
Unix legacy as possible. For example, the common software package 
layout has been restructured like this:
etc             -> settings
  bin             -> programs
  sbin            -> system-programs
  libexec         -> framework/executables
  lib             -> framework/libraries
  include         -> framework/headers
  share/aclocal   -> framework/AutoConfigure
  share/pkgconfig -> framework/PackageConfigure
  lib/pkgconfig   -> framework/PackageConfigure
  share           -> data
  share/doc       -> documentation
  man             -> manuals
  share/man       -> manuals
  info            -> manuals/info
  share/info      -> manuals/info
Standard user names have also been sanitised. For example, the super 
user account has been renamed from "root" to "system"
Here's the full change log:
http://web.syllable.org/Server/Changes.txt
The updated manual, which is quite extensive, if I may say so, and 
explains the key abilities of the system step by step:
http://web.syllable.org/Server/README-SyllableServer.txt
Kaj
8-Jun-2010
[2002x2]
It's on OSNews now:
http://www.osnews.com/story/23427/Syllable_Server_0_4_Released
Graham
8-Jun-2010
[2004]
When will you have an install script for the server?
Kaj
8-Jun-2010
[2005x2]
That will still take a while. Before that is useful I need to produce 
a live CD, and many other things also need to be done
Manual installation is really not difficult with Syllable, though
Graham
8-Jun-2010
[2007x2]
so the vm I downloaded yesterday is really old??
So, how about a screencast of the manual installation?
Kaj
8-Jun-2010
[2009x2]
Server 0.4 was already published yesterday, but the VM version is 
still really old, yes
A screencast would be nice. I don't have time for it, though. It 
would be a nice thing for someone to contribute
Graham
8-Jun-2010
[2011]
So the install takes a really long time??
Kaj
8-Jun-2010
[2012x3]
No, one last week took fifteen minutes to unpack the files on a very 
old 266 MHz P2
(Which is running our ten AltME worlds, by the way)
I love turning machines that were discarded as a firewall appliance 
into worldwide groupware servers :-)
Graham
8-Jun-2010
[2015]
So, doing a screencast of a vm installation on virtualbox might take 
less than 15 mins which you don't have?  :)
Kaj
8-Jun-2010
[2016x4]
That was the graphical version, mind you. It would unpack Server 
in five minutes
You asked about installation, not about making a screencast
I make operating systems, not movies, so I'd have to arrange a film 
education for myself
Hence, a perfect opportunity for a volunteer with the right qualifications
Graham
8-Jun-2010
[2020]
screencast to me just means copying the screen as you do things .. 
doesn't imply the need for sound or anything else unless you want 
to get fancy.
Kaj
8-Jun-2010
[2021]
Sounds like you have the right qualifications and computer setup, 
then
Graham
8-Jun-2010
[2022]
not the right qualifications
Kaj
8-Jun-2010
[2023]
Well, to be honest, the entire Server manual after the installation 
is pretty much like the installation section, so someone who needs 
a screencast to get through the installation would also need a screencast 
for every aspect of operation after that
Kaj
9-Jun-2010
[2024x2]
Now it's on DistroWatch:
http://distrowatch.com/?newsid=06126
Kaj
10-Jun-2010
[2026x2]
With this release we've entered the month ranking at place 100 after 
a day:
http://distrowatch.com/stats.php?section=popularity
Kaj
1-Jul-2010
[2028]
We've topped out at position 57 in the above DistroWatch month list
NickA
1-Jul-2010
[2029]
CongratsKaj :)
Kaj
1-Jul-2010
[2030]
Thanks
ddharing
13-Aug-2010
[2031x2]
Is it possible to put the bootable ISO image onto a USB key to install 
from that? I would like to try both Syllable Desktop and Server on 
my Acer Aspire One. It doesn't have a CD-ROM, though.
It's a netbook.
Kaj
14-Aug-2010
[2033x7]
Sorry, not yet. We've been working towards installing from and to 
USB sticks, but it's not complete yet. Syllable Desktop can install 
from a USB CD player with the regular install CD, so that's the normal 
way to install on a netbook or other machine without a built-in CD 
player
We don't have an install image to put on a USB stick to install from 
there, but the steps from a USB install CD should be small. There 
is some preparation for it on the install CD, so if you know your 
way around such things you could try to complete that configuration
However, there's still a limitation in Syllable Desktop involved:
http://web.syllable.org/news/2009-10-27-21-08-Acer-Aspire-One-ASUS-EeePC-USB-installation-targets.html
The situation with Syllable Server is much easier, although at the 
same time a bit more difficult. It doesn't have an installer yet, 
so although the installation procedure is clear and straightforward, 
it's manual. But that also means you can move the installation package 
from anywhere to anywhere
If you can manage to make an extra partition on your netbook you 
could even install Syllable Server from the included Linux (if you 
have that installed)
I tried to install the older Syllable Server 0.3 on an EeePC once 
on the second, external storage card. That's accessed as a USB device 
and Server didn't have the complete support for that. So it's likely 
that you need to install on a partition on the main storage (which 
is accessed as an ATA drive even if it is a memory chip)