I recently ran across SpiralLinux - GitHub page, and found the concept of how the maintainer is packaging it very cool.

The maintainer has been maintaining Gecko Linux for a while now - it has the same underlying concept.

The gist is - you’re basically installing Debian, but with customizations that the maintainer(s) thought would be very helpful. Basically - better out of the box experience for new users, but also less work to do even for experienced users, and it comes with different download flavors - Gnome, Plasma, XFCE, Mate, etc.

Bit more detail by the maintainer in this Reddit comment:

Exactly. It’s like I went over to your house and installed and configured Debian on your computer, and then you kicked me out of your house as soon as I finished. ;-) The installed system no longer has any connection whatsoever with me or the SpiralLinux project, which is good because you wouldn’t want your entire system to depend on a random single developer maintaining it.

(original Reddit comment has more details).

I thought this was pretty cool. I’m still trying to read up online on trying to find how the package lists are maintained, etc., and I might be interested in contributing if I’m able to in the future.

Just wanted to share!

  • winety@communick.news
    1·
    1 year ago

    Cool concept. I really appreciate the “independence” from the project after the installation. It would be cool, if the author preconfigured some less common DE/WM alongside the ones they package now. I yearn for a distro with a preconfigured tiling WM, so I wouldn’t have to use my half broken i3wm setup.

    • sb56637@lemmy.ca
      3·
      1 year ago

      It would be cool, if the author preconfigured some less common DE/WM alongside the ones they package now

      Hi there, SpiralLinux creator here. I’m not opposed to adding more desktop environments as long as they are packaged for Debian, since the SpiralLinux project does not create or modify any packages. But I do try to make all the editions viable for “regular” people, so things like tiling window managers are probably outside of the scope of the project.

      • winety@communick.news
        2·
        11 months ago
        1. Keep up the good work. Your project reminds me of small “old school” distros from the noughties and I love the vibe!
        2. I get the aim at “regular” people. I’d wager there’s an interest for a somewhat polished tiling experience; perhaps not among regular people, but among the a bit experienced (and a bit lazy) crowd of Linux users, which is definitely numerous.

        Anyway, I’m just spitballing. Good luck with your project!

    • ryannathans@aussie.zone
      3·
      1 year ago

      8 DEs aren’t enough for you?

      Also pop os has a preconfigured tiling window manager called pop shell

    • ardent_abysm@lemm.ee
      2·
      1 year ago

      SwayOS might be worth looking at. It is basically just an installation script for a pre-configured Sway setup.

      Some things are pulled from GitHub, so it is probably a good idea to look into the packages it is downloading.

    • mhz@lemm.ee
      1·
      11 months ago

      OpenSUSEway is pattern you can install in opensuse which install an opensuse themed sway/waybar/wofi/greetd and a notification center i cant recall its name. It is what I use on Opensuse Slowroll for a less agressive rolling release.