FAQ

Q: Why did you make these scripts ?
A: Each user is different and will prefer their own program to do a particular task. So, we wish to give the user the option of installing whatever program they like, without needing to install each individual program anew, for example after a format of their harddisk and reinstall of the TAZ operating system. So, the only option (besides using your package manager) how to do this, is by using (the LES) scripts. The LES scripts can be modified, activating one or the other program for install. Package managers too can be used off course, but these require you to install each program one-by-one. Also, not all package managers have the ability to automatically also download the required extra packages (aka dependencies) for a given program.

Q: How can a same script be used to suit a wide range of users, all having different program preferences ?
A: This is done at a rather straightforward fashion: by having the script users examine the script first and comment out or activate outcommented lines. Programs for example that the user may want in certain cases, but which not everyone needs can be activated by the user, and programs you don't need can be commented out.

Q: How can a same script be used on different Linux distributions ?
A: This may seem a weird question at first, but it definitely isn't. Depending on the linux distro you use, some commands may not always work or are replaced by others. Also, the package manager may be different, so for example installing a program by the "dpkg" command will not work on non-debian distro's. Instead, the command then needs to be changed to say "rpm" or "tazpkg", ... So, again we rely on the script's user to examine the script before he executes it, and alter all the non-compatible commands to suit his linux distro.

Q: What's the link between these LES scripts and the slitaz fork (TAZ) you made ?
A: The LES scripts were used during the "production phase" of TAZ (so were important for us, on the development side, but won't be of importance any more for you, the end user). The LES scripts are no longer of any value to the further development of TAZ. However, they can still be of great value to other distro's (at least distro's that don't have many-in-1 functionality; see TAZ's wiki if you don't know what I mean by this).

Q: What scripts are you offering ?
A: We are currently working on 8 different scripts, knowingly:
+ LES_install_crunchbangOpenbox_andConky.sh
+ LES_fstab-simple_mountpoints.sh
+ LES_altering_programs.sh
+ LES_internet_speed_increase_A.sh
+ LES_internet_speed_increase_B.sh
+ LES_internet_speed_increase_C.sh
+ LES_bootmenu_changing.sh
+ LES_sequential_scripts_launcher.sh

For the 1st script:
This script will change the Openbox shortcut keys to the shortcut key combinations also used in Crunchbang 11. In addition to the shortcut keys, it will also install Conky with crunchbang's data in it (shortcut key list showing up on desktop, and also shows additional computer info -like CPU use, ...-) This script would hence increase the time/work efficiency for the user.

For the 2nd script:
Basically, the whole linux directory tree, and the names of the standard mount points are unlogical. This script creates order out of the chaos, and hereby increases the time/work efficiency for the user. It is based on the CreateRootlessEnvironment script made by the creators of GoboLinux.

For the 3rd script:
The non-many-in-1-flavor iso of slitaz 5 can be easily upgraded to have those exact programs you want, and have those you don't need removed. This improves time/work efficiency for the user, as you can hence quicky update slitaz after a reinstall. Since unnecessary programs are removed, you have a tiny computing speed increase as well.

For the 4th, 5th and 6th script:
This script will install an antivirus program (ClamAV), to be used only for scanning single files you're uncertain about, and/or perhaps scheduled scanning (weekly or monthly). It will also install a firewall and some additional security fixes (such as an advertisement blocker, ...). The script will hence increase work/time efficiency by allowing somewhat faster internet access (as unnecessary programs/open ports are locked down).

For the 7th script:
The boot menu of your distro is changed with this script to show:
- log in as root
- log in as root + persistence
- log in as user (tux)
- log in as user (tux) + persistence
- install distro (frugally) to harddisk
- help and options
- command line
- PXE boot

Integrating a non-persistence option has many benefits for users, such as avoiding damage to the OS (and hence needing to reinstall the OS), for example when trying certain things out (for example executing software you're uncertain about, installing software you haven't tried before using your package manager, ...)

Additional boot prompt options (for example starting with xvesa graphics drivers instead of the regular drivers supplied with X), ... will also be made available and can be called upon with the boot prompt (which can be activated by pressing a certain key).

For the 8th script:
A script launching the other scripts in sequence, allowing to automatically update your linux distribution with all the scripts (so in this sense quite similar to the 3rd script). It can for example be executed after a reinstall of your linux distribution. Again, scripts you don't want to execute can be commented out by the user.

Q: I saw references to "green computing" on your sourceforge site. How does your project (which simply intents to increase computer/work efficiency) relate to green computing ?
A: At the moment, people tht want to make their computing activity "greener" tend to focus just on reducing the power consumption of their machine. In our view, this is foolish as most environmental damage occurs, not through the energy use, but through the toxic components found in the machine, and the (often bad) disposal of these components. In many cases, computers evn find their way to the landfill before they reach the end of their useful service life. To reduce this, the least we can do to "green" our computing is to thus keep using the machine untill it effectively dies on you. Sadly, the current trend with most operating systems (OS's) is that the creators of these keep increasing the system requirements with every new version of their OS. This leads to computers becoming "too slow" for the latest OS's. This occurs btw not only with Windows OS's, but also with Linux OS's. If fact, if you were to compare the earlier Windows versions (XP and earlier), you would find that these latter were even much faster as the contemporary popular Linux distro's you can download today.
Obviously, this is both very bad for the environment and your wallet and you best use at least a lightweight Linux distro which preferably also runs entirely in RAM. Examples are Antix, SliTaz, LXLE, Porteus, Tiny Core Linux, ...
Now to come to the chase why this project also helps in this "green move" to a different OS: people that just switched to a lightweight Linux will often find it more complicated than the OS' they used before, and will also see their productivity drop. Once you get more familiar with the lightweight Linux, your productivity will once again move in the right direction, but you will never attain the same level of productivity you had at your previous OS (heavier Linux OS, Windows OS, OS X, ...). This project helps by trying to counteract this productivity drop.

Q: Which of the lightweight linux distributions, which also run entirely in RAM do I best use ?
A: The best distribution for you will depend on your own preferences. TinyCore Linux for example is extremely small (<10MB) and lightweight, uses FLWM window manager and relies solely on xvesa drivers (not X.org graphics drivers) so it will work on even computers where you could have graphics problems with. However, for most it's just too spartan. SliTaz is only a bit bigger (40MB) and has more functionality, ... (Openbox as Window manager, own package manager -TazWeb/tazpkg-, ...). Antix is all ready quite a bit bigger (690MB) but is much more familiar for debian-refugees (semantic package manager, ...). LXLE and Porteus are bigger yet, have the LXDE window manager, and are easier for Ubuntu-refugees. Note finally that linux distro's sometimes get discontinued. So this list of distro's needs to be viewed as a guideline. When you decide to change to a lightweight linux distro, it's best you first research the current distro's available by checking out the appropriate wikipedia articles.

Q: I want to change the LES_slitaz_altering_programs.sh script to enable me to automatically also download additional other programs I need (for a specific task; ie writing a letter, playing certain audio files, ...). I'm not sure though which programs are the best (most lightweight, most functionality, ...) Can you give me some pointers ?
A: The most lightweight program will depend on the exact linux distro you're using. Depending on which distro you use, it will have a different window manager and thus also different installed dependencies. The dependencies are the building blocks on which the program operates. The less dependencies your operating system uses however, the better; so you need to make sure your program does not require downloading/installing (too much) additional dependencies. Hence, look up which program (for your task) is most popular for the window manager you use, and install that one. There should be many sites which such information; for example for the programs popular in openbox, see here If you're satisfied with your program, you can add it in your script. If not, try another program, ...