- While the Tiki Suite client device strategy lets users keep using Windows or MacOS X, if they want to use GNU / Linux on the desktop, we want this to be as smooth as possible. While users can pick among hundreds of GNU / Linux distros
 , in the spirit of focus, we are recommending a distro. ClearOS is first & foremost a server OS. However, you can use as a desktop as well. However, as of 2014-11, it is not mature enough and not much energy is expected in that direction given the DNA of the ClearOS community. An important decision in picking a GNU / Linux distro is the desktop manager. Given the goals above (especially supporting older hardware which had Windows XP, and the traditional desktop metaphor), LXDE has been picked. Ideally, we would go with Fedora LXDE to be closer to ClearOS (both use RPMs), however,
- It's very rare we need to install the same software on the server and client OS. We need for Syncthing
- As of 2014-11, Lubuntu better supports the desktop apps of the suite.
- Lubuntu offers an LTS version which Fedora presumably never will.
- CentOS doesn't have a LXDE "spin" or community
- Lubuntu future is bright: http://wiki.lxde.org/en/Merge_LXDE-Qt_and_Razor-Qt
- LXLE, an easy-to-use lightweight desktop Linux distribution based on Lubuntu, is looking very interesting
Since client devices are designed to be disposable, it should be easy to revisit this decision in a few years. Will things converge? (likely), but how?
- FirefoxOS, so everything HTML / JS
- Will Android or CyanogenMod become a mainstream OS for laptops & desktops? http://www.android-x86.org/
- Will Ubuntu Phone be able to replace Android? So would a phone edition of LXLE be an alternative to Android / CyanogenMod ?
In any case, adding devices to our mix should be:
- Set up new client device (apps & data sync)
- Start using
- When all is fine on the new device, wipe & repurpose the old one.
In terms of installing / updating apps, Zero Install is on the radar.
Below are some related notes. See also:
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