GoblinX Mini Edition

g:Mini (GoblinX Mini Edition) is a special edition of the GoblinX Linux operating system derived from the Slackware distribution and built around the Xfce desktop environment. It’s a minimalist and simple desktop-oriented OS that can be used to transform dusty computers into reliable workstations.

Distributed as a minimal, dual-arch Live CD

As its name suggests, g:Mini is distributed as a minimal, dual-arch Live CD ISO image that contains software packages optimized only for the 32-bit instruction set architecture. While it is designed to run on old computers, it can be successfully used on modern 64-bit machines.

Advanced boot options

Besides the standard boot options, such as the ability to start the live system in graphics or text mode, the Live CD boot menu includes advanced boot options like booting the live environment to RAM (system memory), start a fresh copy of the live system (the default boot options run in persistent mode), boot the distro much faster by dumping several daemons, as well as to boot the system without user/root customization options.

Xfce uses a two-panel layout in the style of GNOME Classic

Xfce is in charge of the graphical session inside g:Mini. It uses a two-panel layout in the style of GNOME Classic, where the bottom panel is used for interact with virtual workspaces and running programs. On the other hand, the top panel includes the main menu, a show desktop applet, search function, system memory applet, as well as the system tray area.

Includes a vast amount of applications

Another strong point of the g:Mini distribution is that it includes a vast amount of applications, despite the fact that it’s designed with simplicity and minimalism in mind. Among the most popular ones, we can mention the GIMP image editor, Audacious and XMMS audio players, Mozilla Firefox web browser, gFTP file transfer client and Pidgin multi-protocol instant messenger.

What is new in this release:

• Upgraded Kernel(2.6.27.6), Linuxlive(6.2.9), AuFS(1.89) and SquashFS(3.4).
• Upgraded several packages and libraries including the new Xfce (4.6).
• Added Ucview, GXine, Claws Mail, Twitux, Epdfview and Gigolo.
• Removed Leafpad, Nautilus, Totem, Evince, Ristretto and Squeeze. We prefer use Xfce related applications instead of GNOME ones.
• Upgraded Harddisk installer to include the possibility to choose the default language, a better and small interface designed for netbooks and a better method to check the livecd data.
• Build the full ISO without removing files.
• Added all internationalization files (locales)
• New method of select default language using Isolinux menu and a single parameter.
• Gigolo, the old Sion, now starts minimized.
• Removed some duplicated applications.
• GXine replaces Totem as video player with all MPlayer codecs.
• All modules are built following the place of the packages inside the repository, for example the packages inside the /extra folder are installed inside the a.MExtras module.
• Each module includes a list of its packages inside /var/log/livemos.
• Changed the panel clock to display date and time.
• Added few more changes to the Xfce panel to improve usability.
• Added new bootsplash theme and new 800x600 theme for small displays.
• Added support for xz packages, new Slackware package format.
• Xfce-session now offers hibernate and suspend options.
• Added Slapt protocol to install package using slapt:// address.
• Thunar Volman replaces Ivman as media manager
• Media manager uses autorun option for usb storage devices.
• Fstab is not anymore create during boot. HAL is going to manage mount points. During both HAL is going to set volume label for all partitions if it cannot find them.

What is new in version 3.0 Beta 1:

• Upgraded Kernel(2.6.27.6), Linuxlive(6.2.9), AuFS(1.89) and SquashFS(3.4).
• Upgraded Xfce 4.6 beta02 (4.5.92) which brought several new features.
• Added Sion, Xfce-notifyd, Xfce-power-manager, Wpa_GUI and some libraries.
• Sion and Xfce-power-manager is started during login.
• Xfce-session now offers hibernate and suspend options.
• Upgraded almost all packages and libraries.
• Archives for static linking (*.a) moved to devel module.
• Removed man pages and all documentation.
• Slik and Webmount now works with Firefox 3.0.5.
• Added Slapt protocol to install package using slapt:// address.
• Removed Tuxonice Suspend2. Hibernate works with uswsusp by default.
• Thunar Volman replaces Ivman as media manager
• Media manager uses autorun option for usb storage devices.
• Fstab is not anymore create during boot. HAL is going to manage mount points. During both HAL is going to set volume label for all partitions if it cannot find them.
• Upgraded Harddisk installer and gtkAPTlzm.
• Added three more cron jobs for logrotate daily in order to compress log files.
• Xfce Terminal is removed because it can be compiled against VTE 0.17. At least I could not compile, could not find patches or build myself the patches.