HandyLinux

HandyLinux is an open source and easy-to-use distribution of Linux based on the Debian GNU/Linux operating system and build around the lightweight Xfce desktop environment. It uses a Windows 8 like theme and has been designed from the ground up to be used by beginners.

Distributed as a 32-bit Live DVDs

It is distributed as Live DVD ISO hybrid images, supporting old (i486) and new (i686) 32-bit hardware platforms. They can be deployed to USB thumb drives or CD discs, and used for testing or installing the operating system.

A unique distribution of Linux

It is a unique Linux distribution that provides users with a welcome dialog designed to teach beginners how to use the operating system. It is comprised of a single taskbar located on the bottom edge of the screen, from where users can access the main menu and launch apps.

A very handy and well designed online documentation will teach users how to do certain things in HandyLinux, such as to access the main menu, open various programs, manage files and windows, use keyboard shortcuts, copy and paste text, and many more.

The main menu is also very special, as it opens in a standalone window and splits the installed applications into six main categories, Internet, Files, Multimedia, Office, Games, and Raiders. Instead of listing the app names, it tells users what they can do with them.

Default applications

Default applications include the Thunar file manager, Chromium web browser, Icedove email client, Skype VoIP client, VLC Media Player, QuodLibet audio player, RadioTray radio player, GPicview image viewer, LibreOffice office suite, and Mousepad text editor.

It also includes Squeeze, TeamViewer, and a suite of tools for accessibility, such as a screen magnifier, virtual keyboard, simplified menu, as well as integrated printer and scanner drivers. Recommended hardware requirements include at least a 32-bit CPU, 512MB of RAM, as well as around 5-6GB of free disk space.

Bottom line

All in all, HandyLinux is a really amazing Linux distribution, based on the stable Debian GNU/Linux OS, using Xfce as its desktop environment, and offering a high level of customization for people who want to migrate from Windows XP.

What is new in this release:

• Update the database: Debian 8.5 .
• Update Firefox to version 47.
• Setting up a hosting service images . Everything is hosted on servers handylinux to avoid some risky images on other services ...
• Update Thunar custom actions (I have not already mentioned?): consideration of handylinux image hosting service.
• Update Handysoft by Thuban (mainly bug fixes and better management of research).
• Added translations for the team Handysoft distribution Emmabuntus.
• Added Xfwm4 theme (window borders) Tron2 by Millie (English!).
• Fixed bug DNS priority unbound by Thuban. Something bearded it yet.
• Remove unoconv: converting PDF files is now provided by LibreOffice.
• Redesign of integrated French documentation: arpinux has concocted magnificent installation and operating manuals! You can read them on your screen or print them.

What is new in version 2.4:

• Based on Debian GNU/Linux 8.4

What is new in version 2.3:

• update the database: Debian 8.2 (list of changes Debian *)
• Update Iceweasel - v40 (v renowned Mozilla FireFox)
• readability suppression modules for the playback mode integrated Iceweasel (nothing to do on your side)
• replacement μblock by μblock.origin
• Adding qwant, wiktionary and openstreetmap as reciprocating engines (ideefixe efpe and thank you)
• Adding info4forum replacing hardinfo (thank you thuban & coyotus)
• passing the kernel-cleaner script in the background (thank you chrisinfo)
• Passage HandyMenu v3 with full graphical configuration (thank you thuban)
• Adding Cyclops as an alternative minimum viewer (thank you thuban)
• up day in "About my handylinux" (thank you coyotus)
• adding ntfs-config (thank you dyp)
• Adding fonts-opendyslexic from the repositories (thank you thuban)
• integration gimp 'light config
• replacing the screen magnifier vmg Loupy (thank you thuban)
• passage of the forum and wiki https (thank you to donors)
• Correction links and bookmarks for https
• removing pulseaudio (installed only with skype or teamviewer)
• correction icon mixer (thank you Jambalak)
• adding custom actions to thunar (thank you thuban)
• packetization scripts for thunar to ensure the updating and adding scripts
• Adding curl, mpg321 and sox for custom actions
• Adding unbound as local DNS resolver to avoid filtering ISP (thank you thuban)
• Passage in sources.list httpredir.debian.org for faster package management and relieve servers (thank you thuban)
• suppression XFCE menu editor (fully functional) useless since HandyMenu-v3
• backports removal of deposits (we only keep the mozilla-backports deposits)
• passing the integrated packages documentation to facilitate updating
• Adding a version handylinux-amd64 test

What is new in version 2.2:

• update the database: Debian 8.2 (list of changes Debian *)
• Update Iceweasel - v40 (v renowned Mozilla FireFox)
• readability suppression modules for the playback mode integrated Iceweasel (nothing to do on your side)
• replacement μblock by μblock.origin
• Adding qwant, wiktionary and openstreetmap as reciprocating engines (ideefixe efpe and thank you)
• Adding info4forum replacing hardinfo (thank you thuban & coyotus)
• passing the kernel-cleaner script in the background (thank you chrisinfo)
• Passage HandyMenu v3 with full graphical configuration (thank you thuban)
• Adding Cyclops as an alternative minimum viewer (thank you thuban)
• up day in "About my handylinux" (thank you coyotus)
• adding ntfs-config (thank you dyp)
• Adding fonts-opendyslexic from the repositories (thank you thuban)
• integration gimp 'light config
• replacing the screen magnifier vmg Loupy (thank you thuban)
• passage of the forum and wiki https (thank you to donors)
• Correction links and bookmarks for https
• removing pulseaudio (installed only with skype or teamviewer)
• correction icon mixer (thank you Jambalak)
• adding custom actions to thunar (thank you thuban)
• packetization scripts for thunar to ensure the updating and adding scripts
• Adding curl, mpg321 and sox for custom actions
• Adding unbound as local DNS resolver to avoid filtering ISP (thank you thuban)
• Passage in sources.list httpredir.debian.org for faster package management and relieve servers (thank you thuban)
• suppression XFCE menu editor (fully functional) useless since HandyMenu-v3
• backports removal of deposits (we only keep the mozilla-backports deposits)
• passing the integrated packages documentation to facilitate updating
• Adding a version handylinux-amd64 test

What is new in version 2.1:

• Based on Debian 8.1

What is new in version 2.0:

• Updating the database: passage Debian-8 "Jessie" (thank you Debian)
• Update HandyMenu and tools handylinux * *
• redesign of the site admin 'handylinux.org' and setting up subdomains
• Adding BTshare, simplified P2P sharing tool (thuban thank you)
• adding custom actions for Thunar (thank you coyotus & thuban)
• Skype gateway option (coyotus thank you)
• integration of gnome-orca (thank you totophe56)
• Adding launchers tools / social / gallery ...
• Adding the password control (coyotus thank you)
• definition of "handylinux" as default hostname (thank you fredbezies)
• Adding Templates in the User folder (thank you dyp)
• Adding menulibre for editing menus XFCE
• Adding bash-completion (thank you torxxl)
• Adding cups-pdf (thank you rb)
• addition of transmission for the P2P sharing management
• adding themes for Iceweasel
• Adding fonts Carlito & caladea (eq. Calibri & Cambria) (thank you thuban)
• Adding templates and config for LibreOffice (thank you thuban)
• Adding unoconv for quick export to PDF (thank you thuban)
• adding anacron and apt configuration (Base10 thank you)
• Adding command-not-found + fix bashrc (Base10 thank you)
• Adding the update notification (coyotus thank you)
• kernel:
• passing 486-586 for old PCs
• Version merger of 586 and 686-pae
• Adding Detection Script / delete unnecessary kernel
• theming / graphics:
• redesign of the website / forum / wiki / blog
• addition of handylinuxlook
• Adding the HandyTheme for quick change of interface (thank you starsheep & thuban)
• Slim new theme "flat" by starsheep
• new walls by starsheep
• Adding qt4-qtconfig to vlc
• Adding additional themes icons (tango, gnome-colors, gilouche)
• changing the icon whiskermenu (Julian thank you)
• switch:
• replacing the software-center by gnome-packagekit
• replacement file-roller by xarchiver
• replacement gnome-Searchtool by catfish and mlocate (Elm thank you and thuban)
• replacement Quodlibet by clementine
• replacement shotwell by ristretto
• replacement leafpad mousepad by default text editor (coyotus thank you)
• replacement xpad by xfce4-rating-plugin for better integration panel
• cleaning:
• suppression of HandyMenu investment option in conflict with XFCE (Caribou22 thank you)
• removing obsolete apt preferences for LibreOffice
• removing obsolete packages ntfsprogs / netatalk / fuse-utils / dfc / xfprint4 / gtk3-engines-unico
• Removal xl-wallpaper: xfce now handles change fund
• removing compiz-handylinux deposits
• Removal slingscold-launcher
• Removal bleachbit
• Removal Zram
• Removal Minitube
• Removal phonon
• removing oggconvert
• Removal of win32-loader
• cleaning addons Iceweasel
• cleaning the walls
• delete icon themes Nitrux / NitruxButtons

What is new in version 1.9 / 2.0 Beta:

• Based on Debian 8 "Jessie"

What is new in version 1.8 / 2.0 Alpha 2:

• Based on Debian 8 "Jessie"

What is new in version 1.7:

• Iceweasel is now the default browser
• overhaul of the internet start page under the leadership of Tiberias
• uploading gpart for recovering data from Gparted
• Adding yelp for direct GNOME software support
• cleaning of integrated documentation depending on the language after installation
• update HandyMenu: replacement button Facebook by framasoft
• adding "social launchers" to directly drag the social ties (G, FB, Tw ...) from the list of applications
• addition of pitcher Diaspora
• addition of firmware-ralink
• minimize Window Docking netbooks
• adding a Tron theme xfwm4 by Millie
• updates from Debian 7.7

What is new in version 1.6.1:

• Skype updated to release 4.3 (main reason to make this upgrade)
• no more sudo group for additional users
• move from aspell to hunspell (merci chalu49 )
• adding exfat-utils and exfat-fuse (merci liberodark )
• adding keyboard selector applet xfce4-xkb-plugin (merci dufrp )
• build process improved
• HandyLinux updates (handylinux-desktop, handylinux-network)
• Debian updates (cups, openssl, linux-image...)

What is new in version 1.5:

• Debian security updates : HandyLinux includes "proposed-updates" in its building process, so it includes all update for Debian-7.5.
• Chromium update : default release to 34
• Adding update-prompt at first startup after installation
• handy-menu update
• Adding whiskermenu as alternative menu
• redshift-config update
• Adding fonts-opendyslexic
• Adding cheese to manage webcam

What is new in version 1.4.2:

• HandyMenu has it's own config tool dev by manon
• Redshift-config comes now with a new auto-configuration tool for your location by manon
• Oggconvert and Asunder added for audio and video encoding
• Full rewrote of sources with the new repository

What is new in version 1.4:

• Improved HandyMenu
• Slimconf update with NumLockX integration
• m_partage, the easy-share script added
• new screen magnifier interface
• update to LibreOffice4
• Redshift script imroved
• adding xl-wallpaper from Christophe CagA
• new automatic-dispatch-script for ~Download folder
• Gparted kept back after install
• Blueman added
• Aadding gnome-system-tool
• Minitube replace twitter button in handymenu
• Xsane replaced by Simple-Scan
• no more network config during intallation process
• restore hostname config during installation
• improved documentation
• HandyLinuxLight : new post-installation process

What is new in version 1.3:

• One instance for HandyMenu
• Transfer speed-dial at the opening of chromium
• Integrate with redshift selector cities
• Integrate the documentation in pdf format within the distribution for offline viewing
• Replace squeeze with file-roller
• Simplify the HandyMenu
• Replace gpicview by shotwell
• Add gparted in the livecd
• Add minitube
• Added support bluetooth
• Passage teamviewer9
• Change HandyMenu entries with generic entries
• Integration of the graft volume control in the panel
• Only one instance of the screen magnifier
• Add a launcher "negative" tools: xcalib

What is new in version 1.2:

• Replaced the default multimedia player with VLC
• Enabled automatic reading of DVD disk by VLC
• Added gnome-search-tool
• Added hardinfo
• Unrar-free replacement for unrar
• Replaced Mousepad with Leafpad