RubyOS

RubyOS is a freely distributed and open source operating system based on the well known openSUSE Linux operating system. It uses the modern GNOME desktop environment and includes a handful of applications.

Availability, supported platforms and boot options

The project is distributed as a single Live CD ISO image, supporting only the 64-bit (x86_64) architecture. It can be burned onto a blank or RW CD disc, or written to a USB flash drive of 1GB or higher.

From the boot prompt, users can try the operating system without installing it, boot in failsafe mode in case they encounter issues with certain hardware components, start an existing operating system installed on the first disk drive, as well as to run a memory diagnostic test.

Modern desktop environment, very few applications

As mentioned, RubyOS uses the GNOME desktop environment for the graphical session, with the GNOME Shell interface. It is comprised of a single panel located on the upper part of the screen.

The panel can be used to access the installed applications, as well as to interact with running programs, switch between virtual workspaces, and access the system functions implemented in the system tray area.

It only comes with the Mozilla Firefox web browser, Nautilus file manager, Tomboy note-taking app, GNOME Terminal and XTerm terminal emulators, GNOME Control Center, and Network Connection manager.

In addition, it includes the YaST administration panel for setting up various hardware components, network devices, network services, view system logs, install the distribution on a local disk drive, as well as to add, update or remove software packages. Keep in mind that the default root password is rubyos.

Bottom line

In conclusion, RubyOS is a very basic distribution of Linux based on the latest stable releases of openSUSE and GNOME projects. It includes only a few applications, allowing users to create the system that they've always dreamed of, by adding as many packages as they want.