Comal-Linux

Comal-Linux is an open source and free Linux distribution geared towards Muslim users. It is based on the Slackware operating system and built around the LXDE (Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment) project.

Distributed as a dual-arch Live CD

This Slackware-based OS is distributed via Softoware as a dual-arch Live CD ISO image that has been engineered to support both 32-bit (i386) and 64-bit (x86_64) hardware platforms. However, you must burn the ISO image to a blank CD disc or write it on a USB flash drive of 1GB or higher capacity in order to boot it from the BIOS of a computer.

Boot options

When booting the distribution from the bootable medium of your choice (CD or USB) you will be prompted by a boot loader, from where you can start the live environment. In addition, you can use the Plop Bootmanager to boot from another USB device or CD-ROM, or run the Memtest86+ utility to diagnose the RAM.

Old-school desktop environment powered by LXDE

In order to access the graphical session, the user must choose a login mode (VGA-Autodetect, VESA-Standard or Console-Only). We strongly recommend to go with the first option, as it will automatically detect most graphics cards.

At the login prompt, the user must use the “user” username and the “password” password to log into the live environment, which is powered by the LXDE desktop environment. It uses a top panel that is hidden by default, but the main menu can be accessed by right clicking anywhere on the desktop.

Default applications

Default applications include the PCManFM file manager, Viewnior and Mirage image viewers, Leafpad text editor, GIMP image editor, Claws Mail email client, Midori and Dillo web browsers, gFTP file transfer client, Pidgin instant messenger, Transmission torrent downloader, and uGet download manager.

In addition, the AbiWord word processor, Gnumeric spreadsheet editor, Audacious audio player, Avidemux video editor, Mhwaveedit audio editor, as well as a handful of educational utilities for Muslims are also included.

Bottom line

In conclusion, Comal-Linux is a decent distribution of Linux, specifically designed for Muslim users, based on the latest upstream Slackware operating system and featuring an easy to use desktop environment with tons of useful applications.

What is new in this release:

• This version is based on Slackware Linux 14.0 and Slackware-Live 0.3.10.
• It include 85 applications which appear in the main menu, for a total of 598 packages and 1.9 GB of uncompressed space.
• It's designed for a minimal but complete environment around JWM Window Manager, with office (Abiword, Gnumeric), multimedia (Avidemux, Mhwaveedit), education (Zekr, Artha), and games (Cuyo, Lbreakout2).

What is new in version 04.34H:

• This version is based on Slackware Linux 14.0 and Slackware-Live 0.3.8.
• It is built with 99 rebuilt packages, with 73 applications which appear in the main menu, for a total of 583 packages and 1.7 GB of uncompressed space.
• It's designed for a minimal but complete environment around JWM 2.1.0, not just with office (Abiword 2.8.6) and multimedia (Avidemux-gtk 2.5.6) software, but with educational programs like Zekr 1.1.1 and Tuxtype2 1.8.0.

What is new in version 1231:

• This version is based on the 2.6.33.4 Linux kernel of Slackware 13.1.
• The window manager was switched back to IceWM (update 1.3.6).
• Many new applications and updates were added.
• The new applications are midori, conky, bmw-ng, lxrandr, simple-scan, guvcview, wifi-radar, gmrun, volumeicon, evince, uget, zenshot, gpicview, and xonclock.
• The updated application are icewm, icewm-themes, pcmanfm, fotoxx, winff, oo4kids, osmo, zekr, and minbar.
• Five games were also added.