Refracta Development, Scripts, etc.
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golinux

- golinux
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## Refracta wiki project

Sun Feb 10, 2013 4:26 am

Here's a first draft of the wiki write-up for Refracta based on everyone's comments in the other thread. It does not yet have a timeline or mention any of those involved. (This will be different from the snapshot timeline.) Do you want to use your real names? I'm not sure what Wikipedia's policy is on that. Comments welcome (and kindness appreciated).

> What is Refracta?
> Refracta is an operating system designed for home computer users based on Debian GNU/Linux. A modified Xfce desktop environment provides a simple and familiar layout that most users will find very comfortable. A thoughtful collection of common applications and services as well as some custom tools and configurations set Refracta apart from other distributions. [link to included packages]
> But Refracta is much more than a sleek desktop that is light and easy on resources. The inclusion of refractasnapshot [link to release notes section] and refractainstaller [link to release notes section] make Refracta a reliable backup, rescue and repair tool.
> Live-media
> You do not need to install Refracta or make any changes to your current operating system to try it out. Just download [link to download page] and burn the iso image appropriate for your system to CD/DVD or USB stick. Make sure your BIOS is set to boot from the appropriate device and reboot. Refracta can be easily installed from the live media with a few mouse clicks. [link to readme]
> Other reasons to use Refracta
> 1. Easy to do multiple installs. Set up a base system to your liking with custom applications and configurations and then create a snapshot that can be installed on multiple machines.
> 2. Take your own personal system with you wherever you go on bootable live media. Refractasnapshot makes it possible to boot any computer into YOUR desktop.
> 3. Fix a broken system. Diagnose/rescue/repair problems from a Refracta live disk using the tools in your familiar custom environment.
> 4. No bloat. Refracta is light on resources to improve your work flow.
> Development
> Around 2007, Dean Linkous began to explore ways of creating his own custom build (that eventually became Refracta). He started by investigating Daniel Baumann's live-helper, which is the official method of creating live images for the Debian Project. While he never really mastered live-helper's complexity, he did discover that one of its functions could take a live snapshot of a running system. Then after analyzing the structure of a live image, Dean was able to write his own bash scripts to create a bootable ISO of a of a running system. Dean's contributions set the stage for Refracta, Refractasnapshot and Refractainstaller to mature.
> Fred Smith got involved with Refracta a few years ago and with Dean's blessings, now leads the project. He collected and refined Dean's bash scripts by adding error checking, validation etc. and improved the graphical interfaces that now only require a few mouse clicks. Fred also wanted Refracta to provide a unique diagnosis and rescue environment and so added openssh-server and a unique collection of command line tools to the customized XFCE version currently available.
> Updating Refracta
> Except for a few applications and bash scripts, Refracta is a repackaged Debian and therefore uses the Debian repository sources for updates. If needed, Refractainstaller and Refractasnapshot can be updated from github. See release notes [link] for details and instructions.
> Refractasnapshot
> Refractasnapshot is a bash script that uses rsync to copy a running system and then compress it into a bootable ISO image format which can burned to CD/DVD or copied to a USB stick. The default options will work in most cases. If adjustments need to be made, well-commented configuration options are located in etc/refractasnapshot.conf [link] Depending on the location and amount of data on your system, the rsync excludes in /usr/lib/refractasnapshot/snapshot_exclude.list [link] might need to be changed. Keep in mind that the ISO size must be compatible with media limitations (around 4gb).
> Refractasnapshot can be run in a terminal or from a graphical interface. Depending on your Desktop environment, GUI launchers should be automatically added to the main menu after installation. It only takes a few clicks to start the process which can take from 10-25 minutes depending on the amount of data being processed and the amount of disk compression used.
> Some screenshots and/or video here would be great!
> Refractainstaller
> In case of system failure, the Refractainstaller can quickly install your running custom snapshot from either a graphical interface or terminal. [link to installer readme] The current installer supports both grub-legacy and grub2. A summary of the options can be found here. [link to installer readme]
> The commands were originally put into a bash script by Dean Linkous. Then Clement Lefebvre from Linux Mint wrapped them in a python/glade graphical installer. Working off Clem's contribution, Dean built his own installer. Fred Smith has reworked the script, improved the graphical installer and added extra options.

Last edited by golinux on Mon Feb 18, 2013 6:45 pm, edited 14 times in total.
golinux

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## Re: Refracta wiki project

Mon Feb 11, 2013 12:20 am

Ummm . . . not one word of feedback. Not quite sure how to read that. Anyway . . . use it if you like . . . or not. If it's going no where, I'm not going to put any more thought into it.
fsmithred

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## Re: Refracta wiki project

Mon Feb 11, 2013 2:22 am

It's good copy, thanks. I just wrote two programs in the last three days and shoveled a ton of snow in the last 24 hours. Not a lot of words coming forth here. None that are fit for print, anyway.
dzz

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## Re: Refracta wiki project

Mon Feb 11, 2013 3:36 am

Thanks golinux, it's very well written, to the point with no rambling, essentially true and a good contribution!
I can't think of much more to add, maybe that is enough.
golinux

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## Re: Refracta wiki project

Mon Feb 11, 2013 3:49 am

It is unfinished. Will need to gather info on the developers/development history. And someone more knowledgeable than I about the changes in wheezy will need to update the release notes. Or does that have to wait till stable? If they need a little polish, I can do that.
Should I move on to the Refractersnapshot blurb? It can probably go further down on the same page - no need for a separate one, I think. And what about a description for the installer too?
Much more to do . . .
fsmithred

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## Re: Refracta wiki project

Mon Feb 11, 2013 1:46 pm

I'll take care of the release notes. Maybe it's worth including a link to the wheezy release notes inside the refracta release notes. The latter are intended to be short and specific for refracta - quick howtos. One thing I've thought about doing with them is to make an html version with table of contents, so you can jump to what you want. Then, maybe they could be expanded to contain some full howtos.
I'll have to take a look at the other thread that did have some history in it, and I can probably fill in a couple of details. If you're feeling motivated to write about the tools right now, then go for it. Put a few words down, and I'll give you more details.
golinux

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## Re: Refracta wiki project

Mon Feb 11, 2013 2:44 pm

> fsmithred wrote:I'll take care of the release notes. Maybe it's worth including a link to the wheezy release notes inside the refracta release notes. The latter are intended to be short and specific for refracta - quick howtos. One thing I've thought about doing with them is to make an html version with table of contents, so you can jump to what you want. Then, maybe they could be expanded to contain some full howtos.

Great idea! A link to an html version with page navigation would be a good addition to the wiki page. I think there should also be a link on the wiki page to the packages included in Refracta.

> fsmithred wrote:I'll have to take a look at the other thread that did have some history in it, and I can probably fill in a couple of details. If you're feeling motivated to write about the tools right now, then go for it. Put a few words down, and I'll give you more details.

That history was for snapshot. I'm not sure how that parallels the refracta timeline. According to the 'team' page meandean was the original creator? It might be a few days before I digest that other thread to the point where I can put something coherent together about snapshot.
nadir

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## Re: Refracta wiki project

Mon Feb 11, 2013 5:16 pm

> According to the 'team' page meandean was the original creator?

Yes.
Words don't suffice here, hence i stop.
If it was me i would remove all opinions from the layout in the OP:
elegant backup, rescue and repair tool -> backup, rescue and repair tool.
To give one example.
btw: Else the wikipedia gods will complain (too).
Init it "an operating system" (instead of "a operating system" ? ) **** knows.
Last edited by nadir on Mon Feb 11, 2013 5:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
golinux

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## Re: Refracta wiki project

Mon Feb 11, 2013 5:37 pm

[quote="nadir"]

> According to the 'team' page meandean was the original creator?

Yes.
Words don't suffice here, hence i stop.
So was providing a home for snapshot the reason Refracta was created?
[quote="nadir"]If it was me i would remove all opinions from the layout in the OP:
elegant backup, rescue and repair tool -> backup, rescue and repair tool.
To give one example.
btw: Else the wikipedia gods will complain (too).
Point taken. snapshot IS elegant though . . . I would prefer to let someone else deal with wikipedia as I'm not inclined to create an account there or deal with the 'rules'. Square peg hard to fit into a round hole . . .
[quote="nadir"]Init it "an operating system" (instead of "a operating system" ? **** knows.
Yes. Typo.
nadir

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## Re: Refracta wiki project

Mon Feb 11, 2013 6:07 pm

What i recall is that a snapshot tool was created to ... well: create a distro (rather a personal spinoff).
The first i recall was sid-based and came with enlightenment. I am quite sure it was the result of testing live-helper.
Iow: That others can use snapshot is - more or less - a positive side-effect.
But i am not too sure.
What i am sure of is that Dean did a lot (discovered tools, plaid with them, changed them, wrote how-to's, answered questiosns, etc). In short: he must be mentioned. Imho.
Mhhh.....
- back then no Debian live-CD at all (only knoppix and such)
- live-helper was created, mainly by Daniel Bauman (or at least it was usable now, more or less usable)
- Dean fooled with live-helper and created refracta ( or a not-yet-called-spinoff-later-called-refracta)
- He discovered that with live-helper one can make a snapshot of the running system too,
before one had to create a live-CD and make the settings manually (live-helper --debootstrap live)
- another option was to create a live-CD, unpack the iso, chroot to it, perhaps use xnest to get a gui, make the configurations, exit chroot and pack the iso back together. Very much work too.
- That was changed to a script which doesn't use live-helper, but a self-written script
- what changed about that when fsmithred started i can't remember. It sure got less chaotic (the snapshot never was chaotic, refracta was like full-gnome in the morning release and stripped-down-icewm in the evening release).
In short? The snapshot tools purpose was to create a live-CD, called refracta.
It is a result of fooling with live-helper. The first version simply had the live-helper commands in a script.
Like said: what i remember.
It probably doesn't need to be that detailed anyway. I try to give the idea (yup, a bit confusing, but it is long ago, and it was confusing)
-
bout wikipedia: I saw notes now and then, about a site being similar to advertising. I don't care about such, but they are touchy (it seems, cause those sites sure were not). Ain't got no account there myself (and really don't need one). The good news: just like when new in a forum, at wikipedia you can only do it wrong. Someone _will_ complain, whatever one will write (like an automatic reflex. set-thread-as-solved, use-google, use-code-tags, blah-blah-blah ...)
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