Here’s a category I haven’t mentioned in a while, Computers.
One of the higher-ups at work is looking to give away computers to families in the area. Computers are a part of the curriculum, but what happens when you cannot use one at home for practice?
The higher-up has even spoken to Micheal Dell about this.
Yes, that Micheal Dell.
I had an idea of using some variation of Ubuntu, specifically Edubuntu. The issue with that is the computer requirements to run the system. It’s low, but it reaches the threshold of our surplus computers’ abilities. A secondary goal is to reuse our warehoused computers, so we need requirements that are pretty low.
Enter Slackware.
The oldest and arguably the most conservative distro of Linux has two things that work in its favor. One is the low requirements. Two is that compiling programs for it is a snap because there is minimal customization to the kernel (like Ubuntu) or to the large pieces of software (like Fedora). If there’s not a package for that great piece of new educational software, it can be compiled pretty easily. (the only place easier would be Gentoo.)
There are a few projects that, if put together, just might be the perfect fit.
Slackware, of course
Swaret
parts of Absolute Slackware
and for the back end to mass install these computers
Absolute has a modified KDE package that I like. Kickstart is just convienient (no hordes of volunteers with CDs). Swaret allows for the creation of a weekly cron job to update automatically, if the person has an internet connection. Slack, as a whole, is a good framework to build a good distro without a bunch of extra packages.
I hope to be able to actually get permission to try this at work. I’ll let you know.