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ioky

Member

Registered: 2008-06-19

Posts: 93

HOW-TO :CLiNU CLI Linux without X

I have this idea for a long time, and I have finally put this into action. In this guide, I documented What I did when I putting :CLiNU together.

So for, this is like the first stage, it is all about testing each software, in order to determent what I want and what I don't want on the finally produce. So if you have any suggestion on anything, feel free to let me know.

This version is based on ubuntu because the easy access to packages for testing purpose. Once, when the core application have been selected, the system will be build from scratch. (well, of course, if I figure out how to, hehe)

here is the list of CLI software I posted long time ago.

:CLiNU is a command line interface (CLI) based Linux/GNU distribution serve for general purposes. It blends a set of comprehensive applications, and tools, which allows users to accomplish everyday computing in a pure CLI environment. The name ":CLiNU" stands for CLI based Linux without X.org. It is light-weight, feature-rich, and elegance.

:CLiNU How-To @ ubuntu v0.1

Mission: Setup :CLiNU and test applications for further optimization and customization, use ubuntu (8.10) as the base system.

Part I: Install Ubuntu minimal

Download the ubuntu alternate desktop CD and use F4 option install a CLI system.
This can also be done with the ubuntu minimal CD.

edit repository sources list
sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

enable the medibuntu repository
sudo wget http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/intrepid.list -O /etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list

import the gpg-key
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install medibuntu-keyring && sudo apt-get update

ruby is needed for some application
sudo apt-get install ruby irb1.8

Part II: Install system tools

The sytem tools will give the user more control with their CLI, such as easier file management and be able to switch between multi-applications. These packages are highly recommmanded.

Install with the code: sudo apt-get install "name of the package" (read app list for detail)

List of system tools:
zsh = A shell with lots of features
screen = terminal multiplexor with VT100/ANSI terminal emulation
vlock = Virtual Console locking program
mc = Midnight Commander - a powerful file manager
vifm = a ncurses based file manager with vi like keybindings
fdisk = Partition editor for Acorn/RISC OS machines
gpart = Guess PC disk partition table, find lost partitions
alsa = ALSA driver
alsa-oss = ALSA wrapper for OSS applications
alsa-tools = Console based ALSA utilities for specific hardware
multitail = view multiple logfiles windowed on console
rdup = utility to create a file list suitable for making backups
pm-utils = utilities and scripts for power management
htop = interactive processes viewer
powertop = Linux tool to find out what is using power on a laptop

The Software below can be install, however, they seem again the :CLiNU style, so they are not recommanded.

None*

Part III: Install applications

Here is the list of applications we are going to run/test on this system sort by category. For testing purposes, all the CLI applications yet found will be installed, however, not all of them will be included in the final produce as core package.

Install with code: sudo apt-get install "name of the package" (read app list for detail)

Accessoris:
espeak = A multi-lingual software speech synthesizer
speex = The Speex codec command line tools
festival = General multi-lingual speech synthesis system
festival-czech = Czech support for Festival speech synthesis system
festival-freebsoft-utils = Festival extensions and utilities
emacspeak = speech output interface to Emacs
emacspeak-ss = Emacspeak speech server for several synthesizers
abook = text-based ncurses address book application
antiword = Converts MS Word files to text and ps
halibut = yet another free document preparation system
tetex-base = TeX Live: teTeX transitional package
tetex-bin = TeX Live: teTeX transitional package
tetex-extra = TeX Live: teTeX transitional package
catdoc = MS-Word to TeX or plain text converter
libwv-1.2-3 = Library for accessing Microsoft Word documents
wv = Programs for accessing Microsoft Word documents
bc = The GNU bc arbitrary precision calculator language
wcalc = A flexible command-line scientific calculator
gnuplot = A command-line driven interactive plotting program
gunplot-mode = Yet another Gnuplot mode for Emacs
gunplot-nox = A command-line driven interactive plotting program
fbgrab = Framebuffer grabber
oleo = GNU spreadsheet program
sc = Text-based spreadsheet with VI-like keybindings
atool = A tool for managing file archives of various types
zip = Archiver for .zip files
rar = Archiver for .rar files
lha = lzh archiver (or jlha-utils = command-line lzh archiver written in Java)
p7zip-full = 7zr file archiver with high compression ratio
cmatrix = simulates the display from "The Matrix"
sl = Correct you if you type `sl' by mistake
calcurse = text-based calendar and todo manager
qemu = fast processor emulator

The Software below can be install, however, they seem again the :CLiNU style, so they are not recommanded.

**gpm = General Purpose Mouse interface

Games:
bsdgames = a collection of classic textual unix games
bsdgames-nonfree = rogue, the classic dungeon exploration game
gnuchess = Plays a game of chess, either against the user or against itself
netris = free, networked version of T*tris
nethack-console = Text-based overhead view D&D-style adventure game
slashem = A variant of Nethack
angband = A single-player, text-based, dungeon simulation game
dopewars = Make a fortune dealing drugs on the streets of New York
empire = the war game of the century

There are more Games avaliable in CLI, however, they are not packaged with ubuntu, and they be just download and play. Therefore, they are not include on this list. For example:

Vitetris = a terminal-based Tetris clone

Graphic:
zgv = SVGAlib graphics viewer
fbi = Linux frame buffer image viewer
imagemagick = image manipulation programs
caca-utils = text mode graphics utilities
libfreeimage3 = Support library for graphics image formats (library)
tpp = text presentation program

Internet:
elinks = advanced text-mode WWW browser
lynx = Text-mode WWW Browser
links = Web browser running in text mode
links2 = Web browser running in both graphics and text mode
w3m = WWW browsable pager with excellent tables/frames support
gFTP-text = colored FTP client using GLib
mutt = text-based mailreader supporting MIME, GPG, PGP and threading
elmo = text-based mail-reader supporting SMTP and POP3
sendemail = email-from-console sending tool
freetalk = A console based Jabber client
naim = A console client for AOL Instant Messenger and IRC
irssi = terminal based IRC client
finch = text-based multi-protocol instant messaging client
tinyirc = a tiny IRC client
centerim = A text-mode multi-protocol instant messenger client
ekg = console Gadu Gadu client for UNIX systems
newsbeuter = text mode rss feed reader with podcast support
podget = Podcast aggregrator/downloader optimized for cron
Snownews = Text mode RSS newsreader
slrn = threaded news reader (fast for slow links)
rtorrent = ncurses BitTorrent client based on LibTorrent
wget = retrieves files from the web
lftp = Sophisticated command-line FTP/HTTP client programs
ncftp = A user-friendly and well-featured FTP client
curl = Get a file from an HTTP, HTTPS or FTP server
iptraf = Interactive Colorful IP LAN Monitor
cryptcat = TCP/IP swiss army knife extended with twofish encryption
tcpdump = A powerful tool for network monitoring and data acquisition
wireshark = network traffic analyzer
aircrack-ng = wireless WEP/WPA cracking utilities
kismet = Wireless 802.11b monitoring tool

Development:
vim = Vi IMproved - enhanced vi editor
vim-latexsuite = view, edit and compile LaTeX documents from within Vim
vim-not = Vi IMproved - enhanced vi editor
vim-perl = Vi IMproved - enhanced vi editor (transitional package)
vim-python = Vi IMproved - enhanced vi editor (transitional package)
vim-rails = Vi IMproved - enhanced vi editor (transitional package)
vim-ruby = Vi IMproved - enhanced vi editor (transitional package)
vime-tcl = Vi IMproved - enhanced vi editor (transitional package)
vim-runtime = Vi IMproved - Runtime files
vim-vimoutliner = script for building an outline editor on top of Vim
nano = free Pico clone with some new features
emacs = The GNU Emacs editor (metapackage)
cxref-emacs = Generates latex and HTML documentation for C programs
build-essential = Informational list of build-essential packages

There are too many libraries to be listed. Therefore no library are included on this list.

Media:
mplayer-nogui = The Ultimate Movie Player For Linux
vlc-nox = multimedia player and streamer (without X support)
cplay = A front-end for various audio players
mpd = Music Player Daemon
mpc = A command-line tool to interface MPD
ncmpc = text based audio player
mp3blaster = Full-screen console mp3 and Ogg Vorbis player
moc = ncurses based console audio player
cmus = Lightweight ncurses audio player
herrie = Minimalistic audio player built upon Ncurses
orpheus = light-weight text mode menu- and window-driven audio player
abcde = A Better CD Encoder
crip = terminal-based ripper/encoder/tagger tool
shell-fm = console based player for last.fm radio streams
mpg123 = MPEG layer 1/2/3 audio player
sox = Swiss army knife of sound processing
mp3wrap = Utility for MP3 wrapping (rolling multiple MP3s into one)
mp3splt = Splits MP3 and Ogg Vorbis files without reencoding
pytone = Music jukebox with advanced features for DJs and a text-mode user interface
libdvdcss2 = lib needed to play DVD
gstreamer0.10-plugins-* = GStreamer documentation for plugins (complete set)
vorbis-tools = several Ogg Vorbis tools

Part IV: Further customization
There are few things here and there need to work before you can get the application running. Sense the How-To have not yet finish, feel free to input any suggest on anything.

Part V: Simply enjoy it!

vinegaroon

Member

Registered: 2008-05-21

Posts: 23

Re: HOW-TO :CLiNU CLI Linux without X

Ok.. nice list of cli apps but why do you need ubuntu for this? Arch is already minimal and all these apps will run on it.

sand_man

Member

From: Australia

Registered: 2008-06-10

Posts: 2,164

Re: HOW-TO :CLiNU CLI Linux without X

vinegaroon, I was going to say the same thing. It's a good idea but I think it would be easier in Arch.

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ioky

Member

Registered: 2008-06-19

Posts: 93

Re: HOW-TO :CLiNU CLI Linux without X

In the matter of fact, I agree with you both, haha, In many way Arch is much more beautiful than ubuntu, The only thing stop me from using arch is that it is didn't come with all the software I want to try out of the box, and some software are too cutting edge, and some where not stable, such as centerim, the newest version do have some problem with aim for some reason. again that is just for testing which app going to stay and which need to go aways. So once I figure out, I would use what is best for it.

I mean, this project in the core of its mean tends more toward to arch than ubuntu, there is a project call INX (is not X) which is much more user funny, just like ubuntu, and it is base on ubuntu indeed.

Last edited by ioky (2008-12-22 06:14:30)

Hiz

Member

Registered: 2008-11-04

Posts: 40

Re: HOW-TO :CLiNU CLI Linux without X

good list^^
some of them i didnt know at all. i wanna try them on my Arch. ty

jcolinzheng

Member

From: Cambridge, MA

Registered: 2008-08-06

Posts: 50

Website

Re: HOW-TO :CLiNU CLI Linux without X

Why not offer them as a repository of (compiled) arch packages?

It's a great list of software, although I personally prefer framebuffer, not just CLI.

ioky

Member

Registered: 2008-06-19

Posts: 93

Re: HOW-TO :CLiNU CLI Linux without X

Why not offer them as a repository of (compiled) arch packages?

It's a great list of software, although I personally prefer framebuffer, not just CLI.

It actually CLI with framebuffer, framebuffer is needed with some software like Links2, vlc, mplayer, and etc.

ioky

Member

Registered: 2008-06-19

Posts: 93

Re: HOW-TO :CLiNU CLI Linux without X

Why not offer them as a repository of (compiled) arch packages?

It's a great list of software, although I personally prefer framebuffer, not just CLI.

actually, I will, once, I test all of the software. It will be set of core, which automatic come with :CLiNU, and set of extra which come with it but onlly as a set of opition.

It would be great if anyone can give some suggestion on which one to keep and which one to leave, with reason, that would be great.

trilobite

Member

Registered: 2009-05-25

Posts: 42

Re: HOW-TO :CLiNU CLI Linux without X

yeah, it's an old thread, but i am too in the process of customizing a completely GUI-free environment.

only problem i have is w/ otr plugins for my IMs & skype.

i use bitlbee for IM, and have installed bitlbee-otr & bitlbee-skype.

otr doesn't load, and there is no documentation available.
bitlbee-skype loads, doesn't connect. nothing on that around the forums either.

tomd123

Developer

Registered: 2008-08-12

Posts: 565

Re: HOW-TO :CLiNU CLI Linux without X

IMO, having a xorg free experience is kind of overkill. Things that I would miss immediately would be playing videos/pictures, firefox, and maybe games, although the games I play are simple enough that they probably have text equivalents already made. And a framebuffer is a must if anything...

trilobite

Member

Registered: 2009-05-25

Posts: 42

Re: HOW-TO :CLiNU CLI Linux without X

yea, it is, no question about it.

still, i wanna see its possible to have all you need w/o having to use X.

jceasless

Member

Registered: 2009-04-20

Posts: 73

Re: HOW-TO :CLiNU CLI Linux without X

I've been playing with this too.

What kills it for me is my inability to get intelfb running properly on my eee 900 (says the module is loaded but there is no /dev/fb/0 device). One suggestion is to use a vga= code instead of video=intelfb:[etc] in my /boot/grub/menu.lst . But that makes it impossible to have the 1024x600 resolution of the eee's screen, so I haven't even tried it.

Why intelfb? Because mplayer's directfb driver has tearing even with buffermode=triple and mplayer's -double tag enabled when using uvesafb. Maybe I am assuming too much that the intelfb would have the hardware acceleration hooks necessary to make it work?

The other thing that cripples it for me is the "stuck at 16 colors" nature of Linux console even when running a framebuffer with a 32-bit background. I've gotten a tip on changing those colors but it is obtuse at best. Very surprised that there hasn't been a 256 color (at least) framebuffer console developed yet. (Unless screen magically enables the extra colors?) dfbterm looks interesting but the last thing I want is windowed terminals when I am trying to use CLI.

Last edited by jceasless (2009-06-03 18:54:51)

keenerd

Package Maintainer (PM)

Registered: 2007-02-22

Posts: 647

Website

Re: HOW-TO :CLiNU CLI Linux without X

Regarding getting funny resolutions working in framebuffer, the vga=xxx line can do very odd resolutions, you just have to know the right number.

Install lrmi.  From the console, run vbetest as root.  Now, trial and error your way through the modes.  If a mode works, you'll see a colorful checkerboard.  If it does not work, the screen will reset after a few seconds.  My netbook's best was mode 397, which gave 1280x768 and 24 bit color.  Now, add 512 to that mode number for your vga=xxx number.  So my grub uses vga=891.