EasyOS Kirkstone-series 5.8.1
EasyOS was created in 2017, derived from Quirky Linux,
which in turn was derived from Puppy Linux in 2013. Easy
is built in woofQ, which takes as input binary packages
from any distribution, and uses them on top of the unique
EasyOS infrastructure.
Throughout 2020, the official release for x86_64 PCs was
the Buster-series, built with Debian 10.x Buster DEBs.
EasyOS has also been built with packages compiled from
source, using a fork of OpenEmbedded (OE). Currently, the
Kirkstone release of OE has been used, to compile binary
packages for x86_64.
Earlier releases of EasyOS compiled in OE are the
Dunfell-series and before that the Pyro-series. They have
also been compiled for aarch64 and EasyOS runs on the
Raspberry Pi4.
The last release of the x86_64 Dunfell-series was January
10, 2023, version 4.5.5. The announcement and release
notes are here:
https://bkhome.org/news/202301/easyos-dunfell-series-version-455-released.html
The version number is for EasyOS itself, independent of
the target hardware; that is, the infrastructure,
support-glue, system scripts and system management and
configuration applications.
The latest version is becoming mature, though Easy is an
experimental distribution and some parts are under
development and are still considered as beta-quality.
However, you will find this distro to be a very pleasant
surprise, or so we hope.
4.99 release notes
Version 4.99 is a Release Candidate for 5.0. Here are
relevant blog posts:
- mount-img
asks
read-only or read-write — February 18, 2023
- The
langpack
PETs are gone — February 17, 2023
- The
next-generation
MoManager — February 16, 2023
- Enhanced
auto-translated
local help — February 14, 2023
- Continuing
internationalization
integrated into easy.sfs — February 13, 2023
- easy.sfs
internationalized,
langpack PETs abandoned — February 10, 2023
- Fix
for
Firefox getting deleted when SFS layers change —
February 08, 2023
- FF
download
improved — February 06, 2023
- Chromium
bumped,
more pkgs compiled in OE — February 05, 2023
- Escaping
characters
in translation strings in initrd — January 25,
2023
- xloadimage
and
xserver-fb added to Kirkstone build — January 23,
2023
- Bringing
back
run GTK apps in the initrd — January 23, 2023
- First
bootup
2-letter language asked in initrd — January 13,
2023
- Automatic
translation
added to MoManager — January 08, 2023
- Started
developing
automatic language translation — January 06, 2023
- gcc
problem
in Kirkstone-series — December 25, 2022
- Meta-quirky
Kirkstone
git repository created — December 20, 2022
- Kirkstone-series
packages
rolled back and forward — December 07, 2022
- EasyOS
advancing
to Kirkstone-series — December 05, 2022
In a nutshell, packages are compiled in the Kirkstone
release of OpenEmbedded, and EasyOS now has international
translations builtin, langpack PETs no longer used, nor
are there separate per-language builds.
4.101 release notes
Lots of bug fixes.
5.0 release notes
This is it, version 5.0-final, the official start of the
Kirkstone-series. More bug fixes, tweaks and some updates:
5.1 release notes
The big news is the "AppImage Installer".
5.1.1 release notes
Some small but important bug fixes. One package bump,
AppImage Installer improvements.
5.2 release notes
A complete recompile in OE and more AppImage Installer
improvements:
5.2.1 release notes
Significant improvements to Appi, the AppImage Installer,
and integration of the three package managers.
5.2.2 release notes
The big news is support for installing Flatpaks.
- Preventing
proliferation
of dbus-daemon instances — April 15, 2023
- Maybe
fix
monitor VertRefresh range — April 15, 2023
- Flatpak
does
not work with ext4 folder encryption — April 10,
2023
- Empty
folders
not recognized by git — April 09, 2023
- Package
manager
tutorial updated — April 08, 2023
- Package
manager
wrapper improved — April 08, 2023
- AppImage
Installer
update fix — April 08, 2023
- Flatpak
Installer — April 07, 2023
- Flatpak
compiled
in OE — April 06, 2023
- gnupg
signed-key-pair
created in initrd — April 05, 2023
- Always
ask
for root password at first bootup — April 05, 2023
- gnupg1
static
compile in OE — April 05, 2023
- fr
and
ru translation updates — April 04, 2023
...wow, as usual a feverish pace of development.
5.2.3 release notes
Fantastic rationalization of the "app" and "setup"
desktop icons.
5.2.4 release notes
Version 5.2.4 is identical to 5.2.3, except for script
/usr/local/easy_version/easy-update. The reason is
explained here:
You do not need to update to 5.2.4. For any earlier
release in the Kirkstone-series (5.0+), download the
script, remove the ".gz" off the end (it is not really
compressed) and replace the script at
/usr/local/easy_version/easy-update. The script is here:
https://distro.ibiblio.org/easyos/amd64/releases/kirkstone/2023/5.2.4/easy-update.gz
Then wait for Easy 5.3 to be released, which will have
the new fscrypt v2. Then, when you click on the "update"
icon, it will run the new script.
If you boot Easy without a password, then this change in
fscrypt won't affect you. You won't need the new script,
can just update when 5.3 is released.
Or, if you boot without a password, but would like to
change to encrypted folders, then install the new script,
and you will get the opportunity to enter a password at
first bootup after the update to 5.3.
If you are new to EasyOS, recommend that you wait for
version 5.3.
5.3 release notes
The first release with fscrypt v2; please read the above
to update.
There are many more fixes and improvements not reported
above. See github commit history up-to today:
https://github.com/bkauler/woofq/commits/3775c7c01d9cda9c16ada67f1aa0d4ec769af04a
5.3.1 release notes
Important fixes and improvements.
Plus fr and es translations. And more, see recent
commits:
https://github.com/bkauler/woofq/commits/a723c6b60c6ff2c0d5b10a3702a5692f386c2c1b
5.3.2 release notes
Important updates, fixes and improvements:
- Access
encrypted folders on mounted ext4 partitions —
June 04, 2023
- Toggle
touchpad on or off — June 02, 2023
- OpenEmbedded
version 4.0.10 revision-2 compile — June 01, 2023
- YouTube-DL
Update button fixed — June 01, 2023
- How
and why EasyOS is different page updated — May 29,
2023
- Kdenlive
AppImage vs Flatpak — May 29, 2023
- Setting
up permissions under /files take-2 — May 28, 2023
- Fixed
Kdenlive project setup — May 27, 2023
- Little
Flapi, Appi and pupX fixes — May 26, 2023
- Kernel 5.15.114, vmwgfx enabled
Thanks to the guys for es and ru translation updates. And
more, see recent commits:
https://github.com/bkauler/woofq/commits/4075b7786e65faa8657aecbd4d9f925ca8a0784a
5.4 release notes
This is a milestone release. VM support and some little
fixes.
Plus more, see recent github commits:
https://github.com/bkauler/woofq/commits/5d273e69d7cc12e5ca026b3df6dc09180755d0d5
5.4.1 release notes
Released the day after 5.4! Just one change, printing
fixed, see this forum discussion:
https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?t=8913
Plus some very small changes committed:
https://github.com/bkauler/woofq/commits/38b9dfa2bb52a677166f3255e66f3ffaf703feec
If running 5.4, just click the "update" icon, the update
to 5.4.1 is only 929KB.
5.4.3 release notes
A lot of changes for such a minor version bump:
- KeePassXC
now builtin to EasyOS — June 22, 2023
- Symphytum
personal database compiled in OE — June 22, 2023
- Kernel
5.15.117 compiled with 9P features for QEMU — June
21, 2023
- KeePassXC
2.7.5 compiled in OE — June 21, 2023
- Cannot
open URL in browser from flatpak app — June 20,
2023
- More
Turkish translations — June 19, 2023
- QEMU
recompiled in OE with more features — June 17,
2023
- Various
little improvements — June 17, 2023
- How
to install EasyOS on a new SSD page updated — June
16, 2023
- Setting
up permissions under /files take-3 — June 16, 2023
- Guidelines
for debugging EasyOS page updated — June 14, 2023
5.4.5 release notes
Mostly about replacement of sudo with sudo-sh, plus some
little fixes:
5.4.6 release notes
Most important, fix for Flapi:
5.4.7 release notes
Improved translation and great new features:
5.4.8 release notes
The menu now has not-yet-installed apps, identified by an
orange-ball icon. These include AQEMU and QtEmu GUIs for
QEMU.
Note, KeePassXC (in the tray) has a ready-made database
file at /files/database/keepassxc/Passwords.kdbx, with
password "woofwoof". Of course, the password will need to
be changed if you want to use that database file.
5.4.9 release notes
Various improvements...
5.4.10 release notes
Lots of nice improvements...
- Zenity
incompatibility with Yad — August 07, 2023
- Chromium
version 113.0.5672.126 compiled in OE — August 07,
2023
- Login
and Security Manager overhauled — August 05, 2023
- Parcellite
and Qlipper clipboard managers compiled in OE —
August 04, 2023
- Updated
How and Why EasyOS is Different page — August 04,
2023
- EasyOS
review at It's FOSS News — August 03, 2023
- The
return of FPM2 — August 03, 2023
- Flapi
invalid app-name detected — August 02, 2023
- Fix
.desktop revert to NoDisplay=true — August 02,
2023
- Fix
revert to orange-ball menu entry — August 02, 2023
- The
return of Flowblade — August 02, 2023
Flowblade video editor is now builtin!
5.5 release notes
The big news is the change to usr-merge.
- Final
usr-merge fixes for Kirkstone 5.5 — September 12,
2023
- Aborted
release of EasyOS Kirkstone-series version 5.5 —
September 10, 2023
- Cannot
execute usrmerged binaries on non-usrmerged OS —
September 09, 2023
- More
fixes convert Void pkg db to Puppy db format —
September 07, 2023
- OpenEmbedded
version 4.0.12 release-r4 compiled — September 07,
2023
- OE
and woofQ change to usr-merge — September 03, 2023
- Fix
convert Void pkg db to Puppy db format — September
03, 2023
- woofQ
support to build with Void .xbps packages —
September 02, 2023
- Mime
handling for Void Linux .xbps packages — August
31, 2023
- Mysterious
inaccessible folder — August 31, 2023
- New
Chinese language PETs — August 17, 2023
- Argon2
illegal instruction problem again — August 15,
2023
- redshift.pot
installed in OE — August 14, 2023
- Password
manager wrapper in tray — August 10, 2023
The above links show a lot of development for woofQ to
support Void Linux .xbps packages, but that will be a
later release of EasyOS, nicknamed "easyVoid".
5.5.1 release notes
Fixed some collateral damage due to usr-merge.
5.5.2 release notes
More little bug fixes. One big change is moved from
NetworkManager to the traditional Puppy network tools.
5.5.3 release notes
Important bug fixes. Chromium version bump.
5.5.4 release notes
More bugs fixes.
5.5.5 release notes
Kernel, Limine and TV Panel version bump, new process
utilities, return to NetworkManager:
5.6.1 release notes
Complete revision-5 recompile in OE, with some package
version bumps, and now Firefox compiled. Preliminary
support for proprietary NVIDIA drivers.
Firefox is now the builtin browser, replacing Chromium.
5.6.2 release notes
Have changed back to Chromium builtin.
...last item explains why going back to Chromium. See
also here.
5.6.3 release notes
New Planner, Blender SFS, kernel bump, NVIDIA SFS bump,
and some important fixes...
5.6.4 release notes
Important fixes and improvements...
5.6.5 release notes
Mostly fixes, but also new p7zip and rewritten
download_file:
5.6.6 release notes
Lots of small changes and fixes. Mostly this update is
required as the "update" icon on the desktop for Easy
5.6.5 and earlier, requires the latest version be in the
current year, 2024.
- Tweak
Kirkstone package db format — January 28, 2024
- MSCW
not run at first bootup — January 27, 2024
- mdview
update compiled in OpenEmbedded — January 27, 2024
- mdview
markdown viewer updated — January 27, 2024
- Fix
sudo-sh segfault — December 19, 2023
- sudo-sh
Cancel button — December 18, 2023
- Improved
Firefox user-settings and default browser —
December 17, 2023
- Download
Chrome browser in menu — December 15, 2023
- Yocto
4.0.14 release recompile — December 15, 2023
- Fix
some .desktop files getting deleted — December 14,
2023
- Fix
Firefox second instance will not start — December
13, 2023
Some extra information:
5.6.7 release notes
Just one change: sudo-sh update to version 1.3 was
overlooked. Fixed.
5.7 release notes
Kernel bumped to 5.15.148
5.8 release notes
A complete recompile, based on OE Kirkstone 4.0.17. The
kernel bumped to 5.15.157.
There are lots of fixes not documented on the blog. See
github commits:
https://github.com/bkauler/woofq/commits/97054ceeed483cbed6f9653c64afaa555a9ccc2a/
The kernel source, with patches and build scripts:
http://distro.ibiblio.org/easyos/source/kernel/5.15.x/5.15.157-20240428/
5.8.1 release notes
Had to withdraw 5.8 a day after releasing, due to black
screen with at least one AMD GPU. Rolled back to the
5.15.149 kernel:
Have also added another web browser "Download Chromium
web browser" item in the "Internet" category of the menu.
Firefox is now inbuilt, so this is offered for those who
prefer to stay with Chromium.
About EasyOS
Why would you choose EasyOS
instead of some other Linux distribution?
For a quick overview of how EasyOS is different from
other Linux distributions, read this:
https://easyos.org/about/how-and-why-easyos-is-different.html
You will notice that the download is quite small, yet
contains just about every application you would ever need,
such as Firefox|Chromium browser, LibreOffice, Gimp, Dia,
Inkscape, Planner, Homebank, Osmo, NoteCase, Celluloid and
Audacious. There are powerful system managers, such as
NetworkManager, EasyContainers, EasyVersionControl and
BluePup.
BluePup for example, is a bluetooth manager, unique to
EasyOS. Another unique tool is 'easydd', a GUI or CLI tool
for writing a drive-image file to SD-card or USB-stick.
Links
Website: https://easyos.org/
News: https://bkhome.org/news
Forum: https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewforum.php?f=63
We are very grateful to Ibiblio for hosting
EasyOS, right from the start:
https://distro.ibiblio.org/easyos/amd64/releases/kirkstone/
EasyOS has one mirror of ibiblio.org, thanks to NLUUG,
here:
https://ftp.nluug.nl/os/Linux/distr/easyos/
Legal statement: https://easyos.org/about/legal-disclaimers-miscellania.html
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