Hi everybody, I just like to introduce a small free/open software project I'm working on. The NetBrix and The NetBrix Builder (the compiler/builder).
The current version of NetBrix is something that we can look at "perfect" (bare frame) Client...
At some point in the future I will try to build the VBox "perfect" (bare frame) Host...
[The NetBrix] The NetBrix is a small (6MB) Linux core OS that you can compile and customize from source code. It's intended to run fron devices such as USB Keys and to run on netbooks and nettops devices.
[The NetBrix Builder Graphical Interface] It's a Java NetBeans GUI that uses shell scripts to build (or compile) the system Java/NetBeans is used to provide a EASY and VISUAL interface to make the process elegant and accessible.
[Some Goals] - Be a small Linux environment to run specific functions on low power hardware or PCs "netboxes" (-books,-tops & -boxes).
- Offer control over what components to run.
- Offer control over "from where to boot".
- Offer control over "where to run" (hd, ram, net, usb, etc).
- Be EASY enough so that the end user can operate it and even do their own changes on the system or on the builder soft.
- To allow PCs to have a "secondary BIOS" (Level 2 BIOS) operating system on media such as USB Key (or MicroUSB Keys).
- Be 100% Free Software.
- Be 100% Open Source Software.
- Be comprehensible enough for average users.
- Be Organic (only have what it needs to perform tasks).
- Be Organic (to fit into the available hardware resources).
[Small Is Beautiful] The core command line is 6MB and the current X Window system is 19MB in size. More can be done to make it small.
Being small and running as "L2 BIOS" (secondary BIOS)it can boot up the system in a matter of seconds and gives web access...
Small also means COMPREHENSIBLE. By being easy to understand, it will be easy to use and to customize.
[Not a Traditional Linux O.S.] The idea is NOT to build a Linux System that replaces Windows or any other TRADITIONAL Linux distributions. Instead, NetBrix intend to work together with traditionals systems, bringing the power of Free/Open Source Software to the users without requiring exclusive access to the hardware.
The current NetBrix is build from Debian Lenny.
Currently it is in early prototype stage, but it's working enough to show the potential to the concept. The current version is "0.04" (June/2009).
- The Traditional Approach
The current traditional Linuxes are trying to be a replacement
for Windows on "Desktops" of corporate users and home users.
- The NetBrix Approach
NetBrix DOES not intend to replace traditional systems,
and NetBrix, in the initial stage, DOES not look at
home users and corporate users.
The following are some groups that NetBrix will be targeting:
a) education & academia
b) sciency community
c) Home Office
d) programmers and developers
e) hobbyists
f) government institutions
g) social institutions
h) self-employed
i) specialized groups (writers, researchers, etc)
j) hardware integrators
k) information service providers
*The list does not hold any particular order.
The Traditional's targets (home & corporate) will be a secondary
at the current plan that I have as they require more time
and resource to satisfy their needs.