Devuan 6 (excalibur) mate testing iso uploaded

greenjeans · 2025-03-14 01:36:12

Well i'll probably catch **** for starting another thread down here, but this seems worth it.

This is NOT an official Devuan release, nor a Vuu-do release. This is a user snapshot
of Devuan 6 (excalibur), updated completely as of 3/13/2025 with the Mate desktop environment.
It's purpose is to provide a quick small iso for those interested in testing the
next version of Devuan.

Hopefully some folks might find it useful. It snapshotted and installed just fine and everything
seems to be working with just some tiny bugs here and there. Updates are still coming fast so
there might be some waiting already. Note this is not the Mate metapackage, just the core and
utilities plus a few selected packages for function and convenience.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/vuu-do … te-mini-6/

Passwords:
(user)devuan=devuan
root=root

This is a liveCD and includes the Refracta-installer for fast simple install.
This is not uefi-enabled. The os-prober has been enabled when you install grub, if you
need to disable it before install, while still in live-session, just edit
/etc/default/grub and /usr/share/grub/default/grub to disable the prober.

In most respects it is identical to current Devuan, I have not "vuu-do-fied" it,
it contains all original files, docs, translations, help files, original configs,
artwork etc. with the following exceptions:

This is a "mini", it contains no browser, office or multimedia programs whatsoever,
just the infrastructure for you to build on and configure as you see fit. There are no
release notes or manual as this is stock Devuan and ample documentation is available
on the site and forum. More info in the readme at the link.

I'll be updating this once every couple of weeks or so until Devuan 6 goes stable
hopefully early in the fall.

deepforest · 2025-04-01 01:06:11

@greenjeans
Woow! Its feels so fast even at my retroPC) Why your Mate-mini feels so fast, how you did that? Usual when i test different distros with Mate its feels very sluggish.
Thanks

greenjeans · 2025-04-01 15:33:55

Glad you like it my friend! But no credit to me on this one, that's all Devuan right there. But yeah, for one thing the mini's are always faster from the get go, and that one is not the whole Mate metapackage, just the core and some extra utilities.

I have noticed in testing, that the Excalibur-based stuff seems very snappy and quick compared to current, really looking forward to seeing how it all performs once declared stable. I think Mate itself has made some improvements too.

One quick tip: The Mate menu is usually the first thing to feel sluggish, Mate does cache icon images, but for some reason still tries to re-size SVG's every time you open the menu, so if you have any large ones being used for menu icons for certain programs, it gets glitchy.

Worst offender is still Handbrake with a 3 mb SVG, really messes up that menu, I make PNG's in proper sizes for it on my own systems and get rid of the SVG.

Most SVG's these days though have gotten a lot better and by that I mean much smaller.

deepforest · 2025-04-01 23:46:29

I have noticed in testing, that the Excalibur-based stuff seems very snappy and quick compared to current, really looking forward to seeing how it all performs once declared stable. I think Mate itself has made some improvements too.

Thanks for explain its interesting. And why when unstable/testing go to stable, why all at stable become not so snappy as in unstable/testing?

One quick tip: The Mate menu is usually the first thing to feel sluggish, Mate does cache icon images, but for some reason still tries to re-size SVG's every time you open the menu, so if you have any large ones being used for menu icons for certain programs, it gets glitchy.

I did not know that. Here question - why devs make icons so fat, no minimalism, kiss and unix way law?

Last edited by deepforest (2025-04-02 01:10:03)

greenjeans · 2025-04-02 16:15:31

Oh they've gotten a LOT better over the years, these days most SVG's are simple and just a few K in size, 10 years ago though there were a lot of them multiple MB's in size. Now there's just a few. And I imagine in a modern machine with 4 or more CPU's, nice graphics cards and tons of fast ram that it's not an issue. But on older machines like mine (2012 model and low-spec even for that time) the difference is very noticeable.

deepforest · 2025-04-02 21:39:45

Philosophic question, why over time all software are become bloat, as proprietary also as free?

RedGreen925 · 2025-04-03 04:22:54

Philosophic question, why over time all software are become bloat, as proprietary also as free?

I would go with garbage tools being used by clueless programmers who have not one single idea how to produce good lean code.

greenjeans · 2025-04-03 17:09:13

As much as I hate bloat, and I think everybody understands the lengths I go to to be rid of it, it's actually pretty understandable when you think about it.

Take for instance the kernel itself, it now has to support 20+ years of widely varied and increasingly complex hardware, it's pretty amazing that it can even do so. And so many other programs have to do some of that too.

But yeah, whole lotta superfluous code out there, for myself I keep looking for ways to slim it down, a small script that ties a couple things together instead of installing one or more additional packages to do it, things like that, trying to solve issues using what I already have onboard as opposed to immediately looking to apt to solve it for me.

deepforest · 2025-04-03 20:26:14

I would go with garbage tools being used by clueless programmers who have not one single idea how to produce good lean code.

And its scared, becouse write shitty code is "normal" for present moment is production.

RedGreen925 · 2025-04-04 02:37:20

And its scared, becouse write shitty code is "normal" for present moment is production.

Indeed it is and the worst part is the situation shows no signs of improvement.

greenjeans · 2025-04-10 20:49:33

Updated: 4-10-2025 , over 400 updates overall including some new packages. Still
getting some error messages during boot, still have an Alsa issue with 90-alsa-restore.rules,
the usual wdat_wdt error, and a long pause of 25 seconds right after:
"Waiting for /dev to be fully populated...". And some of that is actually the alsa
error repeating again as there's some problem with the file, you can actually make
it stop by replacing that file with the one from daedalus if I remember correctly.

Also getting a LOT of errors in .xsession-errors, most all are coming from caja the file manager
complaining about Glib GIO critical stuff that has to do with symlinks somehow for the
most part, have not investigated that yet, just making note of it, I wonder if that's
something to do with usrmerge?

If you install it, take note that the grub screen is very different now, jury is still out
but I think I kinda like it. The icon thing is cool.

The whole thing feels pretty snappy for the most part and looks good, did have some longer
than normal pauses while I was running snapshot but no issues that I can see with the iso and
other than that it ran and finished normally. Happy testing!

greenjeans · 2025-04-10 23:52:02

Doesn't fix the problem but I do have a way to stop the alsa errors at boot, the error claims that it can't find the alsa_restore_go definition in the 90-alsa-restore.rules file in /usr/lib/udev/rules.d/ but, the definition is clearly in that file, seems like a syntax error somewhere.

Workaround to stop boot errors: Create a 90-alsa-restore.rules file in /etc/udev/rules.d/
content:

ACTION=="add", SUBSYSTEM=="sound", KERNEL=="controlC*", KERNELS!="card*", TEST=="/usr/sbin", TEST=="/usr/share/alsa", GOTO="alsa_restore_go"
GOTO="alsa_restore_end"

LABEL="alsa_restore_go"
TEST!="/etc/alsa/state-daemon.conf", TEST=="/usr/sbin/alsactl", RUN+="/usr/sbin/alsactl -E HOME=/run/alsa -E XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=/run/alsa/runtime restore $attr{device/number}"
TEST=="/etc/alsa/state-daemon.conf", TEST=="/usr/sbin/alsactl", RUN+="/usr/sbin/alsactl -E HOME=/run/alsa -E XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=/run/alsa/runtime nrestore $attr{device/number}"

LABEL="alsa_restore_end"

And here's the /usr/lib/udev/rules.d/90-alsa-restore.rules file from excalibur currently if anyone can take a look and maybe see an issue:

# do not edit this file, it will be overwritten on update

ACTION=="add", SUBSYSTEM=="sound", KERNEL=="controlC*", KERNELS!="card*", TEST=="/usr/sbin", TEST=="/usr/share/alsa", GOTO="alsa_restore_go"
GOTO="alsa_restore_end"

ENV{ALSA_CARD_NUMBER}="$attr{device/number}"

# mark HDA analog card; HDMI/DP card does not have capture devices
DRIVERS=="snd_hda_intel", TEST=="device/pcmC$env{ALSA_CARD_NUMBER}D0p", RUN+="/bin/sh -c 'echo ALSA_CARD_HDA_ANALOG=$env{ALSA_CARD_NUMBER} >> /run/udev/alsa-hda-analog-card'"

# check for ACP hardware
TEST=="device/device/acp3x-dmic-capture", GOTO="alsa_hda_analog"
TEST=="device/device/acp6x-dmic-capture", GOTO="alsa_hda_analog"
TEST=="device/device/acp63-dmic-capture", GOTO="alsa_hda_analog"
TEST=="device/device/acp-pdm-dmic", GOTO="alsa_hda_analog"
GOTO="alsa_restore_std"

LABEL="alsa_hda_analog"
# restore configuration for profile with combined cards (HDA + digital mic)
TEST!="/run/udev/alsa-hda-analog-card", GOTO="alsa_restore_std"
IMPORT{program}="/usr/bin/cat /run/udev/alsa-hda-analog-card"
ENV{ALSA_CARD_HDA_ANALOG}!="", ENV{ALSA_CARD_NUMBER}="$env{ALSA_CARD_HDA_ANALOG}"

LABEL="alsa_restore_go"
TEST!="/etc/alsa/state-daemon.conf", TEST=="/usr/sbin/alsactl", RUN+="/usr/sbin/alsactl -E HOME=/run/alsa -E XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=/run/alsa/runtime restore $env{ALSA_CARD_NUMBER}"
TEST=="/etc/alsa/state-daemon.conf", TEST=="/usr/sbin/alsactl", RUN+="/usr/sbin/alsactl -E HOME=/run/alsa -E XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=/run/alsa/runtime nrestore $env{ALSA_CARD_NUMBER}"

LABEL="alsa_restore_end"

deepforest · 2025-04-11 04:55:39

Hello!:)
Just some tested new build.
Looks and feels awesome! Thanks!:)
New stylish theme
Have few questions?
1. Curious you choose Mate but not Xfce here?
2. Why name and style of your creation is vuudo=voodo, so scary ritual? Uuuu...

upd1
sound volume not increase when i use mouse wheel, but decreasing works.

Last edited by deepforest (2025-04-11 05:03:10)

greenjeans · 2025-04-11 14:14:49

Wrong thread^^^^, lol, that's one of my Vuu-do 5 builds, not the Devuan 6 mate-mini.

Vuu-do has nothing to do with vodun/vodou/voodoo.

Vuu-do stands for Veteran Unix User - do, it's just an acronym and a play on words, and a nod to it's Devuan origin (VUA's), i'm not an admin myself, just a veteran user thus VUU, then do comes from sudo.

I use Mate and Openbox at home, so that's what I build, Devuan already makes an xfce live-dvd so no need for another one.

Last edited by greenjeans (2025-04-11 14:21:53)

greenjeans · 2025-04-12 16:28:42

Test iso pulled for now until Debian pushes a new caja package to replace the current broken one.

deepforest · 2025-04-12 17:43:43

Vuu-do has nothing to do with vodun/vodou/voodoo.

Understood, but why all vuudo style is so grim and dark(colour gamma and skulls at wallpaper) its bring associations with real voodo ritual

Last edited by deepforest (2025-04-12 17:44:37)

greenjeans · 2025-04-12 18:20:24

The colors are dark and calming and easy on the eyes, i've done a ton of research into color theory (I used to own a small custom paint contracting business), and I chose the colors for Vuu-do to be easy on the eyes and on the brain as well.

The skulls and the font for wallpaper (Zombified) are just pure whimsy based on the pronunciation of Vuu-do.

I'm a headbanger from waaaay back in the day, so that's some of my influence.

Also a former #! user and that's where I started really liking darker themes and Openbox, and the very first Miyolinux that I tried and based Vuu-do on, also had dark wallpaper and colors. The current Vuu-do wallpaper in fact was originally Miyo wallpaper that I modded, and that's why I still use it, as it has historical and sentimental value to me.

In any case, wallpaper is usually the very first thing people change on any linux distro upon install, so it's a moot point, I set Vuu-do up with very little onboard in the way of themes to start with, as I expect people will want to use their own. The whole thing is set-up to be easily customizable in the MIYO spirit. You'll find notes from me in all kinds of places, explaining how to easily change things.

greenjeans · 2025-04-12 18:29:04

Question for you @deepforest, I see in your screenshot that you have an Nvidia GPU, how did that process work out for you? Did you load Nvidia drivers or use the onboard Nouveau driver?

I stay away from adding proprietary Nvidia drivers on my isos because of some warning i've seen in Synaptic saying that some will conflcit with others, and I don't have an Nvidia machine myself to do any testing. Those are pretty much the only drivers I exclude.

deepforest · 2025-04-15 04:51:01

Hello:)
Yes, i run yor distro in live mode, so i use nouveau, its working good.
But there's two still working drivers sources patched for my legacy gpu.
1. Debian Sid(only) is still patching Nvidia 340.108 driver
2. https://www.if-not-true-then-false.com/ … dia-guide/
Both variants working for me i am tested both at Devuan5(did trick with pinning Ceres repo for get driver)

Last edited by deepforest (2025-04-15 04:52:28)

deepforest · 2025-04-15 05:21:26

The colors are dark and calming and easy on the eyes, i've done a ton of research into color theory (I used to own a small custom paint contracting business), and I chose the colors for Vuu-do to be easy on the eyes and on the brain as well.

Interesting, thanks. Agree. When looking long time to dislays, eyes tired, and need care using low brightness, yellow filters, dark ui themes, etc. But personally for me too dark icons is bit depressive:), so i am prefer deafult Adwaita icons and dark clolor schemes ar Ark themes.

The skulls and the font for wallpaper (Zombified) are just pure whimsy based on the pronunciation of Vuu-do.

Prodigy Voodoo peple association here:)

I'm a headbanger from waaaay back in the day, so that's some of my influence.

You are musician? I am interested many music styles:) But hardmetal and similar genres is not tootally understood for mine. I am prefer music depending of my current mood. I am from Millennials generation. So from metal genres i like industrial.

Miyolinux that I tried and based Vuu-do on, also had dark wallpaper and colors. The current Vuu-do wallpaper in fact was originally Miyo wallpaper that I modded, and that's why I still use it, as it has historical and sentimental value to me.

I see that Miyo development is stoped? Why?

ps Why did you choose exactly Devuan and Mate not Xfce? What olthers distros do you like? What you can say about Slackware?

greenjeans · 2025-04-25 16:52:15

4-25-2025

New Devuan 6 testing iso uploaded, some 124 updates including
a new kernel, but the biggest update was upgraded Caja packages that fixed the previous
version's .xsession-errors bug. It's working great again. Many thanks to the folks at Mate
and the maintainers for pushing those fixes through lickety-split!

Again, this is testing, so there are likely more bugs to be found, that's what this iso is for.
And remember, this is NOT an official Devuan iso, it's a user snapshot of the current state
of Excalibur using a minimal Mate desktop with a few packages I threw in extra for convenience.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/vuu-do … te-mini-6/

The officially official Devuan Forum!

#1 2025-03-14 01:36:12

Devuan 6 (excalibur) mate testing iso uploaded

#2 2025-04-01 01:06:11

Re: Devuan 6 (excalibur) mate testing iso uploaded

#3 2025-04-01 15:33:55

Re: Devuan 6 (excalibur) mate testing iso uploaded

#4 2025-04-01 23:46:29

Re: Devuan 6 (excalibur) mate testing iso uploaded

#5 2025-04-02 16:15:31

Re: Devuan 6 (excalibur) mate testing iso uploaded

#6 2025-04-02 21:39:45

Re: Devuan 6 (excalibur) mate testing iso uploaded

#7 2025-04-03 04:22:54

Re: Devuan 6 (excalibur) mate testing iso uploaded

#8 2025-04-03 17:09:13

Re: Devuan 6 (excalibur) mate testing iso uploaded

#9 2025-04-03 20:26:14

Re: Devuan 6 (excalibur) mate testing iso uploaded

#10 2025-04-04 02:37:20

Re: Devuan 6 (excalibur) mate testing iso uploaded

#11 2025-04-10 20:49:33

Re: Devuan 6 (excalibur) mate testing iso uploaded

#12 2025-04-10 23:52:02

Re: Devuan 6 (excalibur) mate testing iso uploaded

#13 2025-04-11 04:55:39

Re: Devuan 6 (excalibur) mate testing iso uploaded

#14 2025-04-11 14:14:49

Re: Devuan 6 (excalibur) mate testing iso uploaded

#15 2025-04-12 16:28:42

Re: Devuan 6 (excalibur) mate testing iso uploaded

#16 2025-04-12 17:43:43

Re: Devuan 6 (excalibur) mate testing iso uploaded

#17 2025-04-12 18:20:24

Re: Devuan 6 (excalibur) mate testing iso uploaded

#18 2025-04-12 18:29:04

Re: Devuan 6 (excalibur) mate testing iso uploaded

#19 2025-04-15 04:51:01

Re: Devuan 6 (excalibur) mate testing iso uploaded

#20 2025-04-15 05:21:26

Re: Devuan 6 (excalibur) mate testing iso uploaded

#21 2025-04-25 16:52:15

Re: Devuan 6 (excalibur) mate testing iso uploaded

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