This may seem to be a strange concept, but I have decided to create a Linux distribution based on a potato. Yes you read that right, a potato!

What I like about potato’s is that despite being a relatively unattractive root vegetable they are extremely versatile, when cooked in different ways they can take on new properties; changing the taste, texture and even health values.

A not so pretty ingredient, that works so well for so many purposes, one ugly object that can adapt to suite the requirements of so many people.

This is why I feel that a potato creates the perfect inspiration for a new Linux distribution:

Potatux

Potato

Simple GUI, not the prettiest operating system available.

A relatively ugly vegetable, not the best looking food.

Versatile, comes with the required components to modify for many different purposes. Desktop, web server, office, etc…

Versatile, can be used as the sole ingredient for many different foods. Chips, mash, roast, jacket etc… all with a very different taste and texture

With a little user input you can create a very appealing ‘dish’

As you can see from a few small points, the potato operating system has the possibility to become a successful ingredient for creating a customised operating system, suited to the users tastes.

Mission statement

Properties:

  • Basic.
  • Versatile.
  • Functionality over eyecandy.
  • Sparing on resources.

Uses:

  • A modern system on older hardware.
  • To build your own operating system, your way.
  • Embedded systems which lack in storage space.

Objectives:

  • Create a very basic operating system including little past the required components, yet including a usable package management system allowing ease of customisation.
  • Include basic command line utilities to modify system settings such as wireless network configuration, allowing users with little experience to set-up their system without the overheads of GUI applications.
  • Looks are only skin deep, the only bundled GUI must be light weight, functional and capable of running on old hardware at a reasonable speed.
  • Versatility is key!

Distributions:

Their are a total of four intended distributions that will be available for download:

  1. 32-Bit Server
  2. 64-Bit Server
  3. 32-Bit Desktop
  4. 64-Bit Desktop

Technically this is actually two different distributions, each available for two common architectures. The server edition will most likely not be called ‘server’ as it will actually be more of a bare minimum system.

The Server edition will contain the base operating system, no graphical interfaces, a package management system and an SSH server.

The Desktop edition will not contain an SSH server, but will instead be bundled with compact and low resource graphical interface, leaving the choice of packages to the user.

This post will likely be updated as pointers are added to the mission statement, as and when the project progresses links will be included here to the updates and future downloads.