PC World - Fans of Linux may recall the "31 Flavors of Fun" project I wrote about last month through which ambitious developer Todd Robinson planned to "create, and release, a complete desktop operating system each and every day for the period of 31 days" over the course of August.
The goal of the project, as I noted back then, is to "demonstrate the huge advantages of using open source (shared knowledge) solutions in real-world situations," in the words of the 31 Flavors site.
I couldn't resist checking back this past weekend to see what had been done so far.
I wasn't disappointed. As of this writing on Monday Aug. 20, there are now 19 new Linux distributions listed in the "releases" page on the site, and among them are some pretty compelling examples.
Ready for a quick look? Here are some of the highlights.
Release 03: 'Debian Full House'
Sure to please Debian Linux fans who appreciate having choices, this third release in the series is a live Debian release complete with GNOME 2, KDE 4, LXDE, and Xfce, along with the corresponding desktop apps. Choice is good!
Release 04: 'KDE3 Reborn'
Yes, targeting fans of KDE 3, "this is a remake of the original Karlie custom release using the same visually stunning red graphics as the original," reads the site's description. "KDE3 Reborn has been re-made with the newer TDE (Trinity Desktop Environment) version."
Release 06: 'Child-Proof'
Aimed at kids between three and 10 years old, this distro includes some learning games as well as child-safe browsing.
Release 08: 'Lubuntu Google Kiosk'
"Per request, this is a release featuring a Google Kiosk login where the browser brings all the Google services together while remaining somewhat bullet-proof," the site explains. "It's ideal for public situations and can run entirely from a CD, and can be optionally installed." An administrator login is apparently also included.
Release 10: 'Desktop Development Center'
This tenth release in the series is a full desktop operating system complete with an extensive list of office software, the Webmin Control Panel, and a fully functional Web server complete with PHP5 and MySQL integration. "The is the release I would use if I were primarily doing Web development work," Robinson explains.
Release 12: 'Enlightened Libre'
Last but not least, "this release is something truly special," the site begins. "A completely Libre release with the Enlightenment Desktop Environment." Built from Trisquel as a base and using the Trisquel repository, Enlightenment was added along with Libre graphics "to create a visually stunning release."
Also included so far are releases targeting netbooks and distros aiming to give Linux an "Apple-ish" feel. An "Anticipated Releases" page, meanwhile, can give you a sense of what's still to come.
