Live Linux Distro for Using Printer Port with Electronics
by Lewis Loflin
See YouTube videos:
Create Your Own Linux Desktop with Openbox
The emphasis here is to use "lite" and low resource Debian Linux configurations for older PCs and Raspberry Pi. The ideas come from Puppy Linux and Damn Small Linux which today is replaced by non-Debian Tinycore which to me isn't very functional.
Be it a PC or Raspberry Pi I have used variations of the following and gotten memory usage down to between 50MB and 70MB:
JWM window manager (Windows like) with PCmanFM for a desktop manager like LXDE
JWM, Openbox, or Fluxbox with the Rox-Filer desktop.
Rox-Filer and pinboard.
Or mix and match all kinds of combinations.
(Above) Openbox Desktop with Rox-Filer Icon Bar and XFCE4 Panel, FEH wallpaper setter.
This is a "LIVE" Linux distro that requires no installation!
Light weight distro for use on older machines or new.
Requires 512K RAM and 1 Gig. Processor - can work on less but slow. Flawless with 512K and 1600mHz Sampron with old AOpen board. Low RAM usage - often under 100 meg.
Debian based system that's easy to upgrade or add additional programs - based on Wheezy.
Download pport-1.0.iso from Sourceforge.com then burn to DVD (file size 920 meg.), insert into DVD drive and reboot. Make sure PC is set to boot from DVD ROM.
This is pre-configured by myself to use Python to control the printer port. Python can be run from IDLE or Geany.
All of my PPORT electronics projects will work without installation to a PC.
See Programming the PC Printer Port in Python
Programs can be saved to thumb drive in LIVE mode.
This can be installed to a PC if desired. Right click and open the Openbox menu, go down to System Tools, then click on Install wattOS.
This includes two desktops: Openbox and JWM controlled by lightdm - doesn't use .xinitrc.
Openbox uses the XFCE4 Panel or tint2. (Use only one!) Also can use the Rox Panel and/or Rox Pinboard. View screenshot using Rox panel and XFCE4 panel.
Use JWM with Rox Pinboard only. View screenshot.
Boots to Openbox Tint2. Log out then select JWM log back in. User name lewis PW lewis.
SUDO already set to keep from having to give password. Also great for learning Linux.
Based on modified WattOS - http://www.planetwatt.com/
Programs included:
File managers: added Rox-Filer and Thunar - removed pcmanfm This includes the Rox Pinboard for fast and versatile icon placement. Pinboard can be cut on-off under menu control.
Terminals: added Lxterminal and Rox terminal - both with cut-paste, etc.
Shells: bash, dash, sh
Programming: Python 2.7, Python 3.3, C, Geany, Idle, Beaver, etc.
Will program Arduino - version 1.0.1. Note: never tested on live setup but works fine installed. Will auto-detect USB.
Multimedia: VLC media player, added XMMS audio player, both "drop and drag" plus Zmixer, AlsaMixer, and Pulse Audio volume controls and (if installed to a fast machine) Record My Desktop.
Zmixer was compiled by me and isn't in Debian repositories. Same is true of Beaver and Viewnior.
Debian packages also available from website for download for use on other Debian based distributions. To install in a terminal after download:
lou@box$ sudo dpkg -i package_name.deb
Also see https://sourceforge.net/projects/pportlivelinux/files/debian/
Text editors: Nano, Leafpad, Beaver, Geany. Nano is terminal only - useful if X11 video fails.
Internet: Qupzilla, Dillo
Office: Abiword similar to Microsoft Word, added Foxit Reader for PDF files.
Graphics: Viewnior, FEH for wallpaper setter - removed gpicview.
Viewnior is a great but light weight image viewer for most file types.
Use XRANDR to change display resolution. Type xrandr then enter to see resolutions available. Then select desired resolution. Caution: selecting non-standard resolution will play chaos with display and could damage older monitors! Ex:
lou@box$ xrandr -s 1024x768
FEH is a command line image viewer and wallpaper program. Ex:
lou@box$ feh --bg-scale '/usr/local/backgrounds/spring.jpg'
Creates hidden file .fehbg in home directory - can be executed in a shell such as sh:
sh ~/.fehbg &
See Use FEH under Linux for a Wallpaper Setter
Basic Electronics Learning and Projects
- Software and setup:
- Raspberry Pi Openbox Desktop 2019
- Setting up Openbox for Raspberry Pi
- Main Light Fast Linux Desktops with Openbox, JWM
- Test Reuse Surplus PC Power Supplies
- Add WBAR Launch Dock to Raspberry Pi
- Add MPG123 Terminal Music Player to Raspberry Pi, Linux
- Basics of Alsamixer Audio Control for Linux
- Add Solid State Hard Drive to Raspberry Pi
- Beep a PC Speaker Add Beeper to Raspberry Pi
- Using FEH Wallpaper Setter Under Linux
- Scrot Lite Weight Screen Shot Software for Linux
- Using Light Weight Beaver Text Editor
- Install Viewnior Image Viewer for Linux
- Zmixer ALSA Sound Control Tutorial
- Tutorial Xinitrc Desktop Manager Control for Linux
- Setup Raspberry Pi Using JWM Window Manager
- Live Linux Distro for Using Printer Port with Electronics
- Using the powerful Rox-Filer system in Linux
- Use FEH under Linux for a Wallpaper Setter
- How to create Symbolic links in Linux
- Exploring Digital Computer Electronics
- Hardware
- Hardware Review Connecting PC Parallel Ports
- Operation TB6600 Stepper Controller with PC Parallel Port
- Build or Buy Parallel Port Breakout Board?
- Build Serial HD44780 LCD Display Connect to Parallel Port
- Motherboards
- Presario 1999 CM1001 Gaming Computer Salvage
- Live Test 2002 VIA EPIA-800 Mini ITX Motherboard
- Salvage, Test 2012 AAEON EMB-B75A Industrial Motherboard
Web site Copyright Lewis Loflin, All rights reserved.
If using this material on another site, please provide a link back to my site.