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Debian Desktop Marlin |
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Contents
What is Debian Desktop Marlin?
The idea of Marlin is to provide a Debian Pure Blend for non-technical users. Users which may try GNU/Linux or need an operating system which provides a set of basic software out-of-the-box.
Motivation
I think it would be nice that the Debian Project provides a solution for non technical persons. When a friend will ask me Which GNU/Linux should I try? I would like to say: Debian GNU/Linux
Currently, I think it's possible, but the new users will need a lot of support.
Why not just extends the existing "Debian desktop environment"?
I think we have to separate two kinds of needs:
- Install a desktop environment (plain)
- Install a desktop environment (+system +applications)
I think it's not a good idea to extend the current tasks with more packages. Maybe keep them "light" and focused on the desktop environment / window manager as it is. Instead of extending those, we should build some more "Desktops" on top based on those tasks.
An similar approach has been done by the live-tasks by adding cups, bash-auto-completion, reportbug,...
Another example is "DebianJr" which will hopefully provide a Junior-Desktop environment for children, soon. It's also a Debian Desktop, but there are different requirements.
The idea of Marlin is not to build the Debian Desktop. Marlin would be one Debian Desktop.
More than an environment
To provide a system to the users, we need more than just provide an "Desktop / Window manager". The system should work more or less out-of-the-box and provide the users some help. The user should not install all system tool / services. It should already be done by our experience.
What is missing:
- Documentation of non technical users
- Applications / tools to help them to maintain the system
- All system tool / application / daemons which are needs
- Access to network shares
- Support printers
- Zero configuration tools (Avahi)
- ....
FAQs
Why xfce?
I think xfce is nice, provides nice features and is a light environment. Why not 
What is (will be / should be) included?
- Package: marlin-desktop will provide xorg, lightdm, xfce and some basic applications
- Package: marlin-desktop-config: Configuration and tools
- Package: marlin-extra-internet: Additional software for internet clients
- Package: marlin-extra-multimedia: Additional software for multimedia
- Package: marlin-desktop-tweaks: GTK Application to let the user tweaks the system
Sources
https://salsa.debian.org/StefanKropp/marlin
marlin-desktop-doc
Create a PDF document as "Welcome" document.
- First steps
- Links to documentation (system and online)
marlin-desktop-config
Files and scripts to configure the desktop.
marlin-desktop-tweaks
Applications to help the user to configure / maintain the system.
tasks
https://salsa.debian.org/StefanKropp/marlin/-/tree/main/tasks
Example / Proof of Concept
It's already working 
Installing Marlin via tasksel
Login screen via lightdm
xfce4
Tweaks Application
