PCLinuxOS

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PCLinuxOS
logo
Screenshot
PCLinuxOS KDE Desktop 2016.03
developer Bill Reynolds (Texstar)
License (s) GPL and other licenses
Current  version 2020.01 (January 14, 2020)
ancestry GNU / Linux
↳ SLS
↳ Slackware
↳ Red Hat Linux
↳ Mandrake Linux
↳ PCLinuxOS
Architecture (s) x86_64
Others Language: English
Unofficial German version
www.pclinuxos.com

PCLinuxOS - PCLOS for short - is a US-American Linux distribution that originally goes back to Mandrake and is primarily tailored for desktop use. According to a 2007 survey, it was one of the top ten distributions and continues to be listed as one of the main distributions on the Distrowatch comparison page .

According to various tests, PCLinuxOS is characterized by its simplicity and usability as well as its above-average hardware recognition. Software often used by home users such as codecs for multimedia files, Flash and Java are preinstalled with PCLinuxOS. PCLinuxOS can be installed with various desktop environments that are tailored to the needs and existing hardware of the users.

Development history

Bill Reynolds (known in the development scene as Texstar ), today the main developer of PCLinuxOS, offered self-compiled RPM packages for Mandrake Linux on a separate source called PCLinuxOnline from 2000 to improve this distribution.

In 2003, Reynolds, dissatisfied with Mandrake's policies, decided to fork Mandrake's 9.2 version, which he called PCLinuxOS. The first versions, known as previews, were very similar to the original, but since then the new distribution has moved further and further away from Mandriva Linux. Most of the packages, for example the kernel , the GNU Compiler Collection or the KDE Software Compilation 4 , were compiled independently of Mandriva, so PCLinuxOS also has its own repository. Furthermore, PCLinuxOS has its own graphics and icons as well as its own menu structure.

The PCLinuxOS 2007 version with the internal version number .94, the stable release of which was published on May 21, 2007, was a complete redesign of the system, which is why a normal upgrade from previous versions was not possible. In addition, cosmetic improvements such as a new logo and built-in 3D desktop effects have been added via Beryl and Compiz . All other versions should be based on .94, since the development model of a rolling release , i.e. a continuous further development of all programs contained in the distribution, has been introduced since then .

At the beginning of November 2007 the first major revision of the 2007 version was carried out, which among other things contained a new kernel. In January 2008 a new MiniMe version was published that only contains the most important basic programs and is around 300 MB in size.

Version 2009.1, which was released on March 11, 2009, was still based on K Desktop Environment 3 , as the developers had not achieved comparable functionality with KDE Plasma Desktop 4 . The version is still based on the code base of the 2007 version, so it can be updated from there via package management.

Version 2010.1 with KDE Plasma Desktop 4 was released on May 5th, 2010. All subsequent publications are snapshots of the updated version 2010.1.

PCLinuxOS appears in the current versions 2016.03 exclusively as a 64-bit version and comes with Kernel 4.4.4 LTS, grub2 and full UEFI support.

particularities

PCLinuxOS MATE-Desktop 2016.03

PCLinuxOS is a Linux distribution intended for simple desktop use , while server use plays a rather minor role. The Live CD offers the option of storing personal files and configuration files on a USB stick. The system can also be installed on a hard drive; when decompressed, the CD contains around two gigabytes of software such as KDE Plasma Workspaces , LibreOffice , GIMP and many other applications.

The distribution is one of the first to use the Debian package management program APT in connection with the RPM package system in the variant APT-RPM and its graphic attachment Synaptic.

PCLinuxOS attaches great importance to compatibility, for example NDISwrapper or codecs for numerous proprietary multimedia formats (e.g. MPEG ) are preinstalled, which is omitted with other distributions due to the resulting unclear legal situation. The controversial package libdvdcss is not preinstalled, but is available in the official repository.

Furthermore, the script mklivecd is integrated in PCLinuxOS , which allows the user to take a “snapshot” of his installation (with all settings, programs, bookmarks, documents, pictures etc.) which is then compressed to an ISO CD image. This makes it very easy to make backups and create your own PCLinuxOS based distribution.

Starting with version 2007, the distribution uses a rolling release - Version System . Upgrades are done via the package management and there is no feature freeze, so the latest version of all programs is offered if possible.

To facilitate the installation of PCLinuxOS on the hard drive, the German PCLinuxOS community offers an illustrated installation guide. Furthermore, after successful installation, PCLinuxOS can be completely converted into one of 85 languages ​​with just a few clicks of the mouse using the so-called localization manager (addlocale), including German .

German-speaking users can also download an unofficial version with the LXDE desktop environment, which has already been completely converted to German.

variants

PCLinuxOS is available with a variety of desktop environments , including:

PCLinuxOS MATE Desktop

MATE is a popular multi-platform desktop environment and has set itself the goal of continuing the classic desktop concept of GNOME 2. The focus of MATE is on ease of use and stability. MATE offers everything that the computer user expects from a modern IT environment.

PCLinuxOS KDE full desktop

KDE FullMonty is based on the KDE environment and contains a large number of additional programs and codecs.

PCLinuxOS KDE Darkstar

This is a lean version of the operating system without a significant amount of pre-installed programs.

Unofficial derivatives

PCLinuxOS LXQt-Desktop 2016.03

In the forums of the PCLinuxOS communities, unofficial derivatives - which were produced with the mklivecd script - are also made available for download. For these derivatives, current updates have already been installed or other desktop environments are offered.

There are also slimmed-down versions of the distribution, they are aimed at advanced users who do not want the software specifications of the standard version and instead want to set up and configure their system as much as possible themselves.

In contrast to the original, some of these derivatives rely on desktop environments that are more designed for cloud computers with low hardware specifications, netbooks or older computers, such as: Xfce , LXDE , LXQt and Trinity .

criticism

In contrast to other larger Linux distributions , PCLinuxOS is marketed by an independent developer community with no significant commercial interests. In addition to Bill Reynolds, this is primarily a group of programmers known as the ripper gang .

A disadvantage of the rolling release version system is that the release cycles are irregular.

In addition, there is no multilingual support for the installation routine; alternative languages ​​are installed with a separate program after installation.

Versions

PCLinuxOS
version date
2019.11 November 13, 2019
2019.08 August 10, 2019
2019.04
2019.03 15th March 2019
2019.02 February 24, 2019
2018.06 5th June 2018
2017.11 November 27, 2017
2017.03 March 3, 2017
2016.03 March 8, 2016
2014.12 December 18, 2014
2014.08 August 12, 2014
2013.04 April 4, 2013
2012.09 September 6, 2012
2012.08 22nd August 2012
2012.02 February 2, 2012
2011.09 September 24, 2011
2011.07 July 14, 2011
2011.06 June 27, 2011
2010.12 December 12, 2010
2010.10 October 28, 2010
2010.7 5th July 2010
2010.1 May 5, 2010
2010 April 19, 2010
2009.2 June 30, 2009
2009.1 March 11, 2009
MiniMe 2008 January 7, 2008
2007 (aka 0.94) May 21, 2007
P.93a Big Daddy August 21, 2006
P.93a junior August 9, 2006
P.93a MiniMe August 4, 2006
P.93 MiniMe April 21, 2006
P.92 November 21, 2005
P.91 July 7, 2005

Web links

Commons : PCLinuxOS  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. Top Ten Distributions: An overview of today's leading distributions at distrowatch.com, current query (German)
  2. Comparison test between PCLinuxOS and Mandriva at tecchannel.de, May 21, 2007 (German)
  3. From the corner at linux-community.de, October 16, 2014 (German)
  4. a b PCLinuxOS - "So cool ice cubes are jealous" at linux.com, April 25, 2013 (English)
  5. Distribution Release: PCLinuxOS 2009.1 at distrowatch.com, March 12, 2009 (English)
  6. Install PCLinuxOS LXDE at wiki.pclos.eu, February 6, 2016 (German)
  7. PCLinuxOS LXDE German at sourceforge.net, March 18, 2016 (German)