Features/SoaS Creation Station

Summary
A Custom Remix of Gnome Desktop with livecd-tools and spin-kickstarts
 * It can be either a liveCD or An Install CD.
 * Targeted Audience: Teachers, Experienced Users, and Deployments.


 * This Feature will allow Users to Make Customized Respins by editing kickstart files and Building Custom-Remix.iso files.
 * Detailed instuction on how to make remixes will be provided on the Desktop and as a default firefox web page wiki:[[Talk:Features/Soas_V4/Remixability#Build_Your_Own_Remix]
 * This CD provides a complete set of tools for Creating a Custom Remix of Soas.
 * Requires installation to a Hard Disk to allow Building .iso's.
 * Recommended Install Method: Sugar_on_a_Stick/ZyX-LiveInstaller Works wih zyx.?
 * (still testing=looks like livecd-tools may use too many resources with the zyx-liveinstaller file structure) still testing 09/09/2010 tg
 * Managed to do build on 16Gb USB took 4+ hrs. NOT PRACTICAL (as need LVM structured install for enough room)08/14/2010


 * zyx-liveinstaller copies the SCS CD exactly (as It is running on Users Desktop.) Any personal customization is transferred to a normal file system on the users Hard Disk
 * zyx-liveinstaller (In fedora repositories) is included on the SCS.iso
 * CD also includes gparted; livecd-tools, spin-kickstarts.
 * liveinst(Anaconda) does not transfer the custom features of the SCS.iso


 * Coordination with the Remixability feature.Features/Soas_V4/Remixability
 * May require using Anaconda with custom anaconda.cfg and .ks (If this is possible)

Owner

 * Name: Thomas Gilliard


 * Email: satellit  bendbroadband com

Current status

 * Targeted release: (Soas v4 Mango Lassi)
 * Last updated: Thomas Gilliard 06:08, 9 Sept 2010 (PST)
 * Percentage of completion: 40%

Detailed Description

 * This CD will Provide the tools, including detailed instructions, for creating a custom Soas-remix.


 * References on how to use the SCS will be added to The Customization Guide.

Benefit to Sugar
Promotes our already-existing technical flexibility to customize Soas-v4 for Deployments and individuals.


 * add/delete desired applications to standard set on .iso


 * Targeted uses:
 * Multiple Language versions (Including EU Languages?)
 * e-book reader
 * Older students
 * Games


 * Shared kickstart files e-mailed to SOAS and posted to wiki allow others to learn how to make a .ks file and try various remixes.
 * Posted links to a Catalog of prebuilt remix.iso's, with a description of their use and contents, allows less skilled users to use them.

Scope
The technical ability to create remixes has worked for a long time.
 * all entries labled xxxx-remix were built using these instructions:


 * Current
 * Talk:Sugar_on_a_Stick_release_process


 * Archive:
 * Talk:Features/Soas_V4/Install_Test_Table

The implementation of this feature depends on:


 * the editing of the Customization Guide
 * http://download.sugarlabs.org/soas/docs/customization-guide


 * The creation of a wiki page

UI Design
N/A

How To Test

 * 1-) Burn .iso to CD and boot from CD
 * 2-) Install to HD with zyx-liveinstaller (Icon is on desktop)


 * use partitioner (button at top of zyx-liveinstaller window) to partition HD
 * /boot 500 ext4
 * /    (balance of HD minus 10000)
 * swap 10000
 * exit partitioner "X" on top right of window


 * Hit -> arrow at bottom of zyx-liveinstaller
 * Select root (/); boot-(/boot); swap.


 * Hit -> arrow at bottom of zyx-liveinstaller to begin install


 * 3-)Reboot to HD when installer completes.
 * make a new directory on the Desktop "spin-kickstarts"

open terminal and enter this command:

cp /usr/share/spin-kickstarts/*.ks /home/(user)/Desktop/spin-kickstarts


 * Follow instructions on wiki: Talk:Features/Soas_V4/Remixability


 * 4-) Create your own Remix.iso with one of the .ks files in the Desktop spin-kickstarts folder
 * edit with gedit the .ks file to add programs etc; save with new name in spin-kickstarts folder
 * save-as to use new name of your .ks and then copy that name inot the following commands in a new gedit file:

livecd-creator \ --config=/home/(user)/Desktop/spin-kickstarts/fedora-livecd-soas.ks \ --fslabel=SCS-v(2-3-4)-dd/mm/year-Remix --cache=/var/cache/live
 * copy-paste the above edited command to a root terminal:

cd Desktop connect to internet and hit return and Build should begin..(up to 1 hr to finish )
 * 1) Desktop


 * Burn .iso to CD
 * Boot from new Remix

User Experience
Wider choices for users of Soas-v4 due to ability to Customize.

Dependencies
None that I know of.

Contingency Plan
Not Needed

Documentation
Log of successful build on 8GB USB: Talk:Features/Soas_V4/SugarCreationStation

Instructions: http://people.sugarlabs.org/Tgillard/Build-Your-Own-Remix.txt

Remixability: Talk:Features/Soas_V4/Remixability

Release Notes
None Needed

Comments and Discussion

 * See |discussion tab for this feature