this post was submitted on 24 Nov 2023

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Project Bluefin: A Linux Desktop for Serious Developers (thenewstack.io)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 19 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (3 children)

I don't get it. What's the spirit of ubuntu? Is the underlying OS based on ubuntu instead of fedora?

What's the actual difference to fedora silverblue?

Half the answer to "why did you make your own linux?" is that it's awesome being able to revert back to the original fedora OS.

Because it follows a cloud-native approach, the end user has the flexibility to rebase back to the stock Fedora or any Universal Blue image. It's more like having someone install, configure, and maintain a polished Fedora setup for you.

And the other half doesn't provide any info either

Bluefin utilizes Fedora's OCI features to compose and build an OS image. This process is overseen by a well-structured community that is committed to automation and sustainability. The end result is akin to a configuration management tool like Ansible or Salt, but without the typical challenges associated with maintaining a custom distribution.

Source

[–] [email protected] 14 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, they don't have a clear mission statement to explain the delta of "why does this exist, and what problems does it solve".

[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

I think it boils down to: "because we can". "We can automatically build our own setup on github and that's what we do"

Installing tailscale, zsh, fish, vscode, extension manager, codecs, etc. out of the box isn't enough for a new distro. Especially because you break the signing of fedora by doing so.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

out of the box isn’t enough for a new distro.

I'm a bit surprised that they mentioned "distribution" on the Bluefin website, as the Universal Blue site (the base project behind Bluefin) explicitly mentions not being a distro - and I know that Jorge tends to be very clear that they're not building a distro:

This isn't a distribution, you can always rebase back to Fedora without reinstalling. This is a unique relationship between upstream and downstream that is popular in cloud, but still new to the Linux desktop. "Custom images" seems to be a decent place to start since that's what people call them in cloud.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

much cloud, very native, wow

[–] [email protected] 13 points 11 months ago (2 children)

What’s the actual difference to fedora silverblue?

Hi! Co-maintainer here, you can find the differences in the github repo: https://github.com/ublue-os/bluefin

And there's a doc page going over it here: https://universal-blue.discourse.group/docs?topic=41

If you have any other questions I'd be happy to answer them!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Hi! Co-maintainer here, you can find the differences in the github repo: https://github.com/ublue-os/bluefin

I checked the github page you link and can find no differences listed, just three bullet points that appear to have be written by a PR team. You say an Ubuntu Desktop experience melded with Fedora Silverblue. Don't you mean GNOME? Ubuntu isn't a desktop environment, it's a Linux distro. GNOME is the desktop environment. That seems like an embarassing blunder in your copy when you claim to be building a distro for "serious" developers.

If it weren't open source, I'd think this was a scam. Weird choice.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago

IIRC, Bluefin uses the GNOME extensions that Ubuntu uses - so yes, GNOME in the same way that the current version of Pop!_OS is GNOME + their own extensions.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Instead of linking to articles full of buzz-words, can you explain what's the difference between this distro and Fedora Silverblue?
I'm guessing the "spirit of Ubuntu" means they took Silverblue and preconfigured some stuff.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

I linked to it, here it is again: https://universal-blue.discourse.group/docs?topic=41#features-9

And the previous link was directly to the source code of the image.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Tbo, I lost interest in it.

I've spend a good amount of time on it trying to figure out what the project is about. Even after clarifying the confusion and multiple people asking for clarification from your side and multiple upvotes, there's nothing from your side. You reference to something that has been saying nothing for many people.

You didn't even clarify the magical wonders of ubuntu in your project. I kind of feel insulted if I think properly about it.

Delete following part of your post

Bluefin

A familiar(ish) Ubuntu desktop for Fedora Silverblue. It strives to cover these three use cases:

For users it provides a system as reliable as a Chromebook with near-zero maintenance, with the power of Ubuntu and Fedora fused together. For developers we endeavour to provide the best cloud-native developer experience by enabling easy consumption of the industry’s leading tools. These are included in dedicated bluefin-dx and bluefin-dx-nvidia images. For gamers we strive to deliver a world-class gaming experience via Flathub or bazzite-arch “Evolution is a process of constant branching and expansion.” - Stephen Jay Gould This image heavily utilizes cloud-native concepts.

GNOME Software with Flathub: Use a familiar software center UI to install graphical software System designed for automatic staging of updates If you’ve never used an image-based Linux before just use your computer normally Don’t overthink it, just shut your computer off when you’re not using it Should I trust you? This is all hosted, built, and pushed on GitHub. As far as if I’m a trustable fellow, here’s my bio. If you’ve made it this far, then hopefully you’ve come to the conclusion on how easy it would be to build all of this on your own trusted machinery. :smile:

The difference between silverblue and your image is that silverblue is signed by fedora and yours isn't. There's no reason for anyone but you to use the image. Even if I were to us tailscale and fish, I'd be better off with silverblue.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago

Here maybe it's easier if I just paste in the differences:

Ubuntu-like GNOME layout.
- Includes the following GNOME Extensions:
  - Dash to Dock - for a more Unity-like dock
  - Appindicator - for tray-like icons in the top right corner
  - GSConnect - Integrate your mobile device with your desktop
  - Blur my Shell - for that bling
GNOME Software with Flathub:
- Use a familiar software center UI to install graphical software
Built on top of the the Universal Blue main image
- Extra udev rules for game controllers and other devices included out of the box
- All multimedia codecs included
- System designed for automatic staging of updates
  - If you've never used an image-based Linux before just use your computer normally
  - Don't overthink it, just shut your computer off when you're not using it
Starship is enabled by default to give you a nice shell prompt
Solaar - included for Logitech mouse management along with libratbagd
Tailscale - included for VPN along with wireguard-tools
zsh and fish optional
Built-in Ubuntu user space
Ctrl-Alt-u - will launch an Ubuntu image inside a terminal via Distrobox and your home directory will be transparently mounted for the Ubuntu image to access
A BlackBox terminal is used just for this configuration
Use this container for your typical CLI needs or to install software that is not available via Flatpak or Fedora
Optional ubuntu-toolbox image with Python, and other convenience development tools. just distrobox-bluefin to get started. To configure just follow the guide.
Optional universal image with Python, Node.js, JavaScript, TypeScript, C++, Java, C#, F#, .NET Core, PHP, Go, Ruby, and and Conda. just distrobox-universal to get started
just assemble shortcut to declaratively build distroboxes defined in /etc/distrobox/distrobox.ini
Refer to the Distrobox documentation for more information on using and configuring custom images
GNOME Terminal - Ctrl-Alt-t - will launch a host-level GNOME Terminal if you need to do host-level things in Fedora (you shouldn't need to do much).

The difference between silverblue and your image is that silverblue is signed by fedora and yours isn’t.

Of course Fedora only signs Fedora images, we sign our own images.

There’s no reason for anyone but you to use the image. Even if I were to us tailscale and fish, I’d be better off with silverblue.

Then use Silverblue! If you don't understand the features of something then you might not be the target audience!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago

This is the umpteenth time I’ve come across this project but I just don’t get what they’re going for here.

These are just custom images, are they not?

If I wanted Ubuntu I’d use Ubuntu. If I wanted Fedora I’d use Fedora. Maybe I’m not getting it but I wonder how big of a population that’s out there that wants some Ubuntu mixed in with a touch of Fedora and some buzzword salad thrown into the mix.