[Project] Xorg-based OS for Kobos

[NiMa]

Hi all,
Recently with my success on running Xorg on Kobos (https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=336210), I had the idea to make a new firmware replacement (well, not 'replacement', but it doesn't run within Nickel) which would include primarily a full-fledged web browser (Firefox or Falkon) and Linux reader apps. Also, it would include some applications such as a calendar, a clock, gnome-terminal (of course) and some more.

I'm currently working on it and was wondering if you had any suggestions regarding:
1. The applications included (could be virtually anything running on Linux systems, preferably <200 MB install size)
2. The name of the "OS"'
3. Other concerns

I plan on making a KoboRoot.tgz that you could just dump on the .kobo folder.

TL;DR just imagine what you never could do on your Kobo; here your dream could become true!

[Elektron]

1. A Python IDLE would be epic!!!
2. KoboX, XKobo, KoboXorg, Koborg? lol, these are horrible suggestions...
3. A KoboRoot would be awesome!! Just use NiLuJe's install script for Plato/KOReader and tweak it a little if complete beginners want to do it.

[NiMa]

Originally Posted by Elektron

1. A Python IDLE would be epic!!!
2. KoboX, XKobo, KoboXorg, Koborg? lol, these are horrible suggestions...
3. A KoboRoot would be awesome!! Just use NiLuJe's install script for Plato/KOReader and tweak it a little if complete beginners want to do it.

Ok well
1. Python is *very* doable, it will be installed by default (touch support needs it). Geany will be there also. Any suggestions for an IDLE ? I could use the default one. If you have another in mind, let me know. Preferably, size should be <100 MB for that. With bare-bones utilities, it's already weighing 1G...
2. KoboX seems veeery appropriate!! Considering we're on Xorg and it's running OpenBoX, in a chroot (container/BOX), that's well done, thanks!
To be pronounced "Ko-box"
3. Yeah that should be fairly easy to do. However, I think I will require users to manually decompress the alpine.img because it would take too much space otherwise (already contained in KoboRoot + uncompressed)

thanks!
other suggestions, everyone? I tried to get Calibre on this but it seems hard to compile. And what would you do with it? Does it seem a good idea? Thanks

P.S.: I attached a screenshot. That's the actual progress. It seems running MATE desktop, but it's just MATE panel + openbox WM... so it's still fast!

[Elektron]

Clarifying... nickel DOES still run on the Kobo, right? (Assuming it does, since you launched X with NickelMenu.) I'd recommend editing the thread title to something along the lines of "Taking suggestions for Xorg-based OS on Kobos."

[NiMa]

Originally Posted by Elektron

Clarifying... nickel DOES still run on the Kobo, right? (Assuming it does, since you launched X with NickelMenu.) I'd recommend editing the thread title to something along the lines of "Taking suggestions for Xorg-based OS on Kobos."

... No.
Nickel is killed at startup with those commands:

export DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS NICKEL_HOME WIFI_MODULE LANG WIFI_MODULE_PATH INTERFACE
sync
killall -TERM nickel hindenburg sickel fickel fmon 2>/dev/null

Of course you can launch it via NickelMenu, but after that you can't come back without a reboot
I think it'd be possible to start it standalone in the init/rcS script (which starts Nickel at boot), but I think that that's not most users would want. Therefore, the KoboRoot.tgz would come bundled with NickelMenu.

Also, editing the rcS init script can lead to dangerous consequences; might brick the Kobo if failing to start X (hopefully SSH access would be available) and thus requiring a factory hard reset by booting on the recoveryfs partition.

[hobnail]

Originally Posted by Elektron

2. KoboX, XKobo, KoboXorg, Koborg? lol, these are horrible suggestions...

Heh, I was thinking Xobo, pronounced Zobo.

[NiMa]

Originally Posted by hobnail

Heh, I was thinking Xobo, pronounced Zobo.

Yeah, maybe that too. I'll think of it

[Elektron]

Originally Posted by NiMa

... No.
Nickel is killed at startup with those commands:

export DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS NICKEL_HOME WIFI_MODULE LANG WIFI_MODULE_PATH INTERFACE
sync
killall -TERM nickel hindenburg sickel fickel fmon 2>/dev/null

Of course you can launch it via NickelMenu, but after that you can't come back without a reboot
I think it'd be possible to start it standalone in the init/rcS script (which starts Nickel at boot), but I think that that's not most users would want. Therefore, the KoboRoot.tgz would come bundled with NickelMenu.

Also, editing the rcS init script can lead to dangerous consequences; might brick the Kobo if failing to start X (hopefully SSH access would be available) and thus requiring a factory hard reset by booting on the recoveryfs partition.

What I'm saying is, can I still read books (not in Xorg)?

[NiMa]

Originally Posted by Elektron

What I'm saying is, can I still read books (not in Xorg)?

Yeah of course. But when you start Xorg, there's currently no way to return to Nickel without rebooting the device.

[NiMa]

Go here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=336433
Enjoy!

[patrik]

NiMa, from your experience with this, do you think it's feasable to get an android app to run (virtually) on a Kobo?

[NiMa]

Originally Posted by patrik

NiMa, from your experience with this, do you think it's feasable to get an android app to run (virtually) on a Kobo?

Theoritically, it *could* be possible to run modern Android on a Kobo, even maybe natively (with serious UI tweaks though)
Other option would be to set up QEMU with (hmm does it even exist?) KVM and hyper-virtualize Android, which, along with being atrociously slow even if you have KVM, would be a chore to manage with touch inputs.

so ... the real question is:
Do you really *want* to run Android apps on your Kobo?

EDIT: maybe AnBox ... will look into that

[patrik]

In Sweden there are some really popular streaming services (for ebooks/audiobooks). Getting one of them to run on a Kobo would truly be a game changer here.

(https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...t.storytel.app)

[NiMa]

Originally Posted by patrik

In Sweden there are some really popular streaming services (for ebooks/audiobooks). Getting one of them to run on a Kobo would truly be a game changer here.

(https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...t.storytel.app)

You mean... sound? Really?
or you want the e-book reading capabilities of the app?

edit: maybe if we could set up an Icecast2 server on the device and create a fake sound output device... but then what's the point? You'd have to listen to it with headphones plugged in your cellphone

[patrik]

I think reading would be more than enough to be very useful.