Linux Distro components

[JellyWerker]

I was wondering what your views on the programs that a one cd install-only linux distro should be? I was thinking this:

gnome latest
kde latest
openoffice latest
firefox (ok, heck, everything latest, so I don\'t need to type it anymore! )
thunderbird
sunbird
whatever the best x server is (xfree, xorg, help me decide!)
yafray
blender
wings3d
gaim
python (with most extensions and models, wxpython, etc...)
apache
apt or yum or synaptic or portage, depending on what I base the distro on
iptables (plus a nice frontend)
a few games, like gnocatan, wesnoth, anything else good that comes to mind, like pingus or tuxracer.

Maybe a few other things. I want this because I reinstall my os about once every 2 months, and am tired of failing installs and little customisability. I think anaconda would make a good installer, or something like suse\'s, but not as complicated as debian\'s or gentoo\'s. Please post suggestions here.

[JellyWerker]

I *really* want to make this, so some ideas please?

(rude evil mean lame semi-retarded bump)

Edit: I am going to base it on gentoo I decided, I am not sure how hard a gentoo cd is to customise.

[Tharizdun]

There are a lot of single cd linux installs. The vast majority of them are tailored towards a niche of sorts, be it a firewall/vpn device, router, cluster node, web proxy box, emergency-rescue type disk, and so on.

Theres too much software available under Linux for everyone to be happy with a general purpose single-cd install, in my opinion. If you are going to pitch it as a graphical desktop, you can probably do without languages, compilers, development components ( header files and source code ) and server components ( apache, mysql, etc ), pick either KDE, Gnome, or something more lightweight, and then include as many office apps and/or games as you can.

Re: Xorg VS Xfree86, there is no decision there. Xorg is clearly the only option, and is the environment where > 90% of all new development work is taking place.

[JellyWerker]

Thanks, I am now thinking a base cd and an \"extra\" package cd, like gentoo, but something that would be quick to install. I prefer kde, so I will probably go with that, but I need a bug free installer, anaconda is nice, but too buggy. I like suse\'s, but it is kinda hard to use. I think I will have fluxbox too, as a lightweight alternative to kde for rendering and such. I am still thinking about what I will have in it, I was thinking of making it more of an artists/modelers/gamemakers distro, so maye artists would prefer gnome, but then just have openoffice, and have a bunch of graphics, video, and sound apps. I would like a gentoo base, but that ould take too long to insall, so maybe fedora core 3 or suse? or even slackware, but I would prefer something with premade packages, rpm, etc...

Note: could someone with wine try to run gamemaker? it is a cool 2d gamemaking program for windows. Also, some tutorials on remastering rad hat linux or suse would be nice.

Edit: How about something along these lines?

gnome
openoffice
gimp + gap
blender
wings
yafray
firefox + flash + java
thunderbird
xmms + mp3 support
mplayer and mencoder + mencoder gnome frontend and plugins
fluxbox
gftp
gift + gnome frontend
gaim
bluefish
python + spe
xchat
beagle
audacity
soundtracker
some midi composition software
wine
c and c++ support (gcc, g++)
vector graphics program (sodipodi or inksacpe)
video editor (which?)
iptables + simple frontend

What do you think?

[Tharizdun]

There are alternative gentoo installers now (that is, alternative to the \'do everything yourself method), take a look at what Vidalinux are doing.

If you are going to base it upon binary packages though, Gentoos use flags, ebuilds and portage become more or less redundant. I believe Debian has the strongest binary packaging system, both in diversity of software, and ease of installation and dependancy resolution. Ubuntu is strong in this area too I believe, and has more up to date software than the Debian/Stable tree ( default kernel for Debian 3.0 \"woody\" is still 2.2.x ! )

Ultimately, its probably best using the distribution with which you are most familiar.. cutting down on the learning curve and helping you come up with a usable distribution quicker.

If you are looking for ideas for which software to include, maybe look at the contents of The Open CD for inspiration? http://www.theopencd.org/