What is Dreamlinux?
Dreamlinux is a installable Linux LiveCD based on Debian (for the vast amount of packages available in a .deb format), Elive (for the Engage dock), Kanotix (for the kernel featuring incredible hardware detection) and Morphix (for its modular structure). The latest stable release is 3.2 Desktop Edition, which was released on 21 April 2008.
Click here for an introduction to Linux.
Which desktop is used?
The Xfce desktop environment is used as the default, but others, such as GNOME and KDE are available using apt-get.
"Xfce is a lightweight desktop environment for various *NIX systems. Designed for productivity, it loads and executes applications fast, while conserving system resources." - Olivier Fourdan, creator of Xfce
Xfce is an alternative to GNOME and KDE, which are common on other distributions. The Dreamlinux team have decided to use Xfce, because it is faster and uses less system resources, thus allowing great productivity still with all the eye-candy, meaning that your applications will run faster and smoother than they would on other distros and your desktop will look fantastic: the default theme created for Dreamlinux has been designed to give the sleek look of OS X.
What software is available?
Dreamlinux comes with a large variety of fantastic software and applications including:
| Software title | Description |
|---|---|
| Beryl & AIGLX | This allows stunning 3D visual effects to be produced. |
| Office | Description |
| OpenOffice.org | The entire OpenOffice.org suite, which can be used to create documents, drawings, presentations, graphs and databases. |
| Orage | A configurable calander an alarm setter. |
| Evince | An application for document viewing, including PDF and ODT support. |
| Scribus | A desktop publisher. |
| Image editing | Description |
| GimpShop | A version of GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) designed to have Photoshop's menu style. |
| Gogh | A drawing program that works with pressure-sensitive input devices. |
| GSumi | A bitmap creation program that supports pressure-sensitive "ink" drawing. |
| GQview | A image previewer that easily allows quick navigation of the images on your system. |
| Gtkam | A program allowing transfer and viewing of photos onto and off a digital camera. |
| Vector drawing | Description |
| Inkscape | An vector graphics editor. |
| 3D Modeling | Description |
| Blender | A powerful 3D model creator and animator |
| YafRay | A 3D model creator with powerful lighting simluations. |
| Instant messenger | Description |
| aMSN | An unofficial improved port of Windows Live Messenger to Linux. |
| Internet | Description |
| Iceweasel | A version of Firefox, the most successful free browser, with "free" artwork. |
| Icedove | A version of Thunderbird, with "free" artwork. |
| Gftp | A program allowing FTP uploads onto a web server. |
| P2P | Description |
| Bittornado | A Linux bittorrent client. |
| Multimedia | Description |
| XMMS | A music and video player. |
| Mplayer | A movie player that supports DVD viewing |
| Gxine | A music and video player. |
| AviDemux | A video editor. |
| Kino | A video editor for DV files. |
| XdvdShrink | This copies DVDs and backs them up onto blank DVDs. |
| StreamTuner | An application that plays music being streamed online. |
| Audacity | A sound recorder and editor. |
| Brasero | A tool for burning CDs and DVDs, including image file (.iso) file support. |
| FFMpeg | A video and audio convertor. |
| GtkPod | Transfers and organizes music and videos on your iPod. |
| JackControl | A sound server. |
| Grip | A program designed to rip files from a CD and play them. |
| Gstreamer | A framework allowing creation of multimedia applications. |
| MT-DAAPD | An iTunes-compatible Mp3 server. |
| Emulators | Description |
| Wine | An application allowing you to run Windows applications on Linux. |
| Others | Description |
| Automount | Mounts your hardware and places items as links on the desktop. |
| Cool & Quiet | A power monitor. |
| Samba-Server | A implementation of Windows network protocols on Linux. |
| NTFS-3G | Allows reading and writing on NTFS partitions (Windows XP default). |
| Conky | A lightweight system monitor. |
| XfApplets | Allows you to use GNOME applets in Xfce. |
| Internet Sharing Wizard | An application designed to facilitate easy sharing of files over the internet / a network. |
| Ndiswrapper | A program that allows your Windows wireless drivers to work in Linux. |
| Upgrade Wizard | Designed by the Dreamlinux team to offer safer upgrading of systems. |
| Bulk Renamer | Allows renaming of multiple files. |
| Suspend2 (Hibernate) | This application saves the current state to the hard disk, and then powers down. When hibernated, the computer uses no power, so it can be left on for a long time without shutting down. The session can then be resumed at the touch of a button. |
Exclusive to Dreamlinux
Dreamlinux also contains software developed by the Dreamlinux creators:
Dreamlinux Installer
Dreamlinux Installer (DLI for short) is an easy to use installer, allowing quick and easy installation of Dreamlinux to your hard disk drive. The installer is one of the simplest available for any operating system, as all settings are chosen in one small dialogue box, without sacrificing your ability to customize your installation. From the installer, graphical and command-line partitioning applications can be launched, and the GRUB installation can be selected as being on the MBR, on a partition or not installed at all.
EasyInstall
EasyInstall is a tool that allows you to install applications that are not in the Debian repositories with a single click! The programs included in the latest release are:
- Azureus
- Downtube
- Firefox 2.0.0.4
- Google Desktop
- Google Earth
- LastFM
- Nvu
- Opera
- Picasa
- Skype
Mkdistro
Mkdistro is a revolution in remastering Linux distributions. 2.2 MMGL Edition came with MkDistro LiveRemaster, allowing you to create your own Linux LiveCD without ever touching the command line. Simply change the LiveCD to suit your needs, then run the remaster program and your ISO file will be created.
Engage administration tools
Engage Admin lets you easily manage the Engage dock. You can change its behaviour; for example, by making the icons bounce, or changing its transparency level. The Engage Icon Creator allows you to make Engage's .eap files, allowing you to add any application to the dock.
Xfce Menu Item Creator
Sometimes, when you install a new application, especially when compiling from source, it doesn't have an icon on the menu. This application creates the icons for you - all you need is an icon and the command to run the app.
Dreamlinux Control Panel
The Dreamlinux Control Panel (abbreviated to DCP) unifies all your settings into one, easy-to-manage, place. Here, you can change everything from keyboard settings and monitor resolution to your desktop theme and internet connection.
Wireless Drivers
If Dreamlinux doesn't detect your wireless card (which is unlikely, as DL uses Kanotix's hardware detection system, which detects almost all hardware), normally most distributions recommend ndiswrapper - a tool that lets you use your Windows wireless drivers on your Linux system. It involves using the command line to install drivers, but Dreamlinux makes this a much simpler task. With a graphical frontend to ndiswrapper, you just have to click "Browse" and find your .inf file and the driver will be installed.
Network Admin
The "Network Admin" lets you set up your internet connection for both wired and wireless connections. Here, you enter your (E)SSID name. The application includes WEP/WPA support, so you can keep your network secure.
Thousands of other packages
If the above applications aren't enough, literally thousands of others can be downloaded to your hard disk from the Debian repositories using apt-get or its graphical frontend, Synaptic.
Where can I download Dreamlinux?
Dreamlinux can be downoaded in either English or Portugese by clicking here. For instructions on downloading the file and burning it to a CD, visit the 2.2 Multimedia GL Edition Manual.