GoboLinux
| Distribution of Linux | |
 | |
| Architecture | x86_64 |
|---|---|
| Release type | Fixed |
| Initial version | GoboLinux 001 (2003) |
| Latest version | GoboLinux 017 (2020-05-24) |
| User interface | Awesome WM |
GoboLinux[1] is a Linux distribution whose purpose is to reorganize the file structure so that it is more practical to use, allowing programs to have their libraries with specific versions independently of the rest of the system, allowing multiple versions of the same program to be installed on the same system. In addition, the default organization of the files is completely different from the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard used by Linux and other UNIX systems.[2] However, the standard directories in the Linux hierarchy continue to exist for compatibility reasons, although they are hidden by default.
The Live DVD ISO image contains a basic set of applications, including a terminal emulator, Mozilla Firefox web browser, Vim text editor, Audacious audio player, and GParted partition editor. The ISO does not support UEFI (although the operating system does), so the virtual machine or computer will need to support Legacy/BIOS mode.[3]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
Boot menu
Terminal
Demo
Demo with legacy directory
Compatibility[edit | edit source]
Programs can have their directory trees separated by versions:
Generic example: /Programs/<program_name>/<version>/bin
Practical example: /Programs/LibreOffice Writer/3.4.0/bin
Applications compiled in GoboLinux generally require few patches to adapt to the file structure adopted by GoboLinux, since, to support legacy applications, the system still uses the standard Linux directory tree in its structure, although visually hidden from the user with GoboHide,[4] which is linked to the respective standard GoboLinux directories.
Unlike traditional Linux distributions, where programs are located in directories such as /bin, /usr/bin and /usr/local/bin, the GoboLinux system uses its own directory tree visible to the user. Traditional directories /bin, /dev, /proc, /usr are still accessible, but are hidden by default and kept for compatibility reasons.
Structure[edit | edit source]
Programs are located in the /Programs folder, and within this folder are their respective versions, libraries, variables and configuration files. There is no direct equivalent to a Linux directory, but it would be similar to /usr/bin.
/Users: The system's Users directory (/home in Linux).
/System: Contains important system files.
/System/Index: Contains symbolic links to components and libraries of installed programs.
/System/Index/bin: symbolic links to the respective /bin directory of each program installed in /Programs.
/System/Index/include: symbolic links to the /include directory of each program.
/System/Index/lib: symbolic links to the /lib directory of each program.
/System/Index/share: symbolic links to the /share directory of each program.
/System/Environment: Links to environment variables (/var in Linux).
/System/Tasks: Links to each program's boot tasks.
/System/Settings: Links to each program's /Settings directory.
/System/Kernel: Files and directories related to the Linux kernel, including modules.
/System/Aliens: Files managed by the package manager.
/Data: Directory that stores files commonly used in several applications in a shared way, such as fonts, icons, codecs and plugins.
/Mount: directory where hard drives, storage units and images are mounted (/mnt in Linux).