The Debian Pre-Seed Project Release 0.1

  Summary: This is the initlal announce ment for the Debian Leeny Pre-seed Project which sets up desktops for Gnome, KDE, XFCE, and LXDE complete with extra repositories, codecs, and plugins.

What is a Pre-seed File?

A pre-seed file is simply a file which gives answers to the questions offered by the Debian installer. It also offers the ability to add additional repositories, install additional packages, and run post-install commands.

That means we can use a pre-seed file and a net install iso to create the perfect Debian desktop.

Because the .iso is only 7MB and does a network install, you will need a broadband connection which is unmetered. The system has been tested on a couple of pieces of hardware and in a VM, but I could use a lot more help testing and making recommendations about missing functionality.

The install is completely destructive, using the entire disk with LVM and a separate /home partition. Beware!!!


Edit: There were some errors created when I cleaned up the pre-seed files. After a couple of tests, I think I've got them all.

Gnome Desktop

The Gnome desktop installs a standard Debian Gnome desktop, including:

• Evolution (PIM)
• Epiphany (browser)
• Totem (Movie player)
  
• Rhythmbox (Music manager)
  
• GThumb (Photo manager)
  
• Serpentine (CD ripper)
  
• Synaptic (Package manager)
  
• Tomboy (Notes)
  
• Deskbar (Search applet)
  
• Liferea (Feed reader)
  
• Ekiga (SIP client)
  
• Cheese (Webcam viewer)
  
• Games
• Gnome Office
• Too much other stuff to list.

To this, I've added the Debian Multimedia repository and installed the following:

• Really Bad codecs
• Flash
• Sun Java
• w32codecs
• Non-free archive formats
• Iceweasel

Test it and see if it works for you. If you have any suggestion, please let me know.

KDE Desktop

The KDE desktop installs a normal Debian KDE 3.5 desktop, including:

• Networking
• Graphics
• PIM
• Games
• Educational
• Toys
• Web development stuff
• and much more

To this base, I've added OpenOffice.org, Flash, Java, codecs, and more. I don't use KDE, so let me know if it's missing something important.

XFCE

The XFCE desktop installs a normal Debian XFCE4.4 desktop, including:

• Orage (Calendar)
  
• Thunar (File manager)
  
• Panel
• Themes
• and more.

To this, I've added

• XFMedia, (Movie player)
• Quod Libet and plugins (Music player)
• Codecs
• Flash
• Java
• Kazehakase (Light browser)
  
• Iceweasel (Full browser)
  
• Non-free archives

I don't use XFCE much, so let me know if there's a problem.

LXDE

LXDE is a new light-weight desktop based on the  Openbox WM and PCManFM file manager. LXDE desktop installs the lxde package, which includes these plus Leafpad, GPicview, and XArchiver.
In addition, I've installed:

• Kazehakase (Light browser)
  
• Iceweasel (Full browser)
  
• MPlayer (Movie player)
  
• Audacious and plugins (Music player)
• Pidgin (IM)
  
• Flash
• Java
• Codecs
• Non-free archives
  

Let me know about missing fuctionality, but remember that this is a light-weight desktop.

Download and Try It Now!

Dowload the preseed.iso file.