Linux Distro thats boots to Clutter UI

**mrgts4** · 01-07-2009, 01:27 AM

have been looking around at some of the linux distro for the MID units and liked the Ubuntu Mobile edition but wanted the Clutter ui to use it as the carpc frontend.. does anyone know of any images (live cd's, whatever they are called) that are like this? or can you make this yourself?
i want it to run on a atom processor (x86) with touchscreen ability.

can anyone shed any light on the subject??

thanks
curt

**FunkyStickman** · 01-07-2009, 09:45 AM

The Ubuntu MID image is already compiled for Atom processors, so it would make sense to try that first, it may suit your needs with no modifications.

If not, then your next shot would be to run a regular distro of Ubuntu/whatever and add the Hildon GUI to it and use that.

**natedawgg** · 01-07-2009, 10:11 AM

you should be able to install the hildon desktop and then install clutter on top of that, from there you can launch the clutter desktop. i have been looking for a way to get it to boot straight into the clutter desktop, but i am still to new to linux and don't know all the ins and outs. Please let me know if you figure this out

**mrgts4** · 01-08-2009, 04:20 AM

could you use like puppy linux as a base and build on that?? just because its a small footprint and maybe be good for running off a cf card too. as far as linux goes i know how to use a live cd and thats about it!! lol

**natedawgg** · 01-09-2009, 04:33 PM

ok i figured out how to get the clutter UI to run on boot. i guess there is actually two different ways to get this to work. at the moment i have only tested this on Ubuntu 8.04

first and foremost you should have the basic ubuntu-mobile packages installed. a good guide that i have used and seen great success is found here. in these instructions i chose to ignore the section about rolling back the drivers (not really relevant in most cases)

1. in the normal gnome session. just go to the sessions manager (System -> Preferences -> Sessions) and in the command line just enter desktop-launcher.
this should cause the clutter UI to launch on boot. i dont think this would be the best option however due to the fact that this UI seems somewhat unstable and may not want to be 'stuck' using it.

2.(better option) create a separate session that will boot into the clutter UI. this will give you the option of booting into the Cutter desktop or the typical Gnome desktop. to do this you should have followed the instructions in the link above, including the final command "sudo apt-get install moblin-clutter-home". if you have then follow these commands to get the new clutter desktop setup:

1. create a new desktop file named clutter:
sudo nano /usr/share/xsessions/clutter.desktop

2. enter the following into this new file:
[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=Hildon
Exec=/usr/local/bin/desktop-launcher
Type=Application

3. save the file

4. now copy the clutter script:
sudo cp `which desktop-launcher` /usr/local/bin/desktop-launcher

check and make sure the file copied correctly and then you should be good to go. in your login screen you should be able to select a session named clutter and you should boot into it.

enjoy!

**FunkyStickman** · 01-09-2009, 04:53 PM

I'm almost done getting Ubuntu installed on the CarPC, going to give this a try. Thanks!

**mrgts4** · 01-09-2009, 11:39 PM

cool, i'll have to try this at home tonight. more questions.... could i run this sort of thing off a 2gb compact flash card?? also is there a way on boot to choose from gnome or clutter like you do for different users on windows xp?

**FunkyStickman** · 01-10-2009, 12:17 AM

Well I got Ubuntu-Mobile installed, but the clutter desktop automatically runs a program called "devilspie" that maximizes and removes decoration for all windows... wasn't expecting that. Took me a while to figure out what what causing this, so I may try it again... or I may stick with custom panels in Gnome... haven't decided yet.

But the project is well underway.

**yam125** · 01-15-2009, 01:42 AM

devils pie is actually a part of Ubuntu Mobile itself.

i dont remember how to do it but it is easily killed in the terminal

I am currently using Ubuntu Mobile.

I love the look of the Clutter UI

I also love how it appears in ALL the promotions and stuff for Ubuntu Mobile but is not actually installed and doesn't reappear in the Wiki. Im glad you found it and Im excited to try it out now

**natedawgg** · 01-15-2009, 10:38 AM

yeah let me know how it works out for you guys. i have it installed on my machine but it runs like crap. the screen just flashes to white on and off, and is essentially unusable. it is fine if i boot into the hildon desktop and then launch desktop-launcher from the command line. i don't know of any thing that could be done to fix it. by the way i am running this on a 1.66 mac mini