Complex Trisquelizing of Ubuntu
The increasing commercialization of Ubuntu makes me want to Trisquelize. I have 3 machines, with different requirements.
1. I am in the process of Trisquelizing (https://trisquel.info/en/wiki/migrate-ubuntu-trisquel-without-reinstalling) my Acer Aspire one netbook. It contains no crucial ongoing work, so I can experiment. I *think* I spelled the "trisquel mini" EDITION correctly, and I *think* I chose the right FSF MIRROR in the USA (there are two listed at https://trisquel.info/en/wiki/mirroring-trisquel). I got mixed up about VERSION, and I'm in the middle of updating Ubuntu 12.10 Quantal Quetzal to Trisquel Toutatis, which corresponds to Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin. Oops. Dunno what will happen, but that's why I'm starting with the least essential machine.
2. I also have an obsolete desktop running a hobbyist-level LAMP server on ubuntu-server. I'm looking for shared hosting, so I may trash that one without Trisquelizing.
3. The important one: Lenovo ThinkPad T420 laptop, running KXstudio software from a PPA (https://launchpad.net/~kxstudio-team/+archive/ppa) over Ubuntu Studio (http://ubuntustudio.org/) on Xubuntu with the low latency kernel. Low latency and Xfce are important to avoid audio glitches (bad experience with alternatives). This allows me to do live DJ stuff with Mixxx (http://mixxx.org/) to people on 3d Rock Grid (http://3rdrockgrid.com/index.php), which I get at with the Imprudence viewer (http://wiki.kokuaviewer.org/wiki/Main_Page). AND, to get worthwhile graphics performance, I need to run the alternate Nvidia graphics chip, using optirun from the Bumblebee project (https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bumblebee).
So, I'm a bit nervous. When I read up on linux-libre kernel, I notice a real-time version, but not the low-latency one that I'm using now.
So, although I expect I'll have to slog it through mostly on my own (and I'll report the results), any relevant experience/observations will be very welcome.
Mike O'Donnell
I am a member!
You may be able to use one of Debian's kernels (they probably have something) with Trisquel. Debian's also got a free software friendly kernel now (although other parts of Debian aren't FSF complaint).
How about a 100% free GNU/Linux distribution that is especially designed for artists: Musix or dyne:bolic?
Otherwise, you may try to "somehow" take their kernels. Maybe just their .config and you would recompile the Linux-libre kernel by hand (what requires installing 'gcc' and 'make' to read some documentation beforehand).
Ubuntu has a low latency kernel for 12.04 and above at http://packages.ubuntu.com/precise/linux-lowlatency which I suppose can be deblobbed like the main kernel manually if needed. For people who want to take advantage of a lowlatency kernel on a libre OS. Sounds interesting.
I had an earlier post about a future lts-backport kernel being ported over and maybe a lowlatency one can be added to Trisquel's list too for version 6.