this post was submitted on 10 Jul 2024
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166
Is there a linux distro (or just a DE) that can be used like a Smart TV (programming.dev)
submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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I don't want to use Osmc or LibreELEC. What I'm going for is something like Android TV (tried using LineageOS but that didn't work out for me).

I was interested in something like Plasma Bigscreen but most of the tutorial is about 4 years old and point to using an old image.

I installed the Debian package. After that, I logged in and set Automatic login, and switch the session to Plasma Bigscreen (x11). After applying and a reboot, it launched Plasma Bigscreen but some widgets (like the audio, KDE Connect) froze when clicking on them.

What do you recommend? I prefer to use a Raspberry Pi.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 5 months ago (1 children)

It loads the web page in full screen kiosk mode in Chrome.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

You could also always nativefier it and make it like a webapp. I have some sites setup like that on my machine.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Does that offer any advantages over the kiosk mode functionality? Looks like that repo was abandoned in 2023 and marked as archived.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

What repo? Use npm to get nativefier, the one from regular apt etc. are not current, they’re copies of older versions. Dunno why someone did that.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

The GitHub repo of the maintainer shows that the project is archived and dead.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Again of what? Of nativefier?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Yes

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Well it does what it’s supposed to do, so who cares.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

If you look at the repo, the very first line in the readme links to an issue that briefly explains why you should care.

Unmaintained software comes in two categories:

  1. The software is done. It does exactly what it was meant to do and it was written in a language and in such a way as to be pretty future proof. Examples are some basic code libraries or command line utilities.
  2. The software had to be updated all the time to keep up with changing environments and security problems, so the dev got sick of it and dropped it. Or a better solution came along so the developer felt free to finally drop the burden.

Nativefier falls in the second category and the second clause. Don't use it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Ok so, it doesn’t seem to me to be the case. But if you’re indicating a better solution came along, what would that be? I’m fine with nativefier for the two items I made with it. But if there’s something better then please do tell.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Again The issue on the repo. The developers recommend just using the app feature of the browsers to get similar functionality without the security concerns.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

As I said, I’m fine with it until something equally easy and simple becomes available.

Edit: just to clarify, I did look and ask around a lot before having discovered nativefier. There does not seem to be an easy way to get a browser standalone window with no controls, bars, tabs etc. only the window and the min/max/rest control box. If there’s a way to do that then I would like to certainly.