MORE YOU KNOW

Why BcalcOS

A very brief discussion of the why and the how of BcalcOS.

BcalcOS technical illustration
AS LONG AS THE ARTIC STAYS COLD

We don't live in the artic

It is an unfortunate aspect of our times that while you may not be be interested in the zeitgesit, the zeitgesit is very much interested in you.

01

Reactionary

Enough already

02

Build

You sure about that

03

License

GPL v3

01 / PASS

Reactionary

Neither amusing nor sad but rather incredible.

Software bloat? Feature creep? Embraced.

Privacy rights infringed? Justified.

Hordes of ideological group-think enforcers marauding across the Linux landscape gleefully acting as nosers-out of unorthodoxy ready to crush any dissent to The Message? Celebrated.

The Devuan team does more than their fair share to hold the line. But, there are a few things perhaps better done differently and, of course, no XLibre by default.

So, BcalcOS: systemd free, XLibre, and a minimalist but solid foundation upon which to customize your system your way.

02 / ASSEMBLE

Build

An analogy may be in order.

In the firearm community, it is very common to hear someone speak of building an AR style sporting rifle. That is widely used, widely accepted terminology: building an AR. I've built - and unbuilt as it were - several. But, I've never thought of myself as having built an AR. I didn't forge the barrel, mold the plastic, cut the aluminum, or ground the glass. Instead, I assembled AR sporting rifles from dozens of parts produced by multiple manufacturers. Yes, the resulting firearms are unique. And, yes, they are fit for their intended purpose: basically to punch holes in paper targets at various distances. But, that's not building rifles. I made choices on which parts to put together to form a functioning tool.

Likewise, for BcalcOS. I have assembled the work of multiple other individuals and organizations to create a unique Linux distribution. But, that's not the same as developing a Linux distribution.

Off the cuff contribution percentages for release 1.0:

Devuan
25%
Xfce
12%
XLibre
8%
Various packages & applications
54%
BCalc
1%


1% of the effort, consisting of a few custom scripts and applications, does not a distribution developer make. Later versions will hopefully raise the contribution percentage.

Build Method:
Devuan install → XLibre install → customization → app selection → Refracta ISO production

03 / FREE

License

Open source software.

BcalcOS Linux is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

BcalcOS Linux is released under the GNU General Public License (GPL) Version 3 which can be referenced at https://opensource.org/license/GPL-3.0. Some included packages and applications may have been released under different licenses.

BcalcOS is free to use, modify, or distribute.

Project principles
  • Simpler is usually better.
  • Open process produces better outcomes.
  • Value effort and merit.
  • Treat people as individuals.
Ready to try?

Download BcalcOS.

Give it a spin. Risk free.