GNOME and Red Hat Linux eleven years ago (2009)

#1

Post by marcodiego » Sun, Jun 15, 2025, 4:08 PM UTC

GNOME and Red Hat Linux eleven years ago (2009)
linuxgazette.net

Re: GNOME and Red Hat Linux eleven years ago (2009)

#2

Post by 2OEH8eoCRo0 » Sun, Jun 15, 2025, 5:00 PM UTC

Red Hat Linux on the family PC in the 90's changed the course of my life.

Re: GNOME and Red Hat Linux eleven years ago (2009)

#3

Post by eadmund » Sun, Jun 15, 2025, 5:00 PM UTC

That brings back memories! As does running the desktop from one’s .xinitrc:

    panel &
    background-properties --init &
    keyboard-properties --init &
    mouse-properties --init &
    fvwm2 -f .fvwm2rc.gnome

Honestly, I think that there was a lot to love about that straightforward, discoverable way of doing things.

Re: GNOME and Red Hat Linux eleven years ago (2009)

#4

Post by cyberge99 » Sun, Jun 15, 2025, 5:16 PM UTC

I love those old project codenames. They were all connected to each other, but different. Manthattan -> Apollo (both were “Projects”). Apollo to Hedwig (both were characters), etc.

Re: GNOME and Red Hat Linux eleven years ago (2009)

#5

Post by mattl » Sun, Jun 15, 2025, 5:21 PM UTC

2OEH8eoCRo0 wrote: post #2

Red Hat Linux on the family PC in the 90's changed the course of my life.

Same. Finally had my own computer that could run a modern OS. I used to read manuals back then.

Re: GNOME and Red Hat Linux eleven years ago (2009)

#6

Post by floren » Sun, Jun 15, 2025, 5:26 PM UTC

eadmund wrote: post #3

That brings back memories! As does running the desktop from one’s .xinitrc: panel & background-properties --init & keyboard-properties --init & mouse-properties --init & fvwm2 -f .fvwm2rc.gnome Honestly, I think that there was a lot to love about that straightforward, discoverable way of doing things.

I do it this way even today, although I don't mess with gnome bits, just stumpwm and xmodmap, xbindkeys, etc

Re: GNOME and Red Hat Linux eleven years ago (2009)

#7

Post by pyman » Sun, Jun 15, 2025, 5:28 PM UTC

This belongs in a museum!

Re: GNOME and Red Hat Linux eleven years ago (2009)

#8

Post by pipeline_peak » Sun, Jun 15, 2025, 5:37 PM UTC

Why does this Gnome beta preview have TWM windowing? Was the Gnome kind not available yet?

Re: GNOME and Red Hat Linux eleven years ago (2009)

#9

Post by anonzzzies » Sun, Jun 15, 2025, 5:37 PM UTC

eadmund wrote: post #3

That brings back memories! As does running the desktop from one’s .xinitrc: panel & background-properties --init & keyboard-properties --init & mouse-properties --init & fvwm2 -f .fvwm2rc.gnome Honestly, I think that there was a lot to love about that straightforward, discoverable way of doing things.

I still do this. And no systemd. I like simple things that I understand and can do from first principles.

Re: GNOME and Red Hat Linux eleven years ago (2009)

#10

Post by liendolucas » Sun, Jun 15, 2025, 5:38 PM UTC

I remember this era. It was Slackware, Caldera, TurboLinux, Mandrake and lots of hours with `./configure; make && make install` executions, reading Linux magazines and big fat books on getting it up and running (losing "precious" data in the process as well). Seeing scary fsck messages when booting up a PC that wasn't properly shutdown. I also remember that there was WinLinux 2000 for those who where scared having a real linux installed. I can't recall the real reason nor how I heard about Linux at the time, but I'm immensely grateful that I did and with time switched permanently to the open source side.