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Chakra GNU/Linux 2012.02 Archimedes review

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Chakra is a desktop-centric, Linux distribution that was derived from Arch Linux, but is now a fork of that distribution. Unlike Arch Linux, which supports several desktop environments, Chakra is a KDE-only distribution.

The latest edition, Chakra 2012.02, code-named Archimedes, was released on February 12. Since there is very little difference, other than changes in software and kernel versions, between this latest release and Edn, the previous release, this article offers a summary review only. You may read the previous review here.

Tribe, Chakra’s graphical installation program, received one minor update in this release. That change pertains to the boot loader used. In previous releases, Chakra used BURG as the boot loader. For this release, the switch was made to GRUB 2, the boot loader that almost all Linux distribution use. So at the boot loader configuration step in the installation process (see screen shot below), you will see a reference to GRUB, instead of BURG. For those new to this, BURG (GRUB spelled backwards) is derived from GRUB.
Chakra Linux Tribe Bootloader GRUB

A default setting of Tribe that I think should be changed, is autologin. Though a convenience feature, autologin is generally bad for the physical security profile of your computer. There are situations when it is acceptable to enable it, but certainly not by default for every new installation. So for every new installation of Chakra that I perform, I always disable autologin at the step of the installation process shown below.
Chakra Linux Tribe Create User Autologin

Ronak is the name of this release’s default theme, and I do not find it to be particularly visually appealing. I know that this is a minor issue, or not even an issue at all, but we need to be able to pick better themes and wallpapers than this, especially when much better ones are available. Like everything else, you can always change the login screen’s theme if the default does not appeal to you. You can see a screen shot of a modified login screen at the end of this article.
Chakra Linux Archimedes Login Screen

Chakra’s desktop is powered by KDE 4.8, the latest stable release of the K Desktop Environment. The default desktop is shown in the screen shot below. The Kickoff menu, which is the default on Chakra, has been tweaked to make it less onerous to use, but I still think the tweak has not done enough. The search feature is its only saving grace.
Chakra Linux Archimedes Desktop Kickoff

Given that I am not a fan of the Kickoff menu, the first thing I always do on any installation of Chakra, even on test systems, is to install the Takeoff Launcher, then configure it as much as I want. I like beautiful graphics, and I especially like the fact that Takeoff Launcher can be made to look as good as you want it to. Its only major shortcoming is that it has no search feature, but with KRunner, you do not really need an integrated search feature, though it would be a lot better if a KRunner-type feature is built-in. So this is how my Chakra Linux desktop looks like, both in the Virtualbox installation and the real hardware installation.

By the way, KRunner is the search feature you see peeking out from the top of the desktop in this image. It provides the same functionality as AppMenu-Qt, and it is integrated into KDE by default. To activate it, hold down the Alt key, then press the F2 key. It is really cool.
Chakra Linux Archimedes Desktop Takeoff Launcher

One of the most perplexing things about some desktop distributions, is the refusal of their developers to make the most basic service that virtually all users will at some point use, to just work out of the box. Take printing, for example. On other distributions that use the K Desktop Environment, like Sabayon, Pardus and Linux Mint KDE, any connected printer with a compatible entry in the printer database is automatically configured. Not on Chakra Linux.

Though the cups package is installed, cups, the printing daemon, is not even running. So, if you are new to how Chakra works, you first have to figure out how to enable cups. Not a difficult process, by the way, but you have to go read the wiki. After cups is running, printer configuration is not even automatic: You have to add the printer manually. Compare that to the way the other distributions I mentioned above handle printer configuration. Other aspects being equal, which would you rather use?

There were more than 100,000 downloads of Edn, the previous release of Chakra. Assume about the same number for Archimedes. Now imagine half of those users trying to figure out how to configure a printer. That is time that could have been spent getting other stuff done – if one person, one developer, had taken just a few minutes to set up a very basic service, so that it just works – out of the box. And this is 2012, not 1990s and early 2000s when getting most hardware to work in Linux meant messing with a configuration file.

AppSet-Qt, Chakra’s graphical package manager, works quite well. At the time of publishing this review, only six updates (shown in the image below) have been released. Updating and package installation is a breeze.
Chakra Archimedes Update Manager

An adjustment you might have to make to the package manager, is the updates checking interval. By default, the system is configured to check for updates every hour. Most distributions go for once per day, but this is a matter of choice.
Chakra Archimedes Update Interval

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Steve Nordquist
Steve Nordquist
12 years ago

Nice, nice site; indices to rival Cnet on the RHS; no bylines or colophon about permalinks, though? Are you hoping various interest groups will claim credit, landing citations for Santorum For President, Hamas (Patent Division,) KMFDM, and Georgian (EU) Sovereignty 2044?

I also don’t feel compelled to click on the unlabeled flash bugs (or whatever they are) at the bottom of the page to run them, since there were already ads up top (on this rare, ScriptNo-less occasion.)

Michael O
Michael O
12 years ago

Chakra linux needs to be easily installed like Ubuntu or Mageia.
Something Simple, like the partition of the hard disk with options like: 1) Use existing partitions, 2) Erase and use entire disk 3) Custum disk patitioning.
Sometimes, People don’t have a lot of time to be wasted trying to figure out how to install Chakra on their PCs. In my case, I prefer to spend my time custumizing my KDE desktop y installing the programs that I need to work, like Rkward or R statistical packages.
Regards,
Michael

Luca
Luca
12 years ago

It’s now possible, during the installation process, to select the partition in which install the boot loader, instead of the MBR?

Michael
Michael
Reply to  Luca
12 years ago

Thanks Luca,
But, I was saying about the Partition Disc Tool,not about the Boot Loader. I would like to see in Chakra something simple like the Partition disk tool as in Mageia or Ubuntu. So, you don’t need to resize your hard disk because you choose 1) installs along side Windows for dual booting, 2) uses the entire disk or 3)Custums disk patitioning for advanced users and Mageia or Ubuntu make it for you, except the Custum partition which is targeted for advanced users.
Regards,
Michael

kaddy
kaddy
12 years ago

Oh… you forgot to mention how Chakra has Removed all GTK applications from the repos… but I guess that isn’t significant enough to mention in a review?

vasu
vasu
Reply to  kaddy
12 years ago

Not correct – the gtk and gtkmm libraries are in the official repository and even installed by default. What are NOT in the (official) repos are gnome dependant apps such as firefox and chrome. Strangely, bonobo is also in the repo so with just a couple of more “gnome” libs, they could have a minimal gnome platform enabled.

I usually delete all gnome libs that I can but leave just enough to allow chrome/firefox to be installed. I am looking to rid of firefox as all KDE/QT browsers based on webkit are already outperforming firefox on all counts except flash support- firefox always works better with flash but with 11.2 beta, I think that gap has narrowed.

The only GTK app I will hae now is chrome and since chrome is being re-written to not depend on GTK, we will wait and see.

I have no problem with GTK but over the years, gnome co-opted GTK and made it more intertwined with a lot of gnome libs.

vasu
vasu
Reply to  vasu
12 years ago

I meant on opensuse, which is my “normal” O/S. I use opensuse at work and at home.

kaddy
kaddy
Reply to  vasu
12 years ago

Not correct? I never said anything about gtk and gtkmm libs… I said “GTK APPS” or on other words like you stated… “apps dependent on gtk”

As for the rest of the ramblings you mention… i’m glad you have your own likes/dislikes and opinions of what works best for you…. But maybe you should include the Gtk application issue in your review since it is the most significant restraint on users who may want a complete out of the box user friendly distribution but may not be aware of this limitation until they waste time installing chakra not knowing what they are getting… Not everbody reads over the wiki before installing a distro… alot rely on word of mouth and reviews like this… Alot of people would appreciate a complete unbiased review of the good and the bad… the gtk issue should be one of the first things to mention so that people know what it’s all about

kaddy

Simion
12 years ago

If you do not like the KISS model please use other distro,the thing grat about KISS is that the user is inh control, if i want to run a daemon I must start it or add it in rc.conf, in this way I do not have a lot of useless daemons starting at boot(maye I do not use a printer,or NFS or bluethouth).

Conclusion is that Arch/Chackra is not for you and they do not target newbies or people that do not have the time to set it up. You must search other distribution that will work better for you.

alex
alex
Reply to  Simion
12 years ago

wrong…. the chakra website cleary states it’s intention to be “user friendly” where as archlinux does not have this aim… get your facts straight

Feeman Ng
Feeman Ng
12 years ago

I think you mean “Chakra Linux.” GNU only refers to the compiler and toolchain. The operating system itself is Linux.

Phil MIller
12 years ago

Here is a nice video about Take-Off Launcher:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X4k7bsURbE

Arup
Arup
12 years ago

After the withdrawal of support from Canonical for Kubutnu, Chakra looks to be an excellent alternative. However few things need work, notably the daemons, apart from printing, SAMBA setup needs to be simplified right on the lines of Kubuntu where its just right click on any folder and enable, nothing more to do. The dev team at the forum is extremely receptive and helpful so I am sure in few more releases, this would be the best KDE distro out there.

abveritas
abveritas
Reply to  finid
12 years ago

At Chakra we feel we do the users a greater disservice by not letting them understand what a system is about. No, not requiring them to build and do everything from scratch, but decide what to run and why, learning how to activate and set certain things to their liking.
Of course you are correct that there are many users who have zero interest in this, and for those there are many other options, as you pointed out. That does not mean, there is no great demand for an OS who does things differently. Not talking Chakra here, it is still a very small distro. But look at the most used distro’s, Debian & Arch absolutely do not set up for point and click use, and those are among the most used distro’s…..

Caldazar
Caldazar
Reply to  finid
12 years ago

There are other thinkable quality characteristics of an OS aside from “out of the box” and “GUI type ease of use”.

Why is anything not falling into these two Jane-Joe-Apple categories always pictured as tinkering for the sake of it, an unnecessary PITA?

What about *ease of learning* the workings of my OS, making things clear?
This, of course, includes getting the more arcane stuff with a bad “learn-effect-effort-ratio” out of my way.
It’s a case to case decision and I use Chakra because of its good compromise: Making me learn important skills without stealing my time.

Caldazar
Caldazar
Reply to  finid
12 years ago

What is with them? Are they incapable of anything that does not include a button and a red/green-light switch to indicate the concept of activating something?
Are they too dumb to add a simple name to a list or opening a text file instead of a GUI?
Is the concept of installing a program beyond them, so that I have to remove tons of pre-installed stuff instead?

Why are those poor souls always told that “mkdir foo bar” is somehow rocket-science compared to a dozen mouse-clicks?

Of course there are things which easier in Chakra. I just don’t think the solution is a broad concept of “fitting-all-out-of-the-box” but, as said, an array of wise case-by-case decisions.

Arup
Arup
Reply to  finid
12 years ago

I want Chakra to be replacement for Kubuntu, with its semi rolling release model, it promises to be even better than the LTS version. All they need to do is add the user friendly components like printer and samba right out of the box and they are set to be the best. Also we need torrents for download, not just direct sourceforge download. The CCR system is superb and so is the package manager, however during dist upgrade, package manager usually fails and Konsole has to be evoked, this would again scare many who are used to GUI, something on lines of update manager needs to be implemented as well.

Arup
Arup
Reply to  finid
12 years ago

For an OS to get acceptance with general public, it needs to be easy with option to get your hands dirty for the purists, this is what Kubuntu did, now Chakra can do the same.

Eddie
Eddie
Reply to  Arup
12 years ago

I’m not quite sure why you think that Kubuntu will be losing support from Canonical. Chakra may be another KDE option but you will not get any more support from them then from Canonical. The ONLY thing that will change in the Kubuntu camp is that the ONE PAID developer will be working on what he was doing in his spare time. Kubuntu will still be using Canonical’s infrastructure which makes it the same as the other variants in the Ubuntu world. It’s doubtful that this change in the financial support of the one paid developer will ever be noticed. These are the facts in matter and where people are getting the ideal that Kubuntu is being abandoned by Canonical is beyond me.
By the way, nice review.

abveritas
abveritas
12 years ago

One more correction. You state that it is written AppArmor is packaged, but then you underline the one and only sentence were AppArmor is mentioned in this distribution, as you can read the kernel is build with this as one of the MAC hardening options. Since the AppArmor frontend needs GTK2, Chakra has chosen to include tomoyo-tools to handle this.

That things are not activated by default is not a question of a dev not willing to take 2 minutes to activate it (what would another 2 minutes be in the 40-50 hours it takes to get an ISO ready?), but is a choice. Printing for example is not used daily by the majority of the users, why have a service running at all times, that might not be used at all, or for most, not more then once or twice a week?

abveritas
abveritas
Reply to  finid
12 years ago

No, I’m saying that Chakra has chosen to use tomoyo-tools to handle the MAC hardening options. And stating that it is not mentioned anywhere, that AppArmor is inluded in the repo’s.

Phil MIller
Reply to  abveritas
12 years ago

Our kernel has followed settings enabled:

#
# Security options
#
CONFIG_KEYS=y
CONFIG_TRUSTED_KEYS=m
CONFIG_ENCRYPTED_KEYS=m
# CONFIG_KEYS_DEBUG_PROC_KEYS is not set
# CONFIG_SECURITY_DMESG_RESTRICT is not set
CONFIG_SECURITY=y
CONFIG_SECURITYFS=y
CONFIG_SECURITY_NETWORK=y
# CONFIG_SECURITY_NETWORK_XFRM is not set
CONFIG_SECURITY_PATH=y
# CONFIG_INTEL_TXT is not set
# CONFIG_SECURITY_SELINUX is not set
# CONFIG_SECURITY_SMACK is not set
CONFIG_SECURITY_TOMOYO=y
CONFIG_SECURITY_TOMOYO_MAX_ACCEPT_ENTRY=2048
CONFIG_SECURITY_TOMOYO_MAX_AUDIT_LOG=1024
# CONFIG_SECURITY_TOMOYO_OMIT_USERSPACE_LOADER is not set
CONFIG_SECURITY_TOMOYO_POLICY_LOADER=”/sbin/tomoyo-init”
CONFIG_SECURITY_TOMOYO_ACTIVATION_TRIGGER=”/sbin/init”
CONFIG_SECURITY_APPARMOR=y
CONFIG_SECURITY_APPARMOR_BOOTPARAM_VALUE=0
# CONFIG_IMA is not set
# CONFIG_DEFAULT_SECURITY_TOMOYO is not set
# CONFIG_DEFAULT_SECURITY_APPARMOR is not set
CONFIG_DEFAULT_SECURITY_DAC=y
CONFIG_DEFAULT_SECURITY=””
CONFIG_XOR_BLOCKS=m
CONFIG_ASYNC_CORE=m
CONFIG_ASYNC_MEMCPY=m
CONFIG_ASYNC_XOR=m
CONFIG_ASYNC_PQ=m
CONFIG_ASYNC_RAID6_RECOV=m
CONFIG_ASYNC_TX_DISABLE_PQ_VAL_DMA=y
CONFIG_ASYNC_TX_DISABLE_XOR_VAL_DMA=y
CONFIG_CRYPTO=y

If somebody needs apparmor there is always CCR to add it too.

Phil Miller
12 years ago

Thx for this great review. Some corrections you might have missed:

Take-Off: “Its only major shortcoming is that it has no search feature” – this is total wrong. Open Take-Off-Launcher and just type anything. If you type “K3B” only K3B will be displayed if installed. If you type “Browser” all icons with “Browser” in the name will be displayed. Take-Off has a very good search-engine.

rcconf-settings: On release-day rcconf-settings was not compatible to our rc.conf file. That’s why it was disabled in our pkg-list for this release. Will be installed by default on the next revision of Archimedes in 3 weeks.

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