Hi,
I'm working on a POSish application with dedicated Linux PCs that will be running a single Python application. This application will display a GUI screen which will get input from a bar code reader and on screen (touch) entry. I need help in determining which Distro I should be using. Here's what I need:
1. Auto application start ability. It must be able to start the application on boot. No login screens and will start the application without any user interaction.
2. Application must have full screen access. No menus, log out, autohiding tool bars, etc.
3. Can run Python3, simple audio (status sounds), and doesn't need HD graphics (monitor is 800x600).
4. Can run a VNC server so I can remotely access the screen if/when support issues occur.

Applications I will be running: SSH, Samba, NTP client, Python3 w/GTK+3, x11vnc (feel free to suggest other options)

I've already ruled out Ubuntu w/its default desktop. Can anyone suggest a suitable distro?

TIA

For a business application, you need a business-class distro like CentOS or Debian Stable, but these are still running Python 2. In fact, Python 3 still seems to be confined to bleeding-edge distros. If you want a high level of stability but must have Python 3, the answer may be a BSD distro.

you can install py3 on cent

it is just that you CAN NOT!!! replace python2

but a side by side with the two is no problem

1 members found this post helpful.

I'm trying Centos but cannot get a clean screen for my POS application. I've been trying Gnome. Getting rid of the workplace bar alone is turning into an exercise in frustration. Is there another desktop I should be using? I'm still at the OS config stage (haven't looked into installing Python3).

i am assuming that in this case POS stands for "Point Of Sale " and not the other ...

what do you mean by "clean screen"
no desktop GUI ?

if so start in init3 (or multiuser.target )

this is text only terminal

Clean screen as no menus, tool bars, etc.

I've had some success. I used a kiosk script for Centos that gave me just what I was looking for. However I'm having issues with vnc. I installed tigervnc and it works, but only to start a remote session. I haven't been able to get it to connect to the current console session. The kiosk script set it up to use the matchbox window manager. This gives a screen without the menus/etc (clean screen) but I'm wondering if that isn't the VNC issue.

If your application is an X application just run it on Xorg, do not start any window managers or desktop environments.

The application will be a python script so I don't think it'll work without a window manager (not sure about this).

Come on, I have MythTV frontend set up like this. User mythtv has CLI autologin, X is autostarted upon login, mythfrontend application is run directly on X without any WM's. Result: when powered up it boots straight into MythTV screen, it is not windowed (no WM/DE) and it does not have to!

How does this resolve the tigervnc issue? Are you running this on Centos?

You could do a minimal Funtoo install. I think it comes with Python 2 already included.

VNC I do not know, when I need to run X apps remotely I just use the built-in feature of X to run in one host and display on another. No, I do not use CentOS. I'd use Debian if I was in your shoes, minimal Debian install with only required software installed. Like Xorg installed but no WM or DE.

Yes, Gentoo/Funtoo would be very clean solution, as these distros make it possible to install only needed software while it will be custom tailored for your hardware. Python-2.7 is part of system for Gentoo/Funtoo.

Turns out tigervnc was a dead end, at least I wasn't able to get it to work the way I wanted. Went back to x11vnc and it is now working. My OS setup is done. Now time to delve deeper into writing my Python 3 script.