Hi everyone! I'm experimenting with a project and could really use some advice on setting up a Kiosk-style Linux system. I'm aiming to create a bootable USB version of Linux that serves more as a simple app launcher rather than a full desktop environment. Here's my vision:
- Upon booting, users should see a straightforward list of applications, which would be read from a plain text file with each app listed by command names.
- Each app should open in full screen.
- I want a terminal to always be present at the bottom, which can't be removed.
- After finishing with an app, users should return to the launcher easily, and I plan to create a feature where holding the Super key for about 4 seconds will close the app, preventing accidental quits.
- My goal is to achieve all of this with minimal complexity, primarily using scripts and basic Linux tools, ideally with a focus on Ubuntu.
Any guidance on how to approach this would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
For a kiosk setup, using a customized window manager is a great option. You could even whip something up using Python! I did something similar with Tcl and the Whim WM over a decade ago—kiosks can work beautifully with a bit of customization. If you're interested, here’s a guide on how to build your own window manager: [Build Your Own Window Manager](https://monroeclinton.com/build-your-own-window-manager/).
You might want to set up an auto-login session that runs a Bash or Zenity script to handle the app launcher. Here’s a helpful link that walks through creating a custom Linux app menu using Zenity: [Check it out here](https://www.tomshardware.com/software/linux/how-to-create-a-custom-linux-app-menu-zenity-makes-it-easy). It's a straightforward approach!
Could you share more details on how you configured your setup?