I have an older desktop with 8 GB of DDR3 RAM, an Intel J-series processor, and Windows 8. Since Windows 8 is no longer supported, I'm considering installing Linux and using the computer once a week for our scout troop's fundraising work.
We use a Gmail account, Google Sheets, and Google Forms to track weekly sales. I also log into several websites to copy tables and online orders into a particular Google Sheet. I'm interested in reducing the repetitive work, but I'm unsure whether an AI tool such as Google Gemini, a browser automation tool, or a Google Apps Script would be the safest and most practical option.
What Linux distribution and desktop environment would work well on this older hardware? Does Linux handle power management and sleep reliably, or would shutting the computer down after each use be better? Would I need Chrome to use Gemini, or would another browser work? Can Gemini safely automate copying data between websites and Google Sheets, or would it be better to use AI only to help write an Apps Script? I'm also wondering whether Docker or a tool that records mouse clicks would be useful for this kind of weekly task.
4 Answers
Browser automation that clicks around and copies whatever happens to be on screen is fragile. A small change to a website layout, a popup, a login timeout, or a slightly different table can put incorrect data into the spreadsheet without being obvious. If screen interaction is unavoidable, use a dedicated automation tool with explicit steps, limited permissions, and validation checks rather than asking a general AI assistant to operate the session. Keep a backup and require a human review before anything is treated as final.
Docker is probably unnecessary for this project. It helps package and reproduce an application, but it adds another layer to learn and won’t make a simple weekly script more reliable by itself. Start with an Apps Script or a small, well-documented automation. You can move it to another computer later if needed. Also, Gemini is generally accessed through a web browser, so Chrome is not automatically required; a supported browser should work unless a particular feature says otherwise.
You probably don’t need AI to handle the actual data. A spreadsheet or ledger should remain the authoritative record because AI can misread values or invent information. Don’t give an AI service your usernames, passwords, or direct access to financial data. If the websites offer CSV exports, downloads, an API, or a predictable table format, use those instead of screen scraping. Then a Google Apps Script could import, validate, transform, and place the data into the correct sheets. AI can help draft or explain that script, but you should review and test every part of it.
A lightweight current distribution with XFCE or LXQt should run comfortably on that hardware. Those desktop environments have lower system requirements than heavier options, and the normal login screen works the same way: you can create a user account, set a password, and log in graphically. Linux power management is usable, but since the machine only runs once a week, shutting it down completely is simpler and uses less power than leaving it asleep. An unsupported Windows installation is a much bigger security concern than choosing between most mainstream Linux distributions.
That helps. I was mainly wondering whether XFCE or LXQt would still provide a normal login screen and desktop experience, and it sounds like they do.
That makes sense. I’m trying to reduce repetitive work because I’m already handling several volunteer roles, but I agree that AI shouldn’t be trusted with the account credentials or the final numbers.