Linux's '31 Flavors of Fun' Project: 19 Distros and Counting

Fans of Linux may recall the “31 Flavors of Fun” project I wrote about last month through which ambitious developer Todd Robinson planned to “create, and release, a complete desktop operating system each and every day for the period of 31 days” over the course of August.

The goal of the project, as I noted back then, is to “demonstrate the huge advantages of using open source (shared knowledge) solutions in real-world situations,” in the words of the 31 Flavors site.

I couldn't resist checking back this past weekend to see what had been done so far.

I wasn't disappointed. As of this writing on Monday Aug. 20, there are now 19 new Linux distributions listed in the“releases” page on the site, and among them are some pretty compelling examples.

Ready for a quick look? Here are some of the highlights.

Release 03: 'Debian Full House'

Sure to please Debian Linux fans who appreciate having choices, this third release in the series is a live Debian release complete with GNOME 2, KDE 4, LXDE, and Xfce, along with the corresponding desktop apps. Choice is good!

Release 04: 'KDE3 Reborn'

Yes, targeting fans of KDE 3, “this is a remake of the originalKarlie custom release using the same visually stunning red graphics as the original,” reads the site's description. “KDE3 Reborn has been re-made with the newer TDE (Trinity Desktop Environment) version.”

Release 06: 'Child-Proof'

Aimed at kids between three and 10 years old, this distro includes some learning games as well as child-safe browsing.

Release 08: 'Lubuntu Google Kiosk'

“Per request, this is a release featuring a Google Kiosk login where the browser brings all the Google services together while remaining somewhat bullet-proof,” the site explains. “It's ideal for public situations and can run entirely from a CD, and can be optionally installed.” An administrator login is apparently also included.

Release 10: 'Desktop Development Center'

This tenth release in the series is a full desktop operating system complete with an extensive list of office software, the Webmin Control Panel, and a fully functional Web server complete with PHP5 and MySQL integration. “The is the release I would use if I were primarily doing Web development work,” Robinson explains.

Release 12: 'Enlightened Libre'

Last but not least, “this release is something truly special,” the site begins. “A completely Libre release with the Enlightenment Desktop Environment.” Built from Trisquel as a base and using the Trisquel repository, Enlightenment was added along with Libre graphics “to create a visually stunning release.”

Also included so far are releases targeting netbooks and distros aiming to give Linux an “Apple-ish” feel. An “Anticipated Releases” page, meanwhile, can give you a sense of what's still to come.