[rio] Plan 9 is not UNIX : unixporn

[-] bubstance@lemmy.sdf.org 17 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

machine: ThinkPad T420
os: ⑨front
- auth+cpu+file on encrypted cwfs
wm: rio + riow
programs:
- aux/statusmsg
- bar
- clock
- faces
- stats
- zuke
wallpaper

For those interested in learning more about Plan 9 and trying it out in a public environment: SDF Public Access UNIX System is hosting their seasonal Plan 9 Boot Camp starting June 20th. Feel free to drop into com and say hello!

[-] pastermil@sh.itjust.works 13 points 4 months ago

You're running Plan9 on real hardware???

How's it faring?

[-] bubstance@lemmy.sdf.org 15 points 4 months ago

But of course! Real hardware or bust.

This particular machine has been my daily driver for months now, so I would say it is faring quite well.

[-] zcd@lemmy.ca 5 points 4 months ago

Do you browse on this?

[-] bubstance@lemmy.sdf.org 8 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Indeed.

9front comes with two browsers out of the box: abaco and mothra. There is also a port of NetSurf as well as both gopher and gemini browsers.

[-] pastermil@sh.itjust.works 5 points 4 months ago

Nice! I think I'm gonna follow that footstep.

[-] aida@lemm.ee 5 points 4 months ago

something you can't do or any inconvenience on this system?

[-] bubstance@lemmy.sdf.org 8 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Oh sure, lots of things are "inconvenient" on Plan 9.

Of note for most would-be users: if you rely on a modern web browser like Firefox/Chrome, forget about it. Never going to happen.

It's important to remember that Plan 9 is fundamentally a research operating system; it's not really a "typical" environment by any stretch, and that stems largely from it being entirely network-based and distributed. A single Plan 9 system in isolation can only be so interesting. Using it on a laptop like this can be an entirely different set of problems.

If you'd like some examples of things you may face:

booting can be slow
can be intimidating to set up for some of the more important features – factotum(4) and secstore(1), new users and directories under /, etc.
cwfs is slow
hjfs is really slow
no multi-monitor support
only recently did we get a filesystem that specifically aims to be crash-safe
poor documentation, though it's been getting better
reading research papers is basically a requirement for understanding the system
security is not a priority

For me, though? I genuinely don't need much more than what's available in the base system.

[-] pastermil@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 months ago

Got all the device driver support?

[-] bubstance@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

On this machine I have everything except for Bluetooth and the fingerprint reader, neither of which I ever use anyway.

[-] barsquid@lemmy.world 5 points 4 months ago

Is this for business or personal? Both? Other? I'm wondering about differences in daily interactions when running Plan 9.

[-] bubstance@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 4 months ago

All? I just use it like any other computer, honestly.

Are there any specific questions you have? I can try my best to explain.

[-] Waffelson@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago

What's the most modern web browser you can run?

[-] bubstance@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 4 months ago

That would be the port of NetSurf.

[-] zcd@lemmy.ca 10 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

This is the sexiest plan 9 shot I've seen, insanely cool OS

[-] Sarcasmo220@lemmy.ml 8 points 4 months ago

What is the date and faces thing measuring? lol

[-] bubstance@lemmy.sdf.org 12 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

It's an email indicator. See faces(1) for details.

[-] seatwiggy@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 4 months ago

PNINU? That acronym will never fly

[-] bubstance@lemmy.sdf.org 6 points 4 months ago

Perhaps just PNU?

[-] seatwiggy@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 4 months ago

Of course. I forgot to leave out the short words

[-] GolfNovemberUniform@lemmy.ml 7 points 4 months ago

The wallpaper is awesome. And everything else looks quite unique, pretty and usable

[+] velox_vulnus@lemmy.ml 6 points 4 months ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

[deleted]

[-] bubstance@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

It uses /dev/draw.

See draw(3) and rio(4) for details.

[-] HovringSquidworld97A@beehaw.org 5 points 4 months ago

Wild to see a Plan9 distro. What do you use it for? Hobby projects, distro surfing, etc?

[-] bubstance@lemmy.sdf.org 6 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

I use it for all of my day-to-day computing tasks. Writing, email, browsing, programming, drawing, games... the works.

Anything I can't do directly in 9 is covered by a combination of ssh(1), vt(1), and vnc(1) — with just a touch of vmx(1) if I'm feeling dangerous.

[-] Presi300@lemmy.world 5 points 4 months ago

What is Plan9? Is is an OS... or a kernel... or a set of utilities? I've been sorta interested in it in the past, but have no idea where to start.

[-] bubstance@lemmy.sdf.org 11 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Plan 9 is a research operating system developed by Bell Labs as a successor to UNIX.

I would suggest starting somewhere like here to get an idea of what it's about, as well as checking out this video from one of 9front's core contributors.

[-] PipedLinkBot@feddit.rocks 4 points 4 months ago

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[-] billgamesh@lemmy.ml 5 points 4 months ago

rio’s color scheme may be modified by editing the .c configuration files and re-compiling:

Note: Someone will mock you for doing this.

What's wrong with the pretty gray background?

[-] bubstance@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 4 months ago

Nothing at all.

It's purely for my own needs — what worked for Rob Pike's eyes in the '90s doesn't really work for mine when it comes to actually using it every day, so I figured I'd have fun with it while I was changing the colors for the various programs.

[-] gwilikers@lemmy.ml 2 points 4 months ago

Ah, I didn't know Pike or Thompson were involved with Plan 9 . Does anyome here know why they used the Ed Wood movie for the name?

[-] bubstance@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

I think it really is as simple as our dorks from the Labs liking Ed Wood.

Same reason the mascot is named Glenda.

[-] PaX@hexbear.net 5 points 4 months ago

sicko-mega Plan 9 posting

[-] Steamymoomilk@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 months ago

Thats super freaking cool!!! I didnt know what plan 9 was until i read the comments and then went to wikipedia and mannn its super epic. Like in 2015 theres videos of a guy porting plan 9 on a raspberry pi!!

[-] bubstance@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 4 months ago

I have an RPi4 and a 0W that run 9front as diskless terminals thanks to that effort. It works really well!

Richard Miller is one of the OGs; he did the first port of UNIX, and if you look into Plan 9 more you'll see exactly how much of a connection to history it really is.

[+] moonsnotreal@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 4 months ago

[deleted]

[-] bubstance@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Very much and very actively.

There are new commits every week and the latest release was April 28th.

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