eXtern OS
eXtern OS
I focus on building native Node.js applications. I have benchmarks and tests demonstrating multi-window performance and resource consumption. I’m working independently or with minimal support. Your project is likely built for Ubuntu, Debian, Arch, or similar distributions.
It was definitely a small group from my side, though. The initial draft wasn't very strong—it was mainly about testing public reaction. A lot has been improved since then. Also, there was no actual tracking involved; location data came from your public IP for things like weather and timezone. There was quite a reaction when it correctly predicted something once using just the IP. Another point was that the personal assistant ran entirely on the server side, which is standard for most assistants, so you don’t need to install it. I’ve been gradually developing a local version after that overreaction. It all began with the creator of the "worse than Windows 10 spying" video, which I discussed in the comments.
What kind of benchmarks? It's kind of hard to do with something like this. Launch times? That would probably be unfair, I actually optimized it specifically to launch Apps faster recently haha. I actually got a few people. But most of them have been busy for a while so they have barely contributed and the other had a natural disaster that resulted in no reliable network for a while. Elementary OS is free but you can pay for it if I recall correctly. Anyway, currently I plan to make it free, but the App store will have support for paid Apps (with similar implementation to that of Elementary OS where a dev can make it "pay the amount you want" model or fixed) and we would get a cut from that. I would like to point out that its still in development so optimizations etc are still a work in progress whilst adding features. As I pointed out it was only recently I optimized launch times as well. Edit just read your comment again and saw your other examples of "benchmarks". Ok will have it run a lot of Apps later on and see how that goes. I am currently doing exams (2 more) and will look into that
The excitement was intense when it first appeared, that’s how I learned about it. Linux is in need of a polished operating system. That would have been ideal from the start. This is Linux, the instant you begin asking for IP usage for anything, they get really upset. I had no interest in tracking at all, but many just dropped the OS after the warning pop-up. That video was the second one I saw of the OS and even though he admitted not understanding everything, he and others left quickly. First impressions count. To be honest, if you could skip the frosted glass effect, I’d give it a try, but I’ll also have to wait for Beta 2 performance updates.
I get your point. But doesn't literally every website get the IP address anyway? Also if you watch the video, you have a lot of customization of the UI. I take all the feedback though. I knew a lot about the Linux community and changed a lot of things before that release, like default search engine, music player album art and information source etc just so that people would be happy. Didn't realise the public IP was also an issue. I mean now I know, will remove that and just make them have to look through the list for their location instead. Edit: I do agree now that first impressions matter a lot. Problem is it's difficult to figure out how to know if it's worth my time or not without getting some feedback. Maybe I could have just showed a video of it in action and then just asked people to comment that way. But then again, most would have been asking where the download is. I also got a lot of decent feedback from people using it on different hardware that I didn't think of, so at least I gained some info from it. But yeah, you are somewhat right about the first impressions thing.
Privacy stands out as a crucial concern these days. Even if some remain indifferent, I believe building a successful distribution requires prioritizing privacy—avoiding data collection altogether. Open source code is essential; otherwise, you risk blending open source with Windows-style tracking, which could attract criticism and backlash. This approach can be problematic, as Linux isn’t ideal for developers, and each distribution often imposes its own design on desktops. Many users feel this leads to fragmentation within the community.
I recently shared insights on this topic in a thread about running Windows games on Linux. The main issue is that Linux isn’t designed for developers, and each distro tries to impose its own vision. This results in inconsistent solutions and often divides the community further.
As mentioned in the video, many developers are struggling with these limitations. My suggestion is to design an app center where existing and new apps—perhaps built with a similar UI in Node.js—can be easily integrated. Essentially, turn your app center into a hub for apps, allowing users to access both established and free software without paying fees.
I don’t think it’s worth forcing users to commit to specific software or paid stores with ads and tracking. My advice is clear: focus on providing essential tools—calculators, screenshot utilities, weather apps, file managers, etc.—while keeping the app center open for third-party solutions. There are plenty of free alternatives available.
In summary, I recommend postponing profit-driven decisions and instead building a solid foundation.
1. Avoid turning your OS into a tool for profit through invasive data collection.
2. Refrain from creating an App Store that restricts access to free software in favor of paid alternatives.
3. Limit royalty rates on software; reasonable fees should not exceed 10–15% for developers.
This applies regardless of whether it’s Microsoft, Apple, or Google—changes should be made for the wrong reasons. An operating system should serve as a platform for productivity and creativity, not a profit-making machine that undermines user trust and privacy.