Baltix facts for kids
Baltix 3.0 screenshot (GNOME GUI)
|
|
| Company / developer | Open Source for Lithuania / Mantas Kriaučiūnas |
|---|---|
| OS family | Linux |
| Working state | In production / development |
| Source model | Open source |
| Latest stable release | 12.04.1 / 26 October 2012 |
| Kernel type | Monolithic |
| License | Free software licenses (mainly GNU GPL) |
| Official website | baltix.akl.lt |
Baltix GNU/Linux is a special kind of operating system (OS). Think of an OS as the main program that makes your computer work. Baltix is a Linux distribution, which means it's a version of the Linux operating system.
It was created to be easy to use for people in Lithuania and Latvia. It's built using parts from other popular Linux systems like Debian and Ubuntu.
Baltix supports many languages, including Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian, Russian, English, and Norwegian. The main language used in Baltix is Lithuanian.
This OS uses the GNOME desktop environment, which is how your screen looks and how you interact with programs. You can get Baltix as an installable Live CD. This means you can try it out directly from a CD or USB stick without installing it on your computer's hard drive.
The first versions of Baltix GNU/Linux came out in 2003. They were based on other Linux systems like Knoppix and Morphix.
Contents
What Software Comes with Baltix?
Baltix comes with many useful programs that you might not find in other versions of Ubuntu. It's packed with tools for learning, playing, and creating!
Learning and Fun Programs
- Educational software for all ages, like GCompris and TuxPaint.
- Fun games such as Pingus, Chess, and PlanetPenguin Racer.
Creative and Design Tools
- Programs for drawing vector graphics, like Inkscape.
- Software for CAD (designing things) like QCAD.
- Tools for making diagrams, such as Dia.
Multimedia and Compatibility
- Support for almost all video and audio files. This includes formats like DVD, DivX, AVI, MPEG, Xvid, Theora, Ogg Vorbis, and MP3.
- It includes a lightweight desktop environment called LXDE with PCManFM. This helps it run smoothly on older computers.
- You can even run many programs made for MS Windows using a special tool called Wine.
Special Tools for Baltic Users
- It has clip art, CAD, and office document templates ready to use.
- Many other helpful programs for Lithuanians and other Baltic people.
- This includes a universal dictionary program called OpenDict.
- It also has various spelling and hyphenation dictionaries.
You can run Baltix directly from its Live CD without installing it. But you can also install it onto your computer's hard drive, even if you already have Windows.
Why Was Baltix Created?
The creators of Baltix had clear goals in mind. They wanted to make an operating system that was helpful and easy for everyone.
Easy to Use for Everyone
- They wanted it to be ready to use right away for most Lithuanian, Latvian, and Russian users.
- This means you don't need to install extra software for videos, music, or office work. Things like spelling dictionaries are already there.
Works with Other Software
- Another goal was to let users run programs made for popular operating systems like Windows. This makes it more flexible.
Good for Older Computers
- Baltix was designed to work well on older computers.
- It can run comfortably on machines with as little as 64 MB of RAM and a 200 MHz CPU.
- It includes a desktop environment (LXDE) that uses very few computer resources.
Simple Installation for Manufacturers
- For computer makers, Baltix had a special feature (in versions 0.8.x and 1.x).
- It could install itself automatically without anyone needing to click buttons.
- This meant an OS could be installed on a computer in about 10 minutes!
Related Pages
