To be honest, this is probably more of a review of Openbox fronted systems than strictly CBPP/#!++
But comparisons are inevitable.
As an original CrunchBanger { OCB ;-) }, I really was quite saddened when Corenominal (Phil Newborough) announced the termination of the CB/#! project, & slightly annoyed that it could not be upgraded to the next version of Debian, although that came later.
But I kept my scanners on alert mode for continuity, as well as carrying over my own configs to my next install (wattOS or SalentOS (?)), so I was more than pleased when CBPP/#!++ became available.
It's almost as if Corenominal had assumed the alternative identity of Computermouth, and continued the pure vanilla CB/#!, without the hassle of a user forum, although he was apparently displeased by the use of the name++.
There was the short-lived CrunchBang Monara, which didn't improve anything, & Bunsenlabs took ages to come up with a replacement/continuation.
And this is where the comparisons come in.
Openbox is a script-writer's playground, & IMHO, some of them have gone mad. Bunsenlabs, Mabox, & Lilidog are all very good & very nice, but somehow they have managed to make Openbox get in the way, & turned it into a full-blown desktop environment.
Doesn't this defeat the purpose of having a GUI that isn't a DE?
I tried all 3 this morning (running live), and they all seem to have borrowed scripts & applications from each other & renamed them to the extent of rebranding a text editor!
And there are just too many GUIs, & too many menus & submenus, so many that even an experienced operator like myself gets confused and lost in the labyrinth, & starts thinking that an orthodox DE is a better option.
Or maybe I just prefer my own scripts.
Which is where CBPP/#!++ shines in its pure raw simplicity.
It's like having a minimal server with just enough GUI.
And it can be turned into a full-on server, or a full-on development platform. The first-run welcome script makes this easy.
It's also much easier to customise, & far more amenable to writing one's own scripts.
I prefer LXpanel to Tint2. LXmenu (right-click on entry) tells you the command, which makes writing keyboard shortcuts a lot easier.
And it won't break CBPP/#!++.
It's possible to chop & change components without breaking the system. The other (overdeveloped) Openbox distros are fragile by comparison, although they shouldn't be, & I suspect that it's down to the over-scripting & 'solidification'.
I consider CBPP/#!++ to be the best successor to CB/#!
And if I didn't use this, then I'd be running vanilla Debian LXDE.
Version: 12.0 Rating: 7 Date: 2024-02-25 Votes: 2
I regret that I cannot agree with the reviews further down.
For me it's difficult to determine what's the goal of this distribution:
* as a server platform it's okayish. If you want a Debian base with a simple GUI for administration I'd give it a "9". In a post-install step you are offered to install the LAMP software package, ready to go with Apache, Maria-DB, php. Yet I missed "iptables", which had to be fetched manually.
* for users who want to go for an Openbox Desktop, on which they enjoy spending time to configure the system to their liking (tinker with ~/.config/openbox/autostart and others) Crunchbangplusplus might be a worthwhile choice, rewarding their efforts with stability and simplicity - if they aren't afraid of terminal work. An "8" would be my ranking.
* for novice to expert users who just want to setup their computer workhorse, preferring minimum hassle with their operating system I give it a "7".
pro's:
- stable Debian 12 base with countless proven packages available
- excellent clarity of fonts (a must for my aging eyes!)
- lets you dig into and learn about the components of a contemporary Linux system.
neutral:
- the old-school Debian installer might confuse users who have experienced e.g. Calamares, yet it offers some welcomed fine tuning.
- the package selection is debatable, obviously a matter of taste. `apt-get`will be your friend.
con's:
- Crunchbangplusplus, installed on my HD, by no means is slim & snappy! `top` in a terminal, immediately after logging in (I disabled `conky`) gives 1 GB of MiB Mem usage, or more. For aging machines there are much better alternatives like Lubuntu, WattOS (R 13 ~ 570, R 12 ~ 360 MiB Mem) or even Slackware 15 Plasma (~ 750 MiB Mem).
- I encountered a serious bug: after each and every package installation the system triggered a rebuild of initramfs - which failed miserably. It turned out the script is looking for some Raspberry PI firmware in /boot/firmware, obviously in vain. Removing the offending
Raspberry -packages fixed the issue.
In summary I'd only recommend this distro to CrunchBang afficionados. However they should not expect to find the same plainness and modesty on resources they esteemed in the good ol' days.
I have been hunting for a Distro like CB++ ever since I discovered Linux back in the mid 90s. Ubuntu was nice for a bit, as was Mint, but the graphical desktop manager always felt mis-placed and the whole OS felt slow on older hardware. I've installed CB++ on old AND new hardware, everything from Celeron NUC boxes, to dual (physical) CPU Xeon workstations and it just works. No fuss, no muss, and never did I feel that the Distro was slow, or had tons of unneeded things pre-installed (I'm looking at you Garuda)
This is the way all Distros should be, and Openbox is just the frosting on the cake.
For me I like this interface, and lightweight size. It's good for making server and it can be use on old pc. This linux stable for now and can be customize I think this distro no need to update frequently. Just update when have a big changer only all package for me already complete no need to add more package. But what I hope is can you make iso for "test software" on raspberry pi4 I have raspberry pi4 and I hope I can test software on it before install on my pc. One more I hope you can make bigger forum for discussion about how to install some software on this linux distro. Yes the way is like install software on debian but some software requires manual install library. I think maybe it's good if you can help me solve 2 of this problems
1. Make iso for raspberry pi4(if you can put x86driver on it, if cannot it's ok)
2. Make bigger forum for discussion about software installation
IMO, crunchbangplusplus is the best base to build any server or even desktop! The minimalistic base is sufficient for servers and since it's debian based it is rock solid stable. The Debian base also allows the user to access the best repos. This distro may be challenging for a Linux newb so if new to Linux, watch a few videos from youtube prior to adopting and then dive in. The default config will get you a working system but you'll need to edit config files for changes, hence the youtube reference. Perhaps try running it in a virtual environment till you are confident. Debian now has non-free drivers that makes Debian the perfect foundation and #!++ makes the power user system. Mad Props #!++ team!!!!!
Version: 12.0 Rating: 2 Date: 2023-08-06 Votes: 0
Not a bad distro... if you have a very outdated PC that is !!
It will not be installed on ANY new computer (see: having nvme SSD) because of the half-baked ISO things will be break miserably during the installation, it wont be able to format the EFI partition , even if you do this by yourself, then the installer will break with an grub-install error. Thats is all..
QA non existed or very low I belive. 2 point just because you can use it as 'live' lol now beause it is practically useless to be installed on 'modern' systems
Very minimal, very clean. How refreshing! The stark Openbox menu system is simple and easily customized using the GUI configuration tool. The default apps and tools are fitting and complete for an initial work set-up. Synaptic installs apps easily, Thunar navigates fine, and Catfish seeks! Just enough desktop themes to add a tad of uniqueness to the screen while maintaining simplicity. Still, that's a personal thing. Also, runs on a i3-3110M CPU @ 2.40GHz, one of the very first 64-bit processors. Not a speed demon, or game machine. Rather, a work box that works well. Dinged a point for lacking install of conky-manager2, and compelling me to edit conky config by hand.
I love it and i am still very new to Linux, after hearing from a you-tuber this distro was really only for intermediate and advanced users i nearly overlooked it completely, i have tried so many distro's looking for one that would fit my needs, but honestly they are all so buggy, even the very polished ones that are supposed to be for new to Linux people, then i came to Debian with the new live iso images and really appreciated it, despite what some say about Debian it is very good for people like me, then looking to see what else was available of the same nature, that is Debain based i came across this distro, crunchbangplusplus, one distro i tried was Mabox, this is also has the openbox window manager and i really liked it, but being Manjaro, and arch based very quickly problems start and i really didn't know enough yet to know how to fix them all, but this distro is well worth the effort, once you learn the basics of installing software and so on, it is really brilliant, stable and so smooth and fast, i love it and think it should be in the top 10, very under rated in my opinion, everyone from every level should try this, it is that good.
Ideal for users who prefer minimalism and efficiency in their operating system. A key advantage of CrunchBang++ is its lightweight nature. It can run efficiently on older systems with limited hardware resources. This makes it an excellent option for users who want to breathe new life into an old laptop or desktop computer. Additionally, the minimalist design of the interface promotes productivity by eliminating distractions. The Openbox window manager is highly customizable, allowing users to configure the system to their hearts content. While the minimalist design of the interface can be a positive feature for some users, it may not be ideal for everyone. Some users may find the lack of graphical elements and icons to be unappealing and difficult to navigate.
Upgraded from CBPP 11 to CBPP 12 today and all I can say is that it's better than ever! Really digging the new CBPP dark theme. If you want simplicity and a stable experience, this is the distro for you. CBPP has now been my daily driver for almost a year, it has NEVER failed me.
I've tried all of the more "mainstream" distros but they got nothing on CBPP, this is the most underrated distro (in terms of people talking about CBPP, it has many users) out there! I also have to give a shout out to the community on Reddit which are as friendly as can be and extremely helpful, most of the time even the dev of CBPP, Ben (computermouth), replies to questions users have may have, I mean you can't get any better help than that.
1. Stable and reliable.
2. Fast and runs like a charm.
3. The initial look is clean and peaceful, unlike other distros.
4. Not bloated.
5. Openbox, do I need to say more? All you need (no need for a DE).
6. The installation script that welcomes you on your first bootup (in the terminal) is brilliant.
7. The best Conky, just simple (in a good way) and gives you all the information that you need, also easy to customize, but why? It's perfect!
8. If the people that are using LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition) discovers #!++ there would be a big migration, I'm sure of that.
9. Better than BunsenLabs, this is the true successor of the original CrunchBang when it comes to the look and feel. No "hate" against BL, they are doing their own thing, and if #!++ ever would disappear (god forbid) then BL would be my go to choice.
I could probably mention MANY more positive things about #!++, but I think you (the reader) get the point I'm trying to make. It is a crime that not more people (Linux users) are talking about #!++.
I've used #!++ as my daily driver for coding for about a year now. It has never failed me as far as stability, and its small footprint makes it an absolute breeze to use on older hardware. The community is super-friendly, and is always welcome to discussions or questions. I make it a habit to always try new and interesting-looking distros in VMs, but nothing has made me even remotely close to straying from #!++. Upgrades and system maintenance on a Debian-based distro is, in my opinion, still one of the most straight-forward and no-nonsense options available. I really can't say enough good things about this distribution, maintainers, and users.
Love CB++. Beautiful, simple, reliable. The install helper on first start-up is just what you want and need without any fancy bells or whistles. Anyone looking for a minimal and ultimately solid Debian experience would be a fool for trying this distro out. I've tried BL which was buggy and simply-overly complicated (hence the bugs) whereas CB++ keeps things the way they were meant to be. On top of tap, the forum is managed (solely?) by the actual builder so if you need any help at all you get input direct from the horse's mouth, so to speak. Highly recommended!
Stable and FAST with a great and friendly community. #!++ is Just perfect for my underpowered computer, I'd even use it on a high spec computer, that's how good #!++ is. This distribution stopped my chronic distro hopping journey. Hopped from BunsenLabs to it even though I liked BL... BL would be my second choice between the two. Easy install, and if you've been thinking about trying the window manager Openbox instead of using a DE, this would be the perfect choice.
Great to see #!++ finally being officially listed on DW. The best!
To be honest, this is probably more of a review of Openbox fronted systems than strictly CBPP/#!++
But comparisons are inevitable.
As an original CrunchBanger { OCB ;-) }, I really was quite saddened when Corenominal (Phil Newborough) announced the termination of the CB/#! project, & slightly annoyed that it could not be upgraded to the next version of Debian, although that came later.
But I kept my scanners on alert mode for continuity, as well as carrying over my own configs to my next install (wattOS or SalentOS (?)), so I was more than pleased when CBPP/#!++ became available.
It's almost as if Corenominal had assumed the alternative identity of Computermouth, and continued the pure vanilla CB/#!, without the hassle of a user forum, although he was apparently displeased by the use of the name++.
There was the short-lived CrunchBang Monara, which didn't improve anything, & Bunsenlabs took ages to come up with a replacement/continuation.
And this is where the comparisons come in.
Openbox is a script-writer's playground, & IMHO, some of them have gone mad. Bunsenlabs, Mabox, & Lilidog are all very good & very nice, but somehow they have managed to make Openbox get in the way, & turned it into a full-blown desktop environment.
Doesn't this defeat the purpose of having a GUI that isn't a DE?
I tried all 3 this morning (running live), and they all seem to have borrowed scripts & applications from each other & renamed them to the extent of rebranding a text editor!
And there are just too many GUIs, & too many menus & submenus, so many that even an experienced operator like myself gets confused and lost in the labyrinth, & starts thinking that an orthodox DE is a better option.
Or maybe I just prefer my own scripts.
Which is where CBPP/#!++ shines in its pure raw simplicity.
It's like having a minimal server with just enough GUI.
And it can be turned into a full-on server, or a full-on development platform. The first-run welcome script makes this easy.
It's also much easier to customise, & far more amenable to writing one's own scripts.
I prefer LXpanel to Tint2. LXmenu (right-click on entry) tells you the command, which makes writing keyboard shortcuts a lot easier.
And it won't break CBPP/#!++.
It's possible to chop & change components without breaking the system. The other (overdeveloped) Openbox distros are fragile by comparison, although they shouldn't be, & I suspect that it's down to the over-scripting & 'solidification'.
I consider CBPP/#!++ to be the best successor to CB/#!
And if I didn't use this, then I'd be running vanilla Debian LXDE.
I regret that I cannot agree with the reviews further down.
For me it's difficult to determine what's the goal of this distribution:
* as a server platform it's okayish. If you want a Debian base with a simple GUI for administration I'd give it a "9". In a post-install step you are offered to install the LAMP software package, ready to go with Apache, Maria-DB, php. Yet I missed "iptables", which had to be fetched manually.
* for users who want to go for an Openbox Desktop, on which they enjoy spending time to configure the system to their liking (tinker with ~/.config/openbox/autostart and others) Crunchbangplusplus might be a worthwhile choice, rewarding their efforts with stability and simplicity - if they aren't afraid of terminal work. An "8" would be my ranking.
* for novice to expert users who just want to setup their computer workhorse, preferring minimum hassle with their operating system I give it a "7".
pro's:
- stable Debian 12 base with countless proven packages available
- excellent clarity of fonts (a must for my aging eyes!)
- lets you dig into and learn about the components of a contemporary Linux system.
neutral:
- the old-school Debian installer might confuse users who have experienced e.g. Calamares, yet it offers some welcomed fine tuning.
- the package selection is debatable, obviously a matter of taste. `apt-get`will be your friend.
con's:
- Crunchbangplusplus, installed on my HD, by no means is slim & snappy! `top` in a terminal, immediately after logging in (I disabled `conky`) gives 1 GB of MiB Mem usage, or more. For aging machines there are much better alternatives like Lubuntu, WattOS (R 13 ~ 570, R 12 ~ 360 MiB Mem) or even Slackware 15 Plasma (~ 750 MiB Mem).
- I encountered a serious bug: after each and every package installation the system triggered a rebuild of initramfs - which failed miserably. It turned out the script is looking for some Raspberry PI firmware in /boot/firmware, obviously in vain. Removing the offending
Raspberry -packages fixed the issue.
In summary I'd only recommend this distro to CrunchBang afficionados. However they should not expect to find the same plainness and modesty on resources they esteemed in the good ol' days.
I have been hunting for a Distro like CB++ ever since I discovered Linux back in the mid 90s. Ubuntu was nice for a bit, as was Mint, but the graphical desktop manager always felt mis-placed and the whole OS felt slow on older hardware. I've installed CB++ on old AND new hardware, everything from Celeron NUC boxes, to dual (physical) CPU Xeon workstations and it just works. No fuss, no muss, and never did I feel that the Distro was slow, or had tons of unneeded things pre-installed (I'm looking at you Garuda)
This is the way all Distros should be, and Openbox is just the frosting on the cake.
For me I like this interface, and lightweight size. It's good for making server and it can be use on old pc. This linux stable for now and can be customize I think this distro no need to update frequently. Just update when have a big changer only all package for me already complete no need to add more package. But what I hope is can you make iso for "test software" on raspberry pi4 I have raspberry pi4 and I hope I can test software on it before install on my pc. One more I hope you can make bigger forum for discussion about how to install some software on this linux distro. Yes the way is like install software on debian but some software requires manual install library. I think maybe it's good if you can help me solve 2 of this problems
1. Make iso for raspberry pi4(if you can put x86driver on it, if cannot it's ok)
2. Make bigger forum for discussion about software installation
IMO, crunchbangplusplus is the best base to build any server or even desktop! The minimalistic base is sufficient for servers and since it's debian based it is rock solid stable. The Debian base also allows the user to access the best repos. This distro may be challenging for a Linux newb so if new to Linux, watch a few videos from youtube prior to adopting and then dive in. The default config will get you a working system but you'll need to edit config files for changes, hence the youtube reference. Perhaps try running it in a virtual environment till you are confident. Debian now has non-free drivers that makes Debian the perfect foundation and #!++ makes the power user system. Mad Props #!++ team!!!!!
Not a bad distro... if you have a very outdated PC that is !!
It will not be installed on ANY new computer (see: having nvme SSD) because of the half-baked ISO things will be break miserably during the installation, it wont be able to format the EFI partition , even if you do this by yourself, then the installer will break with an grub-install error. Thats is all..
QA non existed or very low I belive. 2 point just because you can use it as 'live' lol now beause it is practically useless to be installed on 'modern' systems
Very minimal, very clean. How refreshing! The stark Openbox menu system is simple and easily customized using the GUI configuration tool. The default apps and tools are fitting and complete for an initial work set-up. Synaptic installs apps easily, Thunar navigates fine, and Catfish seeks! Just enough desktop themes to add a tad of uniqueness to the screen while maintaining simplicity. Still, that's a personal thing. Also, runs on a i3-3110M CPU @ 2.40GHz, one of the very first 64-bit processors. Not a speed demon, or game machine. Rather, a work box that works well. Dinged a point for lacking install of conky-manager2, and compelling me to edit conky config by hand.
I love it and i am still very new to Linux, after hearing from a you-tuber this distro was really only for intermediate and advanced users i nearly overlooked it completely, i have tried so many distro's looking for one that would fit my needs, but honestly they are all so buggy, even the very polished ones that are supposed to be for new to Linux people, then i came to Debian with the new live iso images and really appreciated it, despite what some say about Debian it is very good for people like me, then looking to see what else was available of the same nature, that is Debain based i came across this distro, crunchbangplusplus, one distro i tried was Mabox, this is also has the openbox window manager and i really liked it, but being Manjaro, and arch based very quickly problems start and i really didn't know enough yet to know how to fix them all, but this distro is well worth the effort, once you learn the basics of installing software and so on, it is really brilliant, stable and so smooth and fast, i love it and think it should be in the top 10, very under rated in my opinion, everyone from every level should try this, it is that good.
Upgraded from CBPP 11 to CBPP 12 today and all I can say is that it's better than ever! Really digging the new CBPP dark theme. If you want simplicity and a stable experience, this is the distro for you. CBPP has now been my daily driver for almost a year, it has NEVER failed me.
I've tried all of the more "mainstream" distros but they got nothing on CBPP, this is the most underrated distro (in terms of people talking about CBPP, it has many users) out there! I also have to give a shout out to the community on Reddit which are as friendly as can be and extremely helpful, most of the time even the dev of CBPP, Ben (computermouth), replies to questions users have may have, I mean you can't get any better help than that.
Ideal for users who prefer minimalism and efficiency in their operating system. A key advantage of CrunchBang++ is its lightweight nature. It can run efficiently on older systems with limited hardware resources. This makes it an excellent option for users who want to breathe new life into an old laptop or desktop computer. Additionally, the minimalist design of the interface promotes productivity by eliminating distractions. The Openbox window manager is highly customizable, allowing users to configure the system to their hearts content. While the minimalist design of the interface can be a positive feature for some users, it may not be ideal for everyone. Some users may find the lack of graphical elements and icons to be unappealing and difficult to navigate.
1. Stable and reliable.
2. Fast and runs like a charm.
3. The initial look is clean and peaceful, unlike other distros.
4. Not bloated.
5. Openbox, do I need to say more? All you need (no need for a DE).
6. The installation script that welcomes you on your first bootup (in the terminal) is brilliant.
7. The best Conky, just simple (in a good way) and gives you all the information that you need, also easy to customize, but why? It's perfect!
8. If the people that are using LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition) discovers #!++ there would be a big migration, I'm sure of that.
9. Better than BunsenLabs, this is the true successor of the original CrunchBang when it comes to the look and feel. No "hate" against BL, they are doing their own thing, and if #!++ ever would disappear (god forbid) then BL would be my go to choice.
I could probably mention MANY more positive things about #!++, but I think you (the reader) get the point I'm trying to make. It is a crime that not more people (Linux users) are talking about #!++.
I've used #!++ as my daily driver for coding for about a year now. It has never failed me as far as stability, and its small footprint makes it an absolute breeze to use on older hardware. The community is super-friendly, and is always welcome to discussions or questions. I make it a habit to always try new and interesting-looking distros in VMs, but nothing has made me even remotely close to straying from #!++. Upgrades and system maintenance on a Debian-based distro is, in my opinion, still one of the most straight-forward and no-nonsense options available. I really can't say enough good things about this distribution, maintainers, and users.
Stable and FAST with a great and friendly community. #!++ is Just perfect for my underpowered computer, I'd even use it on a high spec computer, that's how good #!++ is. This distribution stopped my chronic distro hopping journey. Hopped from BunsenLabs to it even though I liked BL... BL would be my second choice between the two. Easy install, and if you've been thinking about trying the window manager Openbox instead of using a DE, this would be the perfect choice.
Great to see #!++ finally being officially listed on DW. The best!
Love CB++. Beautiful, simple, reliable. The install helper on first start-up is just what you want and need without any fancy bells or whistles. Anyone looking for a minimal and ultimately solid Debian experience would be a fool for trying this distro out. I've tried BL which was buggy and simply-overly complicated (hence the bugs) whereas CB++ keeps things the way they were meant to be. On top of tap, the forum is managed (solely?) by the actual builder so if you need any help at all you get input direct from the horse's mouth, so to speak. Highly recommended!
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