NEWS 231005 ABOUT ExLight
I’ve made a new version of ExLight with the Enlightenment 0.25.4 Desktop environment, Refracta Snapshot (create your own Debian Sid/Trixie System) and Calamares 3.3.0~alpha2-1 Installer Framework.

New sources 231005
This new version of ExLight is based on Debian Sid / Trixie (unstable/testing). Build 231005 is a total rebuild of ExLight. The ISO file size is of only 2000 MB, which means that you’ll need about 3GB RAM to run ExLight even faster from RAM. I.e. load to RAM – screenshot. You can remove the DVD or USB stick when ExLight has booted.

KERNEL
ExLight Build 231005 uses kernel 6.5.3-amd64-exton built from Debian kernel sources with Debian patches.

What’s new in kernel 6.5?

Installed packages
Study all installed packages in ExLight Build 231005.

LOGIN PROBLEMS IN BUILD 231005
To be able to login to the Enlightenment 0.25.4 Desktop you’ll have to use a “fairly new” computer. According to my experience the computer can’t be older than about eight (8) years. After a live boot (from a USB stick or a DVD) you are supposed to be logged in automatically as root (superuser) to the Enlightenment Desktop. If not you will end up in console mode logged in as user. For testing purposes you can do the following if you have a wired Internet connection. Run the following commands:
1. sudo apt update
2. sudo apt install lxde
3. nano .xinitrc
4. Change .xinitrc to exec startlxde
5. startx
You will now enter the LXDE Desktop. So the problem is really Enlightenment. I.e. not which Display Manager to use. I’ve tried with LightDM, SLiM and finally LXDM. I’m grateful if somebody find a solution to the problem Enlightenment/login and notify me. I’ve found only one Internet post about the problem (with no solution unfortunately).
CONCLUSION: Use a “fairly new” computer if you want to run Enlightenment 0.25.4 in ExLight. I wrote this as a comment at my SourceForge site 221129:  I tried ExLight Build 220726 on a really old computer – Acer Aspire 5102WLMi from 2006. Running ExLight on that computer I got the same problems as the ones you have described. I.e. I could only log in from console mode. I could never reach the Enlightenment Desktop. I have therefore decided to upload a new version of ExLight with a new kernel (possibly the newest) and upgraded packages. That will probably happen today. If the new version won’t run on my old Aspire I have to say that ExLight only runs on fairly new computers. ExLight Build 231005 has the same problem. I.e. using my old Acer I can’t reach the Enlightenment 0.25.4 Desktop whatever I do. I can run LXDE (and possibly other Desktop Environments) without problem though. Watch this screenshot.

LOGIN and passwords
When you start up from the DVD or USB stick you will end up in Enlightenment logged in as root (superuser) if your computer is “fairly new” – see above. You can log out from root’s Desktop screen and log in as the ordinary user user if you want. Press the keys Ctrl Alt F1 simultaneously. Log in from console as user with password live. Then run the command startx. The password for the ordinary user user is live. The password for root (superuser) is root. NOTE: After a hard drive installation using Calamares the root password will be gone. To fix it log in as user with password live and run the command sudo passwd root.

VirtualBox and VMware
You can’t run ExLight Build 231005 in VirtualBox or VMware for some unknown reason.

WIRELESS connections
In Build 231005 NetworkManager, WPA supplicant and ConnMan are installed. Use the one you prefer.
NOTE1: Study /etc/resolv.conf-WORKING and change it (if necessary) to suit your needs – screenshot. Keep a copy of resolv.conf-WORKING before you change the filename. Watch a screenshot showing how to use NetworkManager.
NOTE2: For WiFi connections you should use NetworkManager logged in as root.
NOTE3: On some computers it can be necessary to unblock WiFi before you can connect. Do it with the command rfkill unblock wifi

Running ExLight live as the ordinary user user
If you for some reason want to run ExLight live as user you shall do this.
1. Logout from Enlightenment
2. Leave X by pressing Ctrl Alt F1 simultaneously
3. Log in as user with password live
4. Enter X/Enlightenment by running the command startx
NOTE: After a hard drive installation you will still be logged in automatically to Enlightenment as root.  Follow steps 1 – 3 above if you want to log in as your created user during the installation process. You can change the auto login configuration by editing /etc/lxdm/lxdm.conf. Watch this screenshot…

MOVIE about Calamares Installer
Watch a movie about the Calamares installation process in VirtualBox. You can use the Calamares Installer Framework to install ExLight to your computer in any language. You can even use Calamares in VirtualBox and VMware – i.e. non-efi computers. (Unfortunately not in this version of ExLight). Watch this animated GIF. (It’s for DebEX Budgie, but works in the same way in ExLight).

Or watch this slideshow.

Spotify
You can easily install Spotify in ExLight (even while running the system live). Just run the command sudo apt update followed by sudo apt install spotify-client.

Important about Refracta
You can use Refracta Snapshot (pre-installed in ExLight) to create your own installable Debian Sid/Trixie Live System once you have installed ExLight to hard drive. I mean change everything and then create a whole new Debian live system. When you start Refracta Snapshot it will look like this. You don’t even have to install ExLight to hard drive before you can use the Refracta Snapshot. If you have plenty of RAM you can create a new (your own!) Debian system while running ExLight from DVD or a USB stick. Please note that the whole Refracta process (creating your new ISO) only will take 10 – 50 min! You’ll find the ISO in /home/snapshot. Or change that by editing /etc/refractasnapshot.conf. NOTE: You may have to run Refracta Snapshot in three steps (1 – 3) before your new ISO is ready.

THE REAL McCoy
ExLight is a pure Debian system. I.e. no traces of Ubuntu, Kubuntu etc. New releases of Ubuntu are always based on Debian Sid. So is ExLight.

KNOWN ISSUES
After a hard drive installation using Calamares Installer (Not Refracta Installer) you’ll have three “problems”.
1. /etc/apt/sources.list will be different. Replace it with the file sources.list-use-after-install
2. The root password will be gone. Fix it by logging in as the ordinary user user and run the command sudo passwd root. Or do it while logged in automatically as root.
3. In order to see all icons in the menu you may have to change icons – watch this screenshot.
4. You can’t login to the Enlightenment 0.25.4 Desktop unless you use a “fairly new” computer – see above.

SCREENSHOTS
1. The Enlightenment 0.25.4 Desktop for user user
2. The Enlightenment 0.25.4 Desktop for root
3. Using NetworkManager for WiFi connections
4. Showing a Samba connection

Watch a YouTube Video about ExLight…

The Video is called “ExLight Linux – Lightest Distro I Have Ever Tried“. (It is not made by me).

DOWNLOAD
ExLight Build 231005 Linux Live System can be downloaded from SourceForge.net – Fast, secure and free downloads from the largest Open Source applications and software directory.

You can also download ExLight from the Swedish Linux Society…

md5sum for exlight-64bit-sid-efi-e-0.25.4-refracta-calamares-2000mb-231005.iso