Webconverger is a
Linux
Linux ( or ) is a family of open-source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991, by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged as a Linux distribution, w ...
-based
operating system
An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware, software resources, and provides common services for computer programs.
Time-sharing operating systems schedule tasks for efficient use of the system and may also i ...
designed solely for accessing
Web applications
A web application (or web app) is application software that is accessed using a web browser. Web applications are delivered on the World Wide Web to users with an active network connection.
History
In earlier computing models like client-serve ...
privately and securely. Based on the
Debian distro, it is able to boot
live from removable media like
CD-ROM or
USB flash drive
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard that establishes specifications for cables, connectors and protocols for connection, communication and power supply ( interfacing) between computers, peripherals and other computers. A bro ...
but can also be installed to a local hard drive. Webconverger is pre-compiled to run on any
x86
x86 (also known as 80x86 or the 8086 family) is a family of complex instruction set computer (CISC) instruction set architectures initially developed by Intel based on the Intel 8086 microprocessor and its 8088 variant. The 8086 was intr ...
hardware. It does not have high system requirements and will also run on older machines.
Webconverger is typically used in
Web kiosk and
digital signage deployments. It runs the
Firefox
Mozilla Firefox, or simply Firefox, is a free and open-source web browser developed by the Mozilla Foundation and its subsidiary, the Mozilla Corporation. It uses the Gecko rendering engine to display web pages, which implements current ...
web browser with a customised window manager
dwm
dwm is a minimalist dynamic window manager for the X Window System developed by Suckless that has influenced the development of several other X window managers, including xmonad and awesome. It is externally similar to wmii, but internally mu ...
and a Firefox add-on also named Webconverger that locks the browser to a simple kiosk operation mode. The browser is locked down with most menus, toolbars, key commands and context menus disabled. Webconverger contains
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash (formerly Macromedia Flash and FutureSplash) is a multimedia software platform used for production of animations, rich web applications, desktop applications, mobile apps, mobile games, and embedded web browser video players. Fla ...
support and
PDF viewing by default. Both wired and wireless networks are supported via
DHCP
The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a network management protocol used on Internet Protocol (IP) networks for automatically assigning IP addresses and other communication parameters to devices connected to the network using a cli ...
.
Webconverger does binary package updates through
git
Git () is a distributed version control system: tracking changes in any set of files, usually used for coordinating work among programmers collaboratively developing source code during software development. Its goals include speed, data in ...
hosted on
GitHub
GitHub, Inc. () is an Internet hosting service for software development and version control using Git. It provides the distributed version control of Git plus access control, bug tracking, software feature requests, task management, continu ...
. This is unique to Webconverger as most other distributions use separate package management utilities.
Although being developed in Singapore, it is mainly used commercially in Europe.
Reception
LWN.net reviewed Webconverger 12 in April 2012 with following words:
[Webconverger 12 [LWN.net]](_blank)
/ref>
Softpedia Linux also have a review of Webconverger 35.1:Download Webconverger 35.1
Softpedia Linux
See also
*
Kiosk software
Kiosk software is the system and user interface software designed for an interactive kiosk or Internet kiosk enclosing the system in a way that prevents user interaction and activities on the device outside the scope of execution of the software. ...
References
External links
*
*
Debian-based distributions
Information appliances
Diskless workstations
End-user lockdowns
Content-control software
Operating system distributions bootable from read-only media
Linux distributions
{{Linux-distro-stub