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Ask HN: Minimalist OS to run a WebApp?
I'm looking into building a "greeting screen" web application that just displays some data in full-screen.
I was thinking about system requirements,and I came up with this:
- OS: Debian
- Electron: Wrapper for the web app
- Hardware: Raspberry-pi or an equivalent cheap solution.
Does HN have any better insights or previous experiences?
- marenkay 9y agoWhy Electron, you could ditch it and just use Go. Works fine on ARM and has all the tools for web apps, APIs, etc.
- Raed667 9y agoI'm just looking to display a browser window in fullscreen (no interaction). The server is remote
- thatcat 9y agoso.. you're running debian minimal with no window manager then just invoking chromium via commandline and browsing to a web app?
- Raed667 9y agoExactly, That's the smallest (AKA cheapest) setup I can think of.
- thatcat 9y agoyou might also try flint os, the active chromium os build https://pimylifeup.com/raspberry-pi-flint-os/ https://pimylifeup.com/raspberry-pi-flint-os/ or running a light wm like xmonad / i3wm instead of just running from command line using x depending on the functionality you want http://www.alandmoore.com/blog/2011/11/05/creating-a-kiosk-with-linux-and-x11-2011-edition/ http://www.alandmoore.com/blog/2011/11/05/creating-a-kiosk-w...
- symfony_ 9y agoWe are running chromebits. Runs on ChromeOS, simple to build a 'kiosk app' which automatically starts on startup. Costs more than RPI. Very easy to lock up, easily administered (reboot/screenshot) from the management console. We have a few hundreds of them out there, works like a charm and pretty much no work. I'd advise against the likes of RPI's if you need a few and remote manage them. Deploying new app versions is very easy and the thing just works. Don't underestimate the freedom it gives to not have to do any damn thing on the box, ever. When working at scale the time you save is enormous.
- mindcrash 9y agoAlpine with Xorg plus your Electron app, on a Pi.