I want to sell laptops with Fedora preinstalled, but I would like to make a few minor adjustments: enable Dash to Dock and BlurMyShell by default, activate Flathub and RPM Fusion, and preinstall LibreOffice. Additionally, I’d like to configure a prompt that asks users if they want to install codecs, and then include libavcodec-freeworld and openh264 to avoid legal issues.
If you have further questions, we can move this request to the fedora marketing group to discuss this deeper.
As I do understand you are talking about the atomic-desktops right?
To not get troubles with the law (as @barryascott mentioned), you can not preinstall software which Fedora not installs because of eventual local laws who prohibit some sort of codecs etc.
But the config as you like, could be done with a script, which will be installed with the users consents.
As I do understand, layered software has to be re-installed new after every update. A script would be very handy to automate such a work.
If you are selling fedora laptop make sure you are using silverblue as os
In my local there is a shop they sell desktop and laptops preinstalled with ubuntu they started when they got a tender for a bulk order desktop assembled to a office they started selling that afterward. They know me so i know about that.
But they charge high for that service though they provide after sell service if you face issues.
But i think silverblue or ublue are the best candidate for users they don’t know what to do. They will break the system. Immutable distros will resist that.
This comment is off topic here because this question is not about “what flavour of Fedora should I sell”. It’s about “can I sell stuff with Fedora pre-loaded”.
Thank you! I’d like to use Silverblue. If I understand correctly, if the laptop manual states, “the software provided is not supported by the Fedora Project,” and using “Fedora Remix” as a name or logo is acceptable.
However, should I include a note on the operating system indicating that it’s a Fedora Remix, or should I remove any logos? Given that Silverblue is immutable, I don’t think that’s feasible.
user@fedora:~$ rpm-ostree update --uninstall fedora-logos fedora-release fedora-release-notes --install generic-logos generic-release generic-release-notes
error: Package/capability 'fedora-logos' is not currently requested
user@fedora:~$ rpm -q fedora-logos fedora-release fedora-release-notes
fedora-logos-38.1.0-6.fc41.noarch
package fedora-release is not installed
package fedora-release-notes is not installed
Why you want to make a remix just keep it as it is people will install apps from flathub and they will get all dependency and codes no issue there.
And now if you want to do that i think ultramarine have this already but they don’t offer immutable os but ublue os is a good option made with fedora core and many more things you can look into there website.
And i really appreciate your willingness to sell laptops with linux pre-installed.
Hi Martin, there are five key issues that are unacceptable for novice users and need to be addressed specifically on Silverblue:
Fedora Flatpaks always take precedence over Flathub, causing problems with missing codecs for apps like Kdenlive and Totem.
Default Steam Udev rules are not installed, leading to a lot of joystick compatibility issues due to missing steam-devices.
The initial GNOME welcome screen does not allow language selection post-installation, complicating sales for OEMs in multilingual markets, especially in Europe.
The lack of ffmpegthumbnailer don’t generate any thumbnails for most videos
Gnome default can scare new users, by enabling just 2 extensions the experience improves massively
Ublue is out of discussion because it can cause legal troubles due to the implicit inclusion of codecs (this is why I want to add a prompt).
I do not want to go with the classic Ubuntu based but I’m not getting answers with real solutions
@ankursinha, did you mention that this isn’t possible without the necessary modifications?
I’m a bit confused: on proprietary operating systems like Windows, you can preinstall anything you want, but that’s not the case with Fedora. What kind of freedom is that? I’m not receiving clear answers or solutions to my questions, which is incredibly frustrating.
Is there any legalities involved if I happen to offer a computer repair service, someone pays me to install an OS, they (or I; if there’s a difference?) choose Fedora, and I toss Workstation onto it and power it off immediately after install? It’d be unmodified Fedora, and in the US (crypto/etc).
I simply want to install two GNOME extensions and LibreOffice (open-source), along with a prompt to ask if you’d like to add the codecs and steam-devices. That’s all.
I’m not entirely clear on Fedora’s policies regarding software installation. It states that adding software or even a simple script requires me to change the name of the operating system, which seems excessive.
I’m uncertain whether I can make these modifications while still keeping the Fedora name, or if I’ll have to change the logo on Silverblue. Additionally, it’s important to mention that logos cannot be altered on an immutable OS. @ilikelinux@ankursinha@x3mboy@mattdm
It can sounds excessive, but think: What if the script included grant privileges and then run and rm -rf --no-preserve-root /? It sounds crazy but if someone do it and the software was distributed under Fedora Project’s name, then we receive the impact.
That’s why the policy is to accept only software tested and certified by the Fedora Project.
If OEMs must sell laptops with only Windows and can’t preinstall Office or other software, no manufacturers will sell Windows laptops. Open-source freedom means you should be able to install any software you want.
Mandating OEMs to offer only a pure version of Fedora will likely deter sales, as most major players provide modified Ubuntu versions. While Slimbook has created a Ubuntu derivative, their earlier offerings included preinstalled software on Ubuntu, as did System76.
Fedora provides an alternative called Fedora Remix, which theoretically doesn’t have this restriction. However, there is currently no ISO or guidance for Silverblue, which is immutable and cannot modify the logo. This situation is unfortunate and encourages users to develop even more customized software solutions like Bluefin and others.
You cannot make modifications and then use the Fedora name—as the documents say—because that’s not what the Fedora community has produced. It doesn’t matter how small or large the changes are—the size of the change is not the factor here. It’s simply that the trademark belongs to the community (to Red Hat legally) and it cannot be used for anything that has not been produced by the community—otherwise everyone will modify Fedora as they wish and keep selling it as Fedora.
I hope that makes it clear.
I don’t use the immutable variants myself, but I assume one can regenerate the OS layer from scratch. It’s just not as easy as modifying the mutable variants but can be done. I’d open a different thread for that—this one is about the use of the Fedora name/trademark and so on.
This is not true. Can you please link us to a reference that says that this is the case (“people do it” does not mean it’s allowed)
