About Shift Linux

Philosophy of Shift Linux

Neowin's Shift Linux is designed to give the user an experience of being part of the Neowin community as well as having a simple, easy-to-use Live CD. Shift is a free, GPL-based Linux distribution that can be freely distributed or modified. There are no restrictions with Shift.

We created the Shift Linux project over a year ago in an effort to bring Neowin Linux enthusiasts together to do something together that would be both challenging and exciting. We decided that the focus of our project should be the experience and learning about building a new distribution, not in the actual construction of it. We decided that the journey was just as important as the product.

The members who came out to work with us had a wide variety of experiences. In an effort to bring as many members on board as possible, we needed to start with a Linux framework already in place, so that new learners could have a basis from which to start. We chose Ubuntu as this base with the option to change to another method as we learned more.

We have been hugely successful in this tactic. Most of our original members have stayed with us throughout the project and others have returned. As interest in our project continues to grow, we will continue to review and modify our goals. However, our primary goal will remain the same: we will continue to use our Shift project as a way to bring together our Neowin community... in a spirit of teamwork, talent, and learning.

And, if in the process we create a great distribution, well, that is all the better.

Origins of Shift Linux

Shift Linux is a project that was created by the Neowin community (http://www.neowin.net). Shift Linux is based on Ubuntu, granting it access to all of Ubuntu's software.

As we developed Shift, we decided to produce different versions of Shift for computers with lighter or more robust hardware configurations. We have produced Shift Lite (with Fluxbox) and Shift with Gnome or KDE, for heartier machines.

The project team consists of members with a wide variety of experiences and talents. Each has contributed in his / her own way. Whether team members have worked on the distribution itself, or the Shift website, their efforts have been dedicated to creating this quality product.

Comments on how we can improve this distribution can be posted on our website, and bug reports can be posted on our forum (at Neowin.net).

What's included in Shift Linux

• gDesklets - Eye Candy Widgets
• GIMP - Image Editor
• XSane - Image scanning program
• gThumb - Image Viewer
• xpdf - PDF Viewer
• Pidgin - Internet Messsenger
• GnomeMeeting - Internet Telephony
• Gwget - Download Manager
• Liferea - Feed Reader
• XChat - IRC Client
• gFTP - FTP Client
• AbiWord - Word Processor
• Gnumeric - Spreadsheet
• Rhythmbox - Media Player
• VLC - Multimedia Player

...and many more!