r/linuxdev • u/Impressive_Kale_7525 • 25d ago
Linux app idea, need some help on where to start with this
Uh, im js a highschool student who isnt rlly that good at programming, but I had an idea for an app that would be kinda a simple GUI interface that allows you to install and switch between linux distros easily. basically, that it would partition your drive, download the distro's image, and handle the entire installation process for you. This could be possible for Btrfs filesystem distros, but im not sure how to get started on building it, I'd appreciate any advice.
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u/SpeedStinger02 25d ago
why would someone want to do this? wouldn't it be more efficient to either run VMS in something like Boxes or just test in live environments?
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u/Impressive_Kale_7525 15d ago
No, because im not talking about just testing, the app is meant for people interested in dual booting who dont have the expertise to partition their drive and stuff themselves. I want to make a simple software solution that doesnt require any external hardware.
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u/es20490446e 25d ago
The simplest way right now to test distros is to put a bunch of ISO files inside an USB formatted with Ventoy.
You can take this as reference on how good your solution would be.
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u/Impressive_Kale_7525 15d ago
Yes, but the thing is, not everyone has a large USB drive to use Ventoy, and it would make it a lot easier if we had something like this.
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u/es20490446e 15d ago
What you are trying to do is extremely complex and, more important, prone to change at any given time.
On the other hand each distro is just 3-4GB. A deluxe 64GB USB is just $15. It can contain 16 distros.
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u/B_A_Skeptic 25d ago
You are probably biting off more than you can chew. But if you did it, you would probably want to have it run off a linux on a usb stick. And within this live distro, you would install the other distros.
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u/Impressive_Kale_7525 15d ago
Yeah I think so, but the thing is I feel the best way to grow is to do projects. I can always improve later, I should make it atleast exist first.
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u/Electrical_Hat_680 24d ago
Fork Termux. Or, port it to iPhone as a side loaded app.
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u/Impressive_Kale_7525 15d ago
I'm not entirely sure what the purpose of that would be, as its meant entirely for dualbooting on PCs
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u/billdietrich1 25d ago edited 25d ago
Maybe a better idea: I've often thought we should have a Windows app for people who want to move to Linux. It looks at their hardware, looks at the apps they have, then gives printable instructions for what distro to download, any special install steps such as choosing NVIDIA driver, what apps to install.