STICKY: PINN - An enhanced version of NOOBS.

[procount]

'no_update' prevents you being notified of new released updates when PINN boots, so you keep the current version of PINN. It does not prevent you updating manually.

[Haris1977]

Oh Thanks for the clarification . I thought that by going to maintenance tab and re-installing pinn this would erase everything on my sdcard and start from the beginning ! (Like if i add runinstaller in cmdline)

[procount]

No, self-update replaces everything EXCEPT recovery.cmdline, otherwise it risks erasing any of your options and potentially wiping your OSes.

I always try to maintain version numbers such that test versions or bugfixes are in advance of the last released version, and the next version is always in advance of any previous test versions or bugfixes.
So even if you have a test version install, you should be notified of the next released version to update to, provided you do not use the no_update option.
Why do you have no_update set?

[Haris1977]

Well i have setup a rasp2 with PINN for my mom as she only wants to use LibreELEC to stream movies from my nas. I have also installed raspbian+recallbox (for me). But in order to keep her away from seeing any notifications - or pop ups - i have disabled the update option (by adding no_update)

Besides i still havent seen any update with my own eyes (to see how it looks) as i used standalone LE for a long time

Good to hear that you can “manually” update pinn as this seems to suits my needs

[Haris1977]

If i have eg v2.8.5.4 can i upgrade (through pinn’s reinstall option) to a test version? Or do i need a stable release?

[procount]

No. You can only upgrade to main releases. You have to manually install a test version but it can selfupdate to the next main release

[Haris1977]

I see. I will wait for the next stable release then

[procount]

Sakaki's Gentoo64 has been updated to v1.3.0

[Haris1977]

Any eta for a new update? Can t wait to use the Sticky Default OS change

[procount]

You can continue to use the 2.8.5.4b version for the sticky default feature changes. It will be included in the next version as it is now.
I'm looking to include some more features before the next release, but I'm very busy at the moment, so it may be a little while.

[Haris1977]

Well i want it 4 my mom, not for me (she is on 2.8.5.4 now and not 2.8.5.4b).

Can i upgrade to 2.8.5.4b version without loosing any of her data? She has all of her os’s in a usb stick

[procount]

PINN has been updated to v2.8.5.5

V2.8.5.5

• Boot menu - Sticky default now uses bootmenutimeout
• rebootp - Added rebootp command to recovery shell

Adding a `bootmenutimeout` argument to recovery.cmdline now forces the boot menu to be displayed for the designated time, even if a sticky default OS has been selected.
This allow the OS to be changed easily without having to go through the recovery menu.

Also, `rebootp` and `rebootp.sh` commands have been added to the recovery shell to permit the RPi to be rebooted from the terminal.
Both commands allow a partition number to be provided, indicating the partition number to be booted into.

[Haris1977]

Why do you have no_update set?

* Just a small tip for this: The "PINN's self-update dialog box" pops up ONLY when y enter the recovery mode (i didnt know that - i thought it was happening on OS Boot selection ). So there is no need for me to have the no_update option added in cmdline (as i can manually enter this mode)

PINN has been updated to v2.8.5.5

V2.8.5.5

• Boot menu - Sticky default now uses bootmenutimeout
• rebootp - Added rebootp command to recovery shell

Thanks for the new 2.8.5.5 update

[DarkPlatinum]

I have put up a tutorial on my website thats due to become live on the 11th. Its pretty basic but hopefully will help newbies out.

[Yavuz Selim]

I would like to know more about how to install "flavours" through PINN...

(I hope 'flavour' as in different versions of a distro.)

From the change history:

V2.8.5

(...)

Flavour download - Flavours can now be downloaded from remote repos. Only need to download 1
Added flavours.tar.xz - Remote flavours need to include flavours.tar.xz

There are 2 major changes in this release:

The OS Download feature has been enhanced, so when selecting one flavour of an OS, PINN will now download ALL the flavours of that OS, including any customisations, so that any of those flavours can subsequently be installed from a local source.

At the moment, I can choose 'Ubuntu MATE' directly from PINN.
I would like to be able to install a different flavour of Ubuntu, namely Lubuntu.
There are 5 flavours available on https://ubuntu-pi-flavour-maker.org/download/ for the Raspberry Pi 2/3.
The flavours are available in an .img.xz format.

How can I get those .img.xz files working with PINN?

Would appreciate the help.

[procount]

I'm afraid the use of the term "flavours" in NOOBS/PINN does not correspond to the same use in Ubuntu's "flavour maker".

My Flavour is more of a small post-installation customisation of the OS. It's a bit like PiBakery. It's useful for installing tutorials, wifi selections, reference materials, workshop files etc. Whereas the Ubuntu flavour maker is more of a re-spin on the whole distro, so replacing the window manager, desktop environment etc, for example.

If you want to install Lubuntu, you should treat it as a new or custom OS. It will need converting to NOOBS/PINN format first. See my wiki on github for details, and in README_PINN.md

[DarkPlatinum]

How has life been?

Just askin, what are you planning on adding in the near future? I really like PINN. It should really just replace NOOBS.

BTW how many devs are working on PINN? Just you?

[procount]

Life is very busy!
There's just me, which is why the next release is taking a while....sorry. But if I get it working right, it should be worth the wait.

[DarkPlatinum]

Life is very busy!
There's just me, which is why the next release is taking a while....sorry. But if I get it working right, it should be worth the wait.

Its ok dude your doing an excellent job! You must be very good at programming! . What language do you use to program PINN?

[procount]

It's just a fork of NOOBS, so all the hard work was already done. I just have more freedom in which direction I go.
All the source code is on Github, so you can see that it is written in C++ using the Qt framewrok.

[DarkPlatinum]

It's just a fork of NOOBS, so all the hard work was already done. I just have more freedom in which direction I go.
All the source code is on Github, so you can see that it is written in C++ using the Qt framewrok.

May I ask how did you learn C++? I am currently learning python but might widen into other languages as well.

[procount]

I started with Basic, then C and from there I learnt C++, inititally from a Microsoft Visual C++ tutorial book which was a very good introduction. After that I did several courses.
But no matter which language you choose, try to understand the underlying concepts. Most languages just express them using different syntax.

[ShiftPlusOne]

Heads up that RISC OS is back in NOOBS, if you'd like to add it.

[procount]

Thanks! I'll check later, but if it's in NOOBS, PINN should just pick it up.
Is it an updated version?
Any mods to NOOBS to get it to work?
EDIT: Ah! I see it hosted externally now.

[ShiftPlusOne]

Thanks! I'll check later, but if it's in NOOBS, PINN should just pick it up.
Is it an updated version?
Any mods to NOOBS to get it to work?
EDIT: Ah! I see it hosted externally now.

Updated version and they managed to package it up such that no changes were required to NOOBS.