                                         PicaLibre                            
                                                                              
                                         Mini–Manual                          
    PicaLibre                                                                 
                                         Version: 1.3.0 – English             
                                                                              
                                         picalibre.org                        

    

What is PicaLibre

   PicaLibre is a libre (free as freedom) universal secure operating system.

   More information at https://picalibre.org

What is the libre (free) computing

   The libre (free as freedom) computing movement defends that software (the
   programs or applications) and hardware (the physical or material
   components of devices) must be able to be used, modified and shared by
   anyone, without imposition of technical, legal or economic restrictions,
   as rights and freedoms of all people. Likewise, the documentation of
   interest must also be available with libre (free) licenses.

Security

   For a good system security, in PicaLibre there are two (or more) users
   (each one with their password):

   * An administrator user (named "root") with SuperUser powers or
   privileges, whose password is requested when someone attempts to perform
   an action that could jeopardize the security or stability of the operating
   system.

   * A normal o usual user (or several, one for each user person), to perform
   daily or usual activities.

   Every normal or usual user can only make changes within their personal
   folder or directory (located at /home/user-name ), to make general changes
   to the system the SuperUser password is necessary.

   By default, the username is pica and their password is pica while the
   SuperUser password is su but for security you should change them when
   installing.

Graphical environment

   The graphical environment includes a panel or bar with a clock located on
   the right and on the left end the Menu button that when clicked (with the
   left mouse button) displays a menu which includes the installed
   applications, settings and power-off options. Next to the Menu button
   there are a couple of icons for quick access to the web browser and the
   file manager or explorer that allows to manage your personal folder or
   directory (your "home", the place where your personal files are stored).
   In the central area of the panel or bar, the operating applications
   windows are listed.

   In order to open a file (of text, sound, image,...) or enter in a
   directory or folder, usually double-click (with the left mouse button) is
   done upon, while a single click (with the left mouse button) selects that
   element. Pressing the Ctrl key several items can be selected and pressing
   the Shift ⇧ key several ones can be selected in block the same as drawing
   a rectangle with the mouse pointer holding down the left mouse button.
   Clicking with the right mouse button a menu (called "contextual menu" or
   "pop-up menu") is displayed to change settings, copy/cut/paste/delete and
   other actions. Many actions can also be made by pressing a particular key
   or a combination of two or three simultaneously pressed keys, for example
   the Del. key to eliminate, the combination Ctrl C to copy, Ctrl X to cut,
   Ctrl V and also Shift ⇧ Insert to paste. Note that the Ctrl / Alt /
   Shift ⇧ / Fn keys allow modify the behavior of other keys.

Start a program or application

   There are several ways to start a program or application installed in the
   system:

   * Click (with the left mouse button) on the Menu button and look in the
   Menu within the corresponding category.

   * Use the application launcher: In the Menu click on the "Run"/"Launcher"
   tool or without entering in the Menu simultaneously press the Alt F2 keys
   (may vary depending of the desktop) and in the window that appears, write
   the name of the program or application (then press the ↲ Enter key). If it
   is needed to start a program or application as SuperUser (for example a
   file manager or explorer), instead of the "plain" name, lxsu software-name
   shall be used.

Install and update programs/applications packages

   It is recommended to be connected to the Internet to install (download new
   programs or applications) or update (download new versions that fix
   failures, defects and "bugs"). The basic steps to install or update
   programs/applications packages (connected to Internet) are:

   1) Update the repositories information. It connects to the software
   download servers to update packages information.

   2) Update all installed packages. It is not essential to install new
   packages, but it is recommended do it.

   3) Indicate the new packages to install (or to update, if the previous
   step was not done). It is necessary to accept/approve the installation of
   necessary additional packages.

   These steps are easily made with the "Synaptic" package manager. Start
   "Synaptic" and in the "Synaptic" window: 1) Click on the "Reload" button,
   2) Click on the "Mark all upgrades" button and then on the "Apply" button,
   3) Select from the list the packages you want to install (if the Ctrl key
   is kept pressured it is possible select several ones), then click with the
   right mouse button upon and select "Mark for installation", accept the
   additional packages indicated and then click on the "Apply" button.

   Look in the packages list (in "Synaptic"), all listed here is free (libre)
   in PicaLibre and if you do not find something it is probably because it is
   not free (libre).

The command line (terminal or console)

   The command line (terminal or console) allows to perform advanced actions
   that can not always be done or are more complex to do through graphical
   interfaces (windows and buttons). To start a terminal look in the Menu
   button, alternatively many file managers or explorers allow to start a
   terminal through the "File" or "Tools" menu of the window. To apply or
   execute a command in the terminal, write the command (or paste with the
   simultaneously pressed Shift ⇧ Insert keys or the right or middle mouse
   button) and then press the ↲ Enter key. You can start any program or
   application from the terminal writing its name in lowercase. When typing
   commands, you can help the Tab. ↹ key to complete the names, and the up
   and down arrow keys to repeat or modify a previous command. To perform
   commands as SuperUser, first type su followed by the ↲ Enter key and then
   type the SuperUser password (note: nothing will be seen when writing for
   security reasons) followed by the ↲ Enter key. You can stop a program that
   is running on the terminal with the Q key, the Ctrl C combination, or the
   Ctrl D combination. It is recommended to end the terminal with the
   simultaneously pressed Ctrl D keys or the command exit followed by the
   ↲ Enter key. Important: in the terminal there is not "Undo".

How to give or receive help

   * Read the PicaLibre documentation, which is being expanded and improved.

   * For any questions (simple or complex questions, report errors and
   possible improvements, contributions,...) contact by writing to e-mail
   pica (a) picalibre.org (replace " (a) " with "@"), if possible in Spanish,
   English, Portuguese, French, Italian or Esperanto, although it is possible
   any that is translatable using LibreTranslate.

   * If you have a problem, contact by writing to e-mail pica (a)
   picalibre.org (replace " (a) " with "@") with the description of the
   problem, attaching the compressed file with all the important system
   information generated by PicaInfo application.

   * You can participate in the courses, workshops, meetings and installation
   sessions that we organize (some are in person, others are via
   videoconference).

   * Our time and money available for PicaLibre is little and we manage it as
   we think best. Please don't be upset if we delay in answering. If you want
   to contribute to improving the situation, you can help us financially
   (donate us, finance us, hire us,...). There are also non-financial ways to
   help us (spread and recommend PicaLibre, report errors and possible
   improvements, translate to eliminate language barriers, donate hardware
   that works with libre software, ... ). Therefore, there are many ways to
   help us, even if you have little computer knowledge. And of course you can
   also use PicaLibre and not make any contributions if you want.

    

   +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | Authorship: 2013-2026: Alexis Puente Montiel                           |
   | Except for specific elements that indicate another licence, this       |
   | document may be used freely with the condition of always preserving    |
   | (including derivatives) the acknowledgement of the original authorship |
   | and linking to https://picalibre.org as the source.                    |
   | Marks and logos related to PicaLibre may be used by anyone to refer to |
   | the official project, without indicating or suggesting endorsement by  |
   | the project.                                                           |
   +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
