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by julianc 4762 days ago
Looks nice and I like the whole privacy-focused ideology, however isn't this just an operating system with a control panel that easily allows you to install programs using a graphical interface vs. the command line? You know, like webmin/virtualmin, cpanel, etc.?

I suppose it makes a lot more sense to install a os + control panel on a device such as the rpi than a webserver (like using XBMC on a HTPC), so your project may have a future :)

Good luck!

2 comments

It is an operating system with a control panel, but the control panel is/will be a lot more comprehensive than Webmin or analogous server management apps. Whereas Webmin gives you a web interface with which to manage your server, if you don't understand how Apache/nginx/etc work then you still won't be able to add your own website, for example. If you have no idea about mail relays, virtual domains and so on, you probably will be way over your head if you try to host your own email. Genesis grinds the learning curve down as much as possible, by allowing websites (or other plugins like email/XMPP and so on) to be added with wizards and non-complicated language. Closer to Zentyal's web administration systems than that of Webmin. But it still represents a big improvement over how Zentyal works when we are just talking about personal use.
> however isn't this just an operating system with a control panel

That's a big "just". If it allows someone privacy-minded to install their own mail/XMPP servers with one click, it moves the line from "only techies get privacy" to "anyone with $40 and a few minutes to spare gets privacy".

I applaud this project, well done.