Putting together a new Linux HTPC build and looking for a 10ft UI WM/DE to use with it. Essentially, it would be a launcher for a few PWAs (Emby, Netflix, etc) as well as Steam and maybe some emulators. Navigation would likely be a wireless keyboard and, if absolutely necessary, mouse (goal is to get a bluetooth remote working and use that, but that’s the next phase).
I haven’t used Kodi since it was still Xbox Media Center (running on an actual Xbox lol), but would it be a good choice? I used it forever ago as the dashboard for my modded Xbox, and it was great. However, for this, I’d rather not run Kodi, if possible, since Emby already covers those use-cases.
If there’s no “dedicated” one, any recommendations for which regular DE might be best modifiable/extendable to work for that purpose?
I used to use Kodi, worked really well.
Asked Perplexity, got this back, seems right.
When choosing a Linux distribution for a Home Theater PC (HTPC), several options are tailored for media consumption:
LibreELEC: This is a lightweight, fast, and easy-to-use media center distro based on Kodi. It’s designed for dedicated media center PCs and supports various media formats. LibreELEC is simple to set up and runs smoothly on older hardware[5].
OSMC: Another Kodi-based distro, OSMC is known for its automatic media library updates and support for remote control devices. It is designed to be lightweight and efficient, making it ideal for media playback[5].
OpenELEC: Similar to LibreELEC, OpenELEC is a “just enough operating system” designed for running Kodi. It is suitable for embedding into a media center setup[6].
Ubuntu MATE: Although not specifically a media center distro, Ubuntu MATE is user-friendly and can be configured with media center software like Kodi or Plex. It offers flexibility and stability for a media center environment[5].
Linux Mint: Known for its ease of use, Linux Mint can also be used as a media center with additional software installations. It provides a full desktop experience with the option to install Kodi[7].
Each of these options provides different levels of customization and ease of use, making them suitable for various HTPC needs.
Citations: [1] Is there an ideal distro for a HTPC? - Tom’s Hardware Forum https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/is-there-an-ideal-distro-for-a-htpc.2409938/ [2] Distro and desktop for htpc - Linux - Level1Techs Forums https://forum.level1techs.com/t/distro-and-desktop-for-htpc/93738 [3] Suggest Linux distro for a media PC? : r/linuxquestions - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxquestions/comments/18f7mk3/suggest_linux_distro_for_a_media_pc/ [4] Best Linux Media Center Distros for Your Home Theater PC - Tecmint https://www.tecmint.com/linux-media-center-distros/ [5] Best Linux Media Center Distros for Your Home Theater PC https://www.tutorialspoint.com/best-linux-media-center-distros-for-your-home-theater-pc [6] Your favorite HTPC OS - PCPartPicker https://sa.pcpartpicker.com/forums/topic/123750-your-favorite-htpc-os [7] Linux recommendation for htpc? :: Hardware and Operating Systems https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/11/3047182953359355429/?l=czech [8] Best linux HTPC distro I can easily create a DVD ISO for? - AVS Forum https://www.avsforum.com/threads/best-linux-htpc-distro-i-can-easily-create-a-dvd-iso-for.3305964/
Looks like Kodi it is, lol. Which is fine, I guess. I should be able to customize it and remove the unneeded options.
My current setup only really runs Emby and Snapcast, so I haven’t had to deal with any kind of launcher. It just boots into Openbox, launches FF full screen, and loads Emby. I’m aiming to add some new features to the new build since it’s more capable than the old Core2 Duo laptop I dug out of the basement lol.