Ask HN: Minimalist OS to run a WebApp?

6 points·Raed667··7 comments

I'm looking into building a "greeting screen" web application that just displays some data in full-screen.

I was thinking about system requirements,and I came up with this:

- OS: Debian

- Electron: Wrapper for the web app

- Hardware: Raspberry-pi or an equivalent cheap solution.

Does HN have any better insights or previous experiences?

We are running chromebits. Runs on ChromeOS, simple to build a 'kiosk app' which automatically starts on startup. Costs more than RPI.

Very easy to lock up, easily administered (reboot/screenshot) from the management console. We have a few hundreds of them out there, works like a charm and pretty much no work.

I'd advise against the likes of RPI's if you need a few and remote manage them. Deploying new app versions is very easy and the thing just works. Don't underestimate the freedom it gives to not have to do any damn thing on the box, ever. When working at scale the time you save is enormous.

Why Electron, you could ditch it and just use Go. Works fine on ARM and has all the tools for web apps, APIs, etc.

I'm just looking to display a browser window in fullscreen (no interaction).

The server is remote

so.. you're running debian minimal with no window manager then just invoking chromium via commandline and browsing to a web app?

Exactly, That's the smallest (AKA cheapest) setup I can think of.

you might also try flint os, the active chromium os build

https://pimylifeup.com/raspberry-pi-flint-os/

or running a light wm like xmonad / i3wm instead of just running from command line using x depending on the functionality you want http://www.alandmoore.com/blog/2011/11/05/creating-a-kiosk-w...

Alpine with Xorg plus your Electron app, on a Pi.

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