For instance an RPI that just boots straight to a full screen browser with nothing else. I’ve used Magic Mirror but I want to switch to a web based dashboard instead.

Edit to clarify: Specifically talking about a cheap computer and monitor setup, not a tablet and touch controls won’t matter.

  • bluGill@fedia.io
    2·
    19 hours ago

    I have a pi3 with a 20" touchscreen that I’m using. Raspbian booting to magic mirror. It works, but Magic Mirror is slow bloated/slow that I’m not happy with it. I’m about ready to make my own QT based signage - I suspect it will be much more performant as well as more flexible. Still it is a lot of work and so I hesitate to bother (even if version one could be done in a day - I have enough other projects).

  • owenfromcanada@lemmy.caEnglish
    31·
    19 hours ago

    I’ve used Armbian and DietPi. Currently running a magic mirror on a Rock64 and a NAS on an ODROID HC4. Of the two OSes, I think I’d recommend Armbian. Skip installing a DE and just get a basic X session with a simple web browser.

    Note that MagicMirror is web based, so the setup steps for putting up a web browser would be similar.

    • null@piefed.nullspace.lolEnglish
      2·
      17 hours ago

      I do exactly this with Armbian and an Orange Pi Zero 3 for a little Home Assistant display.

      Autostart a browser in kiosk-mode on boot. Nice and simple.

      I also made an image of that SD card if I ever need to set up another.

  • retro@infosec.pubEnglish
    9·
    13 hours ago

    If you can get your head around it, NixOS is perfect for this. It’s what we use at work. You configure chromium to open full screen on a certain webpage, instant dashboard with next to no overhead.

    • tux7350@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      9 hours ago

      Ooo I do love me some Nix modules. Any particular options to look out for in order to configure something like that?

      Edit:

      It’s programs.chromium.extraOpts isnt it? Lol

  • rtxn@lemmy.worldEnglish
    19·
    19 hours ago

    At work, we use PiSignage for a large overhead screen. It’s based on Debian and uses a fullscreen Firefox running in the labwc compositor. The developer advertises a management server (cloud or self-hosted) to manage multiple connected devices, but it’s completely optional (superfluous in my opinion) and the standalone web UI is perfectly usable.

  • jrgd@lemmy.zipEnglish
    8·
    16 hours ago

    Realistically, any LTS distro from a netinstaller or minimal image that can use a kiosk compositor like cage. So, the usual suspects of Debian, OpenSUSE, AlmaLinux, RockyLinux (or a derivative of one if the native distro doesn’t support Raspberry Pi). Then you just have cage open the browser of choice on startup (e.g. chromium --kiosk <url>) and you have a lightweight and relatively secure web kiosk.

    • bluGill@fedia.io
      35·
      19 hours ago

      Cage is not what I want from a kiosk. I want window management, I just want a few fixed windows in fixed positions. Sometimes I want to rotate between a few windows. I’m running Magicmirror now which gives what I want, but it is too slow and too locked into the everything is a web app model.