extrox – Answering the "Why" Behind OS Design
extrox is a Japanese-born, internationally-oriented custom MX distribution based on MX Linux and MX Arch Linux.
This article provides a detailed explanation of why the extrox design evolved into its final form, "A/3EF."
"If you're asked 'Why did you choose this design?' and your answer is 'Just because' or 'It felt good,'
you're not fit to be a designer,"
you're not fit to be a designer,"
one of Freja's mentors said. Based on this fundamental idea,
the final version of extrox linux, A/3EF, aimed to "give 'inevitability' to every design choice, clearly define a concept (the ideal state), and land on that."
Table of Contents
1 - The Essence of MX Linux / MX Arch Linux as its Base
2 - The Concept of extrox's Unique Layer in UI/UX
3 - The Intent Behind Various Design Implementations
4 - What We Aim For and Don't Aim For
5 - Conclusion
1 - The Essence of MX Linux / MX Arch Linux as its Base
It's well-known in the Linux community that the MX series is a distribution created by combining the previously existing Mepis and antiX.
However, this explanation often gives the impression of a "hybrid of M and X," leading to questions like, "Where does the concept lie?"
Therefore, from my perspective as someone who spent about seven years on the MX Linux Art team, I would like to simply state the essence of MX.
"There were developers who realized that the best way to achieve 'simply the best desktop Linux' was to combine and refine Mepis and antiX."
That's all there is to it, I believe. Of course, the definition of "best" here varies from person to person and from time to time to time.
It's well-known in the Linux community that the MX series is a distribution created by combining the previously existing Mepis and antiX.
However, this explanation often gives the impression of a "hybrid of M and X," leading to questions like, "Where does the concept lie?"
Therefore, from my perspective as someone who spent about seven years on the MX Linux Art team, I would like to simply state the essence of MX.
"There were developers who realized that the best way to achieve 'simply the best desktop Linux' was to combine and refine Mepis and antiX."
That's all there is to it, I believe. Of course, the definition of "best" here varies from person to person and from time to time to time.
So, what does "the best desktop Linux" mean in this context?
- Somewhat user-friendly, but not overly pandering to users.
- Not tied to a specific company.
- A design that retains the fundamental Linux structure of "CUI as the base, with a GUI on top."
- A versatile tool, MX Tools (strongly derived from Mepis), to deal with various problems that may arise in actual use.
- Bringing the "environment portability" inherited from antiX to users, and also offering the option of being freed from systemD by the sysVinit system.
- Not tied to a specific company.
- A design that retains the fundamental Linux structure of "CUI as the base, with a GUI on top."
- A versatile tool, MX Tools (strongly derived from Mepis), to deal with various problems that may arise in actual use.
- Bringing the "environment portability" inherited from antiX to users, and also offering the option of being freed from systemD by the sysVinit system.
Probably, the goal is roughly as described above. Another way to put it is "a well-crafted Debian/Arch fork."
That's why Freja decided to use MX as a base and "infuse and solidify his personal ideals into MX."
It wasn't simply because he happened to be on the MX Art team;
Freja considered many base options, even BSD UNIX as a candidate (!).
The dream of a BSD-based extrox never materialized because "audio filtering couldn't be implemented."
That's why Freja decided to use MX as a base and "infuse and solidify his personal ideals into MX."
It wasn't simply because he happened to be on the MX Art team;
Freja considered many base options, even BSD UNIX as a candidate (!).
The dream of a BSD-based extrox never materialized because "audio filtering couldn't be implemented."
2. The Concept of Extrox's Unique Layer in UI/UX
Extrox is often thought of as a strange modification of MX, but that's not actually the case.
Extrox is simply "MX itself, but with a replaced UI design, unique window management and window effects, and added audio filtering capabilities." Essentially, no other changes have been made.
It is a completely faithful "MX Respin" and "MX Arch Respin."
Extrox is often thought of as a strange modification of MX, but that's not actually the case.
Extrox is simply "MX itself, but with a replaced UI design, unique window management and window effects, and added audio filtering capabilities." Essentially, no other changes have been made.
It is a completely faithful "MX Respin" and "MX Arch Respin."
The concept behind its integration and overall picture is to "create an OS experience that soothes the mind and body, like a quiet, warm campfire, in the darkness of a user's life, in a harsh survival environment like a snowy winter."
This required a unique UI presentation and, above all, the audio filter—a weapon that directly appeals to the heart.
This required a unique UI presentation and, above all, the audio filter—a weapon that directly appeals to the heart.
3. The Intent Behind Various Design Implementations
- The Reason for the Darkness and the Consistent Orange Accent Color
As you might guess, it's meant to evoke the image of a campfire in the dark.
* **By default, the window color is cyan; in Emerald Theme Manager options, it's "pink, violet, or dark gray."
This cyan color is based on the "green light color" used in Japanese traffic signals.
It's a color design that psychologically conveys to the user that they are able to act, making them think, "It's okay to go."
* **Pink** is a vivid color used for users who seek excitement on their desktop.
* **Violet** was the default color in version 2.x. Violet is a color loved by artists. It represents the tranquility of art.
* **Dark gray** is an achromatic, inconspicuous color that also gives a professional impression. It is suitable for users who seek a stoic look with minimal assertiveness.
- The Reason for the Darkness and the Consistent Orange Accent Color
As you might guess, it's meant to evoke the image of a campfire in the dark.
* **By default, the window color is cyan; in Emerald Theme Manager options, it's "pink, violet, or dark gray."
This cyan color is based on the "green light color" used in Japanese traffic signals.
It's a color design that psychologically conveys to the user that they are able to act, making them think, "It's okay to go."
* **Pink** is a vivid color used for users who seek excitement on their desktop.
* **Violet** was the default color in version 2.x. Violet is a color loved by artists. It represents the tranquility of art.
* **Dark gray** is an achromatic, inconspicuous color that also gives a professional impression. It is suitable for users who seek a stoic look with minimal assertiveness.
* **Reasons for adopting the "Orchis" window theme**
It is the most universal and minimalist theme.
It is the most universal and minimalist theme.
* **Reasons for adopting IBM Plex Sans (JP)**
This font stands out among fonts that enable beautiful Japanese display, and it gives a somewhat "mechanical, old-computer impression."
This font stands out among fonts that enable beautiful Japanese display, and it gives a somewhat "mechanical, old-computer impression."
We adopted this approach based on the principle that "computers should never stray from the essence of computing."
・Reasons for adopting a limited version of Compiz:
Windows is advanced in both window management and window effects, and many PC users are accustomed to it.
Windows is advanced in both window management and window effects, and many PC users are accustomed to it.
Windows suddenly appearing with a "bang!" or abrupt window transitions that make it difficult to remember where you put things.
Freja felt these were major drawbacks in Linux other than KDE.
The only window manager that could achieve a similar behavior was Compiz.
・Reasons for the distinctive window design:
It's literally a "clearly enclosed" design. The "natural darkness" of inactive windows has been meticulously adjusted,
making it very easy to see which windows are active and which are inactive.
making it very easy to see which windows are active and which are inactive.
This reflects Freja's "sense of light and shadow," honed from taking nature photographs in his youth.
The design intention is to "vacuum-pack windows in see-through, colorful plastic."
Regarding this, there's no other way to put it than "just for fun." These are playful elements. They provide a break from the overly serious OS.
* Reasons for the arrangement of Docklite icons:
Basic elements such as desktop display, file manager, terminal, text, and calculator are laid out on the left.
This is followed by wallpaper settings and audio filters using Easyeffects. Then come the lifestyle icons: music player, browser, and PhotoGIMP.
The MX Package Manager or pamac is on the far right, easily clickable.
Display settings will be a great help when you're using a display while on the go.
Basic elements such as desktop display, file manager, terminal, text, and calculator are laid out on the left.
This is followed by wallpaper settings and audio filters using Easyeffects. Then come the lifestyle icons: music player, browser, and PhotoGIMP.
The MX Package Manager or pamac is on the far right, easily clickable.
Display settings will be a great help when you're using a display while on the go.
* Reasons for the arrangement and design of the top menu bar:
"Main menu, day of the week, time, date, month, year, logout"—easy to understand. And yet, unique.
The icons on the right are kept to a minimum, with the sound icon placed on the far right for quick volume reductions, etc.
"Main menu, day of the week, time, date, month, year, logout"—easy to understand. And yet, unique.
The icons on the right are kept to a minimum, with the sound icon placed on the far right for quick volume reductions, etc.
* Reasons for the extrox logo:
It's inspired by the product design of office equipment. The solid color clearly indicates, "This is the top left."
It's inspired by the product design of office equipment. The solid color clearly indicates, "This is the top left."
The upper left is considered the first part of the screen that humans look at. Magazine cover designs also follow this design principle.
The font is composed of MX's built-in fonts, creating a sense of unity with the OS, and even the clock font is the same.
* Boot Animation
This is "just for fun," designed to make waiting a little more enjoyable and foster a sense of attachment.
Of course, it can be turned off in MX Boot Options.
This is "just for fun," designed to make waiting a little more enjoyable and foster a sense of attachment.
Of course, it can be turned off in MX Boot Options.
* Audio Filter Design Intent
We spent six years immersed in development, and almost all of that time was spent listening to the sound and fine-tuning it by turning knobs.
Achieving the ideal sound image required sound quality adjustments that were like assembling a "flexible, three-dimensional structure."
We realized that changing even one parameter affected the whole, resulting in an almost infinite amount of adjustment work, but
over several years, we arrived at the optimal solution from that infinite number of combinations.
We spent six years immersed in development, and almost all of that time was spent listening to the sound and fine-tuning it by turning knobs.
Achieving the ideal sound image required sound quality adjustments that were like assembling a "flexible, three-dimensional structure."
We realized that changing even one parameter affected the whole, resulting in an almost infinite amount of adjustment work, but
over several years, we arrived at the optimal solution from that infinite number of combinations.
We believe we have achieved a sound character that maximizes "studio enjoyment" and "musical pleasure" for the two goals of film and music.
Using lsp-plugins and calf-plugins, two presets—movie and music—can be easily applied with a single touch.
4 - What we aim for and don't aim for
Aiming for: Peace and joy for the user, and a little self-reliance.
Not aiming for: Controlling and pampering the user.
5 - In conclusion
This distribution, which may seem silly at first glance, was designed with these intentions in mind.
We hope this "(MX) Extra Orthodox" OS will enrich your daily life a little and provide a PC environment where you can "take a breather."
This distribution, which may seem silly at first glance, was designed with these intentions in mind.
We hope this "(MX) Extra Orthodox" OS will enrich your daily life a little and provide a PC environment where you can "take a breather."