What OS do you like for digital signage/kiosk/dashboard only?

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.

56 points · 15 comments · view on lemmy.world

15 Comments

rtxn@lemmy.world · 28 pts · 296d

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.

retro@infosec.pub · 12 pts · 296d (1 reply)

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.world · 4 pts · 295d

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

jrgd@lemmy.zip · 10 pts · 296d (1 reply)

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 · -1 pts · 296d

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.

Kaes3kuch3n@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 295d

I’ve been using chilipie-kiosk for a few projects. It‘s easy to set up and I‘ve never encountered any problems with it.

It‘s basically just a lightweight Debian installation which launches Chrome in fullscreen mode on startup, opening either the preconfigured URL or the one that was open at the end of the last session.

owenfromcanada@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 296d (1 reply)

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.lol · 2 pts · 296d

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.

zorflieg@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 295d

RPi Digital Signage is really good. Binaryemotions.com. it's built thoughtfully for a bunch of different situations. The kiosk mode paired with some sort of start page would work.

bluGill@fedia.io · 3 pts · 296d

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).

Cyber@feddit.uk · 3 pts · 295d (3 replies)

Microsoft Windows surely?

/s

ikidd@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 295d (1 reply)

The number of kiosks that are stll Windows NT would make you shudder.

metaStatic@kbin.earth · 1 pts · 294d

hey, I didn't memorize my NT key for nothing

lka1988@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 295d

Windows 7

ikidd@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 295d

I like Fully_Kiosk on android, but it's paid.

Eh, I just saw you weren't meaning a tablet. That's what most people kiosk on.