Based on Debian 13 (Trixie)
Stable and secure
Tangential DE is a customized installation of Debian, "the universal operating system." It uses a slow, traditional release model that emphasizes stability and security. It'll run on almost anything, but it might not have the most current software.
You can use Tangential if you want . . . but make sure you know what you're doing. It's a hobby project. There's no tech support and no warranty. If it breaks your computer or vandalizes your mailbox, I'm sorry, but I'm not going to buy you a new one.
Installation
Installation method for standard, modern x86-64 computers and virtual machines
- Preparation:
- Download Debian 13.6 Xfce live ISO:
Torrent | Direct | Release Notes - Create installation media (if installing on real hardware)
- Start the machine from the installer media (or ISO file)
- Download Debian 13.6 Xfce live ISO:
- Run Installer Script:
- Open a terminal window
- Download and execute the Tangential DE installer script using this or a similar command:
curl -LO https://tangential.link/tande; chmod +x ./tande; ./tande
- The installer will open; check for the Tangential DE name and logo – If the installer doesn't have Tangential DE branding, the customizations weren't applied!
- Proceed through the installation
- All done!
- You can now reboot into Tangential DE
Installation method for ARM64 computers and virtual machines (Mac VMs, SBCs etc.)
ARM64 devices are not yet supported (stay tuned).
View or download the customizations:
installer script | pre-install package | post-install package
Xfce4 Desktop
It's good
GUI Pkg. Mgmt.
It's easy
Sane Defaults
It's normal
Useful Software
It's ready
Default Settings
Scott has strong opinions about these things.
Mint Aqua Theme
From Linux Mint
Boot Splash
Plymouth enabled!
Better Defaults
Normal, modern taskbar
Light By Default
In most stubborn apps
Password Asterisks
Feedback in sudo!
Flatpak Enabled
Software options galore
Manage software with GNOME Software; native and Flatpak packages supported.
Xfce4 with a normal, modern taskbar and the Mint-Y-Aqua theme from Linux Mint.
Modified default Xfce4 Terminal profile; 115x30 characters & always-visible tabs.
Use Xed text editor from Linux Mint instead of Mousepad from Xfce4.
Thunar (file manager) set to details mode; Git integration enabled.
Password feedback enabled in sudo. The aster****s are so beautiful. I love them.
Tangential branding for the boot splash, menu icon, and more.
Override most apps that default to dark modes, including GIMP, VSCode, and Shotcut.
Remove or hide some useless cruft apps included in the base distro.
Package Install Sets
Core Applications (required)
Firefox
It's a good web browser
Parole
It's a good media player
SpeedCrunch
High-precision calculator
Betterbird
Email, calendar, etc.
Additional Font Packages (preselected)
Google Core
ChromeOS Core, Noto, etc.
Microsoft Core
Arial, Times New Roman, etc.
Everyday Applications (preselected)
Creative Applications (preselected)
Audacity
Audio editing tool
Blender
3D and animation
Darktable
Photo processing workflow
Scribus
Desktop publishing
Scientific Applications (preselected)
Google Earth Pro
Satellite imagery
Gramps
Genealogy software
Siril
Astro-photo processor
Stellarium
Astronomy software
Internet Applications (preselected)
Google Chrome
It’s still the standard
KDE Falkon
Fast, modern browser
Microsoft Edge
It’s a browser
TorBrowser
Super-private browser
Software Development (preselected)
Real Hardware Apps (not preselected)
Deskflow
Keyboard & mouse sharing
VirtualBox
System virtualization tool
Questions
I hope you read the warning! This is a hobby project that comes with no tech support and no warranty. I can't really help you. However, there are countless resources on the Internet to help you learn about GNU/Linux operating systems and troubleshoot problems.
Tangential DE is a customized version of Debian 13 "Trixie." Resources and instructions for that system should work with no significant changes. It also includes selected packages from Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) 7 "Gigi," including the Mint themes and Xed editor. Resources for Debian-derived systems like Ubuntu and its Xfce4-based Xubuntu flavor may also be helpful. Here are some links:
- Debian Wiki
- Debian User Forums
- Ubuntu and Linux Mint resources (might not apply 100%):
- LMDE User Forums
- Ubuntu Wiki
- User forums for Ubuntu and Xubuntu
- Ask Ubuntu Q&A
There are many possible reasons why Tangential DE could fail to install.
You may wish to consult the Debian GNU/Linux Installation Guide for information and troubleshooting tips. Troubleshooting can be difficult because the logging options are currently limited; this is a work in progress.
If you want to use Tangential DE as a multi-boot system (for example, to run Windows and Linux on the same machine), you can . . . but it's not tested and that's not really what it's intended for. Scott is only using Tangential DE in virtual machines or as a machine's sole operating system.
If you decide to do it anyway, refer to the base system's guidance. It should work . . . maybe . . . no promises.
Tangential DE is based on Debian. Its primary software management system is apt, which has been preconfigured with the official repositories (main, contrib, and non-free), the backports repository, and third-party repositories from Google, Kopia, Microsoft, Linux Mint, Mozilla, Oracle, and Zotero. The system also includes the Flatpak package manager preconfigured with the Flathub repository.
From the command line, you can manage native packages with apt and Flatpak packages with flatpak. From the graphical interface, you can manage both native and Flatpak packages with GNOME Software. You can also manage native packages (but not Flatpack packages) with Synaptic.
VeraCrypt is installed as a non-repository apt package because it is not available in the repositories or Flathub. If you care about keeping it up-to-date, you will have to manage that manually. I know it's annoying. I don't know what it's not in the repos.
Don't worry. Scott Bradford will never die. . . . Though I guess he could lose interest in the project.
Tangential DE is just Debian with some tweaks. Don't think of it as a "true" distribution, but as a customized installation of the one it was built on. You'll keep getting updates as long as the base distribution makes them available. If you want to "revert" to the base system, you can:
- Set the Plymouth bootsplash theme to something other than Tangential.
- Uninstall the "tande-custom" package.
- Remove any "unofficial" repositories and packages.
This should leave the system in a working state with nothing but residual settings from Tangential DE, which can be deleted if you come across them or if they cause any issues.
Yes! Tangential DE adds three executable command-line scripts in /usr/bin:
- jfu – EXPERIMENTAL, use with care! – Just f***ing update software from all supported package systems
- tangential-apply-branding – Sets the system name and icon to Tangential DE (runs as an automated process on startup)
- tangential-reset-user-defaults – Re-applies the default user customizations apps (may overwrite some of your preferences!)
That's not a question. And what's wrong with you? Are you some kind of sociopath? I do not understand why people want to go back to the dark ages (heh) of computing. But go ahead, set things up however you want; all the theme settings are adjustable.
Tangential DE will override some apps that stubbornly default to dark mode no matter how the system is set up. These include Blender, GIMP, Shotcut, Visual Studio Code, and others. When possible, I configured them to follow the user's preferences. When that option wasn't available, I set it to use light mode . . . but you can always change it in the app's settings.