A Trade-Free operating system based on Manjaro Linux.
We think is easier to use than MacOS, better than Windows, more customizable than Android, and more secure than iOS.
For Internet users, media editors/consumers, programmers, writers, designers, artists. Everyone!
KNOW IT
The top area is where active applications and other important settings are present. Extensions are little tools that integrate into the system and are normally present in this top bar. You can install and manage hundreds of such extensions.
In TROM-Jaro the top bar is a place for notifications, volume and audio devices control, date and calendar, WiFi and Bluetooth access, or access to the user’s settings; additionally shut down, lock, or reboot your computer. Whenever your system finds new updates, it will notify you in the same “top activity area”.
“On top of this” 🙂 you can hover with the mouse pointer anywhere on the top bar and scroll (up or down) to change the volume – just a little feature that may be useful to many.
This is the left-side bar where all of your favorite applications are located. You can easily add/remove/re-organize them from here (right click an icon for more options).
Not only that, but you can customize this Dock Bar in any way you want: you can move it to any corner of the screen, hide it in an “intelligent” mode, change its size and color, make it transparent, change what happens when you click a favorite application or add keyboard shortcuts to interact with the Dock. Pretty much make it the way you prefer.
To access these options simply right click the Dash (bottom of the Dock, the little “dots”), then “Dash to Dock Settings”.
The Dash is the place where you will find everything on your system. You can activate it by clicking the Dock Bar “dots” at the bottom of it (the Dash icon), or press the Windows or Command key on your keyboard. The first option will open all of your applications and from there you can sort them any way you want (in folders); second option (the keyboard keys shortcuts) will bring up the virtual screens (drag and drop windows between them). In both cases, activating the Dash will allow you to search for anything within your system.
In TROM-Jaro if you want to do something, then you probably have a word or two in mind. So, if you want to change some audio settings, simply open the Dash and start typing “audio” or “sound” and you’ll find them immediately. Want to install new software? Either search directly the name of the software you want to install, and TROM-Jaro will find it for you (then you can click and install), or search for “install” or “software” or both, to open the “software center”. Dash is the way you communicate with your computer, and anytime you want something just go there and start typing.
USE IT
If you want to change anything in/to TROM-Jaro you have 2 main tools:
Settings – access WiFi, Bluetooth, sound settings, change the background, language, power settings and so much more. That’s the main control center where you can access the computer’s account, and everything else in terms of “settings”.
Tweaks – at times it is difficult to tell Tweaks from Settings apart despite them being separated. You can see Tweaks as the tool that lets you customize your Operating System: change the theme, icons, fonts, what apps should start when you turn on your computer, and more.
TROM-Jaro comes packed with a few themes and icons, but you can install hundreds of them to customize your TROM-Jaro any way you prefer.
Unlike on other operating systems, in TROM-Jaro you can find all of your applications in one single place. No need to search the web, no need to use the Terminal. In “Add/Remove Software” simply search for the name of the app you want to install. Once found, select for install and Apply. You will see a popup showing you exactly what will be installed on your system – simply click “Commit”, add your password, and the installation will proceed. Search, Select, Apply, Commit. To uninstall do the same, select the installed application and “Apply”. If you are curious to see the “behind the scenes” processes when installing or uninstalling any applications, click “Details”.
Alternatively you can simply browse applications by categories or groups. In TROM-Jaro you have two main sources where the software comes from: repositories and AUR. The repositories contain software that is tested on Manjaro, and AUR only has software that is tested on Arch (what Manjaro is built upon) – however pretty much all the AUR software works on Manjaro (thus TROM-Jaro). Mind you, not all the applications in “Add/Remove Software” are trade-free. To install trade-free applications go to our APPS page.
In Linux you can mainly separate the “files” in 2 categories.
The Home: a place where all of your files and settings are stored. If (say) you install the Kdenlive video editor, it installs in “System”, but its settings are stored in “Home”. So, imagine you have this app installed and you do a lot of changes to it (tweak the interface, create your own effects, etc.). If you then uninstall it (it gets removed from the System), the settings remain in Home and will be there whenever you want to reinstall the app. This is perfect for backups since you can “detach” your Home directory from the rest of the System and back it up separately. As an example, if you backup all of your Home folder, then reinstall TROM-Jaro, you can restore your Home to the new installation and all of your settings will be in place, for your system and applications.
The System: a place that most normal users do not even know it exists :D, nor do they have any need to “mess” with it. The ones who know, need no explanation.
MASTER IT
In TROM-Jaro you don’t have to worry about updates. Others worry for you :). And so, whenever something gets updated (the system itself or an application), you’ll get a desktop notification and it is your choice if you want to update or not. The update process is fast and super easy, similar to installing an application. An up-to-date TROM-Jaro is always more functional and more secure. So we recommend keeping the system up-to-date.
Note: TROM-Jaro is based on a “rolling release” – meaning that you will get the latest Linux updates very very fast, which raises the possibility of errors (bugs) with the updates due to the amount of them. Because of that we reduced the updates to once a month to try and avoid such problems. You can change that from Add/Remove Software (click Menu and then Settings).
If you want a “fool-proof” operating system then spend 2 minutes after installing TROM-Jaro to set up the backups. After those 2 minutes you’ll forget that they exist, but they will “save your ass” at one point. We recommend 3 vital steps, using pre-installed TROM-Jaro tools:
1. Use Deja Dup to back up your entire Home folder: if you have enough storage space (like an external hard drive) then set up Deja Dup (called “Backups” in TROM-Jaro) to backup the entire Home directory once a day (and choose encrypted backups). Deja Dup is easy to navigate. If you don’t have enough storage space for backups, exclude some folders (maybe Videos, or Music) – up to you. Now Deja Dup will make an encrypted backup of your Home folder every day. Deja Dup is integrated into the system so you can simply right click any file on your computer and restore it to a previous version.
2. Use Timeshift to back up your System: by default TROM-Jaro creates a backup of your System using Timeshift before every system update, to make sure no update will break your system. However, you can also configure Timeshift to do regular backups the way you prefer. See the GIF to the right for how to set it up (a very simple 4 steps process).
The reason we recommend two types of backups is because it offers greater flexibility and control. Say you do something that breaks some parts of your System and want to restore only your system. Simply use Timeshift to restore the System. No reason to also restore the Files (Home).
3. Keep a USB drive with TROM-Jaro around: in case any update or something you do breaks your System in a way that you cannot boot into it, simply insert the TROM-Jaro USB drive, boot from it, and open Timeshift then click “restore” – choose the folder where you have the Timeshift backups, then choose a snapshot, and restore.
The Open Source community is filled with amazing people who are very happy to help everyone with their software-related issues (trade-free). We encourage you to always ask for help in case you need it. Because TROM-Jaro is basically a customized Manjaro, you can use Manjaro’s forum here to report any issue. Alternatively you can submit your issue to our TROM support here. Think about the fact that if you are trying to solve a problem, and are vocal about it on these online places, and you get the proper help to fix that problem, then other humans coming across the same issue will be able to find that solution. And so, your online reporting/involvement doesn’t only help you, it helps the entire community.
If you want to report any problem regarding a particular application it is best to report to the developers of that software. It is easy. In Add/Remove Software simply double-click an application to see more details about it. There you’ll find links to the AUR or GIT websites. Use any to report. Help the community!
