Taprobane GNU/Linux is a distribution based on Debian. It is a live CD and also can be installed onto a hard disk. Primary focus of Taprobane is to bring convenience without insulting the intelligence of the user.
In a way, Taprobane is highly tweaked installation of Debian with a careful selection of packages and settings. However, we try to minimize the number of unnecessary tuning, so that it is close to vanilla Debian as much as possible. For example, we don't change the icon of the K menu, because it doesn't add any convenience nor a feature.
Taprobane includes classic UNIX utilities and features. Its shell has got almost everything to follow the UPE book. We have ported the kernel SUN12x22 font to X for the amusement of those who love it on the framebuffer console. Users (including most Taprobane developers) who are at home in a shell will find all their favorites such as lynx, wget, traceroute, nmap, finger and 101+ others at hand.
We are also trying to minimize the number of steps (clicks or commands) required to do typical tasks. For example, after plugging in a USB flash disk or a digital camera, the next very likely action is to access files on it, so we have enabled creating a desktop icon which reduces the number of required steps down to one click.
Yes. You can make any number of copies of Taprobane GNU/Linux and distribute them (and even sell them, see 4 below).
Yes. There are two ways in which you can modify Taprobane: the distribution or the components (or both, of course).
You can modify the distribution (also known as `remastering') by adding/removing packages, changing configuration etc. Only requirement (in simple terms) is to clearly indicate that the resulting distribution is no longer official Taprobane GNU/Linux. For precise details check out the Artistic License 2.0.
Individual Taprobane components (e.g.: installer) are released under the GNU GPL, and you are free to modify them. If you distribute modified taprobane components, they also should be made available under the GNU GPL. See GPL FAQ for more details.
Non Taprobane components (e.g.: Linux kernel, GNU tools, Mozilla Firefox browser) have their own licenses and some may not allow modifications, and some may not require modifications to be published when distributing.
Yes. Like any other GNU/GPL software, you can sell copies Taprobane GNU/Linux. It's not necessary to get permission from us.
Yes. You may use Taprobane GNU/Linux to make money. ;-)
Taprobane is a name for Sri Lanka, a beautiful island in the Indian Ocean, which is also known as Ceylon.
When some Indo-Aryans from North India first migrated to Sri Lanka about 2500 years ago, they noticed the copper colored sand on the beach and named it Tambapanni (Thamba for copper). Ptolemy's map of "Island of Taprobane and other surrounding islands" (150 A.D.) is the earliest surviving map of the Sri Lanka. Origins of the word Taprobane is very likely to be Tambapanni. More details and the map itself can be found here.
