Hi Andrew,
One correction from another post, and a kind nudge before I work through
this later.
Someone suggested that the stand alone Linux box which will have no
installed screen reader or anything does not need video support.
First, the engineer who lives in Toronto, where I live, does not
experience sight loss, so needs that video support.
Second, while screen readers do not need monitors so to speak, they do
require video cards, so, yes I would care about this.
My note for you Andrew is this.
Neither my DOS computer, or my shellworld service is important to
installing a Linux on a different machine that will serve as a shell.
to compare, my employer, curtain up distribution,
www.curtainupdistribution.org
Uses dreamhost
www.dreamhost.com
who provide shells as a part of their hosting services..something I have
been accessing, almost daily, for more than a decade now.
I appreciate You profoundly Andy, but please do not make it harder for the
person local, but not Linux, to do this by making it about adaptive
technology.
Does that resonate?
My goal, for a non Linux, but very sighted engineer, is some recipe
instructions for installing a Debian console or shell, instead of a
graphical desktop.
You are still a prince too,
Kare
On Sat, 7 Nov 2026, Andrew M.A. Cater wrote:
On Sat, Nov 07, 2026 at 04:41:39PM -0500, Karen Lewellen wrote:
Hi all,
As I move closer to this effort, I am fielding questions / comments from the
engineer who will actually do the heavy lifting...but who has never
installed Linux before.
Hi Karen,
I suggest you try and find someone closer to you to help.
Let's try and break this down a fraction:
1. You have an existing system - running DOS, using Wordperfect and DECtalk
or another hardware voice synthesiser.
2. You've had an account with shellworld for many years. Shellworld
started prior to 2001 and has been providing text mode services for
many years. You are a happy user there and don't want to become a
Linux system administrator on your own account.
3. You reach your account at shellworld via SSH and (I'm guessing here)
a menu system at the far end?
4. You're now in a position where you need the services to run for you
- just as they did on shellworld - and you're hoping that a Linux
machine set up will help you.
Can you give us all a bit more clarity please / tell me whether I'm
right or not?
Having run this way for about 30 years, you have your own needs
and can't throw away the systems you've gotten used to but it's
a confusing world out there. Am I right?
An install designed for blind users *can* be done without the need
for sight / Braille. A voice will read out text. The voice is horrible
but if the install succeeds, then you end up with Linux speech output and
a Mate basic desktop.
The Debian-accessibility list is also worth asking - but the blind/VI
users there can also be opinionated/partial to their own solutions
sometimes.
All the very best, as ever,
Andy Cater
([email protected])
One of them I hope I answered correctly.
Debian still provides a variety of drivers for hardware, making it less
likely one need hunt down a Linux edition of things, is that correct?
I am referring to say onboard sound, and built in Ethernet infrastructure.
I feel this differs from say finding a packet driver for a card, something
often needed in DOS.
Second, are there specific install options clearly intended for the cli
interface?
Meaning, in the install process, you can choose which..desktop if You will,
is intended?
As a quick reminder, I will be accessing this machine via a creative ssh
door. My hope is to find a shell or cli environment, with the programs I
require using.
Does the question make sense?
Kare
