I created a Rufus alternative for linux!
Posted by Significant-Tone-121@reddit | linux | View on Reddit | 87 comments
I noticed that there was not a single Rufus alternative that functioned the same way as Rufus, yes there is ventoy, balena etcher, but nothing that worked for everything like Rufus does. So, I created PyFlash!! Please spread the news that it exists, and it is still in beta so please submit bug reports and test it out if you would like!
Marce7a@reddit
Is this dead?
Longjumping-Ad5863@reddit
It would be best to convert the app in a TUI app
sloth_cowboy@reddit
I wish someone would make a dimmdrive alternative for linux
MelioraXI@reddit
I just use Ventoy or fedora media writer.
XOmniverse@reddit
I think a lot of people don't know that Fedora Media Writer works with non-Fedora images.
the_abortionat0r@reddit
But Ventoy makes these obsolete
steruY@reddit
Weren't there big concerns about ventoy's security?
Jaba2711@reddit
Sometimes Ventoy doesn't work for me.
MelioraXI@reddit
Yeah, I imagine there is some misunderstanding cause it's mainly for downloading and flashing Fedora Workstation but can use any ISO, though not tested with Windows ISO.
The few times Ventoy doesn't cut it, it worked instead. The ISO that usually gives me a hard time is CachyOS and Bluefin, on Ventoy.
namtabmai@reddit
I guess that it's an app that is targetted at people that have previously used Rufus but as someone that never has I've no idea what this does differently to everything or why I'd consider using it.
Significant-Tone-121@reddit (OP)
Unlike Balena Etcher, it should be able to create windows bootable USBs.
SeaRutabaga5492@reddit
etcher works with windows images. you really have no idea what you’re doing.
please consider contributing to already existing open source projects before commiting your useless ai slop that nobody will use.
Significant-Tone-121@reddit (OP)
https://files.catbox.moe/1wqzcu.png
I think you might not know what you're doing? If you know how to flash windows images with balena etcher by all means tell me, and also I made it clear it is AI slop in the title it's just a concept I wanted to pitch to see if anyone had done it already etc.
Marce7a@reddit
Balena apparently is spyware now
Spuxilet@reddit
AI slop
HyperSnufkin@reddit
Don’t care if you used AI, great project - keep up the good work man!
Elementatus@reddit
Once you manually re-code it, I WILL donate to the project. Keep up the motivation man. Good project! I was just wandering about smth lile this.
Significant-Tone-121@reddit (OP)
Wow thank you! It will probably be recoded in a few months :)
Liarus_@reddit
MichaelTunnell@reddit
and
- Fedora Media Writer
- Mint Stick (Linux Mint)
FuckHumans_WriteCode@reddit
And doesn't MX Linux have a bespoke "Live USB maker" too?
New-Crew-9321@reddit
Opensuse imagewriter
HKayn@reddit
All the code is in a single file and the commits have been made through the GitHub website.
I'm going to assume this is vibecoded, and I'm not trusting this with my drives ever.
Significant-Tone-121@reddit (OP)
Sorry I'm new to GitHub. AI did "assist" with it and I'm not by any means forcing you to use it but I just created it for it to be helpful. It is meant to be one file so its easily portable just like how Rufus is a single exe file. I have tested it and it is safe for drives and utilizes the built in linux commands to reformat drives.
DustyAsh69@reddit
We get it but the program that you have created is a lot more technical than what AI can be trusted with. I wouldn't want to use it with my drives as well.
Significant-Tone-121@reddit (OP)
I tested debian netinstaller with my drive, it worked perfectly. I do know what you mean and I was worried it would mess up when I was testing it tbh.
Offbeatalchemy@reddit
Then cool, you should disclose that AI was used in it's development and how. I understand you're trying to be helpful but there's tons of mistrust is new software right now because most of it is being vibecoded and who knows what other can of worms lying underneith. We have no idea how much of this was your python skills or if this was all "assisted".
People who dislike vibecoded apps can avoid it, the people who don't mind can try it and everyone can move on.
Significant-Tone-121@reddit (OP)
I will edit the post and add it to the README. Thank you for being honest and calm about this!
NeilHush@reddit
My only alternative to Rufus is all in one file and default in every distro. It's called cat.
Significant-Tone-121@reddit (OP)
whats that
NeilHush@reddit
cat distro. iso > /dev/whatever
Only note that /dev/whatever shell not be mounted.
It never fails.
Significant-Tone-121@reddit (OP)
Does it work for windows ISOs?
Marce7a@reddit
Please add windows ISO scripts like: No online account No tpm because this is the best function of rufus
Latlanc@reddit
Is this gui for dd?
iAmHidingHere@reddit
It claims to be dd like. It could benefit from not being a single file.
ThatsALovelyShirt@reddit
Why would it need to be more than a single file? The python script doesn't utilize any libraries that aren't included in most system python installations from what I can see. You can just run it directly.
iAmHidingHere@reddit
It would improve the readibility. It can still be packaged as one file.
WaitForItTheMongols@reddit
Why would it be more readable to need to jump around between various files, rather than having it all in one place?
Damglador@reddit
Because clicking on the sidebar to go to another file is considerably easier than scrolling past hundreds of lines and hoping you don't miss what you need. Making comments to mark sections is also somewhat of an option, but still worse than just splitting the file.
No_Intern3891@reddit
Wait so people are pathologically alergic to grep?
Damglador@reddit
It's just inefficient when you have to jump a bunch through your codebase
Significant-Tone-121@reddit (OP)
What do you mean?
iAmHidingHere@reddit
It would improve readibility.
Significant-Tone-121@reddit (OP)
It does more than dd, it has all of the formats Rufus has.
Black-Mack@reddit
That's cool! But from the glance I had, I'd like to tell you that:
Also, thank you for not making some AI slop.
Awkward_Tradition@reddit
About that...
Black-Mack@reddit
You came after he edited the post and said he used AI to judge me now?
Awkward_Tradition@reddit
/facepalm
WaitForItTheMongols@reddit
Like it or not, triple quotes is the only way to make a multi line comment in Python. This is officially endorsed.
yvrelna@reddit
It's also a docstring.
Black-Mack@reddit
TIL that. Thanks man!
3rssi@reddit
To me, Balena Etcher and Ventoy are not the same.
Balena is to flash isos on USB drives; while Ventoy is an iso for usb sticks so that from now on, isos on that stick can be booted without any flashing
(not sure this sentence is very clear, but I do hope so)
awkwardjonftw@reddit
Slopcode
YoYoMamaIsSoFAT32@reddit
Does it support windows isos? Also can u add the windows installation options that Rufus has thank you
D_A_K@reddit
sick, more AI slop
UnixCodex@reddit
only dildos care about if something was written with AI. if it works, who gives a shit. get over yourselves. I'm a seasoned developer of 30 years and now use AI in all of my development.
heyd00d3@reddit
I've been into computers since my childhood, but my coding knowledge is only a bit further than a normal person. For a couple of weeks, (after being on the opposite side of ai slop things) I decided to create my own project. The project is about my students. They login the mobile website and solve the problems that I created, so that I can follow their improvements. And I can also use the database in different ways.
It's been a couple of weeks and the project is almost done. Maybe next month, I will be able to publish it and it works like charm. If I have paid for this project, it would cost half of my salary and the project is getting delayed everyday. Testing and feedback processes are getting annoying.
Thanks to vibecoding, I can develop my mobile website on my own and in my leisure time. By the way, I always inspect which code does what, how does it work. But I don't have enough time & energy to create codes from scratch.
Significant-Tone-121@reddit (OP)
Thank you.
leandrolnh@reddit
Well, there is USBImager:
https://gitlab.com/bztsrc/usbimager
deviled-tux@reddit
Fedora Media Writer exists
Significant-Tone-121@reddit (OP)
That doesn't support windows ISOs though ;)
XOmniverse@reddit
https://old.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/1rkq4qg/i_created_a_rufus_alternative_for_linux/o8ny53r/
Significant-Tone-121@reddit (OP)
To be clear that is a link to my post but on a different website correct?
betabeat@reddit
Old reddit is just the...old format for reddit.
Not a different site.
C5-O@reddit
Tbh every time I've tried using that I've ended up using something else instead. I can't remember a single time that fedora media writer has just worked for me.
deviled-tux@reddit
file bugs :-(
I’ve used it successfully in the past
ghanadaur@reddit
I have to say, i have no issue with “for personal use” AI coding and learning. But using it to publish an app for general use is a bit ick from my perspective. These AI are trained on others hard work and coding and no attribution is possible. Its basically stealing their code to make an app for you. Sorry.
WindyMiller2006@reddit
What does this do that Ventoy doesn't?
Significant-Tone-121@reddit (OP)
It can flash onto the USB drive instead of just mounting an ISO. To be honest it is useless AI slop and when I am a more advanced python coder I will come back to this concept and make it even better than Rufus.
Euphoric-Bunch1378@reddit
Give us today our daily slopware
neTHer12O8@reddit
It has incredible potential. I will use it for future installations. Does it also allow you to bypass Windows requirements?
Significant-Tone-121@reddit (OP)
Sadly I haven't implemented the ISO customization that Rufus has yet, that will come soon though. In the meantime you can install windows 10 and then use FlyOOBE/Flyby11 to update. Also, the windows 10 installer allows for the creation of a local account.
loidforger101@reddit
But why? I mean if we already have Rufus This is neither criticism nor mockery I'm a newbie who is starting to get curious about Linux and Open Source community
RoundTradition9634@reddit
Okay. I am going to be as nice as possible.
RUFUS. ISN'T. AVAILABLE. ON. LINUX.
riklaunim@reddit
You should work on the UI. Lacks paddings, alignment and some good look - it's nowhere near Rufus. And there is no feature parity from what I see, as Rufus can download and create various bootable configs.
Significant-Tone-121@reddit (OP)
Thank you for your feedback! I will work on the UI and see what I can do on the feature parity. My main idea was to create something that had the ability to make Windows USBs and also be able to reformat USBs in a non bootable way.
anxious_and_stupid@reddit
Does this work for win11 iso?
Current i have been using ventory for booting win11 iso from USB.
Significant-Tone-121@reddit (OP)
I haven't tested windows but it should! Can you tell me if it works for you? It would be very helpful!! :)
WeAreGoingMidtable@reddit
And what does this application do? I mean, apart from writing iso images on usb flash drives? There is no explanation in your README.md file on your github.
Significant-Tone-121@reddit (OP)
I will update the README! Thanks for pointing that out.
m103@reddit
If this is a gui program, you should update the readme to include a screenshot near the top so that when people are looking at the repository they can get an idea of what to expect.
Significant-Tone-121@reddit (OP)
Done! :)
DancesWithTards@reddit
Neat
LessMaintenance1452@reddit
I am also willing to contribute a work to the Linux community. So if I understand correctly you used python? Thank you for responding.
General_Alfalfa6339@reddit
Did you even look at the file?
aoeudhtns@reddit
do not feed the ~~trolls~~ AI
kapitaali_com@reddit
why wouldn't unetbootin function the way rufus does? in fact it does imho