mkusb version 9
This version of the mkusb tool, version 9, is still only a bash script. Previous versions have been running at least partially in text mode, but people want eye candy, so now the menus and dialogue windows are purely graphical using zenity. There is also a text console for output from the engine behind the zenity curtain.
Improvements and new features
File selection dialogue only via zenity (so only for graphical environment) 
- mkusb 9.0.1
- Cosmetic improvements: I try to make the colour scheme as consistent as possible given the limitations of zenity. The menu lists have no colour, only shades of grey. I use the icon colour in the final confirmation windows. The blue colour which is standard in dialog is abandoned. The read warning colour is still there, it is important.
- Extended help with a separate help menu. There is even a quick link to this wiki page. The default web browser is called from the normal user id to avoid browsing with superuser id (a security issue).
- mkusb 9.0.2:
- livedrive recognition debugged: grep -m 1 ...
- skip if iso diskname matches on livedrive
- check environment variables needed for zenity
- fix for buggy(?) zenity --list in trusty
- added gnome-www-browser for debian
- added png icon for systems that cannot use svg icons
- mkusb 9.0.3:
- adding to zenity window width and height, automatic for Knoppix 7.4
- function tweak_zws: manual tweak of zenity window for distros with special interpretation of zenity window size and or fonts
- function file_from_parameter for cleaner exit, so clean_mtab_n_colors_n_zerrlog is called 'only' at the end
Installation
from the unstable PPA
This version is still developed and debugged. It can be downloaded from http://phillw.net/isos/linux-tools/mkusb/ but is also available from our unstable PPA.
While
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mkusb/ppa
will install the stable version mkusb 8.5.4
the unstable PPA
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mkusb/unstable
will install mkusb 9.x.x (until it is stable and can replace version 8 as the stable version).
from phillw.net
Browse to http://phillw.net/isos/linux-tools/mkusb/
Download the shell-script file mk_install-and-test-mkusb.bash with the browser or do it directly from a terminal window with
wget http://phillw.net/isos/linux-tools/mkusb/mk_install-and-test-mkusb.bash
and run it from a terminal window with
bash mk_install-and-test-mkusb.bash ... Install via ppa or wget or uninstall? (p/w/u)w ... [sudo] password:
Enter w (for wget) and the shell-script will download, check and (after you have entered your password) install mkusb plus two small iso files for testing. Repeat the command bash mk_install-and-test-mkusb.bash if some file was not downloaded correctly.
Then start mkusb from the menu
Menu -- System -- mkusb
In some locales (the standard English and some more), an icon will also appear on the desktop.
Separate versions for graphical mode and text mode
Version 9 takes a greater leap: there are separate versions for
GUI mode: mkusb
text mode: mkusb-nox
This avoids some complicated logic and makes the code smaller. Maybe 90% of you will prefer the GUI version, but the text version is good for servers and for users who do not want eye-candy. The improved recognition of systems and devices is back-ported from version 8 to mkusb-nox.
Please test either or both of mkusb version 9 and mkusb-nox
Remote login via ssh -X
When you login remotely from a graphical desktop environment and it can be used at both ends, mkusb wants to use zenity, so you should enable X. Otherwise, use mkusb-nox.
ssh -X nio@server ... sudo ./mkusb # to select source file via menus sudo ./mkusb file.iso # to select source file via the command line is still possible
Except while using ssh -X, you should use sudo -H
sudo -H ./mkusb # because of the graphics by zenity
Screenshots of mkusb version 9
Installing Lubuntu Utopic - final warning
../pictures/57-mkusb.desktop-in-lubuntu-select-device-final-warning.png
Installing Lubuntu Utopic - work done
../pictures/58-mkusb.desktop-in-lubuntu-work-done.png
