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Aros default UI improvement: 3 - Kens Icons as default icons set

Last updated on 19 hours ago

Poll: Are you in favor of adopting the "kens icons" icon set as the default icon set for aros?

    Yes [2/6]33 %
    No (If no please comment) [4/6]67 %
    Indifferent [0/6]0 %
A
arosbeginnerMember
Posted 4 days ago
After
the first article (https://www.arosworld.org/infusions/articles/articles.php?article_id=3)
first proposal (https://www.arosworld.org/infusions/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=2063&pid=13971#post_13971)
second proposal (https://www.arosworld.org/infusions/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=2064&pid=14065)

The third improvement proposal concerns the icon set.
I don't want to revisit issues the community has had in the past.

https://www.aros.org/documentation/faq.html#why-dont-the-nightly-builds-use-nice-themes


Quote

Why dont the nightly builds use "nice" themes?
The problem is that "nice" is subjective. There is no default theme that will satisfy everyone, and changing the upstream default whenever somebody dislikes it just turns aesthetics into an endless cycle of "change it back."

That's why the distinction between AROS itself and individual distributions matters. Distribution maintainers are free to decide how their particular distribution looks and what defaults it ships with.

The nightly builds aren't intended to be a polished, opinionated desktop product; they're a consistent environment for development and testing. If you prefer a different look, customise it or build a distribution around that preference.

Personal preference is a perfectly legitimate reason to customise your own system, but it's not a particularly good basis for changing the upstream project's defaults.


So, if there were a volunteer developing a new icon set just for Aros, they would be welcome. But since they don't exist, I'm proposing the solution that provides the greatest benefit with the least effort.

I understand that everyone has personal tastes and requests, but this involves improving the default Aros graphics when downloaded from the Aros website, which are downloaded by many new users, such as Raspberry Pi users.

Therefore, the proposal is to adopt the "kens icon set", which is already available. It's clean, customized, and has enough icons to cover all needs.
https://www.amiga-look.org/artwork/kens-icons-v23

i.postimg.cc/HLM8gRhn/icaros-desktop2.png


Furthermore, over time, many Aros distribution developers have expanded the set with new icons, so it could be a common basis to work from.
aha, coffeecat
olivier2222
N
ncafferkeyAROS Dev
Posted 4 days ago
The last time I checked, distribution of Ken's icons wasn't allowed. They were used in Icaros Desktop by special permission IIRC. However, if things have changed, I'm open to correction.
M
miker1264Software Dev
Posted 4 days ago
As for Ken's v4 icons I have permission to use them, modify them, make new ones & distribute. I've posted several packages of them on AROS archives.

That's the reason behind my Icon Builder program. It's based on making Ken's v4 style icons.

Not sure if this permission applies to AROS in general or just these icons. Not sure if that permission extends to maintaining a distro & distributing icons that way. Although if I make an entire icon set in Ken's v4 style they are essentially my icons that I made. But to be fair I would ask permission to maintain a distro with those icons just to be honest. But they look nice!

I especially like the charcoal black icons with neon blue glow that I'd like to include in a "Dark Theme" that would be nice! But gold glow works!
Edited by miker1264 on 03-09-2026 13:10, 4 days ago
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AMIGASYSTEMAMIGASYSTEMDistro Maintainer
Posted 4 days ago
The Ken v4-style icons are very beautiful, but they belong to the past—in fact, many users are attached to these icons purely out of nostalgia.

As I’ve said before, AROS must be innovative and appealing. A user unfamiliar with AROS who sees the Ken v4-style icons might think they’re looking at a system from 30 years ago.

If we want AROS to grow, we need to break with the past and be innovative.

Some people have called the AROS One icons “old,” and coincidentally, many of the mobile phone icons resemble the AROS One icons, which I created more than 10 years ago on AfA One.

In the early versions of AROS One, I created four sets of icons, but no one was interested in them because many people are still attached to the past and to Amiga icons.


www.arosworld.org/infusions/forum/attachments/icons_1.jpg


www.arosworld.org/infusions/forum/attachments/icons.jpg
M
miker1264Software Dev
Posted 4 days ago
AROS One Icons look very nice too! I actually like your earlier icons better. They have a Faenza look to them. :-)

Rather then get into a discussion about which are nicer or more appealing it would be better to have a quick easy way to replace icons, window styles and backgrounds.

The upcoming Amiga OS 3.3 is believed to have a program called "Icon Assist". Maybe we could have something like that. Icon Replacer.
Edited by miker1264 on 03-09-2026 13:35, 4 days ago
A
arosbeginnerMember
Posted 3 days ago
I can confirm that the Kens Icon are a bit dated. The colors are a bit dull, and there's a lack of transparency, etc., but in my opinion, it's the best there is right now.

@miker1264
Do you happen to have any contact information for Kens Icons? Let's try sending them an email.

@AMIGASYSTEM
if we look at the Apple icons, they're on another level.
Also, your icons have Arosone writing and logos. I think if you could increase the resolution, make them vector-based, or something similar, increasing the quality, they could be used in the future.

Also, the red and white boing ball I think is copyrighted

But right now, I don't think they're as ready as the Kens icons.


https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/app-icons

i.postimg.cc/rsNJRkRb/iconeamigasystem.png
Edited by arosbeginner on 04-09-2026 03:59, 3 days ago
AMIGASYSTEMAMIGASYSTEMDistro Maintainer
Posted 3 days ago

arosbeginner wrote:

@arosbeginner
if we look at the Apple icons, they're on another level.

But they're only on one side and larger in size!

Quote


Also, your icons have Arosone writing and logos. I think if you could increase the resolution, make them vector-based, or something similar, increasing the quality, they could be used in the future.


Did you see the AROS One icons on Wanderer—perhaps with native graphics support—or did you just look at the screenshots, which are of very poor quality?

Keep in mind that the icons are 48x48. There are also 64x64 versions available for AROS One that look just as nice as those for Mac, OS4, and MOS, but I can't use them because AROS doesn't support resizing.
To create vector icons, you'd need a vector icon editor.

Quote


Also, the red and white boing ball I think is copyrighted

Can I remove all the Boing icons, or maybe change their color if possible? Otherwise, let's see what I can come up with to replace them. Copyright protection should apply to Ken icons Boing on AROS too, don't you think!!
A
arosbeginnerMember
Posted 3 days ago
I think AROS needs a modernization here. Use vector icons, avif format, or something modern. Avoid double icons and use graphic effects or something similar.

Unfortunately, this is the current state, but I see Kalamatee and other new contributors making great strides.

For example, if the SMP kernel was really buggy before, it now works perfectly with all the latest improvements.
AMIGASYSTEMAMIGASYSTEMDistro Maintainer
Posted 3 days ago
The AROS One icons will remain two-sided. To use vector icons, first you need to check if they're supported; second, you'll need an editor. If you know how, you can start creating the vector icons yourself.
M
miker1264Software Dev
Posted 3 days ago

arosbeginner wrote:

@arosbeginner - I can confirm that the Kens Icon are a bit dated. The colors are a bit dull, and there's a lack of transparency, etc., but in my opinion, it's the best there is right now.

@miker1264
Do you happen to have any contact information for Kens Icons? Let's try sending them an email.

https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/app-icons

i.postimg.cc/rsNJRkRb/iconeamigasystem.png


At the moment I have permission from Ken to use his icons in my personal projects, to modify them and distribute them.

I'll contact him and ask if I can use them in a distro like Paolone did. But then I'll have to find a hosting site for the ISO images or upgrade DropBox.
T
TelematixJunior Member
Posted 3 days ago
Voted "No".

I do love the Kens Icons and do not like the gorilla set, but I also think the AROS we get by cloning the repositories to develop o by downloading the nightlies so the people can test the new developments should be lean to fit that purpose and then be used as a base for mantainers to create their (wonderful) distributions.

What is the point on compiling all the software, with all the bell and wistles that a distribution carries with it only to fix and try a bug in a small component of the basic system?
I bet that if someone compiles an unneded browser, several games, and many other programs 5 times on a row on a day he will hate more the system that the gorilla set.
M
miker1264Software Dev
Posted 3 days ago
The Nightly Builds are not something you want to customize as a basic AROS installation. They are for software testing purposes only.

However, using the most current stable release of AROS that deadwood approves is a good starting point for a basic setup.

In my case that's what I do. I've done that a few times now and I'm about to do it again for my 64bit test system. I'm documenting it as well. Setup takes less than 30 minutes. With the help of an Icon Replacer & some AREXX scripts maybe 15min.

If anything I would call my basic version "Aros Desktop Lite". It's a very basic installation for testing. But it could also be for showcasing. It would easily fit on a small USB Pen Drive or a CD ISO less than 1GB.

As for the basic layout I'm still working on it. I installed DClock but I don't like it. When I'm testing I don't need to know what time it is. Also, I use Magellan for Workbench and File Manager. Wanderer is very basic and it lacks many features I need. I use Boing Iconbar because AmiStart doesn't work on 64bit. I'd like to re-write Boing Iconbar to look like the AmiStart Icon Bar. It looks nicer.

Before you start saying "But it's missing all the good stuff"! Yes. That the point. No Extras, no fluff! ;-)

An "Extras Package" could be setup as an add-on ISO with lots of background images, icon sets, window themes, 3rd party apps, music players, utilities and games.
Edited by miker1264 on 04-09-2026 10:41, 3 days ago
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AMIGASYSTEMAMIGASYSTEMDistro Maintainer
Posted 3 days ago
@miker
With Wanderer and Dopus4, you actually get more than what Dopus5 offers. What exactly can’t you do with Wanderer + Dopus4?

Dopus5 not only has bugs in the 64-bit version, but it also lacks features that Wanderer has. For example, icon management is a nightmare—you have to rearrange the icons every time, and it often forgets their positions.

Dopus5 has issues with Def_Icons: if you use the “Detail” view, it ignores Wanderer’s settings; if you use the “Icon” view, Dopus5 uses the Def_Icons tools. These two different behaviors force you to set up duplicate configurations and file associations.
T
terminillsMember
Posted 3 days ago

miker1264 wrote:

@miker1264 - The Nightly Builds are not something you want to customize as a basic AROS installation. They are for software testing purposes only.

However, using the most current stable release of AROS that deadwood approves is a good starting point for a basic setup.

In my case that's what I do. I've done that a few times now and I'm about to do it again for my 64bit test system. I'm documenting it as well. Setup takes less than 30 minutes. With the help of an Icon Replacer & some AREXX scripts maybe 15min.

If anything I would call my basic version "Aros Desktop Lite". It's a very basic installation for testing. But it could also be for showcasing. It would easily fit on a small USB Pen Drive or a CD ISO less than 1GB.

As for the basic layout I'm still working on it. I installed DClock but I don't like it. When I'm testing I don't need to know what time it is. Also, I use Magellan for Workbench and File Manager. Wanderer is very basic and it lacks many features I need. I use Boing Iconbar because AmiStart doesn't work on 64bit. I'd like to re-write Boing Iconbar to look like the AmiStart Icon Bar. It looks nicer.

Before you start saying "But it's missing all the good stuff"! Yes. That the point. No Extras, no fluff! ;-)

An "Extras Package" could be setup as an add-on ISO with lots of background images, icon sets, window themes, 3rd party apps, music players, utilities and games.


This is factually incorrect. Deadwood determines only his fork of AROS. Anyone can choose whatever branch of AROS to customize. Do not gatekeep based on personal choices(It's bad enough this site hijacked the AROS name and the steers people away from the actual main project). ABIv1 is designed for everyone to test and you can pick whatever arbitrary date to base a distro on you damned well please.
Edited by terminills on 04-09-2026 17:11, 3 days ago
M
miker1264Software Dev
Posted 3 days ago

AMIGASYSTEM wrote:

@AMIGASYSTEM - @miker
With Wanderer and Dopus4, you actually get more than what Dopus5 offers. What exactly can’t you do with Wanderer + Dopus4?

Dopus5 not only has bugs in the 64-bit version, but it also lacks features that Wanderer has. For example, icon management is a nightmare—you have to rearrange the icons every time, and it often forgets their positions.

Dopus5 has issues with Def_Icons: if you use the “Detail” view, it ignores Wanderer’s settings; if you use the “Icon” view, Dopus5 uses the Def_Icons tools. These two different behaviors force you to set up duplicate configurations and file associations.


@AMIGASYSTEM

I agree with you. I only meant that I use Magellan on ABIv0 32bit.

I'm not familiar with how it performs on ABIv11 64bit. As you say, there may be better options.
M
miker1264Software Dev
Posted 3 days ago
"However, using the most current stable release of AROS that deadwood approves is a good starting point for a basic setup. "

I didn't mention ABIv1 in any sense. I'm only talking about current stable versions of ABIv0 & ABIv11 which deadwood releases on his development threads in this forum.
D
deadwoodAROS Dev
Posted 19 hours ago

OlafSch wrote:

@OlafSch For some time there indeed was problem that errors were not fixed. Today this is totally different so every bug report is read and solved by Kalamatee. He is really doing a great job. I am at the moment changing my distribution from Deadwoods branch to the main branch.


I'm glad my internal builds allowed you to build out your distribution for the last few years and it's good that you are now switching over. Like
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Users who participated in discussion: terminills, deadwood, AMIGASYSTEM, miker1264, arosbeginner, Telematix, ncafferkey