| Bigger Damn Small Linux debuts |
Jun. 28, 2006
Damn Small Linux has always told its story efficiently through its name, and it continues to do so with its latest version: DSL-N (Damn Small Linux-Not) 0.1 RC1. As you might imagine, DSL-N is a larger live CD edition of DSL (85 MB), but it's still smaller than most distros.
DSL-N provides a reliable, compact array of applications based mostly on the GTK2 libraries, the team said in its release announcement. It features a 2.6.X kernel and a Fluxbox desktop environment.
"DSL-N is not an evolution of DSL, it is not intended as progress over the philosophy of DSL, but is intended for a different user, or the same user under different circumstances," the announcement said.
DSL-N purports to take advantage of redundant library dependencies in order to pack features into a tight distribution. DSL-N does not squeeze out critical modules that would limit compatibility, the team said.
According to the project team, like DSL itself, DSL-N can:- boot from from a CD as a live Linux distribution (LiveCD)
- boot from a USB pen drive
- boot from within a host operating system (it can run "inside" Windows)
- run nicely from an IDE Compact Flash
- transform into a Debian OS with a traditional hard drive install
- run fully in RAM
- modularly grow: DSL-N is highly extendable without the need to customize
The applications in DSL-N were chosen because they are functional, usable, and relatively compact, the team said. Unlike DSL, DSL-N has GTK2 applications, that means DSL-N will need more RAM and CPU cycles than DSL. To have a useful experience, the team recommends at least 64 MB RAM and a 300 MHz processor, the team said.
Other standard features in DSL, according to the team, include:- XMMS 1.2.8 (MP3 and MPEG)
- Firefox 1.0.6
- Spreadsheet
- Email client
- Spellchecker (US English)
- Word processor
- Text editors (Nedit, nVi, Zile [emacs clone])
The distro also includes Xpdf, Worker (file manager), Naim (AIM, ICQ, IRC), VNCviwer, SSH/SCP server and client, DHCP client, PPP, PPPoE, a web server, calculator, system monitoring apps, and USB support, according to the project's web site.
Why is the DSL team making this offshoot of DSL, when DSL is successful on its own?
"Because a 85-MB, GTK2-based distribution, with a 2.6.x kernel and excellent hardware detection/support is a contradiction in terms," a team spokesman said. "DSL-N represents our best effort to stay compact while providing for the needs of those who want the 'Bling Bling,' such as SATA support, Gnumeric, Abiword, gMplayer."
You can download your own 85 MB copy of the DSL-N live CD iso image file here.
Screen shots are available on OSDir.com, here, and at the DSL site, here.
Read what DesktopLinux.com columnist Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols has to say about Damn Small Linux here:
Damn, I like Damn Small Linux
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