Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Knoppix To Split Into 'Light,' 'Maximum' Versions

Posted by timothy on from the when-they-meet-it's-a-happy-land dept.

prostoalex writes "Everyone's favorite Knoppix project will be split into light and maximum editions, which should end the argument on whether the Live CD operating system should focus on small footprint, or greater support for external applications." From the linked ZDNet article: "'We will split the mainstream edition of Knoppix into two versions: a 'maximum' DVD edition with a complete Debian installation, and a 'light' edition on CD that contains the most popular desktop and server software only, for older computers or smaller systems that don't have a bootable DVD drive yet,' said Knopper."

12 of 225 comments (clear)

  1. A note on bloat by Animats · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Operating systems expand to fill the available boot media.

    1. Re:A note on bloat by IO+ERROR · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Operating systems expand to fill the available boot media.

      No, they expand far past that. Seen SuSE lately? I remember when Red Hat was just TWO CDs, one of which was source, and SuSE came with SIX. I have no idea what they're up to now.

      Of course, if you threw everything in Gentoo onto DVD, it would take up about 10 DVDs...20, with sources.

      Even Windows isn't immune. Longhorn has outgrown even the 700MB CD, and will ship on DVD.

      --
      How am I supposed to fit a pithy, relevant quote into 120 characters?
    2. Re:A note on bloat by Bitsy+Boffin · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You are confusing "operating system" with "humungous distribution of non-essential software". Parent post too.

      --
      NZ Electronics Enthusiasts: Check out my Trade Me Listings
    3. Re:A note on bloat by Jugalator · · Score: 4, Insightful

      A point that comes up on slashdot here and there, is where do you draw the line with linux?

      I personally draw it at 1 CD. :-)

      I have a broadband connection so I don't need massive amounts of software bundled. I don't care much about exactly what software it is, although I prefer if what they choose is fairly popular software. If we have special demands, I'm fine with downloading (gasp! what's that!?) it from the Internet.

      --
      Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
  2. Re:Windows Manager by jm92956n · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm curious, will Fluxbox be on this "light" disk? I ask because the summary says that the most 'popular desktop'. That would be KDE, but light it is not!

    Pure conjecture, but I expect the light CD would include KDE. I think the light CD will be quite similar to the latest Knoppix release, except with a variety of package updates. The maximum CD should have everything, including the token "kitchen sink"

    It all depends upon your definition of an "older computer." Theirs, I think, is still in the P-III range (650 mhz - 1.8 ghz). Mine, however, is completely different. My primary computer is a Celeron 500 and I don't expect to upgrade any time soon. KDE is painful on my system, but other lightweight WM's run flawlessly. I beleive they're leave the "really eh'fin old" computer segment to distros like Damn Small Linux (which, incidentally, is a heavily stripped down version of Knoppix).

    --
    An effective signature identifies a particular user amongst a base of thousands.
  3. More the point, who are you? by gtoomey · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Knoppix has many uses, including:

    - run Linux with/without a hard disk
    - evaluate latest software
    - password recovery - allows you to reset /etc/password or /etc/shadow
    - file system fsck
    - install to hard disk: you get Debian without the 'orrible Debian installer

  4. What I'd like to see... by caferace · · Score: 3, Insightful
    A 'Lite' version that I can download quickly over a slow connection, burn to CD when I'm in "Oh Fuck" mode and don't have my kit with me.

    A 'Behemoth' DVD I can keep in my kit, hopefully along with me excepting those "Oh Fuck" moments.

  5. Re:Yes But... by MrRuslan · · Score: 3, Insightful

    nope. But u get the MD5 ;)

  6. Re:bad call by freeweed · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Step 1: read the article
    Step 2: failing this daunting undertaking, read the article summary:

    We will split the mainstream edition of Knoppix into two versions: a 'maximum' DVD edition with a complete Debian installation, and a 'light' edition on CD that contains the most popular desktop and server software only, for older computers or smaller systems that don't have a bootable DVD drive yet

    Step 3: Try to find mods who also read the article summaries before modding people up.

    --
    Endless arguments over trivial contradictions in books written by ignorant savages to explain thunder in the dark.
  7. Re:*sniffle* by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    While I agree with the general statement made by poster I am replying to, I must ask... what does that have to do with being American?

    I am just curious... the same thing could, and does happen anywhere in the world... and Knoppix is not American...

  8. DVD version drawback... by Oliver+Aaltonen · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Being one of those unfortunate folks with less than 4GB RAM in their laptop, I won't be able to harness the performance offered by running Knoppix from a ramdisk with the toram cheat code.

  9. Re:How will this ultimately turn out? by Vo0k · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You're forgetting about one thing. This is Free Software. There's no motivation behind releasing crippled versions. You just try to make it best possible within specified limits.

    And people will complain, yes. No matter what to do.

    I think that this could be a move that will start some off-shoots of Knoppix. It should be very good for Knoppix users.

    MORE KNOPPIX OFF-SHOOTS??? NOOOOOOO!
    (do you have a clue how many different Knoppix off-shoots are out there? HUNDREDS!)

    --
    Anagram("United States of America") == "Dine out, taste a Mac, fries"