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Damn Small Linux Not So Small

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the web-popularity-contest dept.

An anonymous reader writes "According to DistroWatch, Damn Small Linux (DSL) is currently the most popular microLinux distribution. Linux.com (Also owned by VA) takes a look at why this might be the case, and how you can best take advantage of it. From the article: 'What began as a toy project to stuff the maximum software inside a 50MB ISO file has matured into a refined community project known for its speed and versatility. DSL includes the ultra-lightweight FluxBox window manager, two Web browsers, Slypheed email client and news reader, xpdf PDF viewer, XMMS with MPEG media file support for playing audio and video, BashBurn CD burner, XPaint image editing, VNCViewer and rdesktop to control Windows and Linux desktops remotely, and more. If they could do all this in 50 megs, imagine what they could do in more space. Last month the DSL developers released DSL-Not, a.k.a. DSL-N 0.1 RC1. It's 83.5MB of DSL coated with GTK sugar. Yummy!'"

4 of 222 comments (clear)

  1. I use it all the time by mr_stinky_britches · · Score: 5, Insightful

    and I must say, for desktop use, when you need linux real quick or want to boot off a CF card or USB drive, this will do the job just about every time :)

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  2. Re:yuk! gtk! Fluxbox is much nicer anyway. by damiam · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Fluxbox is a window manager. GTK is a UI toolkit. They don't even compete; you're comparing apples and oranges.

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  3. Re:Not that big Linux by theshowmecanuck · · Score: 5, Insightful
    The OP seems to have missed the whole point of DSL. There are plenty of other choices of distro if you take away the size limit.

    I think what they meant was, "imagine what it would be like to have a distro that wasn't full of bloat."

    You may now begin telling us how #insert_your_favourite_distro_here# is bloat free. :-)

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  4. Re:Not that big Linux by k33l0r · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Problem is that the more features (ie. bloat) you lose the smaller your potential userbase becomes. One man's feature is another man's bloat... You could have a distro with only the things one person wants but then someone else might see it as lacking in some essential area...

    That's one of the reasons why all modern OSes are so large, they all strive to attract as wide a userbase as possible. They want to appeal to EVERYONE.