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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Damn Small Linux 2024 (www.damnsmalllinux.org)

submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

11 comments fedilink hide all child comments

The New DSL 2024 has been reborn as a compact Linux distribution tailored for low-spec x86 computers. It packs a lot of applications into a small package. All the applications are chosen for their functionality, small size, and low dependencies. DSL 2024 also has many text-based applications that make it handy to use in a term window or TTY.

The new goal of DSL is to pack as much usable desktop distribution into an image small enough to fit on a single CD, or a hard limit of 700MB. This project is meant to service older computers and have them continue to be useful far into the future. Such a notion sits well with my values. I think of this project as my way of keeping otherwise usable hardware out of landfills.

As with most things in the GNU/Linux community, this project continues to stand on the shoulders of giants. I am just one guy without a CS degree, so for now, this project is based on antiX 23 i386. AntiX is a fantastic distribution that I think shares much of the same spirit as the original DSL project. AntiX shares pedigree with MEPIS and also leans heavily on the geniuses at Debian. So, this project stands on the shoulders of giants. In other words, DSL 2024 is a humble little project!

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[–] [email protected] 28 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Nice news. DSL is back.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago

Ran this on a Celeron/128MB RAM in the mid-2000s, always nice to have a flavor to run on incompetent and legacy hardware.

[–] TCB13 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Isn't OpenWRT the true damn small Linux?

[–] WalrusByte 10 points 9 months ago

Since OpenWrt is just Buildroot with networking libraries and a package manager, I would say Buildroot itself would be an even smaller Linux. Whether it's been condemned to eternal torment is another matter entirely, though, lol

[–] homesweethomeMrL 5 points 9 months ago

Sa-lute!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Very cool. I hope they get some minimal Wayland stack soon.

[–] merthyr1831 1 points 9 months ago

What is it that makes a distro ISO so small? Or maybe a better way of putting it: How come a Linux ISO can be multiple gigabytes in size?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It would be cool of I could use apt

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago

From the announcement on the site:

Unlike the original DSL, this version has apt fully enabled