Damn Small Linux 2024
A revival of Damn Small Linux (DSL) has sparked interest in ultra-lightweight desktop systems that can run on aging hardware while still fitting within a 700 MB CD image. Commenters recall the original 50 MB DSL with nostalgia, compare it to other minimalist or musl-based distros like Tiny Core, Alpine, Puppy, and SliTaz, and debate how far small systems can realistically support modern web browsing and desktop use. The thread also touches on environmental and practical trade‑offs of keeping old machines alive versus replacing them with more efficient modern hardware.
Nostalgia and History
- Many remember DSL as their first or an early Linux distro, mainly because:
- It was tiny enough for dial‑up, early USB sticks, and business‑card CDs.
- It allowed booting Linux on locked‑down or school machines, sometimes leading to both trouble and mentorship.
- People recall using it as a replacement for older rescue tools (e.g., LNX‑BBC), on salvaged hardware, and as a “Linux in your wallet” emergency system.
New DSL 2024: Scope, Size, and Design Choices
- New goal: pack a usable desktop into ≤700 MB (single CD), not extreme minimalism.
- Some say 700 MB feels large vs the old 50 MB image; others note software bloat and modern expectations make that reasonable, and 700 MB once hosted full Ubuntu.
- App selection praised for being comprehensive yet relatively slim; others criticize redundancies (multiple browsers, window managers, games) as “author’s favorites” rather than minimal.
- Specific packages discussed:
- Browsers: dillo, links2, badwolf (webkit). Debate over whether three lightweight browsers are overkill vs necessary for modern sites.
- Window managers: Fluxbox and JWM generally seen as good lightweight choices.
- Word processor: AbiWord seen as old but hard to replace with anything similarly light.
Alternatives and Comparisons
- Mentions of other lightweight/rescue or highly configurable distros: Puppy, Tiny Core, Slitaz, Alpine, Void, Slax, Finnix, Gentoo, Linux From Scratch, Buildroot, Yocto, Linux‑Libre options, xwoaf, μLinux, ELKS, μClinux, Inferno.
- Alpine + musl praised for small size and speed; some question whether musl is worth its compatibility trade‑offs just for space savings.
Old Hardware and Environmental Angle
- Some argue these distros keep old hardware useful and out of landfills.
- Others counter that:
- Modern hardware is far more energy‑efficient; keeping very old machines may be worse overall.
- In practice, “recycling” often means exporting e‑waste.
- Broader debate emerges about resource use, “degrowth” vs progress, and personal vs systemic responsibility.
Technical Experiments and Minimalism
- Thread branches into:
- Running Linux or tiny GUIs in a few MB (busybox‑based systems, xwoaf).
- How small kernels can be compiled, MMU‑less targets, and running Linux on microcontrollers.
- Building minimal kernels/distros via LFS, Gentoo, Yocto, Buildroot.
Distribution, Hosting, and Uptake
- Site was temporarily suspended / overloaded, likely from traffic.
- Some recommend torrents; a magnet link is shared.
- People report DSL 2024 working in VMs with modest RAM but not on very old CPU emulations.