Other Help Topics :: DSL Editions



I'm positive that this must have been covered elsewhere, but it seems to me that DSL is factioning and branching out into several editions.

I know what DSL-N is.  But what is this much-rumored "small core" version of DSL about?  I'm assuming a stripped down, no-X version? That sounds cool.

But what is the ultimate aim of having two versions of DSL, the 3.x and the 4.x?

We (soon will) have three different "editions" of DSL now, the main one coming in two flavors.  You have to pick one of those before you can even start thinking about frugal, poorman's, HD-install, live-CD, or embedded.  

That seems a bit overwhelming to me, and I've been following this distribution for years.  God save the newcomers.

I'm hoping, I guess, that somebody will write up a "Which DSL is right for me?" primer and post it somewhere.
From what I understand DSL-N is no longer going to be developed.  Same as DSL version 3.x.  What is being developed and supported is DSL version 4.x and the upcoming tiny core.  So 2 versions are going to be active.  One for the 2.4 kernel with a functional desktop (what we know today) and the 2.6 kernel tiny core, which will rely on MyDSL extensions for the packages that make the system what you want/need it to be.  DSL "classic" is for older hardware (and most newer except for exotic peripherals) and existing MyDSL extensions.  Tiny core will be for newer hardware (as well as most existing), with the 2.6 kernel and a smaller, more up to date core system.
That is it I guess in a nutshell.  Anyone who knows more please elaborate.
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But what is this much-rumored "small core" version of DSL about?  I'm assuming a stripped down, no-X version? That sounds cool.
See the 2.6/tinycore/dslv5/etc posts and threads, though it has been confirmed that it will not be "v5" due to the tinycore nature.  Afaik there is X though.  I just noticed [downloads]/alpha/src/ which may be of interest...

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But what is the ultimate aim of having two versions of DSL, the 3.x and the 4.x?
See the front page.

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You have to pick one of those before you can even start thinking about frugal, poorman's, HD-install, live-CD, or embedded.
Well there is the readme and docs/wiki... though I'll agree that one could be confused with all the choices - but having that kind of flexibility is a good thing, imo.

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From what I understand DSL-N is no longer going to be developed.  Same as DSL version 3.x.  What is being developed and supported is DSL version 4.x and the upcoming tiny core.  So 2 versions are going to be active.  One for the 2.4 kernel with a functional desktop (what we know today) and the 2.6 kernel tiny core, which will rely on MyDSL extensions for the packages that make the system what you want/need it to be.  DSL "classic" is for older hardware (and most newer except for exotic peripherals) and existing MyDSL extensions.  Tiny core will be for newer hardware, with the 2.6 kernel and a smaller, more up to date core system.
That is it I guess in a nutshell.  Anyone who knows more please elaborate.
From what I gather, I think this is mostly right as well.
From the main DSL web page:
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3.x Supports Application launching from limited icons. Application centric. Menu driven.
Current 3.x version 3.4.11

4.x Supports Drag-N-Drop, Folder/Document centric. Many icons. Can be run menuless.
Current 4.x version: 4.4


In addition 3.x is kernel 2.4.26 with many scsi modules. It is frozen with no futher updates planned.

4.x is kernel 2.4.31 with some SATA boot time support with less scsi modules and with many apps updated including core lua/fltk as used by the mydsl extension system. This is still being updated and maintained.

Tiny core is a much asked for stripped down version of DSL with 2.6.24 kernel + a very extensive build of busybox + lua + fltk + murgaLua bindings + jwm.  It boots into tinyX server either Xvesa or Xfbdev + jwm (might switch to flwm to reach an 8MB size) It can run only fltk or lua/fltk programs. But this means it can support the MyDSL extension system.

No installation scripts, limited modules, boots entirely into ram. iso size is currently 9MB. One can mydsl-load gtk1.dsl and use some of the gtk1 apps from current DSL. Basically everything is an extension for tiny core. I will post as soon as I can contact John.

So, in conclusion, the next version/edition of DSL will be more open to community involvement via the extension system. While at the same time be moving to support a much smaller desktop based on fltk apps and/or lua/fltk apps. Hopefully since the community has asked for this, that a solid gtk2 extension and gtk2 apps will emerge.

How much of the 9mb's are jwm and jwm only dependancies? Some of us still prefer fluxbox (which should be loaded via the repository)...
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