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Since not much has happened in DSL-land recently, I thought I would take the opportunity to throw a few stray ideas out there.  When you're putting together the next release candidate, here are a few things to consider.

First, I wanted to note the posting at ArchiveOS of a link to something called 'Multi-Distro Live CD' which includes an older version of DSL (v2.3).  This has existed for a while, and - as the name implies - includes some other small distros like GrafPup, Slax, and Olive.   I have no affiliation with the project or the ArchiveOS post.

Second, I've had the opportunity to juggle around the older DSL versions up until the most recent, and really do wish the Icontool would be brought back.  It is one of the reasons why my preferred version remains v3.4.

Third, we could include DOSEMU 1.4.   It works as well or better than DosBOX for many things.  Keep DosBOX 0.72 as found in the .dsl repository and don't upgrade it to 0.74.  Why?  Windows 3.1 programs using SHARE appear to run correctly in 0.72, while they crash in 0.74.

Fourth, if you're looking for a useful video player, the .uci version of Xine is fantastic.  You have to re-install it after every boot, though.  The .dsl version is depreciated and doesn't handle .mp4 video well.

Fifth, 't'would be nice if the entire Siag Office suite including PW and Egon were included.  (I shoehorned it into DSL by extracting the .pet file from Puppy 4.3.1 archive).

Sixth, owing to the fact that DSL's existence allows my 1998 AMD-K6/II machine to remain useful, I've taken the liberty of collecting all the .dsl and .uci repository packages and historical DSL wallpapers and putting them onto one CD archive to access locally.  When DSL is next revived, I strongly recommend that the existing programs repository be made available as a separate disk image in this way. Most of the .dsl files have been around for a while.  In fact, the file collection on CD could be marketed as a complete package with The Official Damn Small Linux Book and the distro CD itself.

Seventh, include the Links2 graphical browser from Twilight Labs.

'Tanks!  Hope to see the next version of DSL soon!
-Martin Warren
 

First, I am 99% impressed with the new release candidate of Damn Small Linux.  My only issue is with the mouse configuration tool, which does not allow the definition of a single or double-click behavior.   In older releases, this could be done through the icontool.lua program.  Is there a way to do this at the command line?  Perhaps through .xinitrc? 

Lots of 'em.   I like apps that do what they are supposed to and don't waste processing power.

Beaver is my editor of choice, and Nano in a shell, so it's great to see these retained in the new release candidate.     

Would like to see a gxine.dsl for GTK+.  I was able to install Xine.dsl through MyDSL, but this version of Xine has some trouble with fullscreen mode on my Celeron Mendicino machine, while gxine works well in Puppy, on the same machine.   It presumably would also do so (or better) in DSL, so a .dsl extension for that would be nice to see.

No matter what distro one uses, Flash for YouTube will soon be an issue since Adobe is ending Linux support and YouTube will inevitably update its requirements.  Luckily, I have become accustomed to downloading YT vids through KeepVid and such, and playing them back through Xine, or through the DOS DUGL Player which runs flawlessly in DOSEMU.  Perhaps a look at gnash is in order.   It would be nice to see a Linux substitute for Adobe.