Release Candidate for DSL 4.11

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[John]

Here's the first Release Candidate for DSL 4.11

The changes in this release are a step toward making DSL a friendly alternative for older hardware.  I've fixed some bugs, updated some applications, and replaced others.

Applications:
Updated JWM to v2.1.0 (now supports rounding)
Updated Dillo to 3.0.2 (much improves CSS support)
Added xChat 1.8.9 (the last version that supported gtk1.2)
Added sic 1.1 IRC client
Added XCalc-color

Removed Applications:

flminicalc (http://buskersdiary.blogspot.com/2009/02/vie-de-merde.html)
gphone (crashes)
naim/nicq/nirc (naim & nicq not updated to new protocol)

Fixed:
wallpaper.lua so that it works with color selection.
getman
updated links that have changed (mydsl, forums, etc.)


Modified Desktop Functionality:

It is now possible to switch between JWM & Fluxbox without shutting down X; I had to modify and add a few scripts to accomplish this.
Added menu items to switch between DFM & xtdesk icon engines or use none at all.
Added JWM menu to display or not display icons in menu.
Added menu items for backgrounds and theme fetch & display for both JWM and Fluxbox so that one does not need to launch and navigate DFM to select.
Added option to load the default background to native themes while allowing wallpaper.lua to override.
Coordinated default JWM & Fluxbox themes; they have the same color scheme and mood.
Used "orangetheme.thm" by Lucky13Linux for JWM, as well as modded the taskbar, menu and window decor so that they all take up less space.

Thank you to GPedde (http://gpedde.deviantart.com/) for letting DSL use Maintenance (http://gpedde.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2qdfvr).  I think it fits quite well with how I see DSL working on vintage hardware.

Please test away!  The kernel and hardware detection will be the exact same as 4.4.10, and obviously this release will not work with the latest hardware technology, but that isn't my intention here.  I see this version of DSL (what will probably be called "classic" eventually) becoming dedicated to bringing a usable and friendly desktop in the smallest package possible.  "Classic" DSL will remain ultra-portable, can be downloaded and run virtually quickly, and most importantly, will run on hardware that the rest of the world is leaving behind.

md5sum:  ca1b7a3199d6f143818aab1e73478cac  dsl-4.11.rc1.iso
Download: http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/damnsmall/release_candidate/dsl-4.11.rc1.iso

[james c]

Downloading........ it's 4:30 am here so I'll do some testing after I get some sleep.

[jerry525]

Are you going to post this on Distrowatch John? I think you will get a lot of interest mate.
I will take a look at this & get back to u.
Many thanks.
Jerry

[james c]

First quick live test...... hardware a bit newer than the target but........ Booted to a 1024x768 desktop with working sound and internet out of the box. All apps I've tried so far appear to be working.

Code:

dsl@box:~$ free
              total         used         free       shared      buffers
  Mem:      1033364       138796       894568            0         2372
 Swap:      1228932            0      1228932
Total:      2262296       138796      2123500
dsl@box:~$

Code:

AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2400+

FULLNAME="Realtek|RTL-8139"
DRIVER="8139too"

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV18 [GeForce4 MX 440 AGP 8x] (rev c1)

Going to replace my frugal install of 4.4.10 with this for further tests and I'll drag out some older hardware tomorrow too. Looks pretty solid.

[james c]

Manual frugal install completed.... no problems.Installed Rox with MyDSL Browser... working fine.  Posting from Dillo....works well too.

[james c]

Manual frugal install completed...... no problems.Installed Rox with MyDSL .....no problems there either. (My primary OS is Puppy so I've got to have Rox-Filer....).No real difficulties yet.

[james c]

Good to see that DSL is back to being listed as "active" again on Distrowatch too.

Getting this message in Dillo while trying to post, but doesn't appear in BonEcho....

The following error or errors occurred while posting this message:

Warning: topic is currently/will be locked!
Only admins and moderators can reply.

EDIT:

XMMS working fine with streaming radio.

[John]

Thanks for the testing James, I appreciate it.  I emailed Ladislav and he was kind enough to change DSL's status.  I'll investigate the error in the forums, it could be Dillo or this sub-forum settings.

-------------------------
Added:
Looks like that error message was a result of how SMF works.  It actually has that error in the html and then relies on rendering to block it out.  I did a quick hack to keep it from showing.

[cm1967]

This is really good news.

I just downloaded it and will be installing it on my aging Thinkpad T42. I'll let you know how it goes.

[William.Peckham]

For some time I have been objecting to people who reported DSL as a 'dead' distribution, saying it would change when change was needed. I still believe that DSL is better for older hardware and for small virtual appliances. 
This announcement is a wonderful and refreshing validation of my faith and loyalty.

Thank you!

[morlog]

Just downloaded, going to be trying it out on an asus eee pc 900a that I've been running the os off of an sdhc.

[geev03]

After a smooth HD install, I am happy  to restart with DSL. Everything works' out of the box', including the' Remote Desktop '- all under 100MB RAM!.

Is there any plan to create a DSL for ARM ? ( Raspberry Pi board, MK802 mini computer etc) ?

[james c]

Another quick test of 4.11 rc on a bit more appropriate hardware.Old Celeron with 128 Mb of ram.All the basics.... sound,internet and display working ootb.Just boot the cd and it works.

processor   : 0
vendor_id   : GenuineIntel
cpu family   : 6
model      : 6
model name   : Celeron (Mendocino)
stepping   : 5
cpu MHz      : 498.346

        total:    used:    free:  shared: buffers:  cached:
Mem:  128716800 63119360 65597440        0  2322432 42913792

FULLNAME="Intel Corporation|82559 [Ethernet Pro 100]"
DRIVER="eepro100"

00:01.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 82810E DC-133 CGC [Chipset Graphics Controller] (rev 03)

[james c]

Additional testing notes before I forget.....  Successfully used ps/2 mouse and keyboard in test 1 and used USB mouse and keyboard for test 2...... no problems with either box.

Installed Opera to the frugal install on the Athlon XP box..... posting from it now.

[John]

Thanks for the feedback on rc1 guys, I really appreciate it.  I have no plans to work on  DSL for ARM at this time.