Do you use myDSL extensions?
Forum: User Feedback
Topic: Do you use myDSL extensions?
started by: roberts
Posted by roberts on Mar. 27 2006,19:47
I would like to gauge the popularity of the myDSL system.Please Vote by selecting one of the choices above.
Posted by doobit on Mar. 27 2006,19:57
I use a few of them. The nice thing about this system is how easy it is to restore your custom setup at each upgrade, or if you have a tendancy to mistreat your filesystems like I do (instant shutdown, power failures, etc.) Everything can be brought back to normal on the next reboot.
Posted by safesys on Mar. 27 2006,20:04
Was a big part in the decision to use mydsl as my primary os - frugal plus the MyDSL system is an excellent system imo and makes it very easy to start working with the os in the first instance.
Posted by mikshaw on Mar. 27 2006,20:38
If not for myDSL, I would probably not use DSL at all. This isn't to say it's not a great distro, of course, but since i don't have an old box that *requires* a tiny super-fast distro I use other distros as my main workhorse. Those distros that already have a full development system, multi-user, openGL, cron, locate, etc installed are just more convenient for me for day-to-day use. But DSL is my favorite toy, and it is mostly due to myDSL.UCI packages are revolutionary, and in my opinion the most clever and flexible way to run applications I have seen yet. It's particularly useful for apps that I don't use frequently.
Posted by lovdsl on Mar. 27 2006,21:31
I only voted that I use less than ten because I have not yet found more I can use. I love the convienience of just one click to install..I do not yet understand how to create them or would add more. if not for mydsl extensions I may not be able to use dsl on some older equipment. I like them and hope more are added...
Posted by newOldUser on Mar. 27 2006,21:38
It varies by computer but it's probably around 6 or 7 per box. Different ones on different boxes. Usually a programing/scripting language of some sort like Python or Tcl . Gaim is on a lot of the boxes. Samba is on a couple. It's really varied. I don't always keep current on what is available as a DSL and UCI package.
Posted by faroutscience on Mar. 28 2006,00:10
I use eboard to play chess. Other than that, the the main DSL package is fine for me.Thanks for all of the hard work!
Jeff
Posted by green on Mar. 28 2006,03:20
I use DSL because of myDSL.I do not use the vast majority of the base apps.
I also do not use many of the stuff in repository.
However, the ones that I do use are invaluable.
What I use depends on which machine DSL is on and what it's purpose in life is.
My friends would lynch me if "DeF Monkey SLime" was not runing 24x7.
( DSL-Edna-FTP Monkey SSH-LimeWire box )
Posted by dtf on Mar. 28 2006,03:57
Some of the base applications are very useful for me while others I have struggled with and found myDSL extensions that work better for me. For example I could never seems to get my network printer working with the base package program used to install printers. Maybe I was doing something wrong but I found it works with CUPS and I also use CUPS to setup a print server using DSL. Samba is essential and I like Zile since I am an emacs user. My high school son likes Opera, OpenOffice and gv for reading pdf files.I love working with DSL. It is easier to understand when getting started with LINUX compared to other distributions I have tried and the myDSL extentions are painless to install. I thing the concept of keeping old computer useful is great. For my propose the myDSL extension are very useful and important and I don't think DSL would be what it is without them. Anyway that is my opinion.
Posted by anaconda on Mar. 28 2006,12:02
They are one reason, why I like DSL so much.Only problem is that I tend to load them many times. Almost easier to reload them than to mount my 2nd hd and search if I already have it saved there...
Would it be a good idea to make a torrent which would include most of the myDSL-files. Or make a DSL.iso, which would have 50MB DSL and the rest used for storing a selection of .dsl and .uci files.. Good for those of us that have a fast connection.
.uci files are even better than .dsl files.
Posted by tawalker on Mar. 28 2006,12:47
I would've added yet another poll option: something like "Yes, more than 10 but I use the base applications quite a lot too" 
I run DSL off a 512Mb SanDisk flash drive, which means there is lots of space for MyDSL packages, which I move in and out of the /optional/ directory as and when I find I use them more. However, even if I had to rely entirely on the base apps, I think there would still be enough for me to have a usable system - I'm just glad I have the choice to extend DSL when I want/need to.
It is great to have a Linux system I can tinker with, without fear of trashing the entire installation (!), and which I can carry around in my pocket to be there for me wherever I need it. I've also learned more about Linux itself via DSL than I could on a Gnome/KDE-based desktop (they're great, but they can make you lazy
), and I've even found I'm getting to like Fluxbox and dockapps more than the 'weightier' desktops.Anyway, thanks for your continuing hard work on a great distro!
Tim
Posted by DrWatt on Mar. 28 2006,18:10
I use it for less than 5 things, such as AbiWord, but I was also happy using apt-get before mydsl existed. I think my-dsl has fewer problems for apps that are in the repository.
Posted by ke4nt1 on Mar. 28 2006,19:42
I use them everyday on one of my boxes.They all sit on the HD, similar in structure to DSL's repository,
that I pull from when needed..
Most notably are the original extensions, the dsl-dpkg.dsl,
and the gnu-utils.dsl, which add in what has been removed for
space reasons.. I use those most frequently..
I still run DSL 1.5, so they all work for me.
Many of them no longer work in the later DSL builds..
Extensions make creating your own custom build so easy,
with the mkmydsl system.. anyone can customize.
On my other boxes, I use custom builds which include the extensions
added back into the main ci, or as piggybacks, or remasters.
Extensions? YES, YES, YES..
DSL would not be a competitive distro without them.
I think the ability to add many popular apps and things
people WANT to use in their distro is the beauty of DSL.
73
ke4nt
Posted by AwPhuch on Mar. 28 2006,20:10
Oh man...there is no doubt that the MyDSL and the .UCI are absolutely invaluable!I actually hotload and burn the samba.dsl on my rescue cd's and boot into a system that is borked or virused out...mount the drive that is bad..and transfer all the data to my network storage..then wipe the infected system and then pull what data is needed back!
Without MyDSL and UCI the main distro is incredibly useable..those just add icing to the cake!
Brian
AwPhuch
Posted by davide on Mar. 30 2006,08:44
I think they are great. The possibility of combining them with the Make MyDSL script to create a custom distro is a plus no other distro has, I think.Most used: skype, openoffice, glinks
Posted by 300c_pilot on Mar. 31 2006,07:09
I use them, And I prefer this distro over all others. It the time it takes to download the first fedora cd I can download yours, install it, configure it, turn it off and watch a two hour movie, before fedora is downloaded.Sorry to say that my servers are still on RedHat ES3.0... Holding out hope for DSL.
Keep up the good work.
Posted by tuxedo on Mar. 31 2006,09:50
I' ve tried a few of them, and though i'm running dsl on a small configuration, i plan using them a lot. The uci are really great. i'm using extensively the vim uci and the mplayer.dsl. I keep using the base distro a lot but new uci will be welcome.
Posted by kerry on April 24 2006,14:40
I use mainly extentions, just to get started i install gtk2, gaim, codecpak, artwiz-fonts, rox, mplayer, mplayer-plugin, abiword, cups, dpkg, Firefox 1.5.0.2 and i would diffently add alot more if i could fit it. But i also have to install some debs for things i can't find in the dsl extensions.I think the main point of the dsl's is how simple it is, i'm sure i could work with out them but i wouldn't want to. I keep everything i use on a 128 usb key, that's how i measure for the 256 ram i run on, DSL plus the extesions on the usb key is exactly the perfect balance so i have enough room to still be able to run with out it locking up. It took alot of trial and restarts to get it just right because it adds up 128mb size of all the apps i add + 50mb dsl size and i use a if'y 512 usb as swap. The monitor say's im 50% on ram and 56% on swap you can't get better balance than that.LOL
Posted by Iang on April 24 2006,15:48
Yes, extremely useful and the one thing that makes a livecd a usuable day to day OS. A simple, reliable way of installing applications (I use a 512MB USB pendrive on an EPIA 5000).Keep them coming!
Many thanks & keep up the good work.
Posted by doobit on April 24 2006,17:12
I just put an IDE to CF adapter on my Epia-based system and did a frugal grub install from the pendrive. This thing is so kewl. It acts like it has a hard drive. I can make the grub boot screen say whatever I like, and modify the boot commands whenever I want.
Posted by dartarrow on April 25 2006,09:52
| Quote (davide @ Mar. 30 2006,03:44) |
| I think they are great. The possibility of combining them with the Make MyDSL script to create a custom distro is a plus no other distro has, I think. Most used: skype, openoffice, glinks |
It's possible to create your own Distro from this? I been trying to do just that, Any guide how? Yeah a lil bit offtopic but still..
Posted by anaconda on April 25 2006,10:22
Yes it is possible to make your own version of DSL. With the apps you want.BUT it will still be DSL..
If your goal is to make your own distro, then you have to change a LOT more than just the included aplications.
Posted by dare2dreamer on May 01 2006,20:03
MyDSL extensions allow me to use DSL is more ways than I can count. I've built mp3 players, kiosks, custom desktops and more by selecting the right combination of extensions. The fact that extensions can be loaded by default or on demand makes for an incredibly flexible system.Without a doubt, the most useful part of the DSL empire. ;-)
Posted by RoGuE_StreaK on May 18 2006,21:18
What do you define as "typical"? I use frugal, with a choice of 50+ extensions I can chop and change depending on what I want to do at the time. There isn't really a "typical", it depends on what I'm doing!
But the base apps, particularly firefox and emelfm, are also used most of the time.
Posted by WDef on May 26 2006,09:40
As I've watched dsl grow over the past few years I've been very pleased at the growth in the mydsl repository. There's a really interesting, diverse selection of apps in there now. I think there are benefits in browsing the repo and experimenting with this or that app - on a Big Fat distro, one tends to install something and then forget that it's there if you're not using it often, whereas with dsl you're always concious that you've loaded an extension, and so think about it a bit.The current selection of base apps seems a wise compromise. The only former base app I miss a lot is Scite, which for me is far and away the best gui text editor for scripting. Beaver is a nice looking app and should stay in I suppose but Scite beats it hands down when working on large slabs of code. So I'm always loading scite.dsl.
Besides the obvious (gnu-utils.dsk and dsl-dpkg.dsl when needed), I also use the opera uci occasionally and enjoy it (lighter and faster than Firefox), the java uci, the tkdvd extension, and Xine and mplayer of course. Gnupg.dsl to import and check gpg signatures. More that I can't think right now of away from my dsl machine. The new gcc1 (also use that a lot at the moment) should cause a growth spurt in extensions because it's now possible to compile things that would not previously compile on dsl.
I'm offline a lot at the moment so have taken to loading man.uci all the time, though I immediately rebuilt it so that the shell which opens from the right click mydsl menu has a white background instead of transparent, which was illegible.
I also use my own humble contributions eg Prozgui.dsl for downloading, checkinstall.dsl when compiling, and wipe.dsl to clean off drives. There's a lot of apps in there that I haven't got round to trying or haven't had the need to, but it's good to see they are there.
I'm grateful for the large amount of early work that Kent and a few others did in getting the repo so fully stocked.
Posted by ryptyde on May 26 2006,15:34
I use them but not in great numbers and only as needed.Phil
Posted by ggordon on May 26 2006,15:36
Did I say this already?....let me restate it again....yes....I use MyDSL extensions....it is one of the things I like most about DSL....I can choose for myself what I want to include....DSL is my fav small distro, I use it on a USB thumbdrive, works like a hose...for the most part...want to build a HD-less system sometime on a small footprint setup and do a frugal-install...great little distro...make it better if you can, but don't take anything away..thanks alot guyz.__
ggordon
Posted by vees on July 04 2006,21:10
| Quote (roberts @ Mar. 27 2006,14:47) |
| I would like to gauge the popularity of the myDSL system. Please Vote by selecting one of the choices above. |
I think that the myDSL extensions are one of the most powerful and valuable features of DSL. As far as I know DSL is the only 50MB distro offering them. These extensions, BTW, work far better than, say, Kanotix' 'kilk' which are buggy. The fact that the backup/restore option makes it possible to store myDSL extentions on, say, a flash USB thumbdrive is AWESOME.
My deepest thanks for creating this fantastic tool!
Kind regards,
Vees
Posted by foamy3 on Sep. 28 2006,04:11
I think the myDSL extensions are what really makes this distro stand out from other minimalistic distros. They give you a way to have your OS just as big as you want it without useless bloat.
Posted by Johnnie Price on Oct. 13 2006,23:39
I voted option 4, but it isn't really true. I use many, many extensions and prefer them over apt-get, but I also really like the base apps.I haven't done a remaster, but I might as well have considering how little my desktop resembles the base system.
Posted by digsafe on Nov. 15 2006,17:45
i voted for under 10 mydsl software installing, but only enough to get a full working debian Nviroment, and i feel like there isnt much need than the base 50mb or 120mb-150mb installed version. and i feel that some of the small base software still isnt needed such as all the servers for http or ftp or ssh and various editors....and i am still trying to remove software such as Rdesktop, Siag, SMBclient aim/gaim/yahoo messenger, ssh remote server, ftp http servers to free up some MB's......
Posted by Ramik on Nov. 17 2006,14:52
I use 3 extensions to get my mouse-less old-box going (xfree86), but if I had a mouse I probably won't have been using any...
Posted by shadowdeamon on Nov. 24 2006,18:08
I don't use DSL as my primary desktop system, I use the embedded version on my 512MB JumpDrive for portability, it's great to be able to carry my PC in my pocket. Because of this, I have no real need for anything more than the 50MB basic system which is an amazing little OS.
Posted by Sparken on Nov. 24 2006,20:04
I'm a serious minimalist. SO DSL is a godsend. I have some heavyboxes for compiling, serving and specialties, but base DSL covers 80
percent of my daily use and it's snappy as heck due to the size.
The DSL extensions are great IMO because they are trim and tight,
tailored to the OS. I can load the gimp when I want and starts up
on my 400mhz clunker laptop in a fraction of the time of my dual cpu
desktop running kubuntu.
Since this is a frugal install, It's uninstalled when I reboot. So I can
willy-nilly play with tons of apps without worrying about uninstalling
or dependency woes.
Now if only there was a bitchx.dsl for 3.1 ;)
Posted by hillside on Jan. 09 2007,00:37
Now that I've found I can run Open Office with only a 333 mghz machine and 128 megs of ram (plus a swap), I use them all the time. I hardly ever use my windows machine anymore.
Posted by 2whlgeezer on Jan. 09 2007,13:07
I have used the myDSL extensions for several apps. It is a great way for us newbies to get apps up and running with minimal hassles. I have had a problem or two with some, but even so, they are greatly appreciated.
Posted by dreemernj on Jan. 10 2007,19:28
I don't use a lot of MyDSL extensions on any one computer, usually less than 5, but I have DSL running in a few places, and each one uses a different batch depending on the task that machine (or virtual machine) is setup for.
Posted by ron on Jan. 13 2007,20:34
I use 'em - they're a very useful and varied selection. I think there should be more, though. And many are woefully out-of-date (e.g. soundtracker). I have installed a couple of .deb apps with apt-get. Mostly I want the latest hard-to-manually-install apps as MyDSL extensions, for example Muse (very hard to set up by hand) and Ardour. If someone has Muse, please make a .dsl.
Posted by MakodFilu on Jan. 23 2007,05:26
irssi, p7zip, screen, xineThat is (almost) all. At times I need dosfstools to check a flash drive or something, dosbox to play a little, ctorrent to download something... Minute applications for minute use. One of the things I like best of myDSL is when a Gentoo user talks me of this and that application and ask me about those and I am able to download and install those from the myDSL repository. It's just that good.
I used imagemagick on my Debian box to slightly retouch some of my photos until that box died. I use xpaint now, and I like the little toy.
Most of the graphical apps I don't use, but I recognize sh, vi, /alias luacalc (in irssi) and then some are no substitute for those more compfortable with GUI things like emelfm, mc, beaver or calcoo, and those are great even if I don't use those.
Office applications are able to handle most of the formats you would find sent to you by email. If someone feels dissatisfied with siag, ted or wordview.lua, 'beautifying' the desktop with abiword or the like is allways an option with myDSL. About xpdf, maybe it would be more interesting to include the pdf rendering library poppler, but I am not so strongwilled to hack something just to use xpdf without the xpdf gui.
Finally, using xine instead of xmms is just a matter of tastes and flamewars, so I would stop the review right in the spot.
