View source for Damn Small Linux

{{Short description|Lightweight, desktop-oriented Linux distribution}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2011}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = Damn Small Linux
| logo = DSL-logo.jpg
| logo size = 150px
| screenshot = DSmallLinux.PNG
| screenshot_size = 250px
| caption = Damn Small Linux 4.4.10
| developer = John Andrews, et al.
| family = [[Linux]] ([[Unix-like]])
| source_model = [[Open-source software|Open source]]
| working_state = Current
| released = {{Start date and age|2005|04|13}}
| latest_release_version = {{Wikidata|properties|preferred|references|edit|P348|P548=Q2804309}}
| latest_release_date = {{Start date and age|{{Wikidata|qualifier|single|P348|P577|P548=Q2804309}}}}
| latest_preview_version = {{Wikidata|properties|preferred|references|edit|P348|P548=Q1072356}}
| latest_preview_date = {{Start date and age|{{Wikidata|qualifier|single|P348|P577|P548=Q1072356}}}}
| kernel_type = [[Monolithic kernel|Monolithic]] [[Linux kernel]]
| ui = [[Fluxbox]], JWM<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wingbermuehle |first1=Joe |title=JWM (Joe's Window Manager) |url=https://joewing.net/projects/jwm/ |website=joewing.net |access-date=1 June 2024 |location=St. Louis, Missouri}}</ref>
| license = [[Free software]] licenses<br/>(mainly [[GPL]])
| website = {{URL|www.damnsmalllinux.org}}
}}
[[File:DamnSmallLinux.webm|thumb|Damn Small Linux demonstration]]
'''Damn Small Linux''' ('''DSL''') is a [[Linux distribution]] for the [[x86]] family of [[personal computer]]s. It is [[free and open-source software]] under the terms of the [[GNU GPL]] and other free and open-source licenses. DSL is designed to run [[graphical user interface]] applications on older PC [[Computer hardware|hardware]], but the exact specifications required differ significantly between the original version and the modern version.

== History ==
DSL was originally conceived and maintained by John Andrews. For five years the community included Robert Shingledecker who created the MyDSL system, DSL Control Panel and other features. After issues with the main developers, Shingledecker was, by his account, exiled from the project.<ref name="distrowatch-interview">{{cite interview | last = Shingledecker | first = Robert | interviewer =  | title = Interview with Robert Shingledecker, creator of Tiny Core Linux | type =  | work = [[DistroWatch|DistroWatch Weekly]] | date = 2009-03-23 | issue = 295 | url = https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20090323&mode=68#feature | format =  | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220216205833/https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20090323&mode=68 | archive-date = 2022-02-16 | access-date = 2022-06-09 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> He currently continues his work on [[Tiny Core Linux]] which he created in April 2008.

DSL was originally based on Model-K, a 22&nbsp;MB stripped-down version of [[Knoppix]], but soon after was based on Knoppix proper, allowing much easier [[Software remastering|remastering]] and improvements. The distribution is now based on [[Debian]] and [[antiX]].<ref>{{cite web |author1=Jesse Smith |title=Damn Small Linux |url=https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=damnsmall |website=distrowatch.com |publisher=Atea Ataroa Limited |access-date=9 February 2024 |location=Copenhagen |language=en-US |date=2 February 2024}}</ref>

=== Original DSL ===
Originally, DSL supported machines with as little as a [[Intel 80486|486]] [[microprocessor]] and 8 [[megabyte]]s (MB) of [[random-access memory]] (RAM). The live CD itself was only 50&nbsp;MB in size.
What originally began as an experiment to see how much software could fit in 50&nbsp;MB eventually became a full Linux distribution. It could be installed on [[storage media]] with small capacities, like [[bootable business card]]s, [[USB flash drive]]s, various [[memory card]]s, and [[Zip drive]]s.

This version of DSL was last developed in 2012, with its last stable release in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Jesse Smith |title=Damn Small Linux |url=https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=damnsmall |website=distrowatch.com |publisher=Atea Ataroa Limited |access-date=9 February 2024 |location=Copenhagen |language=en-US |date=2 February 2024}}</ref>

=== Modern DSL ===
In 2024, a release candidate for DSL was released, the first in twelve years. This newer version has rather higher system requirements, and a size limit of 700&nbsp;MB, but still supports older [[32-bit]] systems. This version is based on [[antiX]] rather than [[Knoppix]].

== System requirements ==
DSL is designed to primarily support [[x86]] PCs. The minimum system requirements for the older version were a [[Intel 80486|486]] processor and 8&nbsp;MB of [[Random-access memory|RAM]]. DSL has been demonstrated by browsing the web with [[Dillo]], running simple games, and playing music on systems with a 486 processor and 16&nbsp;MB of RAM. The system requirements are higher for running [[Firefox|Mozilla Firefox]] and optional add-ons such as the [[OpenOffice.org]] office suite.

<!--Features section below could use an update based on the 2024-alpha-->
== Features ==
Version 4.4.10 of DSL, released November 18, 2008, included the following software:
* [[Text editor]]s: Beaver, [[Nano (text editor)|Nano]], [[Vim (text editor)|Vim]]
* [[File manager]]s: DFM, emelFM
* Graphics: [[mtPaint]] (raster graphics editor), [[xzgv]] (image viewer)
* [[Multimedia]]: gphone, [[XMMS]] with [[MPEG-1]] and [[Video CD]] (VCD) support
* Office: [[Siag Office]] ([[spreadsheet]] program), [[Ted (word processor)]] with [[spell checker]], [[Xpdf]] (viewer for Portable Document Format ([[PDF]]) documents), [[AbiWord]], [[Gnumeric]]
* Internet:
** [[Web browser]]s: [[Dillo]], [[Firefox]], Netrik
** [[Sylpheed]] ([[E-mail client]])
** [[Naim (chat program)|naim]] ([[AIM (software)|AOL Instant Messenger]] (AIM), [[ICQ]], and [[IRC]] client)
** AxyFTP ([[File Transfer Protocol]] (FTP) client), BetaFTPD (FTP server)
** Monkey (web server)
** [[Server Message Block]] (SMB) client
** [[Rdesktop]] ([[Remote Desktop Protocol]] (RDP) client, [[Virtual Network Computing]] (VNC) viewer
* Others: [[Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol]] (DHCP) client, [[Secure Shell]] (SSH) and [[secure copy protocol]] (SCP) client and server; [[Point-to-Point Protocol]] (PPP), [[Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet]] (PPPoE), [[Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line]] (ADSL) support; [[FUSE (Linux)|FUSE]], [[Network File System]] (NFS), SSH Filesystem ([[SSHFS]]) support; [[UnionFS]]; generic and [[Ghostscript]] printing support; [[PC card]], Universal Serial Bus ([[USB]]), [[Wi-Fi]] support; calculator, games, [[system monitor]]; many [[Command line interface|command-line]] tools

DSL has built-in scripts to download and install [[Advanced Packaging Tool]] (APT). Once APT is enabled, a user can install packages from [[Debian]]'s [[Software repository|repositories]]. Also, DSL hosts software ranging from large applications like [[OpenOffice.org]] and [[GNU Compiler Collection]] (GCC), to smaller ones such as [[aMSN]], by means of the ''MyDSL'' system, which allows convenient one-click download and installing of software. Files hosted on MyDSL are called ''extensions''. As of June 2008, the MyDSL servers were hosting over 900 applications, plugins, and other extensions.

== Boot options ==
[[File:DSL 4.0 cheatcodes F2.png|thumb|DSL boot options, called ''cheat codes'']]

Boot options are also called "cheat codes" in DSL. Automatic hardware detection may fail, or the user may want to use something other than the default settings (language, keyboard, VGA, fail-safe graphics, text mode...). DSL allows the user to enter one or more cheat codes at the boot prompt. If nothing is entered, DSL will boot with the default options. Cheat codes affect many auto-detection and hardware options. Many cheat codes also affect the GUI. The list of cheat codes can be seen at boot time and also at the DSL Wiki.

== The MyDSL system ==
MyDSL is handled and maintained mostly by Robert Shingledecker and hosted by many organizations, such as [[ibiblio]] and Belgium's BELNET. There are two areas of MyDSL: ''regular'' and ''testing''. The ''regular'' area contains extensions that have been proven stable enough for everyday use and is broken down into different areas such as ''apps'', ''net'', ''system'', and ''uci'' (Universal Compressed ISO - Extensions in .uci format are [[Mount (computing)|mounted]] as a separate [[file system]] to minimize RAM use). The ''testing'' area is for newly submitted extensions that theoretically work well enough but may have any number of [[Software bug|bugs]].

== Versions and ports ==

=== Release timeline ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Release history<ref>{{cite web | url = https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=damnsmall | title = Damn Small Linux | date = 2022-02-07 | website = [[DistroWatch]] | language = en | access-date = 2022-06-09 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220317124210/https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=damnsmall | archive-date = 2022-03-17 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>
|-
! Version
! Date
|-
|1.0
| 2005-04-13
|-
|1.1
| 2005-05-05
|-
|1.2
| 2005-06-07
|-
|1.3
| 2005-07-14
|-
|1.4
| 2005-08-02
|-
|1.5
| 2005-09-06
|-
|2.0
| 2005-11-22
|-
|2.4
| 2006-05-16
|-
|3.0
| 2006-06-20
|-
|3.1
| 2006-11-29
|-
|3.2
| 2007-01-18
|-
|3.3
| 2007-04-03
|-
|3.4
| 2007-07-03
|-
|4.0
| 2007-10-23
|-
|4.1
| 2007-12-02
|-
|4.2
| 2007-12-18
|-
|4.3
| 2008-04-22
|-
|4.4
| 2008-06-09
|-
|2024-RC7
| 2024-06-08<ref>{{cite web |last1=Andrews |first1=John |title=DSL 2024 Download |url=https://www.damnsmalllinux.org/2024-download.html |website=www.damnsmalllinux.org |publisher=damnsmalllinux.org |access-date=20 June 2025 |language=en |date=June 8, 2024 |quote=Release Candidate 7 Now Available}}</ref>
|}

===Ports and derivatives===
DSL was [[ported]] to the [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] [[video game console]] as X-DSL. X-DSL requires a [[Xbox modding|modified]] Xbox. It can run as a Live CD or be installed to the Xbox hard drive. Users have also run X-DSL from a USB flash drive, using the USB adaptor included with [[Phantasy Star Online]], which plugs into the memory card slot and includes one USB 1.1 port. X-DSL boots into a [[X11]]-based GUI; the [[Xbox controller]] can be used to control the mouse pointer and enter text using a [[virtual keyboard]]. X-DSL has a [[Fluxbox]] desktop, with programs for E-mail, web browsing, word processing and playing music. X-DSL can be customized by downloading extensions from the same MyDSL servers as DSL.

Linux distributions derived from Damn Small Linux include '''Hikarunix''', used for a CD image that runs the [[Go (game)|game of Go]] released in 2005,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.assembla.com/wiki/show/Hikarunix | title = Hikarunix | date = n.d. | website = [[Assembla]] | language = en | access-date = 2022-06-09 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080417031019/http://www.assembla.com/wiki/show/Hikarunix | archive-date = 2008-04-17 | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= Hikarunix CD |author= Jean-Claude Chetrit |work= Review by American Go Association |url= http://www.usgo.org/CD2005/reviews/hikarunix_20050520.htm |date= 2005 |url-status= dead |archive-date= July 19, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110719000740/http://www.usgo.org/CD2005/reviews/hikarunix_20050520.htm |access-date= September 15, 2021 }}</ref>
and [[Damn Vulnerable Linux]].

== Live USB ==
A [[Live USB]] of Damn Small Linux can be created manually or with applications like [[UNetbootin]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/ |title=UNetbootin - Homepage and Downloads}}</ref> {{Crossreference|See [[List of tools to create Live USB systems]] for full list.}}
== Status  ==
Due to disagreements and irreconcilable differences among the project's originators and main developers, DSL development seemed to be at a standstill for a long time, and the future of the project was uncertain, much to the dismay of many of the users.<ref name="distrowatch-interview"/> 

On July 8, 2012, John Andrews (the original developer) announced that a new release was being developed. The DSL website, including the forums which were once inaccessible, were back, as well.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://damnsmalllinux.org/forums/index.php?topic=2.0 | title=DSL coming back|date=2012-07-08 |author1=John}}</ref> The first RC of the new 4.11 was released on August 3, 2012,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://damnsmalllinux.org/forums/index.php?topic=11.0 | title=DSL 4.11 RC1 announcement|author1=John | date=2012-08-03}}</ref> followed by a second one on September 26. 

On February 1, 2024, DSL 2024 Alpha 1 was announced and released on the project's webpage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DSL 2024 Information |url=https://www.damnsmalllinux.org/ |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=www.damnsmalllinux.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rudra |first=Sourav |date=2024-02-06 |title=Damn Small Linux Release Makes a Comeback After 16 Long Years |url=https://news.itsfoss.com/damn-small-linux-release/ |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=It's FOSS News |language=en}}</ref> May 22nd 2024 the DSL forum has a post "Release Candidate 4 Now Available"<ref>{{cite web |last1=Andrews |first1=John |title=DSL Release Candidate 4 Now Available |url=https://damnsmalllinux.org/forums/thread-105.html |website=damnsmalllinux.org |access-date=22 May 2024 |language=en |date=May 22, 2024}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}
* [[Comparison of Linux distributions]]
* [[Lightweight Linux distribution]]
* [[List of Linux distributions]]
* [[List of Linux distributions that run from RAM]]
* [[Tiny Core Linux]], the project Robert Shingledecker began

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* [http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/ Damn Small Linux website]
* [https://pendrivelinux.com/all-in-one-usb-dsl/ USB DSL tutorial]
* {{DistroWatch|damnsmall|Name=Damn Small Linux}}
* [http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=interview-damnsmall DistroWatch interview]
* [https://archive.org/download/damn-small/damnsmall-0.4.10.iso Archive.org's DSL ISO Archive]

===Reviews===
* [http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/linux/library/l-dsl.html?ca=dgr-wikiaDSLLinux IBM developerWorks review]
* [http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=5597 OSNews review (2004)], [http://www.osnews.com/story/24936/Damn_Small_Linux_Still_Damn_Fun OSNews review (2011)] 
* [https://junauza.blogspot.com/2007/09/big-heart-for-small-distro.html Tech Source From Bohol review]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100527221513/http://www.itreviews.co.uk/software/s682.htm Review of version 4.4.10 at IT Reviews]

{{Linux distributions}}

<!--Uses Lua to provide desktop-friendly interfaces for command-line utilities without using lots of disk space-->

[[Category:Knoppix]]
[[Category:LiveDistro]]
[[Category:Light-weight Linux distributions]]
[[Category:Live USB]]
[[Category:Debian-based distributions]]
[[Category:Lua (programming language)-scripted software]]
[[Category:Lightweight Unix-like systems]]
[[Category:Linux distributions without systemd]]