What: Puppy Linux Where: http://www.goosee.com/puppy/wikka/PuppyLinuxMainPage http://www.goosee.com/puppy/ http://www.goosee.com/puppy/news.htm Description: Yet another one of the gazillion [Linux] distros available. Currently at version 1.0.3. Now at 1.0.4. Updated: 07/2005 Contact: Barry Kauler Remarkable for two reasons: * it is very small (48 Mb) (Latest 1.0.3 is 60MB - [AET]) and otherwise desirable [http://www.linuxpipeline.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=165600497]; * the creator is very fond of [Tcl]. About half of the bundled applications are written in [Tcl/Tk]. Besides: * It boots and runs off its installation CD, like [Knoppix]. * Very easy to try. Designed to fit on a business card size CD and easy to install to a USB pen drive or Zip disk. * Runs entirely in RAM, so it's fast, and releases the CD drive for other use. * It can be rejigged to run on low-spec. PCs (586, 32RAM; 128MB recommended). ---- [NEM]: There doesn't seem to be any mention of Tcl or Tk on the website. Is it just not advertised? [LES]: I tried an old version, 0.8 I think. Many of the applications and scripts are Tcl/Tk. This version even has [specTcl] and [visual Tcl]. These were removed in the newest releases, but [snack] got in. Open the 2004 "news" page [http://www.goosee.com/puppy/news2004.htm] and look for "''20Jun04''". Also, check the developers' page [http://www.goosee.com/puppy/developer.htm] and look for "guiding philosophy". The author states: "''applications ... must be written in Tcl/Tk, [C] or [C++]''". [AET] 11feb05 A remarkable little distro. I easily got it working in [Windows] XP by downloading one of the .iso's and booting it in qemu [http://fabrice.bellard.free.fr/qemu/]. My first look at both Puppy and [qemu]. Reportedly very easy to rebuild, so a 'roll your own' version with lotsa Tcl goodies is viable. Puppy can use a USB stick or other device for a persistent /home. [AET] 13jul05 Latest Puppy boasts a very usable combination of OS and software with lots of good, down-to-earth help. New project allows Puppy to reside on a Multi-Session CD, and /home is saved to CD when you finish. Needs a CD writer, naturally, but no hard disk or memory stick. You can remove the CD and only replace it when you close a session. Even has its own package manager (written in Tcl/Tk) which effortlessy installs a growing number of user-supplied software packages, and perports to install other packages. A new package manager in Tcl/Tk is in the pipeline. I think that Puppy has a lot in common with [StarKit]s; Simple [deployment], and endless configuration possibilities. ''[escargo] 14 Jul 2005'' - For a recent review of Puppy Linux: [http://os.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=05/06/22/2031247&from=rss]. CJL - It also gets a positive (but fairly superficial) mention in the current Linux Journal - http://www.linuxjournal.com/issue/136. The article is at http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8302 (non-subscribers will have to wait a month or two to see the full article) 20jul05 New version 1.0.4 out. Contains MUT - a brand new Tcl/Tk application that detects and mounts devices. [http://www.goosee.com/puppy/wikka/JesseLileyMUT] [http://tinypic.com/727leo.png] ---- [Category Distribution] | [Category Operating System] | [Category Toys]