• Home Page, Headlines
 • DW Weekly, Comments
 • Packages, Package Management
 • Glossary, FAQ, Mobile Site
 • Search, Sitemap
 • Major Distributions
 • Submit Distribution
 • Upcoming Releases
 • About DistroWatch
 • Page Hit Ranking
 • Advertise
 • Torrent Downloads

Linux Foundation Training
Damn Small Linux RSS Feed DistroWatch.com: Damn Small Linux

Damn Small Linux


Last Update: 2024-09-18 12:33 UTC


Damn Small Linux was a business card size (50MB) live CD Linux distribution, based on Debian and Knoppix. After a 12 year break (from 2012 to 2024), the Damn Small Linux (DSL) project was relaunched. The distribution is now based on Debian and antiX with the goal of fitting on live media 700MB or smaller (in order to be usable in CD-ROM drives). Despite its minuscule size it strives to have a functional and easy to use desktop. Damn Small Linux has a nearly complete desktop suite, including web browsers, office software, an e-mail client, PDF viewer, media players, and FTP/SFTP client.

Popularity (hits per day): 12 months: 58 (169), 6 months: 36 (233), 3 months: 42 (210), 4 weeks: 38 (248), 1 week: 52 (176)

Average visitor rating: 8.86/10 from 7 review(s).


Damn Small Linux Summary
Distribution Damn Small Linux
Home Page https://www.damnsmalllinux.org/
Mailing Lists --
User Forums https://damnsmalllinux.org/forums/
Alternative User Forums
Documentation --
Screenshots DistroWatch Gallery
Screencasts
Download Mirrors https://www.damnsmalllinux.org/download.htmlDistroWatch Torrent Archive
Bug Tracker --
Related Websites Wikipedia
Reviews 2024: DistroWatch
4.x: IT ReviewsBlogspotLinux.com
3.x: BlogspotLinuxForums
2.x: TuxmachinesIBM developerWorksTuxmachinesaboutLinuxBlogspotTuxmachines
1.x: TuxmachinesTuxmachines
0.x: OSNewsDistroWatch
DSL-N: Tuxmachines
Where To Donate, Buy, or Try

Recent Related News and Releases
  Releases announcements with download links and checksums:
 • 2024-05-22: Development Release: Damn Small Linux 2024 RC4
 • 2012-08-04: Development Release: Damn Small Linux 4.11 RC1
 • 2008-06-09: Distribution Release: Damn Small Linux 4.4
 • 2008-06-01: Development Release: Damn Small Linux 4.4 RC2
 • 2008-05-19: Development Release: Damn Small Linux 4.4 RC1
 • 2008-04-22: Distribution Release: Damn Small Linux 4.3
 • 2008-03-26: Development Release: Damn Small Linux 4.3 RC1
 • 2007-12-18: Distribution Release: Damn Small Linux 4.2
 • 2007-12-11: Development Release: Damn Small Linux 4.2 RC1
 • 2007-12-03: Distribution Release: Damn Small Linux 4.1
 • 2007-11-26: Development Release: Damn Small Linux 4.1 RC3
 • 2007-11-13: Development Release: Damn Small Linux 4.1 RC1
 • More Damn Small releases...

  Headlines:
 • 2024-02-01 DSL returns with an antiX base
 • More Damn Small headlines...

Table Notes and Explanations

(Please refer to the table below.)
  • Select view:
  • To compare the software in this project to the software available in other distributions, please see our Compare Packages page.
  • Notes: In case where multiple versions of a package are shipped with a distribution, only the default version appears in the table. For indication about the GNOME version, please check the "nautilus" and "gnome-shell" packages. The Apache web server is listed as "httpd" and the Linux kernel is listed as "linux". The KDE desktop is represented by the "plasma-desktop" package and the Xfce desktop by the "xfdesktop" package.
  • Colour scheme: green text = latest stable version, red text = development or beta version. The function determining beta versions is not 100% reliable due to a wide variety of versioning schemes.
TUXEDO
TUXEDO Computers

TUXEDO Computers - Linux Hardware in a tailor made suite
Choose from a wide range of laptops and PCs in various sizes and shapes at TUXEDOComputers.com. Every machine comes pre-installed and ready-to-run with Linux. Full 24 months of warranty and lifetime support included!

Learn more about our full service package and all benefits from buying at TUXEDO.

Star Labs

Star Labs Systems | Laptops designed for Linux

Star Labs - Laptops built for Linux.
View our range including the highly anticipated StarFighter. Available with coreboot open-source firmware and a choice of Ubuntu, elementary, Manjaro and more. Visit Star Labs for information, to buy and get support.


Advertisement


Feature 2024-rc7 4.11-rc2 4.4.10 3.3 3.0 2.4 2.0 1.5 1.3.1 1.2.1 1.1 1.0.1 Feature
Release Date 2024-09-18 2012-09-26 2008-11-17 2007-04-03 2006-06-20 2006-05-16 2005-11-22 2005-09-06 2005-07-19 2005-06-15 2005-05-05 2005-04-15 Release Date
End Of Life                         End Of Life
Price (US$) Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Price (US$)
Image Size (MB) 660-670 0-0                     Image Size (MB)
Free Download ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO Free Download
Installation Graphical Graphical Graphical Graphical Graphical Graphical Graphical Graphical Graphical Graphical Graphical -- Installation
Default Desktop Fluxbox, JWM JWM JWM Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox Default Desktop
Package Management DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB Package Management
Release Model Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Release Model
Office Suite -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Office Suite
Processor Architecture i486 i386 i386 i386 i386 i386 i386 i386 i386 i386 i386 i386 Processor Architecture
Init Software runit SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV Init Software
Journaled File Systems ext4 ext3 ext3 ext3 ext3 ext3 ext3 ext3 ext3 ext3 ext3 ext3 Journaled File Systems
Multilingual -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Multilingual
Asian Language Support -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Asian Language Support
Full Package List 2024-rc7           2.0 1.5     1.1   Full Package List

Full Package List:   Damn Small Linux 1.1
  Number of packages: 183 (download as TXT)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  •  adduser 3.51
  •  apt 0.5.13
  •  apt-utils 0.5.13
  •  ash-knoppix 0.2-4
  •  atmelwlandrive 20030613-1
  •  atmelwlandrive 2.1.1-3.3
  •  automount-knop 0.5-4
  •  base-config 1.72
  •  base-files 3.0.10
  •  base-passwd 3.5.4
  •  bash 2.05b-8.1
  •  bcm4400 1.0.1-1
  •  bsdutils 2.11z-1
  •  busybox 0.60.5-2.1
  •  bzip2 1.0.2-1
  •  cdrecord 2.0+a19-6
  •  cloop-module 1.02-1
  •  cloop-utils 1.02-2
  •  console-common 0.7.25
  •  console-data 2002.12.04dbs-
  •  console-tools 0.2.3dbs-39
  •  coreutils 5.0-5
  •  cpp 3.2.3-1
  •  cpp-3.2 3.2.3-8
  •  csh 20020413-1
  •  debconf 1.3.8
  •  debconf-i18n 1.3.8
  •  debianutils 2.5.4
  •  deborphan 1.5-1
  •  dhcp3-common 3.0+3.0.1rc11-
  •  diff 2.8.1-2
  •  dpkg 1.10.10
  •  dselect 1.10.10
  •  e2fsprogs 1.33+1.34-WIP-
  •  eject 2.0.13-1
  •  esound-common 0.2.29-1
  •  fdutils 5.4-20030718-1
  •  file 4.02-4
  •  findutils 4.1.20-1
  •  fluxbox 0.1.14-1
  •  fontconfig 2.2.1-3
  •  gcc-3.2-base 3.2.3-8
  •  genliloconf 0.1-3
  •  grep 2.5.1-6
  •  gzip 1.3.5-7
  •  hostname 2.10
  •  hotplug 0.0.20030805-2
  •  hotplug-knoppi 0.5-1
  •  hwdata-knoppix 0.95-1
  •  hwsetup 1.0-14
  •  ifupdown 0.6.4-4.6
  •  kbdconfig 0.5-3
  •  kernel-image-2 10.00.Custom
  •  knoppix-remoun 0.5-2
  •  less 381-2
  •  libao2 0.8.3-1.1
  •  libaudiofile0 0.2.3-4
  •  libblkid1 1.33+1.34-WIP-
  •  libbz2-1.0 1.0.2-1
  •  libc6 2.3.2.ds1-10
  •  libcap1 1.10-12
  •  libconsole 0.2.3dbs-39
  •  libcurl2 7.10.5-1
  •  libdb1-compat 2.1.3-7
  •  libdb2 2.7.7.0-8
  •  libdb3 3.2.9-19
  •  libdps1 4.3.0-0ds4
  •  libesd0 0.2.29-1
  •  libexpat1 1.95.6-4
  •  libfontconfig1 2.2.1-3
  •  libfreetype6 2.1.5-2
  •  libgcc1 3.3.2-0pre4
  •  libgdbmg1 1.7.3-28
  •  libglib1.2 1.2.10-9
  •  libgtk1.2 1.2.10-16
  •  libgtk1.2-comm 1.2.10-16
  •  libid3tag0 0.15.0b-1
  •  libjpeg62 6b-8
  •  liblocale-gett 1.01-17
  •  libmad0 0.15.0b-1
  •  libmagic1 4.02-4
  •  libncurses5 5.3.20030719-1
  •  libnewt0.51 0.51.4-14
  •  libogg0 1.0.0-1
  •  libpam-modules 0.76-13
  •  libpam-runtime 0.76-13
  •  libpam0g 0.76-13
  •  libpcap0.7 0.7.2-1
  •  libperl5.8 5.8.0-18
  •  libpng12-0 1.2.5.0-4
  •  libpopt0 1.7-2
  •  libsasl7 1.5.27-3.5
  •  libssl0.9.7 0.9.7b-2
  •  libstdc++2.10- 2.95.4-17
  •  libstdc++5 3.3.2-0pre4
  •  libtext-charwi 0.04-1
  •  libtext-iconv- 1.2-2
  •  libtext-wrapi1 0.06-1
  •  libtiff3g 3.5.7-2
  •  libvorbis0a 1.0.0-3
  •  libvorbisenc2 1.0.0-3
  •  libvorbisfile3 1.0.0-3
  •  libwrap0 7.6-ipv6.1-3
  •  libxaw7 4.3.0-0ds4
  •  libxft2 2.1.1-2
  •  lilo 22.5.7.2-1
  •  linux-wlan-ng 0.2.0-8
  •  linux-wlan-ng- knoppix+0.2.0-
  •  login 4.0.3-8
  •  loop-aes 1.7e-1
  •  makedev 2.3.1-63
  •  mawk 1.3.3-11
  •  mbr 1.1.5-1
  •  menu 2.1.9-1
  •  mkdesktophdico 0.5-2
  •  mkisofs 2.0+a19-6
  •  modconf 0.2.44
  •  module-init-to 0.9.14-1
  •  modutils 2.4.21-3
  •  mount-aes 2.11x-1
  •  mouseconfig 0.5-2
  •  mpg321 0.2.10.1-1.1
  •  ncurses-base 5.3.20030719-1
  •  ncurses-bin 5.3.20030719-1
  •  net-tools 1.60-8
  •  netbase 4.13
  •  netcardconfig- 0.5-15
  •  netkit-inetd 0.10-9
  •  netkit-ping 0.10-9
  •  nfs-common 1.0.6-1
  •  nvi 1.79-21
  •  orinoco 0.13b-1
  •  passwd 4.0.3-8
  •  pcmcia-cs 3.1.33-6
  •  perl-base 5.8.0-18
  •  portmap 5-2.1
  •  ppp 2.4.1.uus-5
  •  ppp-scripts-kn 0.5-2
  •  pppconfig 2.1
  •  pppoe 3.5-1
  •  pppoeconf 0.9.10.10
  •  pppstatus 0.4.2-6
  •  procps 3.1.9-1
  •  psmisc 21.3-1
  •  pump 0.8.15-1
  •  rebuildfstab-k 0.5-5
  •  rxvt-beta 2.7.8-5
  •  scanpartitions 0.5-4
  •  sed 4.0.7-1
  •  slang1 1.4.5-2.1
  •  slang1a-utf8 1.4.5-2.1
  •  soundcardconfi 0.5-2
  •  ssh 3.6.1p2-9
  •  sshstart-knopp 0.5-2
  •  startsyslog-kn 0.5-1
  •  sudo 1.6.7p5-1
  •  sysvinit 2.84-166
  •  tar 1.13.25-5
  •  tcpd 7.6-ipv6.1-3
  •  ted-common 2.14-1
  •  ted-gtk 2.14-1
  •  tinyirc 1.1-9
  •  unzip 5.50-3
  •  usbutils 0.11-1
  •  usbview 1.0-5
  •  usleep-knoppix 0.5-1
  •  util-linux 2.11z-1
  •  vorbis-tools 1.0.0-2
  •  whiptail 0.51.4-14
  •  wireless-tools 26-1
  •  wlcardconfig-k 0.5-4
  •  xbase-clients 4.3.0-0ds4
  •  xfonts-75dpi 4.3.0-0ds4
  •  xfonts-base 4.3.0-0ds4
  •  xfree86-common 4.3.0-0ds4
  •  xlibmesa4-gl 4.3.0-0ds4
  •  xlibs 4.3.0-0ds4
  •  xlibs-data 4.3.0-0ds4
  •  xmms 1.2.8-2
  •  xpdf-common 2.02pl1-1
  •  xserver-common 4.3.0-0ds4
  •  xutils 4.3.0-0ds4
  •  zlib1g 1.1.4-14


Reader Ratings
Reader supplied reviews for Damn Small Linux

Average rating
8.9
from 7 review(s)
Please selecting a rating in the range of 1-10.
Please write at least a few sentences about the distribution while limiting your review to 4080 characters.



What are your thoughts on Damn Small Linux?
Please include a few pros and a few cons, along with your overall impression of the operating system.
Our FAQ page has tips on writing a good mini-review.

Version:

Rating:    out of 10

Your review (minimum 250 words):




Past reviews - sort by:

Version: 2024-rc4
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-05-23
Votes: 13


I first used Damn Small Linux back when it was the tiny 50 megabytes ISO, and though this version is a little larger, it has totally kept the spirit of the original. It takes up around 73 megabytes in memory after booting up (it hangs around 80 or so from some normal use) and around 3 gigabytes on the disk, and its performance is very snappy. It has even kept much of the stark, utilitarian look (and I like it that way) of the older versions. It has more apps than you will probably ever use on the kind of system you're installing DSL on, including document and spreadsheet programs as well as multiple text editors and web browsers, both graphical and command line.The only complaints I have are a few minor cosmetic things. The default "Radiant" style looks terrible, though that can be easily changed to something more eye-pleasing (the royal blue small is much nicer).


Was this review helpful? Yes No
Version: 2024-alpha
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-05-15
Votes: 3


A perfect little system to breathe life into your old hardware again. I have tried it on my old Atom Netbook, and it works just fine. Due to the modifications, the distribution is still one of the most lightweight you can get today. Since 2024 two different Window Managers are included, JWM and Fluxbox, which have been tweaked to offer a unique, still familiar user experience. So software selection is balanced and thoughtful and contains everything you need for daily usage. If you are missing an application it can easily be installed using the package manager.


Was this review helpful? Yes No
Version: 2024-alpha
Rating: 8
Date: 2024-05-14
Votes: 6


RC is coming together better. Very solid runner. Very happy that John is doing this again but he's alone. Still plenty of work to go--will go faster & easier if we help with more testing and feedback :) He says there's lots of downloads but almost nobody is posting much feedback and he's not sure what people are experiencing. It's actually been kind of fun having software that just screams again :) Boots to under 80MB of RAM for me before you start any apps.

For cons, well, for me personally, runit is a new init system to learn but infinitely simpler than systemd. Pros: no systemd :) Seriously, what I like about it is you can tell it's a work of love and not just some minimal/net-install thing that you have to build for yourself--and it's updated/patched to be able to take an old machine out on a network.

But you can also tell it's not done yet :) Help if you can.


Was this review helpful? Yes No

See all 7 reader reviews of Damn Small Linux...

AlmaCare | AlmaLinux Commercial Support Services






Copyright (C) 2001 - 2024 Atea Ataroa Limited. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Privacy policy. Change privacy settings.
DistroWatch.com is hosted at Copenhagen.

Contact, corrections and suggestions: Jesse Smith

Tips: bc1qxes3k2wq3uqzr074tkwwjmwfe63z70gwzfu4lx
lnurl1dp68gurn8ghj7ampd3kx2ar0veekzar0wd5xjtnrdakj7tnhv4kxctttdehhwm30d3h82unvwqhhxarpw3jkc7tzw4ex6cfexyfua2nr
86fA3qPTeQtNb2k1vLwEQaAp3XxkvvvXt69gSG5LGunXXikK9koPWZaRQgfFPBPWhMgXjPjccy9LA9xRFchPWQAnPvxh5Le
0x969CD4E778C7b6549A2B00e34114e0168c86A542
PayPal.me/distrowPatreon.com/distrowatch