issue205:critique2
Différences
Ci-dessous, les différences entre deux révisions de la page.
Prochaine révision | Révision précédente | ||
issue205:critique2 [2024/06/01 10:30] – créée auntiee | issue205:critique2 [2024/06/12 15:06] (Version actuelle) – andre_domenech | ||
---|---|---|---|
Ligne 1: | Ligne 1: | ||
- | In the Linux world, you might be forgiven for being convinced that the dead can rise and walk again. In early 2024, an old Linux distribution, | + | **In the Linux world, you might be forgiven for being convinced that the dead can rise and walk again. In early 2024, an old Linux distribution, |
With its last stable release in 2008, Damn Small Linux (DSL) is back, but with much that is new. | With its last stable release in 2008, Damn Small Linux (DSL) is back, but with much that is new. | ||
Ligne 5: | Ligne 5: | ||
Background | Background | ||
- | DSL was started by American developer, John Andrews, and had its first stable release in 2005. His initial aim was experimental in nature: to see if he could create a distribution that would fit on a bootable business card, a once popular cut-down CD, the size of an actual business card and which held 50 MB of data. Yes, that resulted in a Linux distribution with a maximum size of 50 MB, and that was actually possible twenty years ago. DSL was designed to be booted up and run from a variety of small media and was based on Knoppix, another distribution designed for “live CD” use. Knoppix was in turn based on Debian. | + | DSL was started by American developer, John Andrews, and had its first stable release in 2005. His initial aim was experimental in nature: to see if he could create a distribution that would fit on a bootable business card, a once popular cut-down CD, the size of an actual business card and which held 50 MB of data. Yes, that resulted in a Linux distribution with a maximum size of 50 MB, and that was actually possible twenty years ago. DSL was designed to be booted up and run from a variety of small media and was based on Knoppix, another distribution designed for “live CD” use. Knoppix was in turn based on Debian.** |
- | The DSL project gained a following and continued until its last stable release in 2008, when it disappeared into the annals of Linux history, or so we all thought. | + | Dans le monde de Linux, vous pourriez être pardonné d’être convaincu que les morts peuvent ressusciter et marcher à nouveau. Début 2024, une vieille distribution de Linux, qu’on croyait morte et enterrée depuis 16 ans, a été ressuscitée ! |
+ | |||
+ | La dernière version stable de Damn Small Linux (DSL - Sacrément petite Linux) est sortie en 2008, et elle est maintenant de retour, mais avec pas mal de nouveautés. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Contexte | ||
+ | |||
+ | DSL a été commencée par un développeur américain, John Andrews, et sa première version stable est sortie en 2005. L’objectif initial du développeur était de nature expérimentale : | ||
+ | |||
+ | **The DSL project gained a following and continued until its last stable release in 2008, when it disappeared into the annals of Linux history, or so we all thought. | ||
And then, on 1 February, 2024, Andrews released a new DSL version called DSL 2024 alpha with the intention of creating a new stable version this year. | And then, on 1 February, 2024, Andrews released a new DSL version called DSL 2024 alpha with the intention of creating a new stable version this year. | ||
Ligne 13: | Ligne 21: | ||
This DSL 2024 is not your grandfather’s DSL, however. Much has changed, in fact, and it may not have a lot in common with the original beyond its name. | This DSL 2024 is not your grandfather’s DSL, however. Much has changed, in fact, and it may not have a lot in common with the original beyond its name. | ||
- | Recognizing that it is pretty much impossible to create a useful distribution under 50 MB today, at least with any sort of graphical interface, the new size limit is 700 MB, which is 14 times bigger than the last version of DSL. This new 700 MB limit is intended to allow it to fit on a standard compact disc (CD). Remember those? | + | Recognizing that it is pretty much impossible to create a useful distribution under 50 MB today, at least with any sort of graphical interface, the new size limit is 700 MB, which is 14 times bigger than the last version of DSL. This new 700 MB limit is intended to allow it to fit on a standard compact disc (CD). Remember those?** |
+ | |||
+ | Le projet DLS a attiré des partisans et a continué jusqu’à sa dernière version stable en 2008, quand il a disparu dans les archives historiques de Linux, du moins c’est ce que nous pensions tous. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Puis, le 1er février 2024, Andrews a publié une nouvelle version de DSL appelée DSL 2024 alpha, tout en ayant l’intention de créer une nouvelle version stable cette année. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Cependant, cette DSL 2024 n’est pas la DSL de votre grand-père. Elle a beaucoup a changé, en fait, et elle n’a plus grand chose en commun avec l’original, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Reconnaissant qu’il est quasi impossible de créer une distribution utile qui fait moins de 50 Mo de nos jours, au moins avec une interface graphique quelconque, la nouvelle limite de taille est de 700 Mo, ce qui fait 14 fois plus grand que la dernière version de DSL. Cette nouvelle limite de 700 Mo devrait lui permettre de s’enregistrer sur un disque compact standard (CD). Vous en souvenez-vous ? | ||
- | Is 700 MB a “Damn Small Linux”? Perhaps it is more like a “Somewhat Small Linux”. Well, at least we can note that it is less than 1/7 the size of Ubuntu 23.10, which weighed in at a hefty 5.2 GB at release time. | + | **Is 700 MB a “Damn Small Linux”? Perhaps it is more like a “Somewhat Small Linux”. Well, at least we can note that it is less than 1/7 the size of Ubuntu 23.10, which weighed in at a hefty 5.2 GB at release time. |
This new DSL version is no longer Knoppix-based but, instead, is now a derivative of antiX, which is a lightweight Debian-based Linux distribution. | This new DSL version is no longer Knoppix-based but, instead, is now a derivative of antiX, which is a lightweight Debian-based Linux distribution. | ||
Ligne 21: | Ligne 37: | ||
DSL has also only been released in a 32-bit build, although it is worth noting that 32-bit software can be run on 64-bit hardware (but not the other way around). | DSL has also only been released in a 32-bit build, although it is worth noting that 32-bit software can be run on 64-bit hardware (but not the other way around). | ||
- | The other thing that has changed is the aim, as DSL is now intended to be a distribution run on hardware as old as that built for Windows XP, from about 2001-2008. Those boxes often came with 256 or 512 MB of RAM, which seems a bit quaint today when 8 GB is a normal bare minimum. Many of these computers also came with CD-only drives, but not DVD drives or the capability to boot from a USB stick (well, without using Plop that is), hence the 700 MB CD maximum size. But, do people still have blank CDs lying around? I know that I don’t. | + | The other thing that has changed is the aim, as DSL is now intended to be a distribution run on hardware as old as that built for Windows XP, from about 2001-2008. Those boxes often came with 256 or 512 MB of RAM, which seems a bit quaint today when 8 GB is a normal bare minimum. Many of these computers also came with CD-only drives, but not DVD drives or the capability to boot from a USB stick (well, without using Plop that is), hence the 700 MB CD maximum size. But, do people still have blank CDs lying around? I know that I don’t.** |
- | To get this new DSL down below 700 MB, Andrews limited the installed default languages to a few varieties of English, stripped out user manual pages, source code, and used lightweight applications that have a minimum of dependencies. DSL 2024 employs Debian’s Advanced Package Tool (APT) to manage packages from the command line and that means that it is easy to run updates, install additional languages and applications as needed. | + | Est-ce que 700 Mo constituent une « Damn Small Linux » ? |
+ | |||
+ | Cette nouvelle version de DSL n’est plus basée sur Knoppix, mais, à la place, est maintenant une dérivée d’antiX, qui est une distribution Linux légère basée sur Debian. | ||
+ | |||
+ | DSL n’a été sortie que dans une compilation 32-bit, bien qu’il faille reconnaître que des logiciels 32-bit peuvent s’exécuter sur du matériel 64-bit (mais pas l' | ||
+ | |||
+ | L’autre chose qui a changé est l’objectif, | ||
+ | |||
+ | **To get this new DSL down below 700 MB, Andrews limited the installed default languages to a few varieties of English, stripped out user manual pages, source code, and used lightweight applications that have a minimum of dependencies. DSL 2024 employs Debian’s Advanced Package Tool (APT) to manage packages from the command line and that means that it is easy to run updates, install additional languages and applications as needed. | ||
Getting DSL | Getting DSL | ||
Ligne 29: | Ligne 53: | ||
I downloaded DSL 2024 alpha from the official website via HTTPS, since there is no BitTorrent available. As advertised, the file is under 700 MB, but not by much, as the version I got was 698.1 MB. | I downloaded DSL 2024 alpha from the official website via HTTPS, since there is no BitTorrent available. As advertised, the file is under 700 MB, but not by much, as the version I got was 698.1 MB. | ||
- | An MD5 sum is provided. While not as secure as an SHA256 sum, it did indicate that the download was good. | + | An MD5 sum is provided. While not as secure as an SHA256 sum, it did indicate that the download was good.** |
+ | |||
+ | Pour pouvoir réduire cette nouvelle DSL en dessous de 700 Mo, Andrews a limité les langues installées par défaut à quelques variétés de l’anglais, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Obtenir DSL | ||
+ | |||
+ | J’ai téléchargé DSL 2024 apha à partir du site Web officiel via HTTPS, puisque aucun BitTorrent n’est disponible. Comme indiqué, le fichier fait moins de 700 Mo, mais pas beaucoup moins, car la version que j’ai obtenue faisait 698,1 Mo. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Une somme MD5 est fournie. Tout en étant moins sûre qu’une somme SHA256, elle a bel et bien indiqué que le téléchargement était bon. | ||
- | Installing | + | **Installing |
I ran DSL from a USB stick equipped with Ventoy 1.0.97. It is not officially listed as being supported, but antiX is supported and DSL 2024 booted up just fine. | I ran DSL from a USB stick equipped with Ventoy 1.0.97. It is not officially listed as being supported, but antiX is supported and DSL 2024 booted up just fine. | ||
Ligne 45: | Ligne 78: | ||
Normally in a development process you can expect a couple of alpha releases, then a beta, and finally the stable version, and, over that time, problems get identified and fixed, ideally resulting in a flawless stable version. | Normally in a development process you can expect a couple of alpha releases, then a beta, and finally the stable version, and, over that time, problems get identified and fixed, ideally resulting in a flawless stable version. | ||
- | So with those low expectations, | + | So with those low expectations, |
- | The quite-conventional menu system can be accessed via the taskbar button or by right clicking anywhere on the desktop, a nice feature that saves time. | + | Installation |
+ | |||
+ | J'ai lancé DSL à partir d'une clé USB équipée de Ventoy 1.0.97. Elle n'est pas listée officiellement comme étant prise en charge, mais antiX l'est et DSL 2024 a démarré sans problème. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Exigences système | ||
+ | |||
+ | DSL 2024 ne liste aucune exigence système minimale précise, mais j'ai trouvé qu' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Essayer DSL | ||
+ | |||
+ | En règle générale, j' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Normalement, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ainsi, donc, avec mes attentes assez faibles, j’ai examiné la DSL 2024 alpha. Elle démarre avec le gestionnaire de fenêtres Fluxbox, qui forme la base sous-jacente du bureau. La première impression donnée par DSL 2024 est qu’elle est tout à fait fonctionnelle et vient avec un ensemble d’applications qui répondront à la plupart des besoins des utilisateurs du bureau. Tout ce qui est fourni est léger, ce qui, en revanche, signifie avec très peu de fonctionnalités. | ||
+ | |||
+ | **The quite-conventional menu system can be accessed via the taskbar button or by right clicking anywhere on the desktop, a nice feature that saves time. | ||
Systemd haters will be pleased to know that DSL uses runit as its initialization system. | Systemd haters will be pleased to know that DSL uses runit as its initialization system. | ||
Once booted up, I used APT from the command line to update DSL 2024 and had a look at the repositories, | Once booted up, I used APT from the command line to update DSL 2024 and had a look at the repositories, | ||
+ | ** | ||
+ | |||
+ | Le système de menus, qui est très conventionnel, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Les gens qui détestent systemd seront ravis d’apprendre que DSL utilise runit comme système d’initialisation. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Une fois démarré, j’ai utilisé APT à partir de la ligne de commande pour mettre à jour DSL 2024 et j’ai examiné les dépôts, qui viennent d’antiX. Si faire la gestion des paquets à partir de la ligne de commande ne vous plaît pas, il est facile d’installer Synaptic ou un autre gestionnaire de paquets graphique, bien qu’il faille utiliser la ligne de commande pour l’installer ! Le manque d’un gestionnaire de paquets graphique indique que celle-ci n’est pas vraiment une distribution pour les débutants Linux, puisqu' | ||
- | In my initial checks, I found a number of elements that were broken, which is not surprising in a first alpha release. On that list was my WiFi card, which was not found, necessitating the use of an Ethernet connection instead. Also, many menu items did not work, or at least would not launch. | + | **In my initial checks, I found a number of elements that were broken, which is not surprising in a first alpha release. On that list was my WiFi card, which was not found, necessitating the use of an Ethernet connection instead. Also, many menu items did not work, or at least would not launch. |
Settings | Settings | ||
Ligne 59: | Ligne 115: | ||
DSL 2024 uses Fluxbox as its default window manager, although JWM is also installed. Fluxbox actually does provide a nice selection of 22 different window and menu color themes and font sizes. That is a good thing, as the default Radiant-small theme is a bit garish. Some toned-down themes and bigger font sizes are available. | DSL 2024 uses Fluxbox as its default window manager, although JWM is also installed. Fluxbox actually does provide a nice selection of 22 different window and menu color themes and font sizes. That is a good thing, as the default Radiant-small theme is a bit garish. Some toned-down themes and bigger font sizes are available. | ||
- | The desktop wallpaper could not be changed, which is too bad, as it needs changing. The default wallpaper is a picture of two mice working on the inside of a clock. It is cute and whimsical, but also busy and cluttered. Personally, I like cleaner wallpapers for my desktop. There is no settings box to change the wallpaper. The zzzFM file manager has a right-click option to set any image as the wallpaper, but it was broken. The alternate Ranger file manager would not launch. | + | The desktop wallpaper could not be changed, which is too bad, as it needs changing. The default wallpaper is a picture of two mice working on the inside of a clock. It is cute and whimsical, but also busy and cluttered. Personally, I like cleaner wallpapers for my desktop. There is no settings box to change the wallpaper. The zzzFM file manager has a right-click option to set any image as the wallpaper, but it was broken. The alternate Ranger file manager would not launch.** |
- | Applications | + | Lors de mes vérifications du départ, j’ai trouvé de nombreux éléments qui étaient cassés, ce qui n’est pas surprenant dans une première version alpha. Ma carte WiFi figurait sur cette liste, car elle n’était pas trouvée et j’ai dû utiliser une connexion par Ethernet à la place. De plus, beaucoup d’éléments du menu ne fonctionnaient pas ou, au moins, refusaient de se lancer. |
+ | |||
+ | Paramètres | ||
+ | |||
+ | DSL 2024 utilise Fluxbox comme gestionnaire de fenêtres par défaut, bien que JWM soit également installé. En fait, Fluxbox fournit une sélection sympa de 22 thèmes différents de couleurs de fenêtre et de menu et de tailles de police. C’est une bonne chose, puisque le thème Radiant-small par défaut est un peu voyant. Quelques thèmes plus sobres et des tailles plus grandes de police sont disponibles. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Le papier peint du bureau était impossible à changer, ce qui est dommage, car il faudrait pouvoir le changer. Le papier peint par défaut est l' | ||
+ | |||
+ | **Applications | ||
Some of the applications included are: | Some of the applications included are: | ||
Ligne 79: | Ligne 143: | ||
XMMS 1.2.11 audio player | XMMS 1.2.11 audio player | ||
Zathura 0.5.2 PDF reader | Zathura 0.5.2 PDF reader | ||
- | zzzFM 1.0.7 file manager | + | zzzFM 1.0.7 file manager** |
- | As noted, this mix of applications consists of lightweight applications. More capable applications can be easily installed using APT from the repositories, | + | Applications |
+ | |||
+ | Quelques-unes des applications fournies sont: | ||
+ | ••Abiword 3.0.5 traitement de texte | ||
+ | ••AlsaMixer 1.2.8 contrôleur audio | ||
+ | ••Archive Manager (File Roller) 43.0 archiveur de fichiers | ||
+ | ••Badwolf 1.0.3 navigateur Web | ||
+ | ••Dillo 3.0.5 navigateur Web | ||
+ | ••Feh 3.10 visionneur d’images | ||
+ | ••gFTP 2.9.1b client FTP | ||
+ | ••Gnumeric 1.12.55 tableur | ||
+ | ••Leafpad 0.8.18.1 éditeur de texte | ||
+ | ••MPV 0.35.1 lecteur de vidéos | ||
+ | ••mtPaint 3.50.09 éditeur d’images | ||
+ | ••scrot 1.8.1 outil en ligne de commande de capture d’écran | ||
+ | ••Sylpheed 3.8.0 client mail (bêta 1) | ||
+ | ••XMMS 1.2.11 lecteur audio | ||
+ | ••Zathura 0.5.2 visionneur de PDF | ||
+ | ••zzzFM 1.0.7 gestionnaire de fichiers | ||
+ | |||
+ | **As noted, this mix of applications consists of lightweight applications. More capable applications can be easily installed using APT from the repositories, | ||
As a reviewer, one of the first things I looked for was to see if DSL had a screenshot tool installed. I didn’t see one in the menus, but a check of APT showed that the command line scrot tool was installed. Scrot works well but it would have been nice if it had been provided with a key binding to the “PrtScr” key, as is normal. I was able to run it from the command line with a delay command to complete the screenshots for this review. | As a reviewer, one of the first things I looked for was to see if DSL had a screenshot tool installed. I didn’t see one in the menus, but a check of APT showed that the command line scrot tool was installed. Scrot works well but it would have been nice if it had been provided with a key binding to the “PrtScr” key, as is normal. I was able to run it from the command line with a delay command to complete the screenshots for this review. | ||
- | For a distribution that is trying to stay small, DSL has a curious number of duplicate default applications, | + | For a distribution that is trying to stay small, DSL has a curious number of duplicate default applications, |
- | User base | + | Comme déjà noté, ce mélange d’applications est fait d’applis légères. Des applications plus fonctionnelles s’installent facilement à partir des dépôts avec APT, bien qu’il faille davantage de mémoire pour les faire tourner. |
+ | |||
+ | En tant que critique, l’une des premières choses que j’ai cherchée était de voir si un outil de capture d’écran était installé dans DSL. Je n’en ai pas vu dans les menus, mais une vérification d’APT montrait que l’outil scrot en ligne de commande était installé. Scrot fonctionne bien, mais un raccourci clavier vers la touche « impécr », | ||
+ | |||
+ | Pour une distribution qui essaie de rester petite, DSL a un nombre étrange d’applications en double, y compris des gestionnaires de fichiers, des gestionnaires de fenêtres et des navigateurs Web. Cela étant dit, le navigateur BadWolf charge les pages lentement et se plante souvent, alors que le navigateur Web Dillo n’affiche pas beaucoup de pages Web, probablement à cause du manque du support JavaScript. Il s’agit de quelques points de plus à régler avant la sortie d’une version stable. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | **User base | ||
One question that always comes up with niche distributions like this one is “who is this for?” The official website states that it is for “low-spec x86 computers … to run on computers old enough to not have a DVD and cannot boot off of a USB drive.” So this is really aimed at people with old XP computers that they want to use as a main or secondary computer. | One question that always comes up with niche distributions like this one is “who is this for?” The official website states that it is for “low-spec x86 computers … to run on computers old enough to not have a DVD and cannot boot off of a USB drive.” So this is really aimed at people with old XP computers that they want to use as a main or secondary computer. | ||
Ligne 97: | Ligne 188: | ||
DSL 2024 alpha is truly an alpha release, as it has a number of things that don’t work, at least so far, although it does show good potential. | DSL 2024 alpha is truly an alpha release, as it has a number of things that don’t work, at least so far, although it does show good potential. | ||
- | While I was working on this review, a second alpha version came out on 20 February, 2024, so that at least shows development is moving along quickly. We can expect perhaps another alpha or two and then a beta before the final stable release comes out later this year. (Editor' | + | While I was working on this review, a second alpha version came out on 20 February, 2024, so that at least shows development is moving along quickly. We can expect perhaps another alpha or two and then a beta before the final stable release comes out later this year. (Editor' |
- | One question remains: Is there enough pent-up demand by owners of old hardware that this will take off? While Damn Small Linux has some “brand recognition” at least among older Linux users, today the lightweight end of the Linux market already has a lot of players including Puppy Linux, SliTaz, Tiny Core Linux, and, of course, antiX. This newly reinvented DSL will have to offer something those others don’t to scratch out a dedicated user base. | + | Base d’utilisateurs |
+ | |||
+ | Une question qui se présente toujours concernant les distributions de niche comme celle-ci est « pour qui est-ce ? | ||
+ | |||
+ | Si votre matériel est plus performant, vous pourriez toujours installer DSL, puis le compléter avec des applications avec davantage de fonctions comme Firefox et LibreOffice, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Conclusions | ||
+ | |||
+ | DSL 2024 alpha est vraiment une version alpha, puisqu’elle contient de nombreuses choses qui ne fonctionnent pas, du moins à ce stade, bien qu’elle démontre un bon potentiel. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Pendant que je travaillais sur cette critique, une deuxième version alpha est sortie le 20 février 2024, ce qui indique au moins que le développement est rapide. Il se peut que l’on puisse s’attendre à une ou deux autres versions alpha, puis une bêta, avant la sortie de la version finale stable plus tard cette année. (Note du rédacteur : | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | **One question remains: Is there enough pent-up demand by owners of old hardware that this will take off? While Damn Small Linux has some “brand recognition” at least among older Linux users, today the lightweight end of the Linux market already has a lot of players including Puppy Linux, SliTaz, Tiny Core Linux, and, of course, antiX. This newly reinvented DSL will have to offer something those others don’t to scratch out a dedicated user base. | ||
It is probably worth noting that one of the strengths of the Linux world is that definitions of “success” encompass a wide range of outcomes. If someone is building a distribution as a hobby, and not as a for-profit venture, then success might just mean having a distribution to tinker with and a few dedicated fans finding it useful enough to use. | It is probably worth noting that one of the strengths of the Linux world is that definitions of “success” encompass a wide range of outcomes. If someone is building a distribution as a hobby, and not as a for-profit venture, then success might just mean having a distribution to tinker with and a few dedicated fans finding it useful enough to use. | ||
Ligne 108: | Ligne 212: | ||
Official website: | Official website: | ||
- | https:// | + | https:// |
+ | |||
+ | Il reste une question : y a-t-il assez de demande refoulée de propriétaires de vieux matériel pour que cette distrib. décolle ? Bien que Damn Small Linux a un peu de notoriété aujourd' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Il est sans doute intéressant de noter que l’une des forces du monde Linux est que les définitions de la « réussite » englobent une large gamme de résultats. Si une personne compile une distribution comme violon d’Ingres et pas à but lucratif, alors la réussite peut être tout simplement d' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Si vous avez un vieil ordinateur à la cave qui ne sert plus à rien, alors, quand la version stable de DSL 2024 sortira, cela pourrait être tout ce qu’il faut pour que votre vieille machine puisse fonctionner à nouveau. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Liens externes | ||
+ | |||
+ | Site Web officiel : https:// |
issue205/critique2.1717230659.txt.gz · Dernière modification : 2024/06/01 10:30 de auntiee