Damn Small Linux
Note on DSL
Damn Small Linux is abbreviated DSL, which is the same abbreviation used for Digital Subscriber Line. The context should make it clear what DSL means.
My Opinion
Pros
- The small size (only 50 MB) means that you can install it in just a few minutes and will be fast even on computers from the late 1990s. Most other Linux distros are too big for such old computers.
- You can boot up DSL as a live CD.
- I also like its frugal installation feature, which allows you to switch to a newer version of the OS without having to reinstall everything.
- The MyDSL package management system offers a wide variety of add-on programs.
Cons (why I no longer use DSL as my main Linux distro)
- Seeing things in Flash Player 7 requires downloading and installing this feature.
- Forget about Flash Player 9. Everyone who has tried installing it (including myself) finds it too unstable to be even minimally useful.
- Also, the selection of drivers included is very limited. This limits DSL's capability for things like wireless Internet and programming microcontrollers.
- Because of these drawbacks, I no longer use DSL as my main Linux distro and have switched to Puppy Linux.
Books
The Official Damn Small Linux Book by Robert Shingledecker, John Andrews, and Christopher Negus
Damn Small Linux Procedures
Preparation for Starting Linux: burning the CD, changing the computer boot order
Getting Started in Damn Small Linux: booting up the CD, rescuing files from the hard drive, desktop icons, killing a process, printer setup
Frugal Installation From Live CD
Persistence: persistent opt and home directories, cleaning up the web browser automatically
Saving Printer Settings