DSL 2024 – A 700 MB Linux Distribution That Keeps Aging PCs Alive

The Linux community has long celebrated the idea of a tiny distribution that can run on a handful of megabytes of memory and a single floppy disk. The original Damn Small Linux (DSL) was a 50 MB marvel in 2002, but as hardware evolved, so did the appetite for more features. In 2024, the DSL project has been reborn as DSL 2024, a 700 MB ISO that delivers a usable desktop environment for the oldest x86 machines still in use.

Why 700 MB? The Modern “Small” Threshold

The 700 MB limit is not arbitrary. It matches the capacity of a standard CD‑ROM, the last common optical medium for many legacy systems that cannot boot from USB. While the industry has largely moved beyond the 50 MB constraint of the early 2000s, a 700 MB image remains small enough to fit on a CD, yet large enough to include a modern kernel, drivers, and a meaningful set of applications.

“People would find such a distribution a fun toy or something to build upon, but it would not be usable for the average computer user out of the gate.” – DSL author, reflecting on the gap between toy distributions and production‑ready systems.

In practice, DSL 2024 achieves this size by stripping non‑essential language packs, removing extensive documentation, and carefully selecting lightweight software. The result is a distribution that feels complete to a regular user while staying within the CD‑ROM envelope.

The Base: antiX 23 i386

DSL 2024 is a derivative of antiX 23, a distribution that shares lineage with MEPIS and Debian. antiX is known for its lean approach, making it a natural foundation for DSL’s goals. By leveraging antiX’s package repositories and system configuration, the DSL team could focus on trimming the image rather than reinventing core components.

The choice of the i386 architecture ensures compatibility with the widest range of legacy PCs, many of which still run 32‑bit CPUs. This decision underscores DSL’s mission: keep older hardware useful and avoid e‑waste.

A Curated Application Stack

Window Managers

  • Fluxbox – A lightweight, highly configurable stacking window manager.
  • JWM – A minimalistic window manager that balances speed and usability.

Web Browsers

  • Firefox‑esr – The extended‑support release, fully HTML5‑compatible.
  • NetSurf GTK – Quick, RAM‑efficient, with solid HTML4/CSS support.
  • Dillo – Ultra‑light GUI browser.
  • Links2 – Text‑centric with optional GUI mode.

Office & Productivity

  • AbiWord – Word processor.
  • Gnumeric – Spreadsheet application.
  • Sylpheed – Email client.
  • Zathura – PDF viewer.

Multimedia

  • MPV – Versatile video/audio player.
  • XMMS – Lightweight audio player.

Utilities & Development

  • Ranger – Terminal file manager.
  • VisiData – CSV/spreadsheet tool.
  • FZF – Fuzzy finder.
  • Tmux – Terminal multiplexer.
  • Mutt – Text‑based email client.
  • Cmus – Terminal music player.
  • Vim and Nano – Text editors.

Miscellaneous

  • mtPaint – Graphics editor.
  • gFTP – FTP/SFTP/SCP client.
  • Leafpad – Lightweight text editor.
  • zzzFM – File manager from antiX.
  • CDW – CD burner.
  • Htop – Interactive process viewer.
  • SurfRaw – Terminal web search wrapper.
  • Weather App – Terminal weather.

The selection balances functionality with footprint. For example, Dillo and NetSurf provide web browsing without the bloat of a full‑featured browser, while the inclusion of Firefox‑esr ensures users can still access modern web content when needed.

The Role of apt

Unlike its predecessor, DSL 2024 ships with a fully enabled apt package manager. This means users can install missing packages on the fly, expanding the system’s capabilities without needing to rebuild the ISO. The ability to pull from antiX’s repositories gives DSL a flexible upgrade path while preserving its lightweight ethos.

Sustainability and Community

The DSL project is a testament to the open‑source community’s commitment to sustainability. By keeping older hardware operational, it reduces electronic waste. The author credits Debian, antiX, and the wider community for the foundation that made DSL 2024 possible.

“I think of this project as my way of keeping otherwise usable hardware out of landfills.” – DSL author.

The project also benefits from community feedback. Users are encouraged to report bugs, which the author acknowledges may stem from the compromises required to stay within the 700 MB limit.

Final Thoughts

DSL 2024 is not a toy; it’s a practical solution for developers, hobbyists, and anyone who needs a functional desktop on legacy hardware. By marrying a lightweight base with a carefully curated suite of applications, it demonstrates that a modern, usable Linux distribution can still fit on a single CD.

Source: https://www.damnsmalllinux.org/