Puppy Linux 3.00 released

The new version Puppy Linux is released. Puppy is a distribution for low end PCs, designed to run from media like usb sticks. It's size is less than 100 MB.

The announcement and release notes are here:
http://www.puppylinux.com/download/release-3.00.htm

Get it from here:
http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/dis ... uppylinux/.

This Puppy is a massive upgrade from the previous (v2.17.1). It has close binary compatibility with Slackware 12, with the objective of being able to install Slackware packages and have all or most of the required dependencies already in place.

Most of the libraries in Puppy are now from Slackware. Note, though, this does not in any way make Puppy a clone of Slackware -- apart from aiming for binary compatibility, Puppy is fundamentally unique from the foundations upward.

It also has rewritten key scripts that control how Puppy boots up, is configured, and shuts down. This covers such things as pup_save file custom naming, frugal install into a subdirectory, pup_save file resizing and correct recognition of multiple pup_save files at bootup.

Then there are some major breakthroughs, such as finally getting periodic flushing of RAM to Flash drive working properly -- this is part of a mechanism that constrains writes to Flash drives so that they don't burn out.

Release notes (summary):

• All base packages upgraded, including glibc v2.5, gcc v4.1.2, GTK v2.10.13.
  
• Application upgrades (incomplete list): pptp v1.7.1, Isomaster v1.1, KP2 v0.2 (gray), Pbdict (zigbert),  pure-ftpd  (getnikar),  trashcan  (disciple),  Pbackup  v3.0.0 (zigbert), Network  Wizard  (Dougal,  tempestuous,  BarryK),  JWM  v2.0.1,  Xvesa  Wizard  (gray,  BarryK),  Burniso2cd (BarryK), Busybox v1.6.1, TkDVD v4.0.6, various small utilities (gray), Pidgin v2.0.2, SeaMonkey v1.1.2, Xorg v7.2, Unionfs v2.1.2, Pfind v2.4 (zigbert), PDF-printer v0.8 (jcoder24), WakePup2 (john doe, dgi), v1.6.9pre7, NoteCaseHomeBank v3.5, Universal Installer (BarryK), Pmirror v0.2 (zigbert), PRename v0.6 (plinej), partview (PaulBx1).
  
• Massive improvements achieved with new boot and shutdown scripts, including pup_save file custom naming, frugal install into a subdirectory, correct recognition of multiple pup_save files at bootup, pup_save file resizing.
• New kernel: 2.6.21.7, configured with 'tickless' option. Initrd.gz is now a cpio archive.
  
• NetSurf web browser v1.1 as our internal HTML viewer.
  
• True flushing for Flash drives (andrei, BarryK). Finally.
  
• Also a great number of bugfixes.

Comments

• I remember using an older version of this from a liveCD in high school because XP was too bulky for the low end PCs. Now it looks like it's come a long way from what I'm used to.
  By: zack @ 03/10/2007
  
  
• It is still small and cute and being used by more and more people as their main Linux distribution because of its speed and usability.
  By: Lobster @ 04/10/2007
  
  
• "It is still small and cute and being used by more and more people as their main Linux distribution because of its speed and usability."
  
  In which universe? Surely not this one.
  
  These distros are great for usage on substandard hardware. Main distro, for those of us past the 486 age? Don't make me laugh.
  By: asda @ 04/10/2007
  
  
• Puppy Linux sounds like a good substitution for my Windows environment. By the way, does it boot from Flash drive?
  By: Keith @ 07/10/2007
  
  
• It boots great from a flash drive. I've been running it for about a week, and am on a 2 gig flash on my Dell Latitude D400 as I type. This is much faster and more fun than WinXP on this computer, though of course it doesn't have some essential Windows applications that I like.
  Rebooting is fun, in contrast to this Dell on XP, when it is an ordeal.
  Puppy has a program that sets you up automatically on a Flash drive, so it's quite easy. I had trouble getting my wireless card to work, but the Puppy Wiki showed me the way. I will probably add this to my favorite Linux distributions, along with Suse and Linux Mint.
  
  I also run this on a Compaq Presario 2000 series, and it is also very nice on that computer.
  
  I don't know how someone can dismiss distros like this. My Nokia N800 little computer has a similar linup of programs, or does the "don't make me laugh" critic think that Internet just won't work on cell phones or other small devices. Don't make ME laugh.
  By: Gene Venable @ 14/10/2007
  
  
• I am a newbie with Linux and I am interested in acquiring an installation disk for either Puppy Linux or DSL for a little NEC LT Ready 120 computer. It only has 64 megs of RAM and a very small hard drive. It does have a PCMCIA slot and comes with a CD player for installation. I am not familiar with installing and using a downloaded disk (I see download sites on the internet), so I would rather find and pay for the program on disk. Any suggestions?
  By: Virgil Franklin @ 18/06/2008