Extremely minial linux

[Lakshmipathi]

I have created a extremely minimal linux (without GUI) Its comes around 3MB.
(Still at alpha state-Yet to release first version - can't connect to remote machines..yet to need these packages in next version)

Do you think it will be useful? Or Added GUI will be more useful than current one?

I know there is plenty and plenty of good minimal linux distro out there.
I just want to try my own for fun - it may be useful for educational purpose

[fguy64]

I don't know about useful, but it would be interesting to try and boot Linux from a couple of floppy disks, just for fun.

[Tarthen]

Holy. Does that use a full kernel (the last of which seemed to be 40MB in apt)? Or a compressed, cut-down one?

[Freston]

Wow impressive!

Maybe I'm a bit biassed, but I'm hardly able to compile a kernel under 3MB (kidding, I've got it down to 2MB). Anyway, I'm trying to get an image of ~250MB (less is better but 250 will do) that has a GUI and can NFS and SSH with X forwarding.

How hard would it be to add X, IceWM and some networking capability to that?[/blatant_self_interest]

[Tarthen]

Damn Small did it. That has X, and is only 90MB.

I wonder if 250MB could fit GNOME, apt, the base system, and a barebones OO.org...

[GNU-Fan]

I wonder if 250MB could fit GNOME, apt, the base system, and a barebones OO.org...

Not the complete GNOME, but the panel, Nautlius and Metacity and some applets should give you a pretty close GNOME experience.

OO is Java based, not really a small footprint. I don't think it would fit. Use Gnumeric and AbiWord instead

[hazel]

Holy. Does that use a full kernel (the last of which seemed to be 40MB in apt)? Or a compressed, cut-down one?

The default Debian kernel is pretty bloated. I just compiled my own and it comes in at 1.4MB for the core and 18MB for the modules. I assume the modules tree in Lakshmipathi's version is bzipped.

[Bemk]

Sounds like an interesting project lakshmi.

[RobinVossen]

Sounds good for me.
I can really use your project.
However I'd add the C Compiler Toolchain, SVN and a wrapper script to add a package manager of some form

[Lakshmipathi]

but it would be interesting to try and boot Linux from a couple of floppy disks

yeah,that will add more fun

Holy. Does that use a full kernel (the last of which seemed to be 40MB in apt)? Or a compressed, cut-down one?

Yes,it's configured (cut-down/customized) version .I have complied the kernel without support for modules and removed unneccessary modules.

Wow impressive!

Maybe I'm a bit biassed, but I'm hardly able to compile a kernel under 3MB (kidding, I've got it down to 2MB). Anyway, I'm trying to get an image of ~250MB (less is better but 250 will do) that has a GUI and can NFS and SSH with X forwarding.

How hard would it be to add X, IceWM and some networking capability to that?[/blatant_self_interest]

I think It won't be hard to add X, IceWM or xfce - over it,but it needs a proper compiler .I'll try and explore adding X and networking in coming days ,Freston.

I assume the modules tree in Lakshmipathi's version is bzipped.

hazel, i have created a static kernel , so added required modules are build into the kernel itself. So that it won't need to load them - just wanted to keep it in small.

Sounds like an interesting project lakshmi.

Thanks Bemk

Sounds good for me.
I can really use your project.
However I'd add the C Compiler Toolchain, SVN and a wrapper script to add a package manager of some form

Robin,great to hear that will be useful



I feel really good to see positive response,I thought It won't be received well (Since we have so many excellent small distros ,out there)
As i said,It mainly intended for educational purpose.So I'm writing document about how I created this minimal linux,which helpful for all of us.