48 megs with X

**John** · 02-04-2003, 12:46 PM

I started out with Model-K, hacked out a few more packages (ISDN, and dialup support), added X, and added the very small kdrive Xvesa. That got X working, though I'd like to add some configuration options. The Kdrive servers only work with command line options

After that I added Links Hacked, which is a great little browser -- it does js, ssl, http, ftp, frames, cookies, http Auth, but is still rather small. I compiled it on host host machine, then moved it over to the chrooted dir and apt-get'ed the dependencies.

Added basic X utilities...

Added nVi, which is a Vi small clone...

Added tinyirc...

That got me over 55M, so then I went on the hunt for logs, temp files and docs to remove. I finally got under 50M when I purged the apt cache, I figured it is easy enough to rebuild.

I did it mostly to see if it was possible within the KNOPPIX framework. It is not really on par with lnx-bbc, though I like my choice of browsers better.

**Alextreme** · 02-04-2003, 05:16 PM

Nice hack! A perfect fit for on a creditcard CDR!

**Alextreme** · 02-04-2003, 05:17 PM

[edit]
Whoops, once was enough

**AvidLinuxUser** · 02-04-2003, 05:40 PM

Very nice, that is why I'm making the Modularity System. Would you be willing to write up the changes and send the X-hack Model-k to me so that I can host it for the world to use?

BTW I'm working on Model-K 0.6.0 this will be under 25 megs if it kills me.<g> Replacing some most of the function with Busybox and Tinylogon.

Still debating on the apt-get / dpkg monster. This is the main thing keeping the size at 30Megs.

Contact me via email to discuss it more.

Thanks
Avid

**Alextreme** · 02-04-2003, 06:17 PM

How is modularity going btw?
i'm putting most of my efforts into getting modules to work well enough, but my 33meg base is still quite fat. apt is quite small imho, just made sure i remove all the apt-cruft. The kernel modules are also quite large together with all those libs (using busybox is a very good idea, was trying to use it in the 2.88meg bootimage)

[edit] typos

**AvidLinuxUser** · 02-04-2003, 07:10 PM

As I said still working toward my base system I'm not happy with 33 megs. My first computer was a 386 with only a 20 meg hard drive. I know the Modules are a pain but are needed for the system to run in "any machine".

Please expand on what you mean by apt-cruft. The problem with dpkg is that once installed it starts keep many falt file dbases for every package, file, conf, etc. on the system.

**Alextreme** · 02-04-2003, 07:33 PM

Yups, thats why i'm trying to make a fatter kernel with the most commonly used modules, guess the size alltogether depends on your target-users though

Oh, about the cruft: i've placed a package tools.tar.gz with a apt-strip (not what you think

) script, it removes all but the most needed files (backups, package lists etc), while still being able to revive apt with an update. You remain with one big textfile (status) for the current packages, but it compresses nicely. Dunno if you already made something similar...

**John** · 02-04-2003, 09:44 PM

I want to do a bit more hacking when it comes to setting Xvesa's resolution. It is set like such:
-screen widthxheight[xdepth] (-screen 1240x1024x24)
It is simple to plug it into the startx script, but I'm going to write a small script that has pre-selected modes to choose from. The Kdrive Xvesa server is a bit slow but it can do very good resolution.

I burned it to a business size disk. It was advertised as having 50 megs of space, but actually had 55 megs. Is that typical? If so, it gives me some room to add an ssh and ftp client and maybe a small file manager.

I'll definitely throw it your way after I hack in the screen settings, I don't really have any other place to host it.

**dvessey** · 02-05-2003, 02:19 AM

I would definately love to get my hands on something like that

once I get this whole loading into ram thing figured out, that would be a perfect candidate for it.. I'm sure running out of ram would compensate for any speed loss

**AvidLinuxUser** · 02-05-2003, 03:11 AM

YES!!! :P

I'm very happy to announce Model-k, Modularity.org's base system is now only 20 Megs.

There is still the matter of rebuilding the dpkg status file to account for the installed program but then I should be able to release it for testing.

Please email me if you just must see it before the release this weekend (or next at the lastest).