putting knoppix on a diet!
Hello and I would like to thank Mr. Knopper for showing the linux community what is possible. I very much enjoy booting my box with Knoppix and getting away from my "other" operating system.
I know that knoppix is a demonstration of how much software can be crammed on a cdr that will boot on about any pc without a hitch. I know people are working on smaller versions that will fit on a 3.5 inch cdr. I am a linux rookie and as I look through all the programs installed it looks like most of it can be omitted.
Knoppix-lite or whatever it should be called needs to have one program for each popular activity. It should be modeled as far as programs that are installed goes like Mac OSX. I am stating that Apple spent alot of effort to include enough software to actually do something right out of the box. Trim out all the fat and leave software that the average Joe will use.
I know I am on a soapbox but I think the linux universe needs to start contracting back together. There are too many distros. There are too many people re-inventing the wheel. My dream is of a linux that can boot and install like knoppix, the great looks and simplicity of Lycoris/Xandros/Lindow and free like debian.
in response to doing it myself
First of all, I made no mention of wanting anyone to do anything. I have been following the topic of creating a small iso of knoppix. I did thank Mr. Knopper for such a fine job. I did pose a question why a 240 meg distro is still so obese. Why all the junk? A visit to Mr. Tech2k's ironically spurred me to write my first post. I cannot believe all the stuff he is cramming in there.
Maudite
Huge distro's and building a better mousetrap
Hmm, this seems to look like it's going the way i am going now...
on my site i've started work on a KnopBase distro, 72 megs and everything is ripped from it (well, everything should be when i'm finished with it). The whole point is that distro's should get LESS bloated instead of more, and this fits quite nicely: have a very (VERY) small base distribution (just like debian-base), and just be able to install to hdd and autodetect the configuration.
Now, KnopBase only has the knoppix console and a minimum of tools. What would an average user want with it? not much. But together with an enhanced tasksel (or multisession cd's?) you should be able to build your own distro/iso without too much cruft. Want a Server distro? get base and add a server-track. want a hardware-recovery distro? get base and add a recovery-track. Want a very light desktop distro? well, you get my point (tasksel was made for this purpose, but somehow it never got used much... :)
Now this might not look like anything earth-shocking, but i'm looking into a way for people to easily create their own tracks (without remastering their cd, just burning multiple tracks). The added flexibility should prove very valuable, the 600+megs of spare room to do what you want will be a relief, the speed of creating a distro will be greater and the system requirements for remastering will be a whole lot less (i understand tech's point, but i also want to be able to build a custom iso on my laptop, and not only on my blazing fast workstation at home ;)
Oh well, messing about like always, after KnopBase (gotta think up some new, creative names :) has been decimated i'll work out that multisession idea. anyone willing to give me a hand is more than welcome (idea's, playing around with it yourself, sarcasm, the regular...)
Cheers!
alex
