Project: Merging Knoppix and Debian Live to get 64 bit Knoppix derivative?

[Capricorny]

Yes, utu, I think there is little reason to discuss whether the Knoppix init and overall setup is better than current Debian Live. It's miles ahead. And I don't really understand why the Live guys haven't bothered to pick up more tricks from Klaus K.

That said, I think Klaus K could do a few things differently, too. First and foremost, it is the bloat problem. When it was difficult or impossible to do extensive new installs and changes on a Knoppix system, the package selection was all-important, and should be as broad as possible. But nowadays, good sized permanent storage and easy standard Debian program installs and updates makes customizations and program-wise updates a breeze, so for lots of serious users, the package selection of Debian Live would be a better starting point for customizations.

There is also a need for "Debianization" of the Knoppix customizations. I think I know why Klaus K hasn't done much of this, but it would surely make Knoppix less of a one-man venture. I also think it would make debugging life quite a lot easier for Klaus K himself.

With the very smart 32/64 kernel hybrid solution, Knoppix with the 64 bits kernel in several respects behaves as a 64 bit system, so for instance, with 16 GB RAM, I can run a bunch of virtual machines simultaneously. Therefore, pure 64 bits is mostly for specialized use. But today, that may include image processing, like video editing, RAW photo image development etc. Which can greatly benefit from "pure" 64 bits. So I think Klaus K could support 3(4) versions with relatively little extra work. (Which he also surely could get help with):

1. Pure 32 bit CD. Every now and then. For backwards compatibility etc. Here standard packages may have to be trimmed down to fit.
2. Debian Live package selection, 32 and 64 bit. <1000 MB ISO image with LXDE. Bare-bones, explicitly with little support to expect. In fact, I think we may adapt the Debian Live tools for this - that's the 'Knoppification' hopefully to come.
3. The usual 32 bit hybrid DVD version of today.

I don't think we should talk about "defection" as long as we must go elsewhere to do things not supported in Knoppix. The question is whether we will come back. I surely hope so.