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Damn Small Linux RSS Feed DistroWatch.com: Damn Small Linux

Damn Small Linux


Last Update: 2025-12-03 15:28 UTC


Damn Small Linux was a business card size (50MB) live CD Linux distribution, based on Debian and Knoppix. After a 12 year break (from 2012 to 2024), the Damn Small Linux (DSL) project was relaunched. The distribution is now based on Debian and antiX with the goal of fitting on live media 700MB or smaller (in order to be usable in CD-ROM drives). Despite its minuscule size it strives to have a functional and easy to use desktop. Damn Small Linux has a nearly complete desktop suite, including web browsers, office software, an e-mail client, PDF viewer, media players, and FTP/SFTP client.

Popularity (hits per day): 12 months: 109 (116), 6 months: 167 (86), 3 months: 220 (69), 4 weeks: 201 (65), 1 week: 167 (62)

Average visitor rating: 8.4/10 from 9 review(s).


Damn Small Linux Summary
Distribution Damn Small Linux
Home Page https://www.damnsmalllinux.org/
Mailing Lists --
User Forums https://damnsmalllinux.org/forums/
Alternative User Forums
Documentation --
Screenshots DistroWatch Gallery
Screencasts
Download Mirrors https://www.damnsmalllinux.org/download.htmlDistroWatch Torrent Archive
Bug Tracker --
Related Websites Wikipedia
Reviews 2024: DistroWatch
4.x: IT ReviewsBlogspotLinux.com
3.x: Blogspot
2.x: TuxmachinesIBM developerWorksTuxmachinesaboutLinuxBlogspotTuxmachines
1.x: TuxmachinesTuxmachines
0.x: OSNewsDistroWatch
DSL-N: Tuxmachines
Where To Donate, Buy or Try

Recent Related News and Releases
  Releases announcements with download links and checksums:
 • 2024-05-22: Development Release: Damn Small Linux 2024 RC4
 • 2012-08-04: Development Release: Damn Small Linux 4.11 RC1
 • 2008-06-09: Distribution Release: Damn Small Linux 4.4
 • 2008-06-01: Development Release: Damn Small Linux 4.4 RC2
 • 2008-05-19: Development Release: Damn Small Linux 4.4 RC1
 • 2008-04-22: Distribution Release: Damn Small Linux 4.3
 • 2008-03-26: Development Release: Damn Small Linux 4.3 RC1
 • 2007-12-18: Distribution Release: Damn Small Linux 4.2
 • 2007-12-11: Development Release: Damn Small Linux 4.2 RC1
 • 2007-12-03: Distribution Release: Damn Small Linux 4.1
 • 2007-11-26: Development Release: Damn Small Linux 4.1 RC3
 • 2007-11-13: Development Release: Damn Small Linux 4.1 RC1
 • More Damn Small releases...

  Headlines:
 • 2024-02-01 DSL returns with an antiX base
 • More Damn Small headlines...

Table Notes and Explanations

(Please refer to the table below.)
  • Select view:
  • To compare the software in this project to the software available in other distributions, please see our Compare Packages page.
  • Notes: In case where multiple versions of a package are shipped with a distribution, only the default version appears in the table. For indication about the GNOME version, please check the "nautilus" and "gnome-shell" packages. The Apache web server is listed as "httpd" and the Linux kernel is listed as "linux". The KDE desktop is represented by the "plasma-desktop" package and the Xfce desktop by the "xfdesktop" package.
  • Colour scheme: green text = latest stable version, red text = development or beta version. The function determining beta versions is not 100% reliable due to a wide variety of versioning schemes.
TUXEDO
TUXEDO Computers

TUXEDO Computers - Linux Hardware in a tailor made suite
Choose from a wide range of laptops and PCs in various sizes and shapes at TUXEDOComputers.com. Every machine comes pre-installed and ready-to-run with Linux. Full 24 months of warranty and lifetime support included!

Learn more about our full service package and all benefits from buying at TUXEDO.

Star Labs

Star Labs Systems | Laptops designed for Linux

Star Labs - Laptops built for Linux.
View our range including the highly anticipated StarFighter. Available with coreboot open-source firmware and a choice of Ubuntu, elementary, Manjaro and more. Visit Star Labs for information, to buy and get support.


Advertisement


Feature 2024-rc7 4.11-rc2 4.4.10 3.3 3.0 2.4 2.0 1.5 1.3.1 1.2.1 1.1 1.0.1 Feature
Release Date 2024-09-18 2012-09-26 2008-11-17 2007-04-03 2006-06-20 2006-05-16 2005-11-22 2005-09-06 2005-07-19 2005-06-15 2005-05-05 2005-04-15 Release Date
End Of Life                         End Of Life
Price (US$) Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Price (US$)
Image Size (MB) 660-670 0-0                     Image Size (MB)
Free Download ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO Free Download
Installation Graphical Graphical Graphical Graphical Graphical Graphical Graphical Graphical Graphical Graphical Graphical -- Installation
Default Desktop Fluxbox, JWM JWM JWM Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox Default Desktop
Default Browser                         Default Browser
Package Management DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB Package Management
Release Model Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Release Model
Office Suite -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Office Suite
Processor Architecture i486 i386 i386 i386 i386 i386 i386 i386 i386 i386 i386 i386 Processor Architecture
Init Software runit SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV Init Software
Journaled File Systems ext4 ext3 ext3 ext3 ext3 ext3 ext3 ext3 ext3 ext3 ext3 ext3 Journaled File Systems
Multilingual -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Multilingual
Asian Language Support -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Asian Language Support
Full Package List 2024-rc7           2.0 1.5     1.1   Full Package List
Package 2024-rc7 4.11-rc2 4.4.10 3.3 3.0 2.4 2.0 1.5 1.3.1 1.2.1 1.1 1.0.1 Package
alsa-lib (1.2.15) 1.2.8 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- alsa-lib (1.2.15)
amdgpu (25.0.0) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- amdgpu (25.0.0)
apparmor (4.1.2)                         apparmor (4.1.2)
apt (3.1.12) 2.6.1.0 0.5.13 0.5.13 0.5.13 0.5.13 0.5.13 0.5.13 0.5.13 0.5.13 0.5.13 0.5.13 0.5.13 apt (3.1.12)
bash (5.3) 5.2 2.05b 2.05b 2.05b 2.05b 2.05b 2.05b 2.05b 2.05b 2.05b 2.05b 2.05b bash (5.3)
bind (9.20.16) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- bind (9.20.16)
chromium (143.0.7499.109) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- chromium (143.0.7499.109)
cinnamon (6.6.0) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- cinnamon (6.6.0)
cups (2.4.16) 2.4.2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- cups (2.4.16)
e2fsprogs (1.47.3) 1.47.0 1.33 1.33 1.33 1.33 1.33 1.33 1.33 1.33 1.33 1.33 1.33 e2fsprogs (1.47.3)
ffmpeg (8.0.1) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ffmpeg (8.0.1)
firefox (146.0) 115.11.0 2.0 2.0 1.0.6 1.0.6 1.0.6 1.0.6 0.9.1 0.9.1 0.9.1 0.9.1 0.9.1 firefox (146.0)
flatpak (1.16.1) --                       flatpak (1.16.1)
freetype (2.14.1) 2.12.1 2.1.5 2.1.5 2.1.5 2.1.5 2.1.5 2.1.5 2.1.5 2.1.5 2.1.5 2.1.5 2.1.5 freetype (2.14.1)
gcc (15.2.0) -- 3.3.1 3.3.1 3.3.1 3.3.1 3.3.1 3.3.1 3.3.1 3.3.1 3.3.1 3.3.1 3.3.1 gcc (15.2.0)
gimp (3.0.6) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- gimp (3.0.6)
git (2.52.0) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- git (2.52.0)
glibc (2.42) 2.36 2.3.2 2.3.2 2.3.2 2.3.2 2.3.2 2.3.2 2.3.2 2.3.2 2.3.2 2.3.2 2.3.2 glibc (2.42)
gnome-shell (49.2) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- gnome-shell (49.2)
grub (2.12) 2.06 0.91 0.91 0.91 0.91 0.91 0.91 0.91 -- -- -- -- grub (2.12)
gtk (4.20.3) -- 1.2.10 1.2.10 1.2.10 1.2.10 1.2.10 1.2.10 1.2.10 1.2.10 1.2.10 1.2.10 1.2.10 gtk (4.20.3)
httpd (2.4.66) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- httpd (2.4.66)
inkscape (1.4.2) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- inkscape (1.4.2)
kmod (34.2) 30 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- kmod (34.2)
krita (5.2.14) --                       krita (5.2.14)
LibreOffice (25.8.3) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- LibreOffice (25.8.3)
Package 2024-rc7 4.11-rc2 4.4.10 3.3 3.0 2.4 2.0 1.5 1.3.1 1.2.1 1.1 1.0.1 Package
libselinux (3.9) 3.4 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- libselinux (3.9)
linux (6.18) 5.10.188 2.4.31 2.4.31 2.4.26 2.4.26 2.4.26 2.4.31 2.4.26 2.4.26 2.4.26 2.4.26 2.4.26 linux (6.18)
mariadb (12.1.2) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- mariadb (12.1.2)
mate-desktop (1.28.2) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- mate-desktop (1.28.2)
mesa (25.3.1) 8.5.0 4.3.0 4.3.0 4.3.0 4.3.0 4.3.0 4.3.0 4.3.0 4.3.0 4.3.0 4.3.0 4.3.0 mesa (25.3.1)
mysql (9.5.0) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- mysql (9.5.0)
nautilus (49.2) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- nautilus (49.2)
NVIDIA (580.119.02) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- NVIDIA (580.119.02)
openjdk (25) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- openjdk (25)
openssh (10.2p1) 9.2p1 3.6.1p2 3.6.1p2 3.6.1p2 3.6.1p2 3.6.1p2 3.6.1p2 3.6.1p2 3.6.1p2 3.6.1p2 3.6.1p2 3.6.1p2 openssh (10.2p1)
openssl (3.6.0) 3.0.11d 0.9.7b 0.9.7b 0.9.7b 0.9.7b 0.9.7b 0.9.7b 0.9.7b 0.9.7b 0.9.7b 0.9.7b 0.9.7b openssl (3.6.0)
perl (5.42.0) 5.36.0 5.8.0 5.8.0 5.8.0 5.8.0 5.8.0 5.8.0 5.8.0 5.8.0 5.8.0 5.8.0 5.8.0 perl (5.42.0)
php (8.5.0) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- php (8.5.0)
plasma-desktop (6.5.4) --                       plasma-desktop (6.5.4)
postfix (3.10.7) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- postfix (3.10.7)
postgresql (18.1) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- postgresql (18.1)
Python (3.14.2) 3.11.2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Python (3.14.2)
qt (6.10.1) 5.15.8 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- qt (6.10.1)
samba (4.23.3) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- samba (4.23.3)
systemd (258.2) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- systemd (258.2)
thunderbird (146.0) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- thunderbird (146.0)
vim (9.1) 9.0 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 vim (9.1)
vlc (3.0.22) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- vlc (3.0.22)
wayland (1.24.0) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- wayland (1.24.0)
xfdesktop (4.20.1) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- xfdesktop (4.20.1)
xorg-server (21.1.21) 21.1.7 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- xorg-server (21.1.21)

Reader Ratings
Reader supplied reviews for Damn Small Linux

Average rating
8.4
from 9 review(s)



What are your thoughts on Damn Small Linux?
Please include a few pros and a few cons, along with your overall impression of the operating system.
Our FAQ page has tips on writing a good mini-review.

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Past reviews - sort by:

Version: 2024-rc7
Rating: 9
Date: 2025-08-02
Votes: 11


I've been a fan of DSL for a long time but the earlier versions were a little to minimal for me. Then my Thinkpad need a new OS as my installed Mint 18.2 life span ended and newer version were to big and lagged for the laptop. Then to my surprise DSL after all these years had a new updated release. Just at the right time and what I thought might be a good choice. So we gave it a try and installed it on my 120GB non SSD hard drive (not that I need a drive that big) and worked pretty good. It wasn't until I installed the 128GB SSD drive that DSL started to sing. I'm very happy with my choice and see no reason at this time to try anything else. Also I'm really liking the Fluxbox WM. Thank you DSL for the updated version and the timing of the release.

IBM ThinkPad T42
Pentium M - 2.0 ghz - CPU
2.0 GB - PC2700 333Mhz - Ram
128 GB SSD - Hard Drive



Was this review helpful? Yes No
Version: 2024-rc7
Rating: 5
Date: 2025-06-08
Votes: 1


Another antiX-based assembly. Yes, good, but why?
If the goal is a really small distribution, then it is better to do in TUI.
Since they are trying to drag us all on Wayland, and there are questions with it, it would be good to have Linux desktop, albeit without GUI, right in the console. And porting without X or Wayland to the ARM/MIPS zoo would be more real. A la Turbo Vision, yeah. Such really Damn Small Linux. Again!
And also universal and portable. You can call the Universal Damn Small Linux (UDSL).


Was this review helpful? Yes No
Version: 2024-rc4
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-05-23
Votes: 29


I first used Damn Small Linux back when it was the tiny 50 megabytes ISO, and though this version is a little larger, it has totally kept the spirit of the original. It takes up around 73 megabytes in memory after booting up (it hangs around 80 or so from some normal use) and around 3 gigabytes on the disk, and its performance is very snappy. It has even kept much of the stark, utilitarian look (and I like it that way) of the older versions. It has more apps than you will probably ever use on the kind of system you're installing DSL on, including document and spreadsheet programs as well as multiple text editors and web browsers, both graphical and command line.The only complaints I have are a few minor cosmetic things. The default "Radiant" style looks terrible, though that can be easily changed to something more eye-pleasing (the royal blue small is much nicer).


Was this review helpful? Yes No

See all 9 reader reviews of Damn Small Linux...



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