Notes:

Changes for 0.8.4:
1. New Siag Office word processor
2. New Siag Office spreadsheet
3. Dropped Ted
4. Dropped ABS
5. Adjustments to smbclient gui
6. Adjustments control panel for backup
7. Adjustments to mydslgui color legend
8. Some cleanup and removal of old files


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New for 0.8.3

1. New control panel GUI
2. New Xvesa video setup GUI
3. New smbclient GUI
4. Improved mydsl GUI now groups applications according to category.
5. New autorestore of backup files, with boot time "norestore" override
6. Updated prism2 to support autodetected usb ethernet card
7. Updated mc colors when issued from cli
8. Added mkdosswapfile script
9. fixed restart window manager - bbpager


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0.8.2
-- Added ndiswrapper with GUI
-- Added add users to liveCD with GUI
-- Improved dial-up PPP with controlling GUI
-- Added prims2 setup GUI
-- Frugal mounted read/write, backup/restore & mydsl in a single partition.
-- Added emelfm as super-user menu item
-- Changed colors of mc when launched from menu.
-- Added View in Scite emelfm user command.


......

0.8.1.1 Robert Shingledecker discovered a bug in 0.8.1 and did a quick fix.

"There is a bug in filetool.sh and filetool gui.
If the user first mounts the device then no problem.

If the device is not mounted then the script tries the usb pendrive then floppy as if no backup device has been selected even thought one was entered in the gui.
I have corrected the bug.

By correcting the bug I have also enabled fromhd and frugal to be able to write to the single partition. Before only usb pendrive was enable to write back to the single partition. So we gain with the change."

In fixing the bug Robert has also made a major improvement, now we can write to the same partition with a frugal or 'fromhd' install.

I know I am a codeveloper and I am obviously bias, but that impresses the hell out of me. Now even with a frugal-IDE setup we can have an install, backup and MyDSL on the same partition. That is just too cool!

This really should be a 0.8.2, because I believe it is a major new feature, but I don't think it would be okay to spamdex distrowatch with back to back releases.


......

Change log for 0.8.1:

-- Added "Make USB edition" to tools menu.
-- Enhanced mkmydsl script to pass boot time options to cd
-- New filetool gui front end to file backup/restore
-- Enhanced dslpanel, added printer setup and new filetool gui
-- Enhanced mydslgui, supports more network types
-- Enhanced filetool.sh, simplify device, works with usb pendrive (sda1)
-- Enhanced mydsl-load, supports runlevel 2
-- Fixed changing passwords on liveCD


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Change log for 0.8.0:

-- updated kernel and modules
-- new boot floppy
-- new uci single file cloop extensions
-- call powerdown.sh from reboot
-- updated Xsnapshot
-- new xcuriser
-- updated myDSLgui
-- updated frugal_install
-- updated dsl-hdinstall
-- updated mkmydsl
-- updated frugal_lite.sh
-- more cloop devices


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Change log for 0.7.3:
-- boots directly in enhanced X desktop 1024x768x32 and mouse auto detected when default video mode is used
-- added boot time options of
  xsetup This will prompt the user with the original X setup screens
  noicons This will start the desktop without enhanced options
  vga=normal This is now displayed on the F2 screen
-- added the ability to mount and umount the .ci extensions via the myDSL button
  first time mounts it, do it again and it umounts it
-- updated cardmgr to 3.2.2
-- removed nfs-common from startup
-- added .wgetrc for user control of wget
-- corrected perms on /dev/cdrom for xmms audio CD play by user
-- corrected some more user demisized to dsl, IRCNICK, emelfm
-- corrected emelfm 5f bug and nedit reference to Scite
-- updated "Getting Started" to reflect recent changes and enhancements to system
-- Scite replaced Beaver
-- linked /etc/chatscripts into /opt/ppp/chatscripts
-- added mouse capability to mc via the -tn xterm -e mc
-- enhanced mydsl-load script to not allow duplicates in the myDSL menu when users load the same extension.
-- removed locate and related files as they require gnu-utils to work. They will be added into gnu-utils.dsl.
-- changed tzconfig to prompt and enter TZ code, e.g. PST8PDT
-- flua replaces lua


......

Changes for 0.7.2:
-- added myDSLgui, a Click and Run system for extensions
-- added Lua scripting language and Lua sockets
-- replaced Scite with Beaver
-- replaced nvi with vim
-- changed user from demisized to dsl (also took 'desktop' out of the boot process)
-- upgraded busybox
-- simplified filetool.lst usage - always edit at home
-- updated firefox flash plugin in firefox download script
-- actually shrunk the ISO by nearly 1 MB from 0.7.1

This release was pretty much a collaborative effort

......

New for 0.7.1:
- Added myDSL new extension type "ci" compressed iso (greatly reduces memory requirements)
- Added myDSL "optional" directory to store extensions that will not automatically load but appear on an installation menu
- Added mydsl-load script to load extensions on-demand
- Added myDSL button to emelfm to easily load extensions on-demand
- Added boot option "base" to skip all myDSL functions
- Added powerdown.sh A script to store commands to execute upon system shutdown
- Enhanced filetool.sh, dsl-restore for more command line options.
- Added select mouse port on X setup includes serial ports
- Enhanced user tips from the forums

Again, Robert Shingledecker is responsible for the improvements in this release.



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Changes for 0.7:

• myDSL, an easy way to extend DesktopSmall
• added Synpatic download script
• added gRun which replaced fbrun
• fixed bug passing current video mode for hard drive install
• added enhnacements to emelfm
• added tips from the DSL forums
• created OpenOffice extension
• created AbiWord extension
• created GCombust extension
• created Samba extension
• created Ace of Penguins extension
• created GNU utils extension
• created firefox extension

This release is the result of many hours of hard work by Robert Shingledecker and his correspondence with members of the DSL forums.
Learn more here.

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Changes for 0.6.3:

• Added new application: control-panel
• Added new application hdparm
• Added new game Xtris
• Enhanced xsetup:
  - "cancel" option to use wheel mouse if found, otherwise the 3 button mouse
• Enhanced dsl-hdinstall:
  - added colors
  - check for actual Linux partition
- prompts for multi-user otherwise boots into X as user demisized
• Enhanced mkliloboot
  - pass actual video mode used during boot
• Enhanced knoppix-autoconfig
  - added toram and frugal options
  - embedded dsl-start into knoppix-autoconfig for faster boot up
  - added ftp boot time shortcut to start betaftpd
• Enhanced boot.img
  - changed from "knoppix" to "dsl"
  - updated F2 screen to reflect new "dsl"
  - updated F2 added ftp to daemons options list
• Enhanced knoppix-halt
  - Added "Wait for CD to eject, remove CD, then close cdrom drive, press enter"
• Added code to bypass prompt if toram or frugal
• Fixed bug Alt-tab
  - copied missing "keys" file to /etc/X11/fluxbox/keys
• Enhanced fluxbox menu
  - Added soundcardconfig, wlcardcardconf, tzconfig, kbdconfig
  - abs -geometry 640x480
• Replaced busybox tar applet with GNU tar
  - Busybox tar has a bug
• Enhanced frugal_install
  - Added options for target to install from LiveCD, File, or Web URL
• Also, we have a new USBboot image, look to the mirrors to download

The new features in this release of DSL are the result of joint efforts from Robert Shingledecker and John Andrews.

......

Changes for 0.6.2:

• new hacked GTK app theme (a little darker, easier on the eyes than default)
• update rdesktop
• added documentation on TCC
• added an intelligent man script which knows the difference between a regular app and a busybox app.
• net dictionary
• added text links to the menu
• SQLite Book (Perl/SQLite record keeper)
• fixed ogg123/mpg123
• Enhanced install script by Robert Shingledecker can now restore most of the regular apps and libs which BusyBox has replaced on the live CD

Look at the new screenshot for more details.
......

Changes for 0.6.1:

• upgraded Monkey web server
• upgraded Naim
• switched the Firebird download to a special i586 build of FireFox
• added command line ftp client
• added betaftpd
• added Mutella gnutella client
• added wmix (dockapp mixer)
• restored telnet client
• fixed some bugs
• added a few usability enhancements
• **frugal install** an evolution of the poorman's install

Thanks to the user-base for finding the bugs and making suggestions.
Robert Shingledecker wrote the outstanding 'frugal' script.
......

This is what's new 0.6:

• New kernel and modules supporting more hardware (based on Knoppix 3.3)
• Implemented space saving busybox
  
• Implemented space saving by dpkg-restore now restores not only package structure but also related programs
• Improved backup/restore to a specific device (hard drive, etc)
• Improved ppp dial scripts (no more manual edits)
  
• Improved hard drive install script to pass fb800x600 screen size, also improved speed of installation.
• Menu reorganization for easier navigation.
  
• New /opt/bootlocal.sh for user required misc system startup commands.
• New Getting Started with DSL online help
  
• Improved xsetup script, use cancel for Xvesa default shortcut
• New F2 boot options screen specific for DSL
• New shortcuts at boot time, Xvesa, enhance, & daemons
• Added new application INDEX small database (PIM)
• Added features for XMMS

Virtually all of the improvements for 0.6 are the results of Robert Shingledecker's hard work.

......

New for 0.5.3.1:
gPhone (Gnome-o-Phone) a P2P VoIP internet telephone client
Monkey web server bug fix
Replaced nes game "BattleTank 2000" with "Munchie Attack"
new Fluxbox theme

......

New for 0.5.2:

• mkisofs
• cdrecord
• bashburn (easy to use text mode CD burning utility)
• gTuxnes (interactive gui for tuxnes)
• smbclient
• smbtree
• a working /opt that is writable from the CD
• midnight commander (many features stripped)
• skel now works for root when installed

Robert Shingledecker did the hard work needed to have the functional /opt.

......

0.5.1.1 is a quick bug fix release
Removed AA font option from Fluxbox
Made the dsl-hdinstall script clean up some left over files
fixed fluxbox menu selected X-setup error
fixed bbpager/enhance bug

......

Here is what is new for 0.5.1..

• Added .bash_profile for user control of startup programs. Both LiveCD (with restore option) and hard drive installed users will benefit
• Improved system architecture and hard-drive install scripts to allow for a more traditional multi-user installation. Each added user's environment is like the LiveCD's demisized user. User demisized can now be removed
• updated fluxbox
• scite in place of nedit (size issue)
• mformat (needed to take advantage of the restore script use with floppy)
• modified install script to work with low ram systems
• lprng/gs/apsfilter** for broad printer support(including all the great
ghostscript utilities)
• NTFS read made to work with user demisized

Robert Shingledecker is responsible for getting the a functional .bash_profile and the working multi-user envornment.
Peter Sieg gave me the patch for the install script to get it to work with low ram systems.

**I am using the ghostscript and apsfilter package from Deli Linux because of its relative compact size and low dependencies when compared to the equivalent from the Debian system.

......

Changes for 0.5:
Local .xinitrc, Save/Restore user settings menu option, Boot time "restore" option (type "knoppix restore" at boot), mount.app program now recognizes the usbdrive. Firebird now runs as user demisized, added sqlite, removed ispell, flwriter and replaced them with Ted-gtk w/ US English spell check, removed option to set frequency (didn't work quite right) and added option to set dpi. Thank you to Robert Shingledecker for the major code and debugging contribution in this release.
......

Changes for 0.4.10:
I compiled new Xvesa and Xfbdev Xservers from CVS, these servers just work better -- mouse scroll is better, and there is no longer the need to re-map the mouse buttons.

That mouse and X bug in 0.4.9 should be gone now.

A fun addition for this release is TuxNES, and an assortment of public domain games. There are hundreds more available by download. As odd as it may seem, the games made for the 18 year old entertainment system are a very good match with DSL.

With help from Robert Shingledecker, added 'alias block-major-8 usb-storage' to /etc/modules.conf so that it is possible to dynamically load usb-storage only when mounting usb drives.

With this in mind I added 'sudo mount -t vfat -o uid=demisized /dev/sda /mnt/usb' to the menu. Robert Shingledecker, worked the logic of this out.

The Firebird install script is updated to 0.7, and there is a new Fluxbox theme, "Lawn". Also new is Nano-tiny.

......

Changes for 0.4.9:
**Bug Found** If you have anything other than a /dev/psaux scroll capable mouse use 0.4.8 instead. Details here.
For simplifying the restoration of apt after a HD install, I wrote a small script that will do the work of restoring the dpkg database so people don't have to do it manually. To use it type 'sudo dpkg-restore'.

I brought emeLFM more into the DSL system, now it should launch installed programs when items are clicked on; also, now it will open with $HOME on one side and '/ ' on the other.

Also added is nfs-common (lockd, statd, showmount, and nfsstat) and protmap which should allow DSL to act as a thin client (thanks for the suggestion Robert S.) .

With email help from Keith Packard, I was able to hack in some wheel mouse support. I had to reassign button 4 and 5 because they were reverse. The wheel action isn't perfect, there is no 'continues flow', but a break after the initial movement. One way to get around this is to hold the scroll down while moving the the mouse slightly.

Naim also has a ICQ and IRC client built in, but were not functional in DSL until this release.

Finally, I modified the FireBird download script so that it interacts with the xtdesk icons.


......

Changes for 0.4.8:
I added Fabian Franz's 'toram' linuxrc routine. So the whole system could be put into ram. It requires only 64M of ram. To run in ram boot with 'knoppix toram'.
Because the CD could be removed when DSL run from ram I added the CD player plugin for XMMS, it is a menu option.

As suggested, I added a routine that makes an icon for Firebird after download.

I did some install clean up. Firebird will only run from the ramdisk as root but runs fine under 'demisized' after HD install -- the install script run some perl regex to strip out the sudo from the menu after install. The Firebird icon will act in a similar manner.

The the /var/tmp/ to /tmp/ cleaner after install.

I restored the ability to chose language specific keyboard layout (e.g. 'lang=de'), the default is US English.

The Debian 'wireless-tools' package was added.

Fixed a small bug in Xpacman where the left and right control reverse if one uses custom direction keys. Finally, I re-mapped the controls to e = up, d = down, x = left, c = right. Those keys work with German, French, and English.

......

Here is what is new for 0.4.7...

New apps and features:
• parted (partition tool)
• rdesktop (RDP client for Windows NT/2000 Terminal Server)
• xpacman (fun and tiny Pacman game)
• updated the Firebird script to 0.6.1
• update lilo
• added an option to set frequency for the Xvesa server

Bugs and Cleanups:
• fixed some post-install bugs (sudo, swap)
• did a little post install script cleaning
• fixed irc bug
• fixed screensaver bug

There have been a lot of requests for redsktop and GNU/parted. On the entertainment side, Xpacman couldn't be passed up with a binary of just 22k. I've been working on smoothing DSL out, so some time was put into fixing bugs and getting DSL install on the hard drive with less knocks.
......

For 0.4.6:
Dillo with more patches! Andreas Kemnade was kind enough to modify his SSL patch to make it compatible with Frank de Lange's frames and tabs patch. The binary is only 337k!

Also, I added traceroute, fixed a rendering problem with netcardconfig, and modified startx so that it will save your selected settings for the next X session -- run 'xsetup.sh' as root if you want to change it.

......

For 0.4.5, there is now generic printer support. Now Fluxbox and most X applications are running under user 'demisized' instead of root. For convenience, I added sudo. I also added Microcom (a very small serial terminal emulator). And for the kids, I added Oneko.

0.4.5 has a bug fix; now the swap partition should be properly recognized which makes DSL more compatible with low ram systems.

There is another browser added in 0.4.5, a tabs and frames enabled, patched version of Dillo (still only 335k and very fast!).

Finally, there are a few small desktop enhancements...I remapped the icons so that they fit in the smallest resolution setting. I made the enhance feature smarter, so that it will not launch duplicate applications, but will bring bbpager into theme compliance. There is a new theme: FoggyNight. For the default theme, I switched the baby tux to a more colorful version donated--thanks Beach!


......

For DSL 0.4.4 there is not a lot of cosmetic changes, but some added functionality. New for 0.4.4 is Mount.App, a handy app for quickly mounting and unmounting drives.

Also new for DSL 0.4.4 is telnet (highly requested), less, un/zip, autofs, and a new version of Links-Hacked.

......

Now in 0.4.3 we have desktop icons! This is possible because of the fantastically small XtDesktop X Windows desktop icon manager by Dmitry Ovechkin.

......

I wrote some notes on how to do a hard drive install.

......

After using GNU strip on some of my custom-compiled binaries I was able to make room for some nice new apps. I replaces XFMail with Sylpheed. Also new for 0.4.2 are Xpaint for image editing and Xzgv for image viewing.

......

Now in 0.4.1 there is the choice of two X servers -- Xvesa and Xfbdev. Xfbdev uses the framebuffer provided by the Linux framebuffer device. That means it may be a much better choice for older laptops. In fact I have a couple of old laptops (Pentium I) that were completely incompatible with Xvesa but worked very well with the framebuffer server. The key is to use a FB that your laptop can support -- this has to be selected at boot time. In the case of these two Pentium Is fb800x600 did the trick.

(If your hardware supports it, Xvesa is still preferred because it is more flexible and faster)

......

Also new for 0.4.1 is the emelFM file manager. I liked worker a lot, but emelFM is simpler and has practically no learning curve. Also, emelFM is smaller than Worker, and I needed the room!

......

I am getting a lot of emails lately -- I welcome them, but I am falling quite behind. Expect delays!

......

New for 0.3.11, DSL now has PCMCIA support to connect laptops to the internet, and an experimental routine to grab Mozilla Firebird from the internet and auto install the browser while holding it in memory -- this works pretty well if you have a fast connection and the ram.

......

I'd like some feedback on the Firebird grabbing routine. Tell me if you like it; tell me if you hate it.

......

The major new feature for DSL 0.3.10 is VNCviewer. the Virtual Network Computing client.

......

Also new for 0.3.10 is new release for Links-Hacked (now has tabs :-)), and Naim (Aim, Icq, IRC).

......

New for 0.3.9:
PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE), to work with adsl connections.
XMMS can now play MPEGs thanks to the SDL plugin.
Zile, a very small yet powerful EMACS clone.

......

Big news for 0.3.8 is that there is now a very nice X configuration script courtesy Andreas Granig.

......

I also added the Monkey web server, it is very small but very nice.

......

For the hacker on the run, I added TinyCC. TCC is the smallest C compiler available for Linux. It is blazingly fast, so fast that you can write executable scripts in C!

......

And finally, new for 0.3.8 is USB mouse support.

......

Peter Sieg has donated PPP/WvDial setup scripts that simplify the modem config and dial up process.


......

DSL-HDInstall
Also adapted from the knx-hdinstall by Peter, DSL-HDInstall is in 0.3.7! It is still very new and needs more testing -- so if you try it out please send me feedback. Many thanks Peter for the help!


......

Here is the man page for Xvesa. You may find it useful if you are having a hard time configuring X to play nice with your system.

......

Here is an Xvesa tip:
Try adding '-shadow' to the configure script when you select your resolution, this will tell Xvesa to use shadow framebuffer. It can really speed up rendering on some computers.


......

Speaking of X, the Xvesa server is not going to look good on all systems. I've had some difficulties with older laptops. One thing that I recommend doing is to type 'X -listmodes' at the command prompt to see what your bios is capable of.

......

Thank you M. Lew for the simple and clean site design.


......

Also, a BIG thanks to the folks at Hostingohio who are letting me host this project on their server for free. The system admin is a class act!

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Please contact me if you have any comments, criticisms, and especially improvements or hacks, my email address is:
john _at_ damnsmalllinux.org