Tiny Desktop Linux

What is TDL?

"Tiny Desktop Linux" is a very versatile 73,3MiB mini desktop oriented Linux distribution.



Tiny Desktop Linux tries to revive the legendary and original DSL. This one is based on Tiny Core 15, which is a distro from the same creator of DSL, so they have many similarities. Same as the original, TDL is only available for x86 architecture trying to be as similar as possible. There were some software clippings, for example: Firefox is not installed (remember DSL used Firefox 1 and we are currently on version 122), Fluxbox is not installed either (JWM only) and TED and MtPaint are not installed either. Any of these software can be installed later. Another difference between both systems is their kernel. DSL used linux 2.4 while TDL 15 uses linux 6.6.8.

Tiny Desktop Linux is small enough and smart enough to do the following things:
  • Boot from a business card CD as a live linux distribution (LiveCD)
  • Boot from a USB pen drive
  • Run very nicely from an IDE Compact Flash drive via a method we call "frugal install"
  • Transform into a traditional GNU/Linux distro installing on a hard drive
  • Run light enough to power a 486DX with 64MB of Ram
  • Run fully in RAM with as little as 128MB (you will be amazed at how fast your computer can be!)
  • Modularly grow -- TDL is highly extendable without the need to customize

DSL was originally developed as an experiment to see how many usable desktop applications can fit inside a 50MB live CD. It was at first just a personal tool/toy. But over time Damn Small Linux grew into a community project with thousands of development hours put into refinements including a fully automated remote and local application installation system and a very versatile backup and restore system which may be used with any writable media including a USB device, floppy disk, or a hard drive.

TDL has a nearly complete desktop, and a Tiny Core of command line tools. All applications have been chosen for the best balance of functionality, size and speed. What does TDL have?

XMMS (MP3, OGG, WMA and CD Music), Dillo web browser, two editors (editor and Nano [Pico clone]), image viewer (Xlview), emelFM (file manager), JWM window managers, games, system monitoring apps, USB support.

Do you want to see a screenshot?
Responsible for this project: Nicolas Longardi, 2024.