Puppy Linux Operating System


Puppy Linux is a version of the Linux operating system which is created for small, portable, and versatile usage for home user systems. It has been developed by Barry Kauler in the year June 2003. The complete package of the system can be operated with 300MB for 32-bit and 600MB for 64-bit operating systems. Initially, it was developed to support minimum storage to run all the Linux configurations and later it contains all the standard user applications with inbuilt ISO downloaded to the system. Puppy OS takes size as the major factor to provide hardware and memory support to personal computer users.

Features of Puppy OS

The Puppy Linux operating system provides various functionalities to the users and a few are listed below −

  • Smaller in size around 300MB or less and it can be installed from USB, CD drive, SD card, or any other media types

  • It offers ready-to-use tools for common applications like Word, excel, web browsers, etc.

  • Faster booting time in a fraction of a second for most of the applications.

  • Provides an appealing Graphic user Interface with various themes, so users can customize their desktop appearance as needed.

  • It has been optimized to support older desktop systems to newer versions of computers.

  • Customization can be done by the user in a few minutes for files and the applications installed.

  • It can be installed in 32- and 64-bit operating systems.

  • Additional applications can be installed, also the device manager provides all the Linux software needed.

Distributions in Puppy Linux

Three major distribution provides multiple Linux configurations which use the same set of tools with a unique set of specific applications and in general, all three flavors have consistent behavior in terms of performance regardless of which flavor is chosen by the user during installation steps.

  • Official Distributions are used for general purposes that are managed by Puppy Linux members. These are built using Woof-CE which is a Linux system builder.

  • Woof-built Distribution has additional packages built using Woof-CE to support explicit requirements.

  • Puplets are called the unofficial distribution that is maintained by puppy Linux community persons intended for specific needs.

Puppy versions

Initial versions of 0.1 do not have any support and only a few directories. Packages used here are derived from the vector Linux version.

  • Version 1.0− Unionfs was designed for the file system, and interface design was developed with the GTK widget toolkit. This version has initiated with remaster feature enabling the users to customize the packages during installation. This version can operate with older Pentium machines with 32MB of memory.

  • Version 2.0− This version provides support to the hardware systems. This runs on newer systems that support WIFI, CD drives, or any other media devices. An unleased build system is invented to benefit advanced users to customize puppy Linux from scratch.

  • Version 3.0− This version is an experimental one with Slackware distribution, it lived only for a short span as it consumed most of the memory than earlier versions of Puppy.

  • Version 4.0− It uses packages that are built using the Woof system from different distribution packages. It introduced the Quirky, which is a special release made for experimental purposes with the latest version of 4.3.1.

  • Version 5.0− This version is built from Woof from Ubuntu packages. This includes files from T2, Slackware, and Ubuntu. This package comes with inbuilt browser programs like Chromium, Opera, and Firefox.

  • Version 6.0 − This version is built from Woof from Ubuntu packages. This includes files from T2, Slackware, and Ubuntu. This package comes with inbuilt browser programs like Chromium, Opera, and Firefox.

  • Other community versions are encouraged to merge with existing standard versions of the Puppy Linux platform coordinated by the Linux members of the project managers.

Installation of Puppy Linux

Installation of Puppy Linux to the user system is quite easier.

  • Booting can be made from any secondary device like CD or USB card if there is no sufficient memory in the system.

  • Load the bootable device into the user's computer, restart, and then wait for the booting options. Click on the Applications tab, then select the Setup window → Puppy Installer.

  • In the Puppy Installer window, the user is prompted to create a partition and then confirm the options with the Frugal option which provides storing the settings in a dedicated file. Click on the save button after choosing the name and encryption to the preferred user location. This installation gets completed after installing Grub to open up the boot menu.

  • After the successful booting and installation process, users will get the desktop interface with user program icons. The menu can be displayed by right-clicking anywhere on the desktop and the menu lists the options for customizing the Installer, business, personal, multimedia, help, and exit.

Conclusion

Many home users prefer using Puppy Linux over other distributions as it provides lightweight, executes with faster speed, and offers a high graphical environment for the user applications. Customizations during the installation process and after it is also given to the users so they can edit options as per the requirements. The latest versions of Puppy Linux are compatible with 32-bit and 64-bit architecture and can be downloaded to memory or any secondary media devices.

Updated on: 23-Nov-2023

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