> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://itsfoss.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Damn Small Linux Release Makes a Comeback After 16 Long Years - URL: https://itsfoss.com/news/damn-small-linux-release/ - Published: 2024-02-06T11:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2024-02-06T11:00:00.000Z - Description: Damn Small Linux 2024 makes a return! - Author: Sourav Rudra - Tags: Distribution Releases, News, #Import 2025-11-08 21:15 [Damn Small Linux](https://www.damnsmalllinux.org/?ref=itsfoss.com) (DSL) is a name that we haven't heard for quite some time now, with a very low-key announcement, the developers have unveiled a new release in the form of **DSL 2024**. Based on the [antiX 23 release](https://antixlinux.com/antix-23-released/?ref=itsfoss.com), DSL is leveraging one of the [best lightweight distributions](https://itsfoss.com/lightweight-linux-beginners/) out there for providing a unique experience in a sea of Debian-based and Fedora-based distros. If you haven't heard of DSL, it used to be a very compact distro that was just 50 MB in size, but that has now changed to better accommodate the current state of computing. Don't worry, this is **still a great option for older computers** with humble specifications. Interestingly, **the last major release of DSL came back in 2008!** So, let's see what this release has to offer. 😃 **Suggested Read** 📖 [16 Best Lightweight Linux Distributions for Older ComputersDon’t throw your old computer just yet. Use a lightweight Linux distro and revive that decades-old system.![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/12/android-chrome-192x192.png)It's FOSSAnkush Das![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2015/08/light-linux-distros.jpg)](https://itsfoss.com/lightweight-linux-beginners/) 🚧 We tried out the Alpha version of DSL, don't consider it to be the final version you'll get. ## Damn Small Linux 2024: What to Expect? ![a screenshot of damn small linux 2024 alpha neofetch output](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/02/Damn_Small_Linux_a.jpg) Introduced as an alpha release, DSL 2024 features [Linux kernel 5.10](https://itsfoss.com/kernel-5-10-release/) and [Debian 12 'Bookworm'](https://itsfoss.com/debian-12-release/) at its core thanks to the antiX base that it uses. It is offered with **two window managers**, [Fluxbox](http://fluxbox.org/?ref=itsfoss.com) and [JWM](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JWM?ref=itsfoss.com), with **apt being fully enabled by default** for easy package installations. All of that has resulted in **a considerable increase in the ISO size** for DSL that now stands at around 700 MB (698.13 MB to be precise), one of the developers cited that: > While it would be possible to make a bootable Xwindows 50MB distribution today, it would be missing many drivers and have only a handful of very rudimentary applications. > People would find such a distribution a fun toy or something to build upon, but it would not be usable for the average computer user out of the gate. And I agree with that, pulling off something that is so compact is quite tricky to do nowadays, with only a select few ables to do that while also providing a decent desktop experience. Off the top of my head, the likes of [Puppy Linux](https://puppylinux-woof-ce.github.io/?ref=itsfoss.com), [EasyOS](https://itsfoss.com/easyos/), and [Tiny Core](http://tinycorelinux.net/?ref=itsfoss.com) are the options that I can recommend to someone if they were looking for a compact Linux distro. To get to this number, the lead developer had to do plenty of research to find applications with a low storage footprint, limit the language options, remove a bunch of source code, man pages, documentation and what not. In line with that, **the new goal of DSL** is now to provide as much of a usable desktop experience as possible that can fit on a single CD with a hard limit of 700 MB. The developers intend DSL to cater to older computers, letting them be usable for as long as possible. ![a screenshot of damn small linux 2024 alpha with a few applications open](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/02/Damn_Small_Linux_b-1.jpg) With what short usage I did, the **Fluxbox window manager seemed to perform really well**, there were many themes to choose from; the desktop was also quite snappy, even when running on a [virtual machine](https://itsfoss.com/virtual-machine/) using Virtual Box on Ubuntu. The **application suite is quite extensive** too, with the following highlights: - [zzzFM](https://gitlab.com/antix-contribs/zzzfm?ref=itsfoss.com), as the file manager. - [mtPaint](https://mtpaint.sourceforge.net/?ref=itsfoss.com), for graphics editing. - [BadWolf](https://hacktivis.me/projects/badwolf?ref=itsfoss.com), the default web browser. - [Tmux](https://github.com/tmux/tmux?ref=itsfoss.com), as the terminal multiplexer. For more details on the other apps, and changes with this new release of DSL, you may head over to the [official website](https://www.damnsmalllinux.org/?ref=itsfoss.com). ## 📥 Get Damn Small Linux 2024 At the time of writing, **only the Alpha ISOs were made available** on the official [downloads page](https://www.damnsmalllinux.org/2024-download.html?ref=itsfoss.com). It is only a matter of time before we get a stable release. [Damn Small Linux 2024 (Alpha)](https://www.damnsmalllinux.org/2024-download.html?ref=itsfoss.com) If you have any doubts regarding the distro, then you can head over to the [DSL forums](https://www.damnsmalllinux.org/forums/?ref=itsfoss.com). *💬 Let me know what you think of this comeback by DSL!*