Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Arch Linux VS Damn Small Linux

Compare Arch Linux VS Damn Small Linux and see what are their differences

Arch Linux logo Arch Linux

You've reached the website for Arch Linux, a lightweight and flexible Linux® distribution that tries to Keep It Simple. Currently we have official packages optimized for the x86-64 architecture.

Damn Small Linux logo Damn Small Linux

Damn Small Linux is a very versatile 50MB mini desktop oriented Linux distribution.
  • Arch Linux Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29
  • Damn Small Linux Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-05-16

Arch Linux features and specs

  • Customizability
    Arch Linux is known for its high degree of customizability. Users can tailor the operating system to fit their specific needs by installing only the necessary components and applications.
  • Rolling Release Model
    Arch Linux follows a rolling release model, which means that users receive continuous updates without needing to upgrade to a new version. This ensures that the system is always up-to-date with the latest software and security patches.
  • Performance
    Due to its minimalistic design and absence of unnecessary software, Arch Linux can offer high performance and faster boot times compared to more bloated distributions.
  • Comprehensive Documentation
    The Arch Wiki is one of the most thorough and well-maintained resources in the Linux community, making it easier for users to find help and learn more about their system.
  • User Control
    Arch Linux provides users with complete control over their system. This is particularly beneficial for advanced users who want to fine-tune every aspect of their operating environment.

Possible disadvantages of Arch Linux

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Arch Linux requires a higher level of technical knowledge to install and maintain compared to other distributions like Ubuntu or Fedora. This can be a barrier for beginners.
  • Lack of Official Support
    While the Arch community is active and supportive, there is no formal customer support. Users must rely on community forums, IRC channels, and the Arch Wiki for help.
  • Potential Stability Issues
    The rolling release model, while keeping the system current, can sometimes introduce instability or compatibility issues with new updates. This may require more frequent troubleshooting.
  • Manual Setup
    The installation process for Arch Linux is highly manual and time-consuming, requiring users to configure their system from scratch. This can be daunting for those used to automated installers.
  • Limited Pre-Packaged Software
    Unlike some other distributions that come pre-packaged with a variety of software and tools, Arch Linux starts with a base system. Users will need to manually install each application they need, which can be time-consuming.

Damn Small Linux features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Damn Small Linux (DSL) is extremely lightweight, with a size of just 50MB, allowing it to run on older hardware and systems with limited resources.
  • Fast Boot Time
    Due to its small size, DSL offers fast boot times, which can be beneficial for quick access to a working environment, particularly on older machines.
  • Low Resource Consumption
    DSL is designed to use minimal system resources, making it suitable for machines with low RAM and slow CPUs.
  • USB Bootable
    DSL can be run from a USB stick, allowing users to carry it as a portable operating system and use it on different machines.
  • Customizability
    DSL provides tools for users to customize and install additional applications, despite its small size, catering to specific needs.

Possible disadvantages of Damn Small Linux

  • Outdated Software
    DSL has not been actively updated in recent years, which means it may not support newer hardware or provide the latest security patches and software.
  • Limited Functionality
    Given its focus on minimalism, DSL's default software selection might not meet all users' needs, requiring additional customization or installation of software.
  • Complexity for Beginners
    The installation and configuration of DSL might be complex for Linux newcomers, as it often requires more command-line interaction compared to modern, user-friendly distros.
  • Limited Support and Documentation
    Due to its niche status and reduced community engagement, there is a limited amount of recent support and documentation available online.
  • Compatibility Issues
    As technology progresses, DSL may face compatibility issues with newer hardware or network configurations, which could limit its usage.

Arch Linux videos

Top Five Reasons To Run Arch Linux

More videos:

  • Review - Ubuntu Vs Arch Linux | Which is the Best Linux Distro?
  • Review - Arch Linux - Simple, Fast, & Custom Distro Overview + Gameplay
  • Review - Arch Linux Is A Great Distro But You Shouldn't Use It
  • Review - Fedora vs Arch Linux - Battle of the Best!
  • Review - Fedora vs Debian and Arch Linux

Damn Small Linux videos

Damn Small Linux Review

More videos:

  • Review - Damn Small Linux - DSL - Fastest and Smallest Linux Distribution - Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Arch Linux and Damn Small Linux)
Linux
96 96%
4% 4
Operating Systems
97 97%
3% 3
Linux Distribution
97 97%
3% 3
Laptops
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Arch Linux and Damn Small Linux

Arch Linux Reviews

Top 9 Fastest Linux Distros in 2024
One of the defining features of Arch Linux is its package management system, ‘Pacman’, which is designed to be fast, and reliable as it uses a simple command-line interface and a binary package format. Moreover, it makes the OS easy to install and manage software on the system.
Source: linuxsimply.com
Finding the Best Linux Distro for Your Organization
Arch Linux is a lightweight and highly customizable Linux distro that emphasizes simplicity, minimalism, and a "do-it-yourself" approach. It is designed for experienced users who want to build a tailored and efficient operating system environment according to their specific needs. Arch Linux rolling-release model provides continuous updates to the latest software packages...
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Fans of Linux consider Arch Linux the “pure” distribution. The minimalistic operating system forgoes any graphical tools. As such Arch Linux is slim and customizable, but this could scare away newcomers. Simplicity is part of the basic idea of Arch Linux, but here it refers to the distribution’s features. Arch Linux is managed with Pacman and is a suitable base for most...
Source: www.ionos.com
6 Best Free Alternatives to Windows for Advanced Users
Arch Linux users enjoy the latest updates on other Linux distributions before most users. All you need to do is use Pacman, Arch Linux’s package manager.
Source: techcult.com
Best Top 20 Ubuntu Linux Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
Artix Linux is a rolling-release distribution based on Arch Linux, which uses OpenRC, runit, s6, suite66, or dinit as init rather than systemd. It is possible to utilize packages from the Arch Linux repositories or any other derivative distribution, even those that expressly depend on systemd, on Artix Linux, as it is a pacman-based distribution. AUR (Arch User Repository)...

Damn Small Linux Reviews

We have no reviews of Damn Small Linux yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Arch Linux seems to be a lot more popular than Damn Small Linux. While we know about 258 links to Arch Linux, we've tracked only 1 mention of Damn Small Linux. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Arch Linux mentions (258)

  • Writing an AnythingLLM Custom Agent Skill to Trigger Make.com Webhooks
    If you don't already have it, download the AnythingLLM desktop application for your platform here. In my examples I'll be using my Macbook Pro to run AnythingLLM and connecting to llama-server running on an Arch Linux server with the Meta Llama 3.1 Instruct model (70B). However, you can do all of this just by linking AnythingLLM to the OpenAI API with an API Key. I will not go into the details of the initial setup... - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • The Home Server Journey - 1: Motivation and Approach
    If you've ever tried using a non-mainstream Linux distro, you probably know the pain of looking for a package, not finding it even in a third-party repository, trying to compile it from source and failing miserably over and over (Been there. Done that). Manjaro, as an Arch-based OS, at least has the very welcome access to the AUR, a community repository for compilation scripts that automate the process for us mere... - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • Penguin, Chicken or Duck? (Eros, OC, Microsoft Bing AI Generated)
    Arch is a popular Linux distribution(basically an os). Him saying that he uses arch is basically a joke that arch Linux users will always mention that they use the distro. (Also a penguin is also the Linux mascot). Source: over 1 year ago
  • Arch Linux bugtracker migration to Gitlab completed
    Arch sends distribution news every week or so, usually in one or two paragraphs. https://archlinux.org/ I've followed the gitlab migration and every package and distribution change that warranted community notification for more than a decade. It's such an empowering feeling to have tracked all the changes to the distribution over a decade. The Arch maintainer culture has managed to provide consistent high quality... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Moving from Mint to Arch
    When searching for something just add Arch Linux to the and follow official archlinux.org and use duckduckgo.com for better results. You will get amazed how good arch wiki explained everything and how aur has very large apps. Source: over 1 year ago
View more

Damn Small Linux mentions (1)

  • Very lightweight distro with GUI that can be run from live cd. 128MB of RAM or less OLD desktop
    I'd say what you need in this case is Damn Small Linux. Source: over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Arch Linux and Damn Small Linux, you can also consider the following products

Ubuntu - Ubuntu is a Debian Linux-based open source operating system for desktop computers.

Anarchy Linux - A distro that helps setting up a Archlinux system.

Linux Mint - Linux Mint is one of the most popular desktop Linux distributions and used by millions of people.

Siduction - Siduction Forum - Index

Fedora - Fedora creates an innovative, free, and open source platform for hardware, clouds, and containers that enables software developers and community members to build tailored solutions for their users.

Garuda Linux - Garuda Linux is an appealing Arch Linux based Distro with BTRFS (modern filesystem), Linux-zen kernel, auto snapshots, gaming edition and a lot more bleeding edge features..