Apart from being a great little 2xx MB live OS (what even competes now, just tinycore?), one of its killer features are the understated slax modules. They are file systems stored in a file that can be laid over your existing file system dynamically. This allows you to install and uninstall software. You might think "so what? I can also install and uninstall a debian package". The difference is that the Slax file system is set up so that all changes you make after boot are on a different "layer" on the filesystem such that you can take everything you changed since the system started and instantly turn it into a module. This means that it's trivial to create a package. All you have to do is install a program, or configure your system in some way you like, and then save your changes. Then loading the module applies those changes (thereby installing software or what have you), and unloading reverts the changes. You can put these in a special directory of the USB so that they get automatically loaded on boot, thereby customizing Slax to be your very own. In Slax's prime, when it had a beautiful KDE desktop and the default ISO still fit in a CD, the website had a place where people could upload the modules they made for others to use. Additionally, you could configure an ISO right from the website to have the software you wanted. Now they are not featured so much, but times have changed. Slax is now based on Debian rather than good ol' Slackware, and internet is fast, so you can easily get a lot more packages now than before. Many parts of the release can be removed for an even smaller, more basic system, such as the desktop. Slax comes with the programs necessary to rebuild a custom ISO of Slax to burn a CD with different modules. It works really well off a CD because Slax can be loaded fully into memory unlike other live CD. Once it's in memory, it's very snappy. There's other feature, but anyway, it's easy to play with and customize to fit your needs, so definitely check it out guys. There's nothing else like it.
@denizkendirci
2 жыл бұрын
I haven't heard any news about slax for a really loooooong time. I'm glad to know that it's still around.
@SleepyRulu
2 жыл бұрын
Same here
@InF1NiTiVGaming
2 жыл бұрын
same
@supersophisticated9943
2 жыл бұрын
Normally: *Tries to trick OS into installing on a USB drive.* Slax: *Tries to trick OS into installing on a hard disk drive.*
@lsatenstein
2 жыл бұрын
Today I really appreciated your Slax presentation. I was truly amazed at the small amount of ram size. You touched on all the distro's salient points, and made me follow up after your presentation with my own download. I will be installing it today. Thank you for a well done video.
@TheBlueThird
2 жыл бұрын
Slax is a czech distro. It's been around for awhile.
@TheLinuxCast
2 жыл бұрын
A distro doesn't need to be new to be on my channel
@vikits21
2 жыл бұрын
I used slax v7 years ago when it was based on slackware. It was my first Linux distribution. I used it to recover files when my windows xp install got corrupted. I liked the distro very much but then it went silent. There was a successor to this at the time called porteus which aimed to keep this alive. It was still based on slackware. Maybe it is nostalgia, but I like the old slax / porteus more.
@milohoffman274
2 жыл бұрын
Slax was one of the OG USB Boot distros. I ran it in the 90s. Pretty sure the original name was because it was based on slackware back in the day.
@zorin1us
2 жыл бұрын
@The Linux Cast I have been doing this for awhile creating a UBS Drive that I can move around to different computers. This is not as easy as you would think to create since most of the Linux installers won't install grub onto the right the drive even when you tell it to install it to the right one. You will find that once you move the USB drive to another computer it won't boot. I started down this path because I wanted to play around with different Distros and want to see how it ran with a multi-monitor setup. I previously had updated a few laptops and replaced the SATA M2 drive with a bigger one. So I was left with two 256 GB drives. What I did was go out and buy a USB SATA enclosure. So the way to get around the problem is to use a VM to passthrough the USB drive instead of creating a VM disk. Then just install normally. The only thing that I had to do was to boot from a machine with an Nvidia card so I could install the drivers. Once that was done, I could move this to any machine and it would boot up since the kernel had support for Intel and AMD graphics. It was a really sweet setup. I was doing some rendering test with Handbrake. I was able to move the USB drive to different machine boot from it and run my test. So the only thing that was different was the hardware, the software was the same. I was testing out the performance between Ryzen 3800x, 3900x and 5900x, then I moved it to my Ryzen laptop and ran the test on it. I wish that more reviewers like yourself would test a Distro outside of a VM. It does not cost much to buy a SATA to USB cable, and buy a few cheap 2.5 SSD. I guess the problem comes with setting up a separate computer with a capture card so you can capture the output without having to install OBS or some other software to capture your review. I like most of your content, glad that I found your channel.
@Blessed2bFresh
2 жыл бұрын
That part ☝️
@overclucker
2 жыл бұрын
You might want to check out version 7, which was the last slackware based release. It was actually the first distro that would actually boot on my computer. You used to be able to download package bundles to a usb and load them offline. That was the first time I had access to a compiler. There were two versions that I particularly remember, frodo edition and killbill edition. You can see them if you expand the distribution log on distrowatch.
@BennyEatsCheese
2 жыл бұрын
Was actually reading about this one in Wikiapedia today
@kevinpitts3548
2 жыл бұрын
It was really cool back in the day. You could pick and choose your software straight from the website and then download it. I used it to bypass corporate firewall that was on the windows machines. It was back in the early 2000s. Looks like it has changed alot. Haven't ran it in years. Good stuff. Thanks for the memory lane.
@karolstopinski8350
2 жыл бұрын
The one thing that stands out with slax is that you install it on USB just by copying files and running a cmd script. I had some problems with saving iso files on USB drives, sometimes even depending on which app i used to do it with but this with slax always worked.
@jeffreyfernandes2662
10 ай бұрын
Nice review, I learned about neofetch and was shocked as my Debian 11 has 2371 packages and uses 1503Mib.
@moorederodeo
2 жыл бұрын
I think the *commander file managers are based off of Norton Commander from years ago, and all have similar interfaces (not sure if they all align exactly like the ones you mentioned here though)
@kennethlawson6205
2 жыл бұрын
I forgot that Slax existed I used to acually use it many years ago.
@danyel80be40
2 жыл бұрын
You should also try Puppy Linux, that kind of distribution it's the best way to introduce someone to Linux by running in a USB stick, people usually don't believe it's possible! Slax is very cool and resources friendly. BTW, cool n' nice video.
@antoniostorcke
2 жыл бұрын
I have known of this distribution for many years. This one was one of the earliest to boot off a usb key.
@zorin1us
2 жыл бұрын
You can boot any Distro from a usb key, all you have to do is install onto it. I would use a good usb key if you go that route, or buy a SATA USB enclosure and put a SATA M.2 drive in it. Booting from a USB 3 is pretty fast and you will be amazed at the performance.
@antoniostorcke
2 жыл бұрын
Yes, that is the case now, but when Slax did it back in 2006, it was groundreaking. Few other linux distributions were doing that at the time. Trust me. I was there and searching. I just happened to find slax online and they said that had this new feature of booting off of USB. There was puppy Linux back in 2005 but that one was just not as easy to use as slax and slax had persistence on the USB drive itself. To this day , it is still difficult to find linux distributions that run off the usb thumb drive and include persistence.
@genkiferal7178
2 жыл бұрын
antiX's base version is about 230MB sometimes - if, like your example, not much of anything is running. I never could get antiX Core installed, but really, base might be good enough and it is easy in a VM or on a flash drive. Never could get it installed on my old HDD, though. I will try Slax, too, though. I prefer ala carte, adding my own stuff. If you ever figure out how to get persistence on a VM, I'd like to see that.
@ravenandthestranger
Жыл бұрын
Dude I used to run Slax Kill Bill off a CD back in 2006 😂
@schnecks2180
5 ай бұрын
I'm using it on my ancient Eee-PC 701 for my niece to play with.
@andredias5061
2 жыл бұрын
Could you give a look at Q4OS? I used it before, and really liked it, it's debian based
@xeriab
2 жыл бұрын
Oh My, Last time I used it was when it was based on Slackware long time ago, I'm glad that the distro still lives =D
@cugir321
2 жыл бұрын
persistance works fine. chromium is fine for youtube on an older PC. I use it on a dell D610 with 480p setting. video is fine with the lower resolution.
@spaceguybob
2 жыл бұрын
I actually use it on a CD in case I brick my os and I need to download a iso to move over to my USB drive
@ravenandthestranger
Жыл бұрын
I ran it on a CD way back in 2005… then used it on a 256mb USB drive after that.
@andrewwhitfield5480
2 жыл бұрын
Slax can be installed to internal storage.
@phonewithoutquestion80
2 жыл бұрын
Really beautiful, like Crunchbang and NomadBSD: I love super uneventful workspaces with these portable distros lol.
@danstone_0001
2 жыл бұрын
I love slax
@theexile4694
2 жыл бұрын
Anyone else hear him say "Fuxbox"? Lol!
@johanb.7869
2 жыл бұрын
WM theme looks like Windows 8. Just like Puppy Linux. Plug it in and voila Puppy is running.
@nikhilmwarrier7948
2 жыл бұрын
The dev is working on a new Slax release based on Debian 11
@genkiferal7178
2 жыл бұрын
thanks
@ddman7867
2 жыл бұрын
1:30 what web browser is this?
@TheLinuxCast
2 жыл бұрын
Firefox. It has custom css enabled.
@ddman7867
2 жыл бұрын
@@TheLinuxCast thanks. Do you have a video about that?
I am facing an issue Anytime I made some changes or install any applications in SLAX, after restarting SLAX, that application is not present and SLAX boots as new one. Guide me kindly what to do??
@kalulugamer
2 жыл бұрын
Hi! I tried this during the weekend and it works great. Just wanted to ask if we can turn it into rolling release / unstable version Debian. Im just curious.
@enkiimuto1041
Жыл бұрын
I'm really shocked your slax was at 600MB from just that. When I first tested it it was around 115MB.
@TheLinuxCast
Жыл бұрын
Linux does odd things with memory, especially in a VM. The more you give it, the more it uses, at least up to a point
@amilalakshan8849
2 жыл бұрын
Very clearly presented video, a lot to learn here about Linux.
@janvangorp6918
20 күн бұрын
Use this for years on 32gb key Installed abiword and gnumeric. Got documents on it and gnome- disc utilities. That's my rescue key
@oalfodr
2 жыл бұрын
633 packages is low? I have 602 on my development workstation that I also use for gaming and all personal stuff. I am not saying that 633 is a lot but it's not what I would expect
@TheLinuxCast
2 жыл бұрын
On Debian with a Desktop Environment?
@oalfodr
2 жыл бұрын
@@TheLinuxCast No and no. Not even this distro looks like it is using desktop environment. I am still surprised by the difference between distros. I actually have a few apps more because I compile some and have one appImage
@TheLinuxCast
2 жыл бұрын
@@oalfodr then you didn’t get what I said in the video. I said it was low for Debian.
@oalfodr
2 жыл бұрын
@@TheLinuxCast I have noticed that. I have no idea how much arch or Debian have packages right after install. I cannot imagine what Debian has so lightest distro I ever saw still have more packages than system with everything I need
@linuxramblingproductions8554
2 жыл бұрын
With arch my full install takes a bit over 450 packages so to me that looks high personally
@ryanics2291
2 жыл бұрын
Hey Matt, what are you using for your top bar? Ive been thinking about including something like that for me on my f36 KDE install.
@TheLinuxCast
2 жыл бұрын
If you're talking about the bar I use in my window manager, that is Polybar.
@ryanics2291
2 жыл бұрын
@@TheLinuxCast huh well alrighty then. Thanks man.
@AliensInc.
2 жыл бұрын
I used slax for a kiosk mode machine many years ago due to it's light weight
@rohitkatre
Жыл бұрын
Can I, post installing Slax on a USB, install LibreOffice? And if yes, if you don't mind, what's the command for it?
@toranshaw4029
2 жыл бұрын
Was surprised that it's Debian based, as with a name like Slax I thought it would have been Slackware based!
@overclucker
2 жыл бұрын
It was, but I think the developer lost interest for a while or life happened. Slax was inactive for a few years Then there was a major version jump from 7 to 9 and the project was migrated to debian. I a few years ago when I needed a live distro again. It's still good.
@toranshaw4029
2 жыл бұрын
@@overclucker that makes sense, ta.
@jons2447
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you, Matt!
@huljaxful
2 жыл бұрын
Sounds super interesting. Maybe i should try it too.
@lqlarry
2 жыл бұрын
I didn't see encryption on their website but that would be great on a persistent USB.
@genkiferal7178
2 жыл бұрын
not sure, but think you may be able to use Kali's LUKS encryption as a template for other distros. It's basically a bunch of copy and paste into a terminal.
@camerontgore
2 жыл бұрын
Wait did you get a new Epic Rome rig or is that just how it reports your Threadripper?!?
@TheLinuxCast
2 жыл бұрын
No, that's just the way qemu/virt manager reports the Ryzen 7 3800x I have installed.
@mrtexas3225
2 жыл бұрын
>never heard of SciTE bruh, if you've used notepad++, it's just a wrapper around scilexer. SciTE is a nice text editor, Autoit script software ships with it by default.
@TheLinuxCast
2 жыл бұрын
Never used Notepad++ either, but have heard of it
@typingcat
2 жыл бұрын
Can't Linux desktops reduce memory usage? I mean that thing 5:51 is using 619MB of RAM with nothing but a terminal opened. I used to run Windows XP under 100MB (nothing opened).
@genkiferal7178
2 жыл бұрын
antiX's base version can stay under 500MB with Firefox open (one to two tabs), i think I recall.
@DaveHoltzman
2 жыл бұрын
any thoughts on running slax on a oculus quest 2 with limbo x86 emulator?
@Atari-stfm
Жыл бұрын
Why do you sudo when you're already root?
@danstone_0001
2 жыл бұрын
I have been using it since v8 with kde 3
@nonetrix3066
2 жыл бұрын
What is your Firefox CSS?
@jojojo2705
2 жыл бұрын
Slackware? Or slax?
@Zero11s
2 жыл бұрын
it is the debian version
@sauravghosh1588
2 жыл бұрын
Many application is not working
@rasulali1435
2 жыл бұрын
imma install that, clean it out and download suckless software in it.
@hairystyles4212
2 жыл бұрын
Hannah Montana os lmaoooo
@BrucesWorldofStuff
2 жыл бұрын
Wow! You know RW CD/Dvd's, I'm impressed! :-p You older than you look... Lol Lol Lol I just use MX or Ezarcher on USB's for rescue USB's to fix something. In fact I got a friends Pictures off of a old Win 7 drive that was borked and would not boot with a MX USB. It was a old 2 core laptop with a drive that wa 10 years old and I got the files copied to another USB with no issues... :-) Thanks Matt LLAP
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