anon-26-05-22 wrote: Thu May 26, 2022 6:10 pm
Is there a distribution like fatdog that still has apt/apt-get?
If there is no such assembly, then how can I do it myself if I'm a beginner?
Edit2: Actually answering your question, skip down to the 2nd reply below.
Edit: You know, I missed rockedge's post before writing what follows below the -=-=-=-=-=-
rockedge and wiak may be prophetic and knew in advance that you would want it 
. So they created an apt_sfs_load_fossa_amd64.sfs .
You'll find it and a 'replacement adrv' here, viewtopic.php?p=49341#p49341. But see my query here, viewtopic.php?p=58171#p58171 about the proper 'spelling' of the adrv.sfs; and any response by rockedge.
I think the post providing the replacement adrv and apt_sfs explains how to use it. This is my understanding:
On your frugal install of Fossapup64 you'll find a file named adrv_fossapup64_9.5.sfs. Right-Click it; select rename, and rename it ydrv_fossapup64_9.5.sfs. [Explanation: If present, Puppys will use either an adrv.sfs, a ydrv.sfs or both in creating its operating system in RAM. But the files in the adrv.sfs will have priority if there's a conflict].
Download both the adrv and the apt_sfs. Place them both next to the file-system named fossapup64_9.5.sfs. The adrv should be used automatically. rockedge says that after boot-up 'SFS_Load-on-the-fly' the apt_sfs. You can do that two ways: Menu>Setup>SFS-Load on the fly, then file-brows to the apt_sfs to load it; or file-browse to the apt_sfs, Right-Click it and select SFS-Load from the pop-up menu.
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Actually, there's an application you can install into Fossapup64 which is very much like apt/get. I think it's better, but it's creator quipped 'worse'. It's called pkg-cli, https://oldforum.puppylinux.com/viewtop ... cf#p985531. As sc0ttman, it's creator, hasn't made an appearance on this Forum, mistfire has recently published a 'fork' named pkg2, viewtopic.php?p=51728#p51728. [I'm not sure if pkg-cli is builtin to Fossapup64; or I added it. At any rate, see the first thread for details on the 'old forum' and don't hesitate to post any questions on this thread about pkg-cli, viewtopic.php?t=4802 or mistfire's thread about pkg2.
Just couple other things for now. The previous replies have provided a good synopsis of Puppys and how they differ from 'Major' distros. Do read the "How Puppy Works" thread bigpup linked to.
Personally, I run Puppys in the following manner: Although my Puppys are 'frugal' installs on a hard-drive (with it's speed advantage) I use a dedicated USB-Key as boot-loader. That way I don't have to mess with the boot-loader on the hard-drive which boots Windows and/or (currently) Linux Mint. Set the 'bios' to give boot priority to USB-Ports over the hard-drive. Plug in the Key: boot Puppys. Unplug the Key: boot windows/Linux Mint.
When Puppy boots, it copies some file-systems into RAM. See the Link bigpup suggested for details. However, that doesn't use as much RAM as you might think. The files it copies are cached (compressed) with a ratio of about 5:1. It only mounts your SaveFile/SaveFolder. An index system is used to point to the cached files and those in your mounted SaveFile/Folder. The latter has priority: will be used if other versions are in other file-systems; i.e., the index points to it.
There is one significant difference between running a frugal install from a USB-Key to running it from a hard-drive. Puppys recognize the medium they boot from. As far as I know, you can't do a 'Full Install' to a USB-Key. Booting from a USB-Key, changes you make are only written to a folder in memory until you execute a Save which then copies them from the folder in memory to your SaveFile/Folder. A 'Save' icon will be on the desktop so that you can Save at any time and you'll be asked at shutdown/reboot*.
When you install something into Frugal install on a hard-drive by default it is immediately written to your SaveFile/Folder. I think how USB-Puppys work has an advantage for newbies and those experimenting. You can 'install' applications, test them without preserving anything. To test, just Menu>Exit>Restart-X (AKA graphical server) and Puppy re-indexes what makes up its system to include the files in the aforementioned RAM folder (which now has priority). If you're not happy with the results, you can reboot without Saving. RAM is cleared; and your experiment forgotten. Much easier than trying to 'uninstall' just a mistake (or some malware you didn't know you picked up while 'surfing').
You're not stuck with the default system when booting from a hard-drive. You can trick your Puppy into 'thinking' it's been booted from a USB-Key. It's a two step process: a simple change of one boot-argument; followed by an adjustment to the Menu>System>Puppy Event Manager>Save Session Interval. After making those changes Puppy from a Hard-drive will act as if it were on a USB-Key. There are lots of posts about how to set up that system. But don't hesitate to ask if your interested.
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* You may not be aware of this. On shutdown/reboot a GUI appears with two buttons, "Save" and "No Save". Save is highlighted. All you have to do is press return. But the default routine is "No Save". If you do nothing Puppy will shutdown/reboot in 60 seconds without Saving.
.
gives new life to old computers 
to the "kennels".
See post above about 'No Save' being the default once Puppy thinks it's running from a USB-Key.