Announcements about LxPup, SPups, UPups, VPups, Chromium, LXQt & Xfce addons, Kernels etc.

[peebee]

240919
Built on Woof-CE Github - transferred to SourceForge updates:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/pb-gh-releases/files/

[peebee]

241006
Built on Woof-CE Github - transferred to SourceForge updates:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/pb-gh-releases/files/

[peebee]

241101
Built on Woof-CE Github - transferred to SourceForge updates:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/pb-gh-releases/files/

n.b. VoidPup64 & NoblePup32 have kernel 6.1 due temporary problem with 6.6 builds
Thanks to @jrb for help with VoidPup / JWM issues

[peebee]

241117
3dbaad85a246cdc31448d3272ac7cdfd LxPupSc64-23.01+8-T.iso
7eac6d019f6cba6299cad3de2536c195 LxPupSc32-23.01+8-T-k64.iso

https://sourceforge.net/projects/lxpup/files/Other/

[mistfire]

@peebee
Any news about linux kernel 6.12.x for puppy release?

[peebee]

@peebee
Any news about linux kernel 6.12.x for puppy release?

viewtopic.php?p=131066#p131066
https://sourceforge.net/projects/lxpup/ ... /interims/

[peebee]

241201
Built on Woof-CE Github - transferred to SourceForge updates:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/pb-gh-releases/files/

[peebee]

WARNING

The Light web browser included as a small, basic starter web browser in all of my builds has worked "acceptably" for many years in that role....

HOWEVER, it is now unable to connect to SourceForge due to it being unable to respond to "Cloudfare challenges".....

and as the "big boy" web browser .sfs are stored on SourcForge this is a BIG PROBLEM!!

I have therefore switched to a version of Palemoon as the included browser in future builds.

[ozsouth]

@peebee - tricky one. Some options:
- Firefox ESR (72mb) - since many folk would go for that anyway, seems most pups nowadays use it.
- Palemoon (40mb) - it's avx requirement limits usefulness (I have a new Celeron N4500 without avx = no recent Palemoon)
You could use an old version - 33.2.1 was the last non-avx (15 Jul 2024). Doesn't do DRM video.
- Netsurf 3.11 gtk2 (1.6mb) - very minimal - can read many sites: forum, bbc (sort of), others; has google search box. Can't log into most sites. Can have start page with links. Can get Firefox (search for 'firefox linux', click first result then choose 'different platform' link), OR use your 'get browser' menu entry. I made a Netsurf version for Fossapup64_9.5-small & s15pup64-240717
see: https://www.mediafire.com/file/3w42voyv ... 2.sfs/file

[Wiz57]

@peebee - tricky one. Some options:
- Firefox ESR (72mb) - since many folk would go for that anyway, seems most pups nowadays use it.
- Palemoon (40mb) - it's avx requirement limits usefulness (I have a new Celeron N4500 without avx = no recent Palemoon)
You could use an old version - 33.2.1 was the last non-avx (15 Jul 2024). Doesn't do DRM video.
- Netsurf 3.11 gtk2 (1.6mb) - very minimal - can read many sites: forum, bbc (sort of), others; has google search box. Can't log into most sites. Can have start page with links. Can get Firefox (search for 'firefox linux', click first result then choose 'different platform' link), OR use your 'get browser' menu entry. I made a Netsurf version for Fossapup64_9.5-small & s15pup64-240717
see: https://www.mediafire.com/file/3w42voyv ... 2.sfs/file

There are non-AVX requiring builds of Palemoon available. I'm not on my old Acer at the moment, so can't find the links. I have posted the links in
other topics somewhere on the forum. On the Acer, I use a GTK3 SSE based by Steve Pusser, available from his MX Linux repository. I've also found
a GTK2 build, but it requires a newer GLIBC than I have with S15Pup32. Both of these are 32 bit builds, as the Acer's Intel Atom N270 is only 32 bit.

[peebee]

First small step............

Browsers now copied to MediaFire which Light can access:
https://www.mediafire.com/folder/0zmm5x8w50wnn/32bit
https://www.mediafire.com/folder/vbihjdm1px9tt/64bit

Small patch pets change /usr/bin/get_web_browser_sf to go to MediaFire.

[ozsouth]

@Wiz57 - good pickup! The mx21 64bit gtk3 version works as is in s15pup64-240717 & fossapup64-9.5-mid. Means glibc 2.31 is sufficient to run it. (The mx23 version needs glibc 2.34).

@peebee
I made an sfs - runs as root, is default browser (40mb, posting from it). see: https://www.mediafire.com/file/oxtoo9s4 ... 0.sfs/file
(Can insert run-as-spot in /usr/local/bin/defaultbrowser if desired)

Original mx21 .deb package in this repository: https://mxrepo.com/MX21packages.htm

[peebee]

Hi @ozsouth & @Wiz57

I know that Palemoon is the smallest of the "mainstream" browsers but there are many things I don't like about it, particularly the fact that you have to rely on 3rd party builds to overcome some of the design decisions taken.

If I change from Light it would probably be to Firefox-ESR even though that adds some 50MB to the builds.

It is still possible to wget .sfs from SourceForge so I may abandon Light for get_web_browser and go that route (already used in LxPup32Sc but not LxPup64Sc).....

BTW - Netsurf won't download .sfs from SourceForge although it does connect without the "Cloudfare challenge" issue.

Thanks
peebee

[ozsouth]

@peebee - shame about sourceforge for Netsurf - I made gtk3 version today - (like gtk2 version) downloads from mediafire.com & archive.org work - not sourceforge. Palemoon 33.2.1 (39mb) is last non-avx & as released 15 Jul 2024, would be big improvement on light (2019). Might be a good interim solution for a year or so, alongside your 'get browser' links. It isn't an easy choice, for sure.

[peebee]

With hopes for a Peaceful, Healthy & Happy 2025...........

250101
Built on Woof-CE Github - transferred to SourceForge updates:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/pb-gh-releases/files/

adrv: Light web browser has been replaced by a version of Palemoon

[peebee]

Basilisk web browser added:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/lxpup/ ... /browsers/
https://sourceforge.net/projects/lxpup/ ... /browsers/

BionicPup is too old to run it.
Youtube behaviour seems erratic.
Bit bigger than Palemoon - similar size to SeaMonkey

[mistfire]

Basilisk web browser added:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/lxpup/ ... /browsers/
https://sourceforge.net/projects/lxpup/ ... /browsers/

BionicPup is too old to run it.
Youtube behaviour seems erratic.
Bit bigger than Palemoon - similar size to SeaMonkey

At least it has higher html5 test rating than light and seamonkey.

[peebee]

64 bit but can be used on 32 bit builds if CPU is 64-bit compatible
aufs & overlayfs enabled
NON-usrmerge

Kernel Build 6.14.0-lxpup64 (x86_64)
Build Date Mon Mar 24 16:49:21 GMT 2025
aufs-6.x-rcN

needs firmware (e.g. by fdrv)

from here

[peebee]

250201
Built on Woof-CE Github - transferred to SourceForge updates:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/pb-gh-releases/files/

[Wiz57]

Updated my test frugal install of S15Pup32 22.12 to latest 250201, no issues yet. Everything working as expected. Posting from it now, using the Palemoon 33.5.1 32 bit Mx21 build I found from Steve Pusser.
Note: I renamed the included adrv.sfs so it wouldn't load or attempt to load two Palemoons! I had already used the Mx21 build in earlier test versions, so it was in my savefile.

[Wiz57]

@peebee
Just a quick update...S15Pup32 22.12 250201 still running well on the old Acer Aspire One! One thing I have noticed with the
later releases, say after 6/2024 or so, the WiFi indicator light on the old Acer seems to constantly flash, which usually only happens
when I'm actually doing something online, like browsing, downloading or when booting up. DMESG shows lots of entries re: wifi and
the atheros chip/drivers...not really noticing a lot of traffic in so far as RX and TX reports...sort of like a "keep connection alive"
script of some sort is running, but I couldn't find it with HTOP. Not a serious issue, just an oddity. The older S15Pup32 22.12 240413
that I run a lot doesn't exhibit this behaviour, the wifi indicator light only flashes when I'm actively doing something online.
I may try a kernel and zdrv swap with the older version 4.X I enjoy using to see if it is something kernel related!

[Wiz57]

It appears to be something in the version 5 kernels used in the latest (later??) S15Pup32 22.12s...
I did my kernel and zdrv swap to kernel 4.14.173 that I've used a lot and the WiFi indicator light is
behaving as expected. I also checked in LxTerminal with netstat -s, with my old kernel everything
is showing 0 ports open/used (that is without a browser, etc running) while in the default 5X kernels
I noticed almost all ports being constantly queried even with only a WiFi connection made to my
mobile hotspot. Don't know why, shucks, it was even querying bluetooth ports, which this old netbook
doesn't have! Some of the ports would return a response, the usual ones anyhow. Puzzling???

[mistfire]

@peebee

Can you please enable bcachefs on next lxpup kernel release if possible?

Thank you

[peebee]

250301
Built on Woof-CE Github - transferred to SourceForge updates:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/pb-gh-releases/files/

250314 for S15Pup

[Clarity]

I dont know if this is the same for ALL of your current distros posted, but it is true for BookWormPUP64 v250301: The booted PUP does NOT respect the parm issued in the boot menu stanza. Review the log files, below, to see.

[Clarity]

@peebee.

Status on bare-metal: VoidPup64 & S15Pup64 booted via Ventoy with PSAVE for persistence.

Checked OOTB for couple of tiny admin tools; namely btop and a 'fetch' admin terminal apps.Would you consider one these as a small and simple admin addition in the future?

VPup64 v250301 terminal.jpg (65.91 KiB) Viewed 3584 times

Picture is from the VPup64 terminal.

[Wiz57]

@peebee and @ozsouth
I've been experimenting with various kernel/zdrv/fdrv combos, as you are probably aware,
on my old Acer Aspire One AOA 150 Intel Atom N270, 1 gb RAM, Atheros 5.4.x WiFi, Intel graphics.
I'm pretty happy with the current S15Pup32 250314, booted into it now, but using a Slacko kernel
version 4.19.164, and browsing using the New Moon (Palemoon) 33.6.1 GTK2 sfs I built.
(This is based on latest versison of Palemoon, Steve Pusser hasn't updated his GTK3 builds yet
New Moon is compiled by @Fenyo for older Linuxes/Puppys with
at least GLIBC 2.19, I updated my old Slacko 6.3.2 32 bit to GLIBC 2.23, lol)
Here's some copy n paste from LxTerminal as of this moment! Only 1 tab open in New Moon.
After initial bootup, this kernel uses a tad over 100kb RAM using "nocopy" kernel parameter,
only about 5 or 7 kb more than the 4.14.173 I use in S15Pup32 240413!

# free
total used free shared buff/cache available
Mem: 1002948 259576 55160 56076 688212 663392
Swap: 1048572 520 1048052
# uname -a
Linux puppypc28659 4.19.164 #1 SMP Sat Jan 2 15:34:25 AEST 2021 i686 Intel(R) Atom(TM) CPU N270 @ 1.60GHz GenuineIntel GNU/Linux
# ldd --version
ldd (GNU libc) 2.41
Copyright (C) 2024 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions. There is NO
warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Written by Roland McGrath and Ulrich Drepper.

I think the problems with the WiFi indicator showing constant blinking/activity was introduced somewhere
around kernel 4.19.216, as that one is the earliest I tested that exhibited this oddity! Whether or not this
is of concern, I don't know. Have not been able to find anything searching the web about reports of this.
All I do know is the dmesg report via terminal will continue to grow and grow, even without any internet
applications running, all it takes is an attempt to connect via opening Internet Connection Wizard/SNS etc.

Thank you both for all the help and cool software packages provided, this new S15Pup32 250314 is
working out very smooth!
Wiz

Edit to add: The Acer Aspire One AOA150 I have uses an onboard WiFi chip, Atheros 5.4.X something,
the constant blinking activity light occurs with all three of the common net connection tools,
SNS, Frisbee and NetWiz. The dmesg output primarily consists of querys to multiple ports
some are to be expected, as Linux just like Unix uses "ports" to define basically any hardware
connection. If desired I can attach a copy n paste if anyone thinks it may help...but that
will have to be later today/tonight, getting about time to go to work.

[mistfire]

@peebee

On your kernel 6.14 release. NTSYNC driver is not enabled. Could you please enable it?

Code: Select all

# CONFIG_NTSYNC is not set

Thank you

[Jasper]

Linux 6.14 changelog.

Summary:

This release includes a NT synchronization primitive driver, which allows for faster games.

It also includes new different read balancing methods for Btrfs RAID1 setups; support for uncached buffered I/O; fsnotify file pre-access notification event; a new dmem cgroup for better control of GPU memory resources; FUSE support for io_uring based communication; an amdxdna driver for AMD NPUs; XFS reflink and reverse-mapping support for the realtime devices; NFSv4.2+ attribute delegation; and x86 TLB flushing scalability optimizations.