Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

Found this remaster with some good tools, I wonder if I could use it safely since (assume) it doesn't receive updates.

Depends on what your idea of safely is.

What are you afraid could happen?

Jackalpup - offspring of the famous Jackalope

captainkennway wrote: ↑Sat Jun 01, 2024 7:40 am

Found this remaster with some good tools, I wonder if I could use it safely since (assume) it doesn't receive updates.

Puppies are created using woof, which combines some binaries from a distro version such as Ubuntu Focal Fossa with Puppy's own. That's the origin of Fossapup64 which puddleman remastered to create Jackalpup. Thus, a Puppy begins as sort-of a 'snapshot' of it's binary compatible. The objective of woof is to produce a portable and modular operating system. All major components can be updated, but not automatically. The core module --containing the window and file-manager and applications the creator considered essential-- can be remastered; as puddleman did. The Kernel --think engine and chassis-- can be swapped. Applications can be updated.

With the exception of the SaveFile or SaveFolder created by the User, all other file-systems are READ-ONLY. See https://www.forum.puppylinux.com/viewto ... 827#p55827 and https://www.forum.puppylinux.com/viewto ... 818#p63818. Unless you are the specific target of a dedicated hacker the READ-ONLY components can't be contaminated; and it's unlikely that you would fail to notice the creation and substitution of READ-ONLY components.

The only vulnerable component is the SaveFile/Folder which is READ-WRITE. Puppys can always be booted "pfix=ram" which avoid using it. You can operate under PupMode 13, https://www.forum.puppylinux.com/viewto ... 183#p97183 choosing not to SAVE unless you have a good reason. When you reboot/shutdown without Saving RAM is cleared and your next boot-up will be as pristine as your last. Rather than automatic installs, except for web-browsers, you can download, save, reboot and install before going on-line. To obtain current Web-browsers, you're best bet is to use the portables Mikewalsh creates, https://www.forum.puppylinux.com/viewto ... 734#p48734. These are self-contained, never have to be included in your operating system and are, or can be, run as Spot. Spot is a limited User which can only access it's own folder. [Since your file-manager runs as Root/Administrator you can selectively copy files out of the Spot folder].

In short, all woof-created Puppys properly run are inherently safe: as safe or safer than any other operating system with the exceptions such as EasyOS and Kodachi specifically designed for security.

Jackalpup's Menu>Setup>Puppy Package Manager can still access the Ubuntu Focal Fossa repositories. But if you need applications puddleman didn't include first see if any of Mikewalsh's portables will suffice; or those in the Additional Software Forum, https://www.forum.puppylinux.com/viewforum.php?f=7. Also note that the 'updates' created for Fossapup64, https://www.forum.puppylinux.com/viewto ... 8980#p8980 should work.

@captainkennway There are users of Jackalpup that use it still daily for audio/music production.

@geo_c has I believe some extensive experience using it and might share some insight.

rockedge wrote: ↑Sat Jun 01, 2024 4:19 pm

@captainkennway There are users of Jackalpup that use it still daily for audio/music production.

@geo_c has I believe some extensive experience using it and might share some insight.

Yes I still have a copy and used it extensively for a couple of years, did some audio projects, remastering of mixes and things like that. However I haven't booted it in a long time since KLV-airedale and other KLV's came outfitted with pipewire, and that allowed me to do everything jackalpup could do with the latest or close to latest versions of everything, knowing they would be updateable through the void package manager.

Jackalpup is a working distro, fossapup64_9.5 remastered, and it runs reliably. If you're familiar with jack audio, this remaster comes with jack configured and ready to hit the start button. But as I say, it's applications versions are 4 or more years old now. If that's not a problem and if you want to run those versions, give it a try.

As far as safety I guess that has to do with how you use networks and the internet and thing of that naturee. If you run it simply as an audio tool, those things shouldn't be an issue.