“Have also fiddled with Bookworm usb test - sorta like it - Lick install failed to boot - may be corrupt.”
I recommend that you open a specific thread so that we may be able to sort out this problem. In the long run Bookworm should provide the most satisfactory Puppy.
Richecc, "Is there any listing of the puppys and their strengths - pros and cons - type thing anywhere?"
Not really. And everyone has his or her favorites: the best Puppy for you will depend on the hardware of your computer and your computing objectives.
Some background may explain. The Forum supports not only Puppys, but also 'DebianDogs', Kennel Linux and a couple of operating systems which aren't exactly Puppys.
All actual Puppys are created using an application known as 'Woof'. Woof generates a Puppy which uses the binaries of some major Linux Version, theoretically any, but with rare exceptions the latest debian, ubuntu, slackware and recently void. That results in a Puppy which has direct access to its 'Source' version’s repositories, and in theory can use the applications constructed for the Source Version OOTB. In practice, however, since Puppys do not include all the infra-structure creators of applications for the Source Distro assumed to be present, sometimes a dependency hunt is necessary to obtain a functional application. As the Source Linuxes publish new versions, woof is modified and new Puppys are published. Both the new Source Linux and the Puppy woofed using it may have 'bugs' which take some time to find and fix. Anyone can woof their own Puppy; and anyone can start with a published Puppy, remaster it to include and exclude anything and publish the Remaster. There are over 6,000 Puppys, approximately 30 Woofed originals and Remasters sufficiently current and maintained to make use of reasonably current applications including those which access the internet.
'DebianDogs' are 'true' debians or Ubuntus created --if I'm not mistaken-- starting as 'net-installs', fleshed out to provide the look and feel of Puppys, including that they are portable operating systems and can SFS-Load applications rather than installing them. They employ apt as package manager and access the repositories of their 'Source Version.' Except as noted below, Puppys do not use apt; but into every Puppy an application known as pkg-cli can be installed which functions similar to apt.
As I understand it, Kennel Linux employs a modified initrd to create a portable of a Major Linux Distro version which is in every respect identical to that version except fully portablized.
EasyOS is the creation of Barry Kauler who created both Puppy and the original version of Woof. It is created using Barry K's modified Woof, and (currently) yocto-kirkstone compiled binaries. It is a High-Security distribution, employing containerization of applications and even entire subordinate operating systems.
FatDog also uses a modified Woof to assemble the binaries compiled by the FatDog Team (currently, I believe) using 'Linux from Scratch'. On the cutting edge, the talented FatDog Team often discovers thing later incorporated into Puppys.
Returning to 'actual' Puppys: Slackware is known for its reliability resulting from its conservative approach to upgrading. But it also leaves it up to the User to flesh out a basic system with specialized applications not everyone may want. That carries over into Slacko Puppys. However, my experience with both the Mainline S15 and mistfire's Quickpup --both binary compatible to Slackware-Current-- is that some version of every type of application I desired could be run.
Debian, on the other hand, tries to provide a User with reasonably current versions of applications in every category, albeit not necessarily the most current. And Ubuntu to a large extent customizes debian’s offerings to provide the User with a system that competes with Window's ideal (but thankfully not implementation of) User-friendliness. So expect Puppys which are debian or Ubuntu binary-compatible to offer the easiest route to some application of whatever category which interests you.
The problem with ‘older’ Puppys –as dimkr will tell you-- is that by now they may have known security risks which will not be fixed as the Devs of the ‘Parent’ distro have moved on to newer versions. I don’t find that of great concern because I (a) always run Puppys under PupMode 13 –noting is preserved at shutdown/reboot and (b) if I’m exploring questionable web-sites, boot from a USB-Key with any partitions containing sensitive information not accessible and the sensitive information in encrypted folders. [Ask if you want to know how].
If, on the other hand you want a Puppy very close to debian –provides both apt and synaptic -- and which can be updated to debian’s latest build almost as they become available, try out dimkr’s VanillaDpups. viewforum.php?f=183
Currently, my three favorites are (1) Bionicpup64-Revival; (2) Bookworm and (3) Fossapup64-Remastered. I have spotty wifi, and for some reason receive a stronger signal under Bionicpup than Bookwork. Otherwise Bookworm would be my current favorite. I feel it strikes a good balance between what debian has new to offer and how I’m used to running Puppys. Bookworm has apt/synaptic; instructions you find on the Web for installing applications into debian can be followed: as Bookworm runs as 'Root' the inclusion of 'sudo' in terminal commands is unnecessary (but can be used). As Bookworm also has Puppy Package Manager, pets can also be installed.
I would also prefer Fossapup64 (for its newer versions of applications) over Bionicpup64 except that I’ve never been able to get Osmo fully functional under any Fossapup build on my computers. Osmos is a Personal Information Manager which I have Puppys open to display Tasks with their due-dates on Bootup. Versions are fully functional under Bionicpup64 and Bookworm. But while Fossapup64 can display content, trying to edit or add results in a crash.
Bionicpup64-Revival is my remaster. I started building it to provide all the then possible updates just before Ubuntu archived the Bionic Beaver repositories. You’ll find more information about it and a download link here, viewtopic.php?p=90666#p90666
As Fossapup64 already runs well on your computer may I make this suggestion. Applications available via Puppy Package Manager and Quickpet (on your Setup SubMenu) date to September 2020. File-browse thru the Fossapup User Contributed Packages, viewtopic.php?p=8980#p8980 BACKWARDS starting with the last page. Some applications have been updated more than once. In particular look for applications having to do with web-work such as wget, uget, openssl and curl. Older versions are less secure. After doing that, browse thru the several threads relating to ozsouth’s Remasters of fossapup64 you’ll find under this Section. viewforum.php?f=119. In addition to the Remasters, themselves, ozsouth and others have provided separate links to some of the applications compiled for fossapup64 which are even newer than those in the User Contributed Section. [There’s even one for Osmo which may be fully functional on YOUR computer]. Download all the packages into a folder, but don’t install any until you’ve finished searching for new packages so that you only install the latest.
Or see if ozsouth’s fossapup64-mid, viewtopic.php?p=94956#p94956 --which has most of the updates-- provides a satisfactory base system for your needs. My personal (not published) fossapup-remaster was built before ozsouth began to publish. Updates from the Fossapup User Thread had been incorporated. But it now includes some of the packages made available on ozsouth's remasters threads.
Other applications worth updating in Older Puppys: rerwin’s networking tools, viewtopic.php?p=2241#p2241; radky’s desktop tools, https://www.smokey01.com/radky/PupMates.html; any diagnostic tool this thread, viewtopic.php?p=69513#p69513 discusses which are absent from your Puppy, or if a newer version is available.
In general I recommend using Mikewalsh’s portables whenever possible. viewtopic.php?p=48734#p48734. Most will run under any Puppy you may consider using and are ‘self-contained’ so you won’t have to ‘start from scratch’ if you change your mind as to which Puppy(s) is/are best on your computer. Most web-browsers portables can be updated to the latest version when you desire to do so.
