Minimal Distro for PB?

[jamirokwai]

Hi there,

I was wondering, if a minimal distro is possible for PB-Apps and Games, or PB-based server? AFAIK, PB only needs Glib on Linux. So, in theory, I could put my game into the distro and let it run from USB-drive, almost like a gaming console.

I know of Damn Small Linux, which is about 12 mb but rather old. Another one is Tiny Core, which is about 12mb without GUI - http://tinycorelinux.net. Or Tiny Slitax - https://slitaz.org/en/about/

[deeproot]

So, in theory, I could put my game into the distro and let it run from USB-drive, almost like a gaming console.

If you want to run PureBasic and/or any application from a USB drive then take a look at MX Linux or for even less PC resource usage AntiX. These offer a really effective "persistent USB" option:- -
https://mxlinux.org/blog/do-cool-stuff-with-live-usbs/
https://antixlinux.com/the-most-extensi ... he-planet/

I have have several USB sticks with different full desktop systems, including various versions of PureBasic, my project source files and large data files for my application. This allows me to build executables on older OS and PB versions without affecting the main machines. Plus being fully portable they can plug in to almost any PC. As a bonus they also act as file backups. MX and AntiX are very closely based on Debian Stable which is a big advantage for development purposes over the really minimal distros.

[jamirokwai]

Hi Deeproot,

thanks for the tips!

Maybe, I incorrectly worded my intention.
I want to put my game written in PB inside a tiny distro without any UI, Desktop or any other application. And I wonder, if there are any dependencies, which aren't met by one of the tiny distros.

[Bitblazer]

You should know which dependencies you created by using libraries and function calls. distrowatch can help you finding the best matching linux distro. Or you can create and offer your own linux distro

For example, some of my linux tools like Linux System Info are written in purebasic and should run on every distro. See the technical implementation here.

• static linking can be quite helpful sometimes - if you do it right.
• ldd is your friend.

[deeproot]

Maybe, I incorrectly worded my intention.
I want to put my game written in PB inside a tiny distro without any UI, Desktop or any other application. And I wonder, if there are any dependencies, which aren't met by one of the tiny distros.

Sorry - yes my misunderstanding, read the title and thought you wanted to compile as well as running your game. Reason for suggesting is that I know these distros don't normally have dependency issues and are actively maintained.

Good tips from Bitblazer

Still might be worth investigating for your purpose along with other good smaller distros - AntiX is quite small and can be downloaded with no GUI or apps included. A personal custom distro can be made with the 'remaster' function. Good luck with your idea!

[jamirokwai]

Thanks to you both!

I found some (older = 2009) references on the forum by Freak (https://www.purebasic.fr/english/viewtopic.php?t=36399). Will have a further look.
Maybe, it's not that difficult at all, but I need to find some time to investigate