Linked by Thom Holwerda on Mon 26th May 2008 10:58 UTC, submitted by i386DX
Linux Abandoned Zone reviewed several lightweight Linux distributions, and concluded: "First of all it has to be clear that there's a difference between 'lightweight' and 'lightweight'. Especially Damn Small Linux is very lightweight, but also it's not really usable on 'more recent' systems. It think DSL is perfect for 486 or Pentium 1-based systems but nothing more. At the other side there are Zenwalk and Xubuntu which are pretty heavy lightweight distributions. I think the use of Xfce has something to do with that. All the others are floating between those two extremes."
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RE[3]: Draco GNU/linux
by WereCatf on Mon 26th May 2008 15:34 UTC in reply to "RE[2]: Draco GNU/linux"
WereCatf
Member since:
2006-02-15

What Linux uses for audio? ALSA + GStreamer + ARTS + Esound + Pulseaudio and then finally touch sound card.

What does FreeBSD (and 4Front OSS) do here? APPLICATION --> OSS --> sound card, no unneded layers that create additional overhead and compatibility problems.


Wow you are soooo wrong it almost hurts :O

GStreamer is a multimedia framework, using OSS does not make the situation any different. Arts and Esound are both obsolete, they are not used at on modern distros. AND, again that has nothing to do with OSS or ALSA. Oh, and PulseAudio...well, PulseAudio is not driver. It's a layer that f.ex. allows network audio. I dunno if PulseAudio works with OSS though.

OSS is well documented (including API) while ALSA is one big mess without documentation.

http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/alsa-lib/ There you go. Sorry to break your bubble.

Also let Ubuntu serve as an example here, which uses ALSA + PulseAudio, start Rythmobox and then start Wine, Wine does not have sound, start Wine at the beginning, Rythmobox does not have sound, because of what? Befause of ALSA.

No, it's actually because Rhythmbox does use PulseAudio whereas Wine doesn't have PulseAudio driver. So, it is not actually a fault in either PulseAudio or ALSA, it's just because Wine lacks support.

I also do not understand why people jerk off so much about ALSA while not knowing its technical and functional disadvantages comparing to OSS.

Then let us hear them? Or were those arguments above those?

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 9

RE[4]: Draco GNU/linux
by vermaden on Mon 26th May 2008 17:10 in reply to "RE[3]: Draco GNU/linux"
vermaden Member since:
2006-11-18

GStreamer is a multimedia framework, using OSS does not make the situation any different. (...) Oh, and PulseAudio...well, PulseAudio is not driver. It's a layer that f.ex. allows network audio.


... layers, frameworks, call them as you like, yeah, create more layers its fun ...

Arts and Esound are both obsolete, they are not used at on modern distros.


So why ARTS and ESD exist, because of workaround for ALSA, mixing is just mover to another layer, its little in the past but they were used for a lot of years and lets not forget about that.

... more layers, what for?

Where network audio is useful when you just want to play sound on your box? Its totally useless.
If network audio is only advantage of it then use it JUST for passing sound on the network, OSS also can do everything that PuylseAudio can, volume per application and so, so why use it for everything not onlt the NET? Another layer?

http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/alsa-lib/ There you go. Sorry to break your bubble.

Heh ;) paste a link do some alsa-doc does not PROVE that this documentation is good, it just exist, its not only my thought that OSS aPI is a lot better documented while ALSA breaks API every release.

You like links, so there you go, heve fun:
http://developer.opensound.com/

No, it's actually because Rhythmbox does use PulseAudio whereas Wine doesn't have PulseAudio driver. So, it is not actually a fault in either PulseAudio or ALSA, it's just because Wine lacks support.

In shot - no its just not working with these ... layres?

Why WINE should support every new layer of Linux audio just as it arrives? Its PulseAudio role to create API that is compatible with existing software, or a plugin that simulates OSS what WINE use, but no, its easier to write something totally new that does not have anything to do with current appication and demand support for itfrom developers of WINE, very mature ...

And yes what PulseAudio was for? network audio, sad it can pass audio on network while it cannot even work on locahost :ASD

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: -1

RE[5]: Draco GNU/linux
by WereCatf on Mon 26th May 2008 17:42 in reply to "RE[4]: Draco GNU/linux"
WereCatf Member since:
2006-02-15

... layers, frameworks, call them as you like, yeah, create more layers its fun ...

You're missing the point here: GStreamer is used no matter which drivers you use. Yes, it is used also when you are running OSS. So, no points for you there.

Where network audio is useful when you just want to play sound on your box? Its totally useless.

For you. When some feature is not useful to you it might still be useful to many others.

Heh ;) paste a link do some alsa-doc does not PROVE that this documentation is good, it just exist, its not only my thought that OSS aPI is a lot better documented while ALSA breaks API every release.

You were claiming there exists no documentation for ALSA yet I proved you wrong. And well, your link doesn't prove OSS api is any better than ALSA api. And no, ALSA api doesn't break every release. Get your facts straight and stop spreading FUD.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 6

RE[4]: Draco GNU/linux
by stabbyjones on Mon 26th May 2008 22:41 in reply to "RE[3]: Draco GNU/linux"
stabbyjones Member since:
2008-04-15

i agree and while i won't use alsa by itself by adding pulseaudio it's perfect.

install, configure to use pulse instead of alsa and you'll be able to run totem, rhythmbox, vlc and penny arcade adventures all at the same time.

it does get confusing though... Linux audio has come a long way and it works well.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 3

RE[5]: Draco GNU/linux
by asdx24 on Mon 26th May 2008 23:28 in reply to "RE[4]: Draco GNU/linux"
asdx24 Member since:
2007-05-17

You don't need PulseAudio to do software mixing.

ALSA can do it just fine with DMIX.

Edited 2008-05-26 23:34 UTC

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 3