About Puppy Linux
Puppy Linux is a unique family of Linux distributions meant for the home-user computers. It was originally created by Barry Kauler in 2003.
Puppy Linux advantage
- Ready to use → all tools for common daily computing usage already included.
- Ease of use → grandpa-friendly certified ™
- Relatively small size → 300 MB or less.
- Fast and versatile.
- Customisable within minutes → remasters.
- Different flavours → optimised to support older computers, newer computers.
- Variety → hundreds of derivatives (“puplets”), one of which will surely meet your needs.
If one of these things interest you, read on.
Yes, but what does it look and feel like?
First thing first
Puppy Linux is not a single Linux distribution like Debian. Puppy Linux is also not a Linux distribution with multiple flavours, like Ubuntu (with its variants of Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, etc) though it also comes in flavours.
Puppy Linux is a collection of multiple Linux distributions, built on the same shared principles, built using the same set of tools, built on top of a unique set of puppy specific applications and configurations and generally speaking provide consistent behaviours and features, no matter which flavours you choose.
There are generally three broad categories of Puppy Linux distributions:
official Puppy Linux distributions → maintained by Puppy Linux team, usually targeted for general purpose, and generally built using Puppy Linux system builder (called Woof-CE).
woof-built Puppy Linux distributions → developed to suit specific needs and appearances, also targeted for general purpose, and built using Puppy Linux system builder (called Woof-CE) with some additional or modified packages.
unofficial derivatives (“puplets”) → are usually remasters (or remasters of remasters), made and maintained by Puppy Linux enthusiasts, usually targeted for specific purposes.
Why not try it? Download now! (Official distributions)
Get the ISO, burn it to a CD/DVD using your favorite CD/DVD burner, or flash it using dd (Windows version) to your USB flash drive, or visit our download page for more comprehensive information.
* Compatibility: A Puppylinux distribution can also be built and assembled using packages and components from another Linux distribution called in Puppy the “binary compatible” distribution. The choice of a binary compatible distribution determines the availability of additional packages, among other things.
Questions?
It has been said that the best experience of Puppy Linux is not from the software itself, but from the community that gathers around it. Whatever you have in mind - praises, curses, questions, suggestions, or just plain chit-chat, we welcome you to join us at Puppy Linux Discussion Forum or just check the discussions for the latest puppylinux woof builds.
I need more info before deciding to try …
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Puppy Linux history
- Puppy Linux family tree
- Puppy Linux Team
- Puppy Linux Build System (Woof-CE)
- Screenshots!
- Newsletters
DistroWatch Rankings
-
-
-