Puppy Linux 5.4 "Precise" based on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS

Puppy Linux project founder and lead developer Barry Kauler has announced the first release of a new edition of his independent Linux distribution, code-named "Precise". Based on binary packages from Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS "Precise Pangolin" and built using the Woof build tool, Precise Puppy represents the latest version of the Ubuntu-based flavour of Puppy Linux 5.4 and includes access to Ubuntu's package repositories.

The first release of the new Precise Puppy branch uses the 3.2.29 Linux kernel and, compared to the previous Ubuntu-based version of Puppy Linux, features better audio and video support. It also has a variety of new and updated utilities and applications, such as printing and PDF applications, as well as a partition tool. Other changes include the addition of a new screen and window capture application called Screeny, an updated build of Adobe Flash Player and internationalisation improvements. As Ubuntu 12.04 is a Long Term Support release, Kauler says that he expects that Precise Puppy will also be supported until 2017.

Puppy Linux is a small operating system that can run entirely from RAM. The distribution has relatively low system requirements and is designed to boot and run fast, while also being easy to use. The project has three "official" Puppy releases: Slacko (based on Slackware), Wary and now Precise, which replaces the previous Lucid Puppy branch built on Ubuntu 10.04 LTS "Lucid Lynx".

Further information about the new version is provided in the release notes. Puppy Linux 5.4 can be downloaded as a 158MB ISO image file from the project's site; at the time of writing, the Download Latest Release page has yet to be updated to reflect the new version. Puppy Linux is made available under the GPL/LGPL licence.

(crve)