Xenial pup 7.08

[glene77is]

Am using Xenial pup 7.08, with a SaveFile Directory.
Seems well developed, although a few options/apps do not run.

I have been able to transfer my Directory into the File.4FS version.
Both SaveFile methods work well, but there are caveats,

My savefiles normally increase in size through browser activity.
Also, as expected, when I load apps like LibreOffice, the size increases.

I use the standard menu option "count" to calculate the size.
I clear the browser cache via browser option and manually daily.

I have restarted from scratch several times , as an experiment,
in order to observe which activities cause the SaveFile to enlarge.
Normally, as I add the options I use, the SaveFile enlarges.
The SaveFile Directory will grow from 46MB up to 800MB.

A note on my terminology :
The method of booting and selecting NO SaveFile
which I call "Zero Restart"
will generate a basic "Zero SaveFile" for initial use.

My Question:
Is a "Zero Restart" the only method to reduce / control SaveFile Size ?

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[foxpup]

http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=62110
Read this howto.
You can keep a lot out of the save file/directory. It is less of a problem for a directory though, but still good practice.

[davids45]

G'day glene77is,

Most of your problem can be shifted out of your savefile, if your set-up would allow it.

Foxpup's link has good procedures but these often do depend on what you've got.

Is your Puppy on a Linux partition of its own, or running with a Windows on a ntfs partition? Or on a USB?
How much space has Puppy where it is?
Have you set up separate data partitions?

David S.

[mikeslr]

Foxpup's and david45's suggestions are good ones. To flesh out david45's suggestion read this post, http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic. ... 066#974066, adopting as much of its suggestions as your care to.

Personally, I opt for SaveFiles. They can be located on any partition regardless of whether its formatted as Linux, NTFS or Fat32. The folders to hold data files I create external to a SaveFile also work without regard to the formatting of the partition they are on. Whenever possible, I choose SFSes rather than install pets. Pets are installed into a SaveFile/Folder. SFSes aren't. Pretty much, the only applications I install are (1) Qt-libraries as they are frequently needed by other applications; (2) applications which rely on python as, otherwise, any installed version of python may interfere with the functioning of the desired application; and (3) small utilities.

In addition to SFSes, as an alternative to installing pets, I also use portable-apps (such as fredx181's firefox Quantum you can find here: http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic. ... 010#978010*, AppImages and, in general, any applications which can be run from an folder external to Puppy's SaveFile/Folder. I've attached a screenshot of my current collection of applications which can be run in that manner under 32-bit Puppies. Almost all of those shown can be used with Xenialpup. [The collection for 64-bit Puppies is different and larger].

With the exception of the three types of pets I install, my SaveFile only holds (a) the files which configure applications, and (b) Chrome-and-clones web-browsers which run as Spot. On the latter I install the History Eraser Addon and set it to delete cache and almost everything else and to close the application after it's run. I use it when I want to close.

My SaveFile doesn't grow unless I change applications settings or change which SFS loads on bootup.

mikesLr

* I haven't 'cleaned out' the external folder for sometime. The firefox 58 remained after I downloaded firefox 59, not realizing that it could just be updated. One of the small pets I installed just provides a menu entry for a link to the executable script in the firefox 59 folder. The firefox in that folder was updated to firefox 60.

[dancytron]

For Chrome you can set the location of the cache files and user profile to outside the save file by modifying the commandline either with a script or within the *.desktop file. For example

/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable --user-data-dir=/mnt/home/ChromeSettings/google-chrome/config --disk-cache-dir=/mnt/home/ChromeSettings/google-chrome/cache --disk-cache- "$@"

Then use a symlink to move /opt/google/chrome to /mnt/home.

For Firefox, use Fred's portable version.

Either one of those gets all the browser bloat out of the savefile.

[hamoudoudou]

First do you lack place to store ? why to compress and decompress things if you have lot of GB free.. Why to compress pupsaves ? To uncompress them each reboot ?
Why not going on running Puppy full in RAM, why a continuous writing on Hard disk ?

[hamoudoudou]

What is important is what is loaded, whereever it comes from. And ISO smaller because better compressed, or pupsave, or sfs stored elswhere is like when your wife care with your workshop that you left as it is on the evening to find it ready for use next morning.
Symlinks... well . you don't earn place, you just have to go and search things further.. Symlink is like a phone call.. Things are not stored in your house, but they are stored. The phone call is free of charge, perhaps, but is unecessary work.

[glene77is]

Guys,
Several suggestions have been great.
My system is Xenial pup 7.08 ,
3 GHz speed, 1 GB RAM,
2001 Hewlitt-Packard PC ,
with Linux booting directly to USB FlashDrive,
with frugal Xenialpup install on USB flashdrive.

I have been doing this for 7 years,
all with various versions of Linux,
and several puppy OS, now Xenialpup 7.08

About the USB FlashDrives :
I have bootable puppy linux on 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB
so finding space is not a problem.

I have used mainly SanDisc USB for 7 years.
USB is slower but totally portable between many PC units.

USB drives from SanDisc and Lexar operate via different methods
In my experience I find this :
(1) SansDisc will access slower, but with no latency on writes.
One I use are older style 'Cruzar' with bright flashing 'busy' led.
Your Milage May Vary.
(2) Lexar does initial access faster,
but on large writes it will buffer and shuffle
for several minutes longer
( and does not send a 'nak' not finished
back to the Puppy OS
( So, then, I must watch the flashing lights ).
Your Milage May Vary.

So, to the original question about SaveFile Bloat.

Your several information links are very good to read.

(1) The PET apps that I have installed have no SFS alternative.
(2) The browser I use is IRON v56 iron-56.0.2950.0-i386.sfs
[ a google chrome re-write , German, at http://www.srware.net/en/ ]
[ which has no write-back to google ].
(3) The FoxFire browser is a late SFS version, as you suggested.
(4) Libre-Office is from a SFS.
(5) My system save to SaveFile is set to 13, never , 'ask on shutdown' .
I changed the rc.shutdown 'asktosave' to be 6 seconds.
....... Note:
This gives me the option of never saving to system SaveFile .
(a) Backup is via 'packit' to a different USB flashdrive (256 GB) .
(b) Backup is easy, since I include a 'datetime' in the name of the SaveFile.
... so my SaveFile today is named "xenialpupsave-180621-0643" .
(c) Backup is daily ( an obsession of mine ) .
(d) Since I muck/tinker with the code , I have made full restores
from the 'packit' backups several times ... to restore-my-butt .

I use the xenialpupsave Directory method for daily mucking,
and then transfer, later, into a xenialpupsave.4FS ,
which my laptop PC requires when I travel.
I installed Frugal Xenialpup to the laptop PC HardDrive.
[ My PC laptop hard-drive system
will not recognize a xenialpupsave DIRECTORY ! ]
I will be happy to describe this easy transfer process
and caveats ... if you want.

I have a website where I can post files ... if you want.

So, now ,
I need to check the SaveFile links further.
In all, this has been good advice.
Thanks again for your help.

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