PowerPup! A project to port Puppy to PPC macs!

A home for all kinds of Puppy related projects
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starhawk
Posts: 4906
Joined: Mon 22 Nov 2010, 06:04
Location: Everybody knows this is nowhere...

#161 Post by starhawk »

@PowerPup: I have a copy of a book called "Insider's Guide to PowerPC Computing", courtesy of Que books and the year 1994. If it would help you, I'd be glad to give it to you...

mini-jaguar
Posts: 597
Joined: Thu 13 Nov 2008, 13:45

Re: MintPPC installed via netboot on spare hard drive...

#162 Post by mini-jaguar »

ChiJoan wrote:I tried Debian 6.04 PPC net install, but reboot failed to bring up start button bar. Daily Lubuntu 12.04 failed to even get that far, but MintPPC worked, but online video is so slow. I think this needs more work with Apple dumping support for all these 16-bit Macs.

Joan in Reno
They are 32 bit, not 16. Try Debian CD or DVD, or Yellow Dog Linux.

2blue
Posts: 54
Joined: Fri 12 Dec 2008, 16:14

#163 Post by 2blue »

I have discovered there are quite a lot of powerpc still used on a daily basis. They were fairly good computers and I see after marked replacement parts are easily available at much lower prices than originally. There are numerous challenges with all the powerpc distros out there, including tiger and osx. The debian related distros are so close to working all fine on these computers, but needs a bit of attention for some applications to run more smoothly. A debian related puppy-ppc would be really interesting for both osx and linux users.

Are there any new on the project :)

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mmmrr
Posts: 184
Joined: Tue 03 Mar 2009, 05:26
Location: vancouver island, canada

#164 Post by mmmrr »

hi 2blue,

i posted some specifics about the minttppc iso failed downloads at:
thread Linux on iBook G4
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 481#651481

welcome to this corner of the kennels

i found mintppc an excellent os for powerpc
i think a puppy port would be even better, in
large part because we run as root and mintppc,
being debian based, does not.

i don't know if an automated build system like
woof or roar-ng which can build a puppy out of
non-pup packages from debian could use mintppc
packages to assemble a ppc, running as root, puppy.

there is finnix [finnix.org] a linux for x86 and ppc
versions, a strong, small, fast--just like puppy--
where user runs as root, like puppy. finnix is debian
based user-root cli os.

if you want a graphical interface then the packages/tools:
apt, install, etc. are there to make it so. the developer has
provided it, for years, as a command line os for sys-admins.
a lightweight gui to fit with finnix would be excellent.

another possibility would be to see if finnix packages
could be used to build a command line puppy to which a
familiar set of desktop tools: jwm and rox might be fitted

one challenge the powerpc pup faces is a shortage of powerpc
boxes for interested folks to test on; at any rate it might help
things along if there was an ppc emulator to run on puppy with
a hassle-free setup and operation.

basilisk ll seems like it might be useful, one puppian has it
running well i gather but i've had an unsuccessful time with
it over 2 1/2 days. a virtual ppc would be handier than the
two actual powerpc units i have, when it came to testing & tuning.

it seems like with clear instructions and possibly some scripts
that a virtual ppc of the mac os 8 vintage could run on puppy
of the wary 5.3, kernel 2.6.3xxx...basilisk2 properties say a 2.6.4
kernel...

anyway that the new from here. mm

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8-bit
Posts: 3406
Joined: Wed 04 Apr 2007, 03:37
Location: Oregon

#165 Post by 8-bit »

As to testers, I currently have an Apple laptop running OS 7.5 and would be willing to be a tester.
I would have to check and see if it has enough memory though.
It seems that most of the older Apple hardware was shortchanged as far as memory goes.
The laptop has the 68000 PPC processor.

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mmmrr
Posts: 184
Joined: Tue 03 Mar 2009, 05:26
Location: vancouver island, canada

#166 Post by mmmrr »

hi 8-bit,

that's great, thanks.

what occurs to me as presently useful with yr machine
would be to see if it can run an pc-emulator which could
run an early puppy such as 202 opera which only uses xvesa.
this forum's good-host, john murga, made the still outstanding puplet.

also to see if finnix for x86, with no gui, could be emulated.
also to see if finnix for ppc would boot/run natively on such a processor.
would you be willing/able to try any/all of those things.

i can help in looking for an emulator but at the moment i must go.

cheers mm

ChiJoan
Posts: 65
Joined: Fri 27 May 2005, 08:41

Lubuntu 13.04 PowerPC works

#167 Post by ChiJoan »

Just thought you might like to know...

Joan in Reno

User avatar
mmmrr
Posts: 184
Joined: Tue 03 Mar 2009, 05:26
Location: vancouver island, canada

#168 Post by mmmrr »

hi joan,
thanks for the info.
it's nice to know that the ppc boxes
are not being forgotten by linux but
it would be great if we could put a pup
there, i agree.
cheers, mm

jimwg
Posts: 121
Joined: Mon 19 Aug 2013, 02:44

#169 Post by jimwg »

Sorry I'm not a programmer because I'd happily help you out creating a Puppy for PPC Macs! That's why I first tried out MacPup but found out it doesn't do real Macs, but it's a great OS! Hate to see these older but fine MAChines go to as obsolete waste!

All the best to you!

Jim in NYC

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