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       my (tiny) new server setup
       ==========================
       
       Hardware - Milk-V Duo
       ---------------------
       
       If you understand the fascination of switching your computing to
       smaller hardware, you're a bit like me.
       The limitations of a smaller setup forces you to chose good and
       lightweight software. Sometimes these limitations reveal that a
       piece of software is slow/bloated in the first place - while the
       same software would run fast on an oversized system.
       
       In order to make one step towards "smaller" I was looking for a
       system that is even smaller than a Raspberry Pi Zero but still
       capable of running linux.
       
       Luckily I stumbled across the Milk-V Duo. And I made it my new
       main server.
       
       Linux runs on:
       - RISCV C906 @ 1.0Ghz (single core)
       - 256M RAM
       
  HTML see the vendor's site
       
       
       Operating System - Alpine Linux (riscv64)
       -----------------------------------------
       
       For the operating system I'm currently using alpine linux. The base
       operating system is build with the vendor's toolchain. The userland
       is then replaced by
  HTML alpine's minimal root filesystem (riscv64).
       
       The whole system (OS + Apps) is only using around 40MB RAM.
       
       
       Applications - frugal yet potent
       --------------------------------
       
       If you think this system Is too small to run actual applications on
       such tiny server, I have to prove you wrong.
       Here's a list of some appliactions I run on my new server:
       
       My Blog:
   DIR a) geomyidae (gopher)
  HTML b) lighttpd (https)
   DIR c) geopherproxy (cgi)
  HTML d) vi (busybox)
       
       Git-Server:
  HTML e) git-daemon (backend)
   DIR f) stagit-gopher (frontend)
       
       SSH-Server:
  HTML g) dropbear
       
       IRC-Client:
  HTML h) irc.c
  HTML i) tmux
       
       Cloud-Gaming:
  HTML j) nethack@alt.org (via ssh)
       
       
       I'm pretty happy with this frugal yet potent setup.
       
       
       Limitations
       -----------
       
       Allthough I am a big vim-enthusiast I had to admit that vim feeled
       too bloated and too slow on this system.
       
       I'm not an expert on compiling vim, but I think it is possible to
       compile vim somewhat "tiny". Alpines build details looked rather
       bloated to me. - Since ncopa doesn't call it vim.tiny I can't blame
       him.
       
  HTML Alpine vim's build details
       
       I bet he doesn't use vim. :)
       
       Maybe I'll try to build vim more lightweight in the future.
       
       For the first time I am happy to have the option to use good old
       vi. Until I found an acceptable solution for vim, I'll just use
       busybox vi. It runs amazingly fast.
       
       
       What's next
       -----------
       
       In the future will tinker around more with the vendor's toolchain:
  HTML official Buildroot SDK
       Maybe I try to build my own system with buildroot or Rob Landley's
  HTML mkroot.
  HTML Building the Simplest Possible Linux System (video)
       
       I think hardware-wise the next step towards "smaller" would be one
       of these:
  HTML Pine64 Ox64
  HTML Luckfox Pico
       
       If you have any questions or suggestions concerning my setup, i'd
       love it if you reach out via irc or mail:
   DIR my contact info