linuxdeploy VS DietPi

I have no idea about Linux Deploy.... Good luck.

same post in LD github

Your question is invalid (and my point proven, sadly) unless you know how to run Linux Deploy on a Chromecast. You were too busy trying to be the smartest guy in the room before thinking to ask what I was actually doing with this thing in the first place.

Linux Deploy: requires root, installs a complete Linux distribution of choice. Link: https://github.com/meefik/linuxdeploy/releases/tag/2.6.0. You mentioned that no root, then this variant is not for you.

Yes; I use Linux Deploy on most of my rooted Android devices to set up a chroot environment easily (it's kinda old though, so there may be much better alternatives). I used my old Amazon Fire as a Pi-hole that way

I published a fork of Linux Deploy that automatically installs Pi-hole and Unbound, configures SSH/RDP access, and optionally installs Raspbian PIXEL Desktop to any rooted Android 5.0+ device.

Get the latest version at: https://github.com/meefik/linuxdeploy/releases

The box I found online was pre-rooted, so I installed Linux Deploy and deployed the Pi-hole for Android image. That's all there is to it.

I use LinuxDeploy to stage my chroots, simple and easy (also available on Play and F-Droid) on rooted. I even have a mobile/handheld software defined radio (or as I like to refer to it as, a 1st gen, poor persons TriCorder). Can't do this in Termux or a proot, but in a chroot and easy as eating cake.

DietPi is a lightweight Debian based Linux distribution for SBCs and server systems, with the option to install desktop environments, too. It ships as minimal image but allows to install complete and ready-to-use software stacks with a set of console based shell dialogs and scripts.

The source code is hosted on GitHub: https://github.com/MichaIng/DietPi

That's a good point, but the array of devices supported by the DietPi team is extensive: https://dietpi.com/

Before someone starts the usual yadda yadda about the RPi biger community, the OS not having long time support etc. I would repeat one more time: do not rely on board vendor supplied images; this is valid for pretty much all boards. Just go to Armbian or DietPi pages and you'll almost certainly find one or more images that work on your board and forums to discuss about them with very knowledgeable people.

https://www.armbian.com/download/

https://dietpi.com/#download

Those projects are well worth a contribution, as they don't have a giant like Broadcom behind them.

> bananapi do a lot of boards but their software story has been a bit poor

This is quite common with other board manufacturers too. I'd rather suggest to ignore completely their cobbled together distros, often also tainted by proprietary modifications, that become unmaintained in a few years, and see if they're among the many supported by Armbian or DietPi.

https://www.armbian.com/download/

https://dietpi.com/#download

The full release notes can be found at: https://dietpi.com/docs/releases/v8_25/

RPi OS = diet pi https://dietpi.com/ - initial config via text file - SDcard burning out partially mitigated as writes log files to ram then flushes to SDcard reducing write cycles

You could also try very minimalistic distros like TwisterUI or DietPi which are most known for their use in the RasprebbyPi / SBC computers but which also have editions for desktop / laptop.