CentOS

Hello there, this is my first post so I hope I'm following the guidelines layed out in the registration for these forums. If I'm mistaken, please let me know what I can do to remedy that potential situation.

Here's what I'd like to know:
I'm interested in testing Centos for the very first time, but I'm a little confused with the available isos. Why are the DVD1 isos such large files? For instance, Centos 8 Stream is just about 8gb. The non-rolling version 8.0.1905 is a little over 6.5gb. Is it because the isos contain every single package deemed necessary for a proper installation of Centos? On the other hand, the boot versions are roughly 550mb in size. Like I said at the beginning, I'm interested in trying Centos out since I've never used a RPM package management distro before and want to test it out as a LiveUSB. Can either the gigantic DVD or the smaller Boot version of the isos be use as a LiveUSB, so I can try it out before installation?

Any info anyone can provide me will be very much appreciated. I look forward to learning about this aspect of the distro before testing it for myself. Thank you!

I am guessing the 'boot' versions are the "LIVE" images with very few packages/enhancements - so you can see if the basic O.S. will run on your system. If it works, then you'd install the full version using the 'dvd1' --- just my take.

No, the boot versions are the equivalent of the old netinstall images and have zero packages on them, all has to be downloaded from online yum repos.

The current DVD1 is the equivalent of the old Everything DVD. There may be work in the near future on providing minimal iso images but that's only just started being talked about. If there is a Live iso then it will be gnome (as KDE is now not included). If.