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Light-weight Linux distribution

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Lightweight Linux distribution
Lubuntu is described by its developers as lightweight in comparison to Ubuntu

A lightweight Linux distribution is a Linux distribution that uses relatively few resources, which may result in performance improvements especially on old computers with slower CPUs and less RAM. One big factor that determines the speed of the distribution is the window manager it uses.[1][2] For example, Lubuntu uses LXDE and requires a minimum of 128 MB of RAM and a Pentium II processor, as a lightweight variant of Ubuntu that uses Unity as a window manager and requires a 1 GHz processor and 1 GB of RAM.[3][4][5] The window manager can be changed in most Linux distributions. Also, a same Linux distribution may have various versions, using different window managers with each version. Examples are Porteus (which comes in LXDE, Xfce and Mate versions), and Zenwalk (which comes in Xfce and Openbox versions).

Distributions described as lightweight

  • Alpine Linux - A security-oriented, lightweight Linux distribution (307 MB) based on musl and BusyBox.[6] Mini download is 66 MB; base system (excluding kernel) is under 5 MB. Media download is 308 MB for version 3.1.3.
  • antiX - Lightweight version (690 MB) of its parent distribution MEPIS Linux, based on Debian testing. Core install: 128 MB, Base approx. 300 MB. Package manager: Synaptic[7]
  • ArchBang - Inspired by CrunchBang Linux but based on the Arch Linux distribution instead of Debian. It uses the lightweight Openbox Window Manager to achieve the same look and feel.[8][9]
  • BasicLinux - A very lightweight distribution (2.8 MB apparently) capable of running on an Intel 386 and 3 MB of RAM[10][11]
  • Bodhi Linux - A lightweight and minimalistic distribution (585 MB), based on Ubuntu 12.04[12]
  • CoreOS - tiny system than runs docker containers. Fork of Chrome OS.
  • Chrome OS
  • CrunchBang Linux - No longer in development. A relatively large (771 MB) Debian based distribution designed primarily for speed and ease of use.[13][14]
  • Damn Small Linux - Download 50 MB. Additional software available as "DSL Extensions" and using the Debian APT tool, which has to be installed. "Light enough to power a 486DX with 16 MB of RAM"[15][16]
  • Elive - A lightweight and complete distribution that can run in 64 MB of RAM and 100 Mhz of CPU, based on Debian and using a customized Enlightenment as only Desktop environment
  • Feather Linux - Lightweight Linux Distribution (under 128 MB) derived from Knoppix. Now dormant.[17][18]
  • LinuxBBQ - very lightweight (291.5 MB) and resource-friendly distribution based on Debian Sid with TUI productivity applications.[19]
  • Lubuntu - Lightweight (705 MB) in comparison to Ubuntu, it uses the LXDE desktop.[3] Media download is 683 MB.
  • LXLE - Lxle is a full featured OS for an aging PC, using minimal resources.
  • Minimal Linux Live - Live Linux distribution (7.0 MB) with Kernel and BusyBox.
  • Nanolinux - 14 MB distribution based on Tiny Core Linux.[20]
  • Peppermint Linux OS - Download: 587 MB, based on Lubuntu[21]
  • Porteus - It weighs in at under 300 MB, making it a lightweight contender[22] Comes with the LXDE and KDE desktops
  • Puppy Linux - Lightweight relative to most other Linux distributions[23] Download: 133−162 MB. Package Manager: Puppy Package Manager (PPM)
  • Semplice Linux - lightweight (675 MB), fast and simple, based on Debian Sid[24]
  • SliTaz - 35−42 MB distribution; Package Manager is Tazpkg with its repository of packages[15]
  • Tiny Core Linux - (9, 15 or 72 MB) distribution; Software repository: TCZ packages[25]
  • Trisquel Mini - Lightweight version (603 MB) of Trisquel with LXDE[26]
  • wattOS - a Debian-based lightweight Linux distro (654 MB),[27]
  • Xubuntu - Lightweight (980 MB) in comparison to Ubuntu. It uses the XFCE desktop.
  • Zenwalk - a lightweight linux distribution (845 MB) based on Slackware[citation needed]
  • Zenix - a Debian-based lightweight Linux distro,[28] discontinued
  • Zorin OS Zorin OS Lite packs the most essential features of Zorin OS into a lightweight package that runs fast on even the oldest and lowest-spec machines.

Comparison of lightweight Linux distributions

Distribution Founder Maintainer Initial release year Current stable version Release date Approximate file size X window manager Fork Target audience
Alpine Linux Alpine Linux Team Alpine Linux Team 2006 3.2.1 2015-07-08 284 MB[29] MATE, Xfce, openbox - network
antiX Anticapitalista Anticapitalista 2007 13.2 2013-11-05 690 MB Fluxbox Debian - MEPIS old computers, portability (with persistence[30])
ArchBang Willensky Aristide Stan McLaren 2010 Rolling release 2015 411 MB OpenBox Arch Linux desktop
Bodhi Linux Bodhi Linux Team Bodhi Linux Team 2011 2.4.0 2013-09-13 585 MB Enlightenment Debian, Ubuntu desktop
CrunchBang Linux Philip Newborough Philip Newborough 2008 11 2013-05-06 771 MB OpenBox Debian desktop
CRUX Per Lidén Core maintainers 2002 3.1 2014-07-16 333 MB OpenBox - BSD/experienced users, lightweight
Damn Small Linux John Andrews dev team 2003 4.4.10 2008-11-18 50 MB FluxBox, JWM Debian, Knoppix portable, lightweight
Elive Thanatermesis Thanatermesis 2005 2.0 2010-03-04 700 MB Enlightenment Debian desktop
LinuxBBQ Julius Hader BBQ team 2013 - 2015-01-08 291.5 MB several (>75) Debian, Slackware bloat-free, experienced users
Porteus Fanthom Porteus 2010 3.0.1 2014 215 MB (multiple) Slackware lightweight, portable (with persistence[30])
Puppy Linux Barry Kauler Puppy Foundation 2003 5.7.1 2014 156 MB[31] JWM, IceWM - portable, lightweight
SliTaz GNU/Linux Christophe Lincoln dev team 2008 4 2012 35 MB Openbox - portable, no persistence by default[32]
Tiny Core Linux Robert Shingledecker Team Tiny Core 2009 6.0 2015-01-05 15 MB FLTK/FLWM Tiny Core Linux portable
Trisquel Mini Rubén Rodríguez Pérez (quidam) Rubén Rodríguez Pérez (quidam) 2005 6.0.1 2014-04-01 603 MB LXDE Ubuntu LTS Free software: desktop
Zenwalk Jean-Philippe Guillemin dev team 2004 7.4 2014 845 MB Xfce Slackware general
Distribution Founder Maintainer Initial release year Current stable version Release date Approx file size X window manager Fork Target audience

See also

References

  1. ^ Larabel, Michael. "Phoronix: Power & Memory Usage Of GNOME, KDE, LXDE & Xfce". Phoronix. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  2. ^ RAM use of LXDE vs Xfce in Porteus again confirms that LXDE is about half of that of Xfce
  3. ^ a b Lubuntu Developers (December 2010). "Lubuntu". Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  4. ^ Behling, Mario (October 2010). "lubuntu 10.10 released". Retrieved 14 December 2010.[dead link]
  5. ^ Canonical Ltd (October 2010). "Recommended Minimum System Requirements". Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  6. ^ "Alpine Linux Wiki". Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  7. ^ "Main Page - antiX". Antix.mepis.org. Retrieved 2012-05-28.
  8. ^ Rob Zwetsloot. "ArchBang Linux 2012.12 Review – Lightweight Arch". LinuxUser. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
  9. ^ Justin Pot. "ArchBang Is Lightweight & Always Up To Date". MakeUseOf. Retrieved 2011-10-06.
  10. ^ Keesan, Sindhi (October 2009). "BL on CF IDE drive". Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  11. ^ BasicLinux (n.d.). "BasicLinux". Retrieved 16 January 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  12. ^ Nitesh. "Bodhi Linux is a Lightweight Linux Distribution". Ubuntu Vibes. Retrieved 2011-05-05.
  13. ^ Justin Pot. "CrunchBang: A Lightweight OS Perfect For Old And New Computers Alike". MakeUseOf. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  14. ^ Jim Lynch. "CrunchBang 11 Waldorf". Desktop Linux Reviews. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  15. ^ a b Moparx (April 2008). "SliTaz: A light-weight GNU/Linux distribution". Linux Infusion. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
  16. ^ Damn Small Linux (n.d.). "What is DSL?". Retrieved 11 December 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  17. ^ "Feather Linux - Docs". Featherlinux.berlios.de. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  18. ^ "Linux.com :: Feather Linux: Light is right". Archive09.linux.com. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  19. ^ Julius Hader. "BBQ Philosophy". Retrieved 2015-01-12.
  20. ^ "Softpedia". Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  21. ^ "Peppermint". peppermintos.com. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  22. ^ Porteus (14 November 2010). "Why choose Porteus ? - IT IS PORTABLE". Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  23. ^ Hell-Noire, Paul (July 2010). "Puppy Linux 5.0 Review - Lightweight, Fun, Fast!". Raymond. Retrieved 11 December 2010.[dead link]
  24. ^ "Semplice Linux Web Site".
  25. ^ Lynch, Jim (July 2009). "Tiny Core Linux 2.1". Desktop Linux Reviews. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  26. ^ "Trisquel 5.0 Release announcement". The Trisquel Project. September 17, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  27. ^ [1]
  28. ^ Zenix as a lightweight distro
  29. ^ http://alpinelinux.org/downloads
  30. ^ a b Linux with persistence
  31. ^ http://distro.ibiblio.org/quirky/precise-5.7.1/
  32. ^ persistence can be added rather easily though
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