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Light-weight Linux distribution

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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 resource usage and speed of a desktop distribution is the desktop environment it uses.[1][2] For example, version 10.10 of Lubuntu uses the LXDE desktop and requires a minimum of 128 MB of RAM and a Pentium II processor, though the Lubuntu project recommends 256 MB - 384 MB for a usable system, and at least 512 MB for optimal performance;[3] it is a lightweight variant of Ubuntu that, in comparison, uses Unity as a desktop environment and requires a 2 GHz processor and 2 GB of RAM.[4] The desktop environment can be changed in most Linux distributions, and the same Linux distribution may also have various versions with different desktop environments; examples are Porteus, which comes in LXDE, Xfce and Mate versions, and Zenwalk, which comes in Xfce and Openbox versions.

Overview of distributions

  • Absolute Linux – a lightweight desktop-oriented distribution based on Slackware
  • Alpine Linux – a security-oriented, lightweight Linux distribution (307 MB) based on musl and BusyBox.[5] 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[6]
  • 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.[7][8]
  • BasicLinux – a very lightweight distribution (2.8 MB apparently) capable of running on an Intel 386 and 3 MB of RAM[9][10]
  • Bodhi Linux – a lightweight and minimalistic distribution[11]
  • BunsenLabs Linux - A successor to CrunchBang Linux running based on Debian.
  • CoreOS – a lightweight system (2×1 GB) that runs containers and provides cluster management capabilities
  • CrunchBang Linux – No longer in development; succeeded by BunsenLabs.[12] 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]
  • DebianDog - Debian Live CD shaped after Puppy Linux. It is packaged with JWM and IceWM, or Openbox and XFCE. Debian structure and behaviour are untouched.[17][18]
  • DietPi - Debian-based lightweight system created originally for Raspberry Pi boards, but today it has got downloadable images for several ARM-based SBCs and x86 PCs as well[19]. Also includes an own setup utility[20] with choice to install popular optimized software.
  • 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 – a lightweight Linux distribution (under 128 MB) derived from Knoppix. Now dormant.[21][22]
  • GoboLinux - a distribution with a unique modular filesystem structure; lightweight on resources, it uses the Awesome tiling window manager by default, does not use systemd or a daemon-based network manager.
  • Lightweight Portable Security – a lightweight live desktop-oriented distribution based on Arch Linux
  • LinuxBBQ – a very lightweight (291.5 MB) and resource-friendly distribution based on Debian Sid with TUI productivity applications.[23]
  • Linux Console - A lightweight distribution (684 MB) with excellent hardware detection which features several games to appeal to kids. It's developed independently in France and not based on any other Linux distribution. [24][25]
  • Linux Lite – A lightweight distribution with the XFCE desktop environment designed with new Linux users in mind.
  • Lubuntu – lightweight (705 MB) in comparison to Ubuntu, it uses the LXDE desktop.[26]
  • LXLE – a full featured OS (apps preinstalled) for older hardware, using minimal resources, respun from Lubuntu. Media download, approx 1.3G, which makes it debatable whether it is truly a "lightweight" distribution.
  • Nanolinux – a 14 MB distribution based on Tiny Core Linux.[27]
  • Peppermint Linux OS Peppermint is built on the Ubuntu code base, using the LXDE windows manager, and elements from XFCE for configuration menus. Download iso size: 1.3GB. For older hardware (ie, Atom, Athlon, 386) it is strongly recommended to not go beyond PepperMint 6 version, which is significantly faster than versions 7 or 8, which require a little more CPU power and RAM in order to run satisfactorily. ISO size for 386 PepperMint 6 version is 701MB. Recommended minimum system requirements for Peppermint 6 and earlier are 512MB RAM and most processors. For the latest versions, 1GB of RAM, Pentium dual-core processor, but 2GB or more are recommended for more comfortable use.
  • Porteus – it weighs in at under 300 MB, making it a lightweight contender. Comes with the LXDE and KDE desktops. As of 2017 their "build" server is no longer online, and only a generic ISO with no functional browser is available for download only from mirror sites.
  • Puppy Linux – lightweight relative to most other Linux distributions[28] Download: 133−162 MB. Package Manager: Puppy Package Manager (PPM)
  • Q4OS - is based on Debian and the Trinity desktop environment, providing direct support for KDE software programs (the Trinity desktop being a fork from KDE). KDE apps supprt in a lightweight linux is remarkable. Installation image (ISO) size is 392MB. The minimal HW requirements for Q4OS is defined as Pentium 300MHz CPU / 128MB RAM / 3GB disk. See Q4OS for information, and Q4OS Download page for downloads. Q4OS has support for both 32bit and 64bit processors (Q4 2017). Q4OS offers both a Live ISO for testing (version 1.8.x) and an installation version (2.4 as of late 2017, which is a Long-Term-Support (LTS) edition).
  • [[Salix OS]] is based on Slackware. It offers a wide range of window-managers / desktop environments, including Maté and XFCE (which are equivalently lightweight), OpenBox and FluxBox (both super-lightweight, using the least amount RAM), Ratpouson and KDE (which if used should not be considered "lightweight"). Minimum Recommended System requirements are stated as being Intel PIII 1 GHz CPU, 512 Mb RAM, 8Gb HD space, or equivalent, though a lower spec machine may run without a problem. As of 2017 Salix is available with support for either 32bit or 64bit processors (Q4 2017). Salix is available as a Live medium for testing before installation.
  • SliTaz GNU/Linux – is based on the OpenBox windows manager. Overview: ISO size is about 40MB, <100MB on disk once installed, and can run completely in RAM (Specifications). Package Manager is Tazpkg with its repository of packages[15] It uses the OpenBox windows manager for a modern, user-friendly experience. Most hardware is supported, requiring very minimal RAM, as even the Raspberry Pi will work. It needs only 100MB of disk space. Despite it's small size, it supports over 200 Linux commands.
  • Tiny Core Linux – (9, 15 or 72 MB) distribution; Software repository: TCZ packages[29]
  • Trisquel Mini – lightweight version (603 MB) of Trisquel with LXDE[30]
  • TurnKey Linux Virtual Appliance Library - lightweight[31] headless server software appliance library. Based on a minified Debian base. v14.1 Core ISO is 212MB[32] and uses ~173MB RAM (idle in Live mode).
  • VectorLinux Light - ?
  • Void - general purpose operating system based on Linux kernel, relies on xbps package manager, written from scratch with a 2-clause BSD license.
  • 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]

Comparison

Distribution Founder Maintainer Initial release year Latest release year Approximate file size X window manager Fork Target audience Minimum System Requirements
Absolute Linux Absolute Linux Team Absolute Linux Team 2007 2015 698 MB[33] iceWM - desktop
  • 486 processor
  • 64MB RAM (1GB+ suggested)[34][35]
antiX Anticapitalista Anticapitalista 2007 2016 555 MB (Base), 654 MB (Full) Fluxbox MEPIS < Debian old computers, portability (with persistence[36])
  • Intel/AMD X86
  • 256 MB RAM[37]
ArchBang Willensky Aristide Stan McLaren 2010 2016 564 MB OpenBox Arch Linux desktop, advanced ?
Arch Linux - - 2002 2017 709 MB - Linux Desktop, Advanced ?
BasicLinux Steven C. Darnold NZ 2000 2005 v3.5 2.8 MB JWM window manager BusyBox --Slackware gen unzbuk
  • 386 CPU
  • 3MB RAM [38]
Bodhi Linux Bodhi Linux Team Bodhi Linux Team 2011 2017 575 MB (Standard), 1024 MB (AppPack) Moksha (a fixed E17) Ubuntu < Debian Desktop
  • 500mhz processor
  • 128MB of RAM [39]
  • 4GB of drive space
BunsenLabs Linux Core Maintainers Core Maintainers 2015 2016 825 MB OpenBox CrunchBang < Debian Desktop ?
Damn Small Linux John Andrews, et al. 2005 2008 50 MB Fluxbox, JWM - old PC hardware, Lightweight
  • 486dx CPU
  • 8MB RAM[40]
CRUX Per Lidén Core maintainers 2002 2015 1773 MB OpenBox - BSD/experienced users, Lightweight ?
Elive Thanatermesis Thanatermesis 2005 2010 (stable),[41] 2016 (beta)[42] 700 MB Enlightenment[43] Debian Desktop ?
Feather Linux Robert Sullivan Robert Sullivan 2003 2005 128 MB Fluxbox Knoppix desktop, rescue
  • 486 CPU
  • 16MB (console) / 32 MB (X server) RAM
GoboLinux Hisham Muhammad and André Detsch GoboLinux Team 2003 2016 958 MB[44] Awesome - desktop
  • x86_64 processor
  • 128MB RAM (1GB+ suggested for full graphical use)[45]
Knoppix Klaus Knopper 2012 (CD) 701 MB Live
  • 486 CPU
  • 32MB RAM (text)
  • 128MB RAM (LXDE)
  • 512MB RAM (recommended)[46]
LinuxBBQ Julius Hader BBQ team 2013 2016 285 MB several (>75) Debian, Slackware bloat-free, advanced ?
Lightweight Portable Security United States Department of Defense United States Department of Defense 2011 2016 390 MB iceWM ArchLinux secure live operating system ?
Linux Lite Jerry Bezencon Jerry Bezencon 2013 2016 955 MB XFCE Ubuntu Windows users ?
Lubuntu Lubuntu team Lubuntu team 2009 2016 744 MB LXDE, Openbox Ubuntu lightweight desktop
  • Pentium II CPU
  • 256MB RAM[47]
LXLE Ronnie LXLE team 2012 2016 1300 MB LXDE Ubuntu LTS older computers, intermediate users
  • Pentium III CPU
  • 512MB RAM
MX Linux[48] anticapitalista MEPIS Community - 2016 1024 MB Xfce 4 antiX < MEPIS < Debian Midweight Desktop ?
Nanolinux Georg Potthast Georg Potthast - 2015 19 MB SLWM on Nano-X MicroCore Linux with BusyBox Lightweight, Runs on RAM, advanced ?
Parabola GNU/Linux-libre Parabola Hackers Parabola Hackers 2009 2016 642.8 MB needs to be installed Arch Linux desktop, advanced ?
PCLinuxOS Bill Reynolds Bill Reynolds 2003 2015 833 MB (LXDE)[49] KDE, LXDE, MATE Mandrake - ?
Peppermint Linux OS Peppermint, LLC Peppermint, LLC 2010 2017 1.3 GB LXDE - desktop
  • x86 processor
  • 512MB RAM (2GB recommended)[50]
Porteus Fanthom Porteus 2010 2016 260 MB (LxQt) (multiple) Slackware lightweight, portable (with persistence[36])
  • 32 bit CPU
  • 36MB RAM[51]
Puppy Linux Barry Kauler Puppy Foundation 2003 2015 234 MB (Slacko)[52] JWM-2.3.2 - portable (with persistence[36]), lightweight ?
Salix OS Tomas Matejicek Tomas Matejicek 2002 2013 613 MB (Fluxbox) / 852 MB (MATE live)[53] MATE, KDE, Xfce, Fluxbox, Openbox Slackware desktop ?
Slax Tomas Matejicek Tomas Matejicek 2002 2013 226 MB[54] KDE Slackware portable ?
SliTaz GNU/Linux Christophe Lincoln dev team 2008 2017 50 MB Openbox - portable, no persistence by default[55] ?
Tiny Core Linux Robert Shingledecker Team Tiny Core 2009 2016 16 MB FLTK/FLWM Tiny Core Linux portable, advanced
  • 486dx CPU
  • 46MB RAM[56]
Trisquel Mini Rubén Rodríguez Pérez (quidam) Rubén Rodríguez Pérez (quidam) 2005 2014 609 MB LXDE Ubuntu LTS Free software: desktop
  • Pentium II CPU
  • 256MB RAM[57]
TurnKey Linux Virtual Appliance Library Alon Swartz, Liraz Siri TurnKey Linux Team 2008 2016 212 MB (Core) None (headless server) - Includes Webmin admin UI Debian Server - novice to expert users ?
VectorLinux Light - - - 2016 618 MB IceWM - Desktop ?
Void Linux Juan Romero Pardines Juan RP and contributors 2008 2017 250MB (i686 w/o DE) LXDM - desktop/embedded
  • Pentium 4 (SSE2) or ARMv6
  • 96MB RAM
  • 350MB hard drive[58]
Xubuntu Xubuntu team Xubuntu team 2008 2016 960 MB Xfce Ubuntu lightweight desktop
Zenwalk Jean-Philippe Guillemin dev team 2004 2015 974 MB Xfce Slackware desktop ?
Distribution Founder Maintainer Initial release year Latest release year Approx file size X window manager Fork Target audience Minimum System Requirements

See also

References

  1. ^ Larabel, Michael. "Phoronix: Power & Memory Usage Of GNOME, KDE, LXDE & Xfce". Phoronix. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  2. ^ "Features - Porteus - Portable Linux".
  3. ^ "Lubuntu - Community Help Wiki". help.ubuntu.com. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  4. ^ "Download Ubuntu Desktop | Download | Ubuntu". www.ubuntu.com. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  5. ^ "Alpine Linux Wiki". Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  6. ^ "Main Page – antiX". Antix.mepis.org. Retrieved 2012-05-28.
  7. ^ Rob Zwetsloot. "ArchBang Linux 2012.12 Review – Lightweight Arch". LinuxUser. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
  8. ^ Justin Pot. "ArchBang Is Lightweight & Always Up To Date". MakeUseOf. Retrieved 2011-10-06.
  9. ^ Keesan, Sindhi (October 2009). "BL on CF IDE drive". Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  10. ^ BasicLinux (n.d.). "BasicLinux". Retrieved 16 January 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  11. ^ Nitesh. "Bodhi Linux is a Lightweight Linux Distribution". Ubuntu Vibes. Retrieved 2011-05-05.
  12. ^ "FOSS Hits & Misses on a Monday Morning". Linux Today. Retrieved 2015-10-25.
  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. ^ "Debian Dog is a Useful Pocket Pup". Linux Insider. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  18. ^ "Debian Dog on Github". Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  19. ^ "DietPi - Lightweight justice for your SBC". dietpi.com. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
  20. ^ "DietPi / Fuzon • View topic - DietPi-Software | Details for ALL installation options". dietpi.com. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
  21. ^ "Feather Linux - Docs". Featherlinux.berlios.de. Archived from the original on 2013-03-07. Retrieved 2013-05-21. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ "Linux.com :: Feather Linux: Light is right". Archive09.linux.com. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  23. ^ Julius Hader. "BBQ Philosophy". Retrieved 2015-01-12.
  24. ^ https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=linuxconsole
  25. ^ "Linux Console". Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  26. ^ Lubuntu Developers (December 2010). "Lubuntu". Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  27. ^ "Softpedia". Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  28. ^ Hell-Noire, Paul (July 2010). "Puppy Linux 5.0 Review - Lightweight, Fun, Fast!". Raymond. Archived from the original on July 11, 2010. Retrieved 11 December 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ Lynch, Jim (July 2009). "Tiny Core Linux 2.1". Desktop Linux Reviews. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  30. ^ "Trisquel 5.0 Release announcement". The Trisquel Project. September 17, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  31. ^ "TurnKey Linux 13 Has Been Released!". Unixmen. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
  32. ^ "TurnKey Core - Debian GNU/Linux with Batteries Included". TurnKey Linux. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
  33. ^ "absolute linux home page".
  34. ^ "absolute linux home page". www.absolutelinux.org. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
  35. ^ "The Slackware Linux Project: Installation Help". www.slackware.com. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
  36. ^ a b c "What is Persistent Linux".
  37. ^ "Main Page - antiX". antix.mepis.org. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
  38. ^ http://distro.ibiblio.org/baslinux/
  39. ^ "System Requirements". Bodhi Linux. Retrieved 2017-02-07.
  40. ^ "Minimum Hardware Requirements - DSL Wiki". damnsmalllinux.org. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
  41. ^ "The Elive Team is proud to announce the release of the Stable version 2.0 Codename Topaz". Elive Linux. March 10, 2010. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  42. ^ "Elive 2.7.8 beta released". Elive Linux. October 14, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  43. ^ Germain, Jack M. (May 16, 2014). "Enlightenment Linux: It's Not What You Think". LinuxInsider. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  44. ^ "GoboLinux download page".
  45. ^ "GoboLinux 016 Release Notes". www.gobolinux.org. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
  46. ^ http://www.knopper.net/knoppix-info/index-en.html
  47. ^ "Lubuntu - Ubuntu Wiki". wiki.ubuntu.com. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
  48. ^ "MX Linux". Archived from the original on 2016-03-22. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  49. ^ "Index of /communityiso/LXDE".
  50. ^ "1. Download and Install". Peppermint, LLC. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  51. ^ "Features - Porteus - Portable Linux". www.porteus.org. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
  52. ^ "Index of /puppylinux/puppy-slacko-6.3.0/64/".
  53. ^ "Salix Downloads".
  54. ^ Tomas M. "Download - Slax Linux".
  55. ^ persistence can be added rather easily though
  56. ^ "Tiny Core Linux Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)". www.tinycorelinux.net. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
  57. ^ "Lubuntu - Ubuntu Wiki". wiki.ubuntu.com. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
  58. ^ https://wiki.voidlinux.eu/Live_Images
  59. ^ http://xubuntu.org/getxubuntu/requirements/
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