Light-weight Linux distribution explained

A light-weight Linux distribution is one that uses lower memory and/or has less processor-speed requirements than a more "feature-rich" Linux distribution. The lower demands on hardware ideally result in a more responsive machine, and/or allow devices with fewer system resources (e.g. older or embedded hardware) to be used productively. The lower memory and/or processor-speed requirements are achieved by avoiding software bloat, i.e. by leaving out features that are perceived to have little or no practical use or advantage, or for which there is no or low demand.

The perceived weight of a Linux distribution is strongly influenced by the desktop environment included with that distribution.^{[1] [2]} Accordingly, many Linux distributions offer a choice of editions. For example, Canonical hosts several variants ("flavors") of the Ubuntu distribution that include desktop environments other than the default GNOME or the deprecated Unity. These variants include the Xubuntu and Lubuntu distributions for the comparatively light-weight Xfce and LXDE / LXQt desktop environments.

The demands that a desktop environment places on a system may be seen in a comparison of the minimum system requirements of Ubuntu 10.10 and Lubuntu 10.10 desktop editions, where the only significant difference between the two was their desktop environment. Ubuntu 10.10 included the Unity desktop, which had minimum system requirements of a 2 GHz processor with 2 GB of RAM,^[3] while Lubuntu 10.10 included LXDE, which required at least a Pentium II with 128 MB of RAM.^[4]

Overview of some distributions

• Gentoo – can be one of the lightest systems, because it does not include a GUI by default, and the system can be compiled for the native architecture.
• ArchBang – inspired by CrunchBang Linux but based on the Arch Linux distribution instead of Debian.^{[5] [6]}
• 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.^{[7] [8]}
• LinuxConsole - a lightweight system for old computers made to be easy for youth and casual users.
• Parabola GNU/Linux-libre - an Arch-based lightweight system endorsed by the Free Software Foundation.^{[9] [10]}
• postmarketOS – a derivative of Alpine Linux designed primarily for smartphones
• SparkyLinux - a lightweight system based on Debian.
• Tiny Core Linux - a very lightweight distribution known for fitting into a very small amount of storage space (16MB for the main GUI TinyCore version and 12MB for the text-only Core version).
• Zorin OS – also has "Zorin OS Lite" and "Zorin OS Education Lite" editions.

Comparison

Distribution	Minimum system requirements	Desktop / Window manager	Based on	Package manager	data-sort-type="number"	Image size	Purpose	Latest release year	Maintainer	Created	Founder
	Absolute Linux	data-sort-value="64"	CPU: Intel/AMD 64bit RAM: 64 MB 1+ GB suggested^[11] ^[12]	iceWM	Slackware	XPKGTOOL	2264 MB^[13]	Desktop	2023	Absolute Linux Team	2007	Absolute Linux Team
	Alpine Linux	RAM: 128MB (256MB to install)^[14]	None by default^[15]	BusyBox, musl	APK	8 MB (container), 130 MB (disk)	Lightweight desktop, security^[16]	2023^[17]	Alpine Linux development team	2010	LEAF Project members
	antiX	data-sort-value="256"	CPU: Intel/AMD X86 RAM: 256 MB ^[18]	IceWM, Fluxbox, JWM	MEPIS < Debian	Synaptic^[19]	700 MB Base, 1GB Full, 310 MB Core	Desktop, portability (with persistence)^[20]	2023^[21]	Anticapitalista	2007	Anticapitalista
	Bodhi Linux^[22]	data-sort-value="512"	CPU: 32 bit 500 MHz (non-PAE) RAM: 512 MB ^[23] drive: 5 GB	Moksha (a fixed E17)	Ubuntu < Debian	APT	575 MB (Standard), 1024 MB (AppPack)	Desktop	2023	Bodhi Linux team	2011	Bodhi Linux team
	BunsenLabs Linux	RAM:256 MB to run X^[24] 1 GB for Firefox 2+ GB recommended	OpenBox	Debian Stable	Synaptic, APT, dpkg	674 MB (i386, no PAE) 1100 MB (i386, AMD64)	LiveCD, LiveDVD, lightweight desktop	2021^[25]	Core maintainers	2015	Core maintainers
class="table-rh"	CrunchBang Linux	data-sort-value="192"	CPU:x86/ARM RAM: 1 GBDrive:2.1 GB.	OpenBox	Debian	dpkg	1600 MB ^[26]	Lightweight Desktop	2013^[27]	Philip Newborough (corenominal)	2010^[28]	Philip Newborough (corenominal)
class="table-rh"	CRUX	data-sort-value="192"	CPU: x86-64 (AMD Athlon 64, Intel Core, Intel Atom) or newer processors RAM: 192 MB (2017)^[29]	OpenBox	-	pkgutils	1773 MB	BSD / experienced users, lightweight	2022^[30]	Core maintainers	2002	Per Lidén
	Damn Small Linux	data-sort-value=""	CPU: 486dx RAM: 8 MB^[31]	Fluxbox, JWM	-	APT (optional)^[32]	50 MB	Desktop	2024		2005	John Andrews, et al.
	Elive	data-sort-value="512"	CPU: 32 bit 500 MHz (non-PAE) RAM: 512 MB ^[33]	Enlightenment	Debian	APT	3 GB	Desktop	2024	Samuel F. Baggen	2005	Samuel F. Baggen
Gentoo Linux	RAM: 32 MB	None by default, but you can install any	-	Portage	400 MB	Desktop, server, source-based, advanced	Rolling release		2002	Daniel Robbins
	GoboLinux	data-sort-value="128"	RAM: 128 MB RAM1000+ MB for full graphic^[34] CPU: x86_64	Awesome	-		1900 MB^[35]	Desktop	2020	GoboLinux team	2003	Hisham Muhammad and André Detsch
	Knoppix	data-sort-value="32"	RAM: 32 MB text 512 MB LXDE 1 GB recommended^[36] CPU: 486	LXDE	Debian	dpkg	701 MB	Live	2020		2000	Klaus Knopper
	Lightweight Portable Security		iceWM	Arch Linux		390 MB	Secure live operating system	2021	United States Department of Defense	2011	United States Department of Defense
	Linux Lite	data-sort-value="768"	CPU: Intel/AMD 64bitRAM: 768 MB (2020)^[37] disk: 8 GB	Xfce	Ubuntu	APT	955 MB	Desktop (Windows users)	2023^[38]	Jerry Bezencon	2013	Jerry Bezencon
	Lubuntu	data-sort-value="1024"	No minimum system requirements provided.^[39]	LXQt	Ubuntu	APT	916 MB	Lightweight desktop	2022	Lubuntu team	2009	Lubuntu team
	LXLE	data-sort-value="512"	RAM: 1 GB (2022)^[40] CPU: 64-bit (2022)	LXDE	Ubuntu LTS	APT	1300 MB	Older computers, intermediate users	2022	LXLE team	2012	Ronnie
	Nanolinux	data-sort-value="64"	RAM: 64 MB (2017)^[41] CPU: 486	SLWM on Nano-X	Tiny Core Linux;^[42] MicroCore Linux with BusyBox.		19 MB	Lightweight, Runs on RAM, advanced	2015	Georg Potthast	-	Georg Potthast
	OpenWrt	data-sort-value="32"	CPU: x86 and over 50 router platforms RAM: 32 MB (2018)^[43] 64 MB recommended	None (headless server) - Includes LuCI admin UI^[44]	-	opkg	6 MB	SOHO Routers	2023^[45]	OpenWrt developers	2004
	PCLinuxOS	data-sort-value="2048"	CPU: 64-bit (from 2016) RAM: 2 GB (2020)^[46]	KDE, MATE, XFCE	Mandrake	APT-RPM	1000-3800 MB	Live	2020	Bill Reynolds	2003	Bill Reynolds
	Peppermint Linux OS	data-sort-value="512"	CPU: x86 RAM: 1 GB. 4 GB recommended^[47]	XFCE	Debian, Devuan	APT	1332 MB	Desktop	2023^[48]	Peppermint, LLC	2010	Peppermint, LLC
	Porteus	data-sort-value="36"	CPU: 32 bit RAM: 36 MB^[49]	(multiple)	Slackware	USM	260 MB (LxQt)	Lightweight, portable (with persistence)	2022^[50]	Porteus	2010	Fanthom
	Puppy Linux	data-sort-value="256"	RAM: 256 MB (2017)^[51]	JWM-2.3.2	Ubuntu LTS from Puppy 6	Puppy Package Manager	234 MB (Slacko)^[52]	Portable (with persistence), lightweight^[53]	2023^[54]	Puppy Foundation	2003	Barry Kauler
	Salix OS	data-sort-value="512"	RAM: 512 MB CPU: Intel Pentium III 1 GHz^[55] Hard drive: 8 GB	MATE, KDE, Xfce, Fluxbox, Openbox	Slackware	slapt-get	613 MB (Fluxbox), 852 MB (MATE live)^[56]	Desktop	2022^[57]	George Vlahavas	2009	George Vlahavas, Thorsten Mühlfelder and Cyrille Pontvieux
	Slax	data-sort-value="128"	RAM:256MB without web browser	KDE till Slax 8 Fluxbox since Slax 9	Slackware till Slax 8 Debian from Slax 9	APT	226 MB^[58]	Portable	2023^[59]	Tomas Matejicek	2002	Tomas Matejicek
	SliTaz	data-sort-value="24"	RAM: 24 MB loram-cdrom^[60] 128 MB loram 256 MB standard	Openbox	-	TazPkg	50 MB	Portable. Live (no persistence by default)^[61]	2021	dev team	2008	Christophe Lincoln
	Tiny Core Linux	data-sort-value="46"	CPU: 486DX RAM: 46 MB^[62]	FLTK/FLWM	Tiny Core Linux	appbrowser (GUI) tce (CLI)	11 MB (Core), 16 MB (TinyCore), 106 MB (CorePlus)	Portable, advanced	2023^[63]	Tiny Core team	2009	Robert Shingledecker
	Tiny SliTaz	data-sort-value="4"	CPU: 486DX RAM: 4 MB 8 MB recommended	None (VNC viewer or headless server)	SliTaz	Tiny SliTaz WEB site^[64]	Down to 800 KB, likely a 1.44 MB floppy	Portable. Live (no persistence by default)	2021	dev team	2016	Pascal Bellard
	Trisquel Mini	data-sort-value="256"	RAM: 256 MB CPU: 64-bit CPU for latest version ^[65]	LXDE	Ubuntu LTS	APT	1200 MB	Free software desktop	2023^[66]	Rubén Rodríguez Pérez (quidam)	2005	Rubén Rodríguez Pérez (quidam)
	TurnKey Linux Virtual Appliance Library	data-sort-value="256"	RAM: 256 MB 2017^[67]	None (headless server) - Includes Webmin admin UI	Debian (a minified base)^[68]	dpkg	212 MB (Core)	Lightweight headless server^[69]	2020	TurnKey Linux team	2008	Alon Swartz, Liraz Siri
	VectorLinux Light	data-sort-value="64"	RAM: 64 MB Light edition 96 MB Standard 256MB Live^[70]	Several / IceWM	Slackware	slapt-get	618 MB	Desktop	2017	-	2001	-
	Void Linux	data-sort-value="96"	CPU: ARMv6 Pentium 4 (SSE2) RAM: 96 MB Hard drive: 350 MB^[71]	Xfce, or none^[72]	-	XBPS	250 MB (i686, without desktop environment)	Desktop/embedded	2022 (rolling release)	Void Linux Team, Void Linux Community	2008	Juan Romero Pardines
	Xubuntu	data-sort-value="512"	CPU: Intel/AMD 64bit RAM: 1 GB Hard drive: 8.6 GB^[73]	Xfce	Ubuntu	APT	1660 MB	Lightweight desktop	2023^[74]	Xubuntu team	2008	Xubuntu team
	Zenwalk		Xfce	Slackware	netpkg	974 MB	Desktop	2020^[75]	development team	2004	Jean-Philippe Guillemin
Distribution	Minimum system requirements	Desktop / Window manager	Based on	Package manager	data-sort-type="number"	Image size	Purpose	Latest release year	Maintainer	Created	Founder

See also

• Minimalism (computing)
• Software bloat
• Comparison of lightweight web browsers
• List of Linux distributions that run from RAM
• List of live CDs

Notes and References

1. Web site: Larabel. Michael. Phoronix: Power & Memory Usage Of GNOME, KDE, LXDE & Xfce. Phoronix. 30 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20180903042338/https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=linux_desktop_vitals&num=1. 3 September 2018. dead.
2. Web site: Features - Porteus - Portable Linux. Porteus.org.
3. Web site: Download Ubuntu Desktop Download Ubuntu. www.ubuntu.com. 12 January 2017.
4. Web site: Download Lubuntu - Community Help Wiki. Help.ubuntu.com. 12 January 2017.
5. Web site: ArchBang Linux 2012.12 Review – Lightweight Arch. 2012-12-21. Rob Zwetsloot. LinuxUser.
6. Web site: ArchBang Is Lightweight & Always Up To Date. 2011-10-06. Justin Pot. 6 October 2011. MakeUseOf.
7. Web site: Debian Dog is a Useful Pocket Pup. 25 February 2017 . Linux Insider. 17 June 2017.
8. Web site: Debian Dog on Github. 16 June 2017.
9. Web site: ArchLabs Makes Up for Parabola's Curve Balls . linuxinsider.com . 3 October 2017 . 2 April 2021.
10. Web site: Free GNU/Linux distributions . gnu.org . 2 April 2021.
11. Web site: absolute linux home page . Absolutelinux.org . 2016-10-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180125104216/http://www.absolutelinux.org/about.shtml . 2018-01-25 . dead .
12. Web site: The Slackware Linux Project: Installation Help . Slackware.com . 2016-10-27.
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14. Web site: Requirements . wiki.alpinelinux.org.
15. Web site: Category:Desktop . wiki.alpinelinux.org.
16. Web site: About . alpinelinux.org . 2021-12-09.
17. Web site: Alpine Linux 3.17.3 Released . Alpine Linux . 4 May 2023.
18. Web site: Main Page - antiX . antix.mepis.org . 2016 . 2016-10-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130529193958/http://antix.mepis.org/index.php?title=Main_Page . 2013-05-29 . dead .
19. Web site: Main Page – antiX . antix.mepis.org . 2012 . 2012-05-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080828212407/http://antix.mepis.org/ . 2008-08-28 . dead .
20. Web site: What is Persistent Linux . pendrivelinux.com. 20 May 2009 .
21. Web site: antiX-23 released . antiX Linux . 28 Aug 2023.
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23. Web site: 2020-11-23. System Requirements. 2017-02-07. Bodhi Linux.
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27. Web site: [ANN] Brit Linux distro CrunchBang calls it quits]. The Register 2015-02-09. 30 May 2024.
28. Web site: Release Notes - CrunchBang Linux 8.10.02 ~ CrunchBang Linux Wiki. https://web.archive.org/web/20090210061655/http://crunchbanglinux.org/wiki/release-notes/8.10.02#crunchbang_lite_edition. dead. 10 February 2009. 10 February 2009. 24 June 2018.
29. Web site: 3. Installing CRUX. 20 July 2018. Crux.nu.
30. Web site: [ANN] CRUX 3.7 Released! ]. Crux . 4 May 2023.
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32. Web site: What is DSL? . . 2010 . 11 December 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180930162042/http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/ . 30 September 2018 . dead .
33. Web site: 2024-05-23. System Requirements. Elive Linux.
34. Web site: GoboLinux 016 Release Notes. Gobolinux.org. 2016-12-30.
35. Web site: GoboLinux download page. https://web.archive.org/web/20021024131028/http://www.gobolinux.org/downloads.html. dead. October 24, 2002. Gobolinux.org.
36. Web site: KNOPPIX - Live Linux Filesystem On CD . Knopper.net.
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38. Web site: Linux Lite 6.4 64bit - 1st April, 2023 . Linux Lite . 4 May 2023.
39. Web site: Taking a new direction . Lubuntu.
40. Web site: requirements . LXLE Linux Wiki . LXLE . 2022.
41. Web site: Home . Nanolinux Wiki . . 2017.
42. Web site: Nanolinux . Linux Distributions . . 25 January 2014.
43. Web site: OpenWrt Buyer's guide . . 2018.
44. Web site: Luci . user guide . 20 February 2018 . OpenWrt.
45. Web site: OpenWrt 22.03.4 - Service Release - 10 April 2023 . OpenWrt . 4 May 2023.
46. Web site: PCLinuxOS Requirements of XFCE Desktop edition. . 2020 .
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49. Web site: Features - Porteus - Portable Linux . . 2016-10-27.
50. Web site: Porteus-v5.0 is released! . Porteus . 4 May 2023.
51. Web site: Minimum System Requirements . . 2017 . 2018-01-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180814214556/http://puppylinux.org/wikka/MinimumSystemRequirements . 2018-08-14 . dead .
52. Web site: Index of /puppylinux/puppy-slacko-6.3.0/64/ . distro.ibiblio.org . Ibiblio.
53. News: Hell-Noire . Paul . Puppy Linux 5.0 Review - Lightweight, Fun, Fast! . raymond.cc . July 2010 . 11 December 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100711035158/http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2010/07/08/puppy-linux-5-0-review-lightweight-fun-fast/ . July 11, 2010.
54. Web site: F96-CE_3 Stable Release . Puppy Linux . 4 May 2023.
55. Web site: What Is the Best Lightweight Linux Distro?. 2019-09-15. ITgirl.tech. en-US. 2019-10-13.
56. Web site: Salix Downloads . Salix OS.
57. Web site: Salix Xfce 15.0 is released! . Salix . 4 May 2023.
58. Web site: M . Tomas . Download - Slax Linux . Slax.org . 2016-03-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171114014012/http://www.slax.org/en/download.php . 2017-11-14 . dead .
59. Web site: New Slax released . Slax author's Blog . 4 May 2023.
60. Web site: Lincoln . Christophe . SliTaz LiveCD Flavors . . 2017.
61. persistence can be added rather easily, though
62. Web site: Tiny Core Linux Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) . . 2016-10-27.
63. Web site: Tiny Core v13.1 . Tiny Core Linux . 4 May 2023.
64. Web site: Tiny SliTaz - Builder. tiny.slitaz.org.
65. Web site: No 32-bit . Trisquel Official Forum . 2023-06-29.
66. Web site: Lubuntu 23.04 Released! . Lubuntu . 4 May 2023.
67. Web site: Minimum hardware requirements . TurnKey GNU/Linux docs . . 2017.
68. Web site: TurnKey Core - Debian GNU/Linux with Batteries Included . TurnKey Linux . 2016-06-08.
69. Web site: TurnKey Linux 13 Has Been Released! . Unixmen . 2016-06-08.
70. Web site: VectorLinux Editions . . 2018-01-16 . 2018-08-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180803162604/http://vectorlinux.com/products . dead .
71. Web site: Live Images . Void Linux Docs . . 2021-12-09 . https://archive.today/20211209181038/https://docs.voidlinux.org/installation/live-images/index.html . 2021-12-09 . live .
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73. Web site: System Requirements . Xubuntu.
74. Web site: Xubuntu 23.04 released! . Xubuntu . 4 May 2023.
75. Web site: Zenwalk Current 15.0 Santa Claus edition. 10 December 2020. 11 January 2021.