Lightweight GNU/Linux distributions
Posted by Bob Jonkman on 13th June 2011
This is a list of lightweight GNU/Linux (or other free/libre OS) distributions.
I’m specifically looking for a free/libre operating system that will run a Graphical User Interface on a 10-year-old laptop, 700 MHz Intel CPU, 256 MiBytes RAM (but 128 MiBytes would be better), an 8 GiByte hard drive and an 800×600 screen.
If you know of any other lightweight distributions please leave a comment. Also please leave a comment if you can help fill out the chart – the distributions’ documentation is pretty inadequate when it comes to listing minimium system requirements.
Name | Minimum System Requirements | Windows Manager | |||
CPU | RAM | Disk Space | Video | ||
Mandriva XFCE 2010 Spring | Xfce | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Xubuntu | Xfce | ||||
Lubuntu 10.04 | Pentium II or Celeron | 128 MB | 1.5 GB | LXDE | |
Linux Mint Xfce (201104) | 114 MB | Xfce | |||
Linux Mint 10 “Julia” – LXDE | x86 processor | 256 MB | 3 GB | 800×600 | LXDE |
Trisquel Mini | LXDE | ||||
Crunchbang | Openbox | ||||
SlimPup | 35-50 MB | 150 MB ISO | |||
Debian | Fluxbox | ||||
Arch Linux 2010.05 | i686 or x86_64 | 64 MB | 7.5 GB | xmonad | |
Tiny Core Linux | i486DX | 48 MB | TinyX | ||
WCLP | 25 MHz 486 | 16 MB | 400 MB | ||
antiX | PII 266 MHz | 64 MB | 2.2 GB | VGA | |
Dragora GNU/Linux-libre | Intel 486 | 64MB (1GB suggested) | 4 GB | VGA | |
Bodhi Linux | 300+ MHz | 128 MB | 2.5 GB | Enlightenment |
I expect this post to be a continuous work-in-progress.
–Bob.
Added 14 June 2011: Thanx for the suggestions from @dwa, @headphonica, @darkestkhan, @flying_squirrel and @circuidipity, all added above.
Added 17 June 2011: @schestowitz points me to a Linux Devices article on Tiny Core Linux.
Added 28 July 2011: @chaslinux reminded me of The Working Centre’s distribution, WCLP.
Added 4 August 2011:Just saw antiX mentioned on Identi.ca.
Added 12 October 2013: @tekk writes: @bobjonkman If driver support isn’t an issue, maybe look at http://dragora.org . I’d also put slackware on the list for that, maybe freebsd as well?
Added 23 November 2013: Bodhi Linux
Tags: antix, arch linux, bodhi, Bodhi Linux, CPU, crunchbang, debian, desktop environment, distribution, dragora, Enlightenment, fluxbox, free/libre, GNU/Linux, hard disk, lightweight, linux mint, lubuntu, lxde, Mandriva, mepis, minimum system requirements, openbox, puppy linux, RAM, The Working Centre, Tiny Core Linux, TinyX, Trisquel, video, WCLP, windows manager, x11, xfce, xmonad, xubuntu
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