Comparison of lightweight Linux distributions
(Redirected from Light-weight Linux distribution)
A light-weight Linux distribution is a Linux distribution that uses lower memory and processor-speed requirements than a more "feature-rich" Linux distribution. The lower demands on hardware ideally result in a more responsive machine, and allow devices with fewer system resources (e.g. older or embedded hardware) to be used productively. The lower memory and 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. 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
[edit]- ArchBang – inspired by CrunchBang Linux but based on the Arch Linux distribution instead of Debian.[5][6]
- DebianDog[7] - Debian Live CD shaped after Puppy Linux. It is packaged with JWM and IceWM, or Openbox and Xfce. Debian structure and behaviour are untouched.[8][9]
- LinuxConsole - a lightweight system for old computers made to be easy for youth and casual users.
- MiniOS[10] - a debian based live system with various Desktop Environments.
- Parabola GNU/Linux-libre - an Arch-based lightweight system endorsed by the Free Software Foundation.[11][12]
- postmarketOS – a derivative of Alpine Linux designed primarily for smartphones
- Arch-based distros: Mabox, Archcraft, and Archman.
Comparison
[edit] |
| Distribution | Minimum system requirements | Desktop / Window manager | Based on | Package manager | Image size | Purpose | Latest release year | Maintainer | Created | Founder |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute Linux | CPU: x86-64 RAM: 64 MB (1 GB+ recommended)[13][14] |
iceWM | Slackware | XPKGTOOL | 2264 MB[15] | Desktop | 2023 | Absolute Linux Team | 2007 | Absolute Linux Team |
| Alpine Linux | RAM: 128 MB (256 MB to install)[16] | None by default[17] | BusyBox, musl | APK | 8 MB (container), 130 MB (disk) | Lightweight desktop, security[18] | 2026[19] | Alpine Linux development team | 2010 | LEAF Project members |
| antiX | CPU: x86 Non-PAE (to v23.2[20]), x86-64 RAM: 256 MB [21] |
IceWM, Fluxbox, JWM, herbstluftwm[22] | MEPIS < Debian | Synaptic[23] | 700 MB Base, 1000 MB Full, 310 MB Core | Desktop, portability (with persistence)[24] | 2026[25] | Anticapitalista | 2007 | Anticapitalista |
| Bodhi Linux[26] | CPU: 32-bit, 500 MHz (non-PAE) RAM: 512 MB [27] 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[28] |
OpenBox | Debian Stable | Synaptic, APT, dpkg | 674 MB (i386, no PAE) 1100 MB (i386, AMD64)[28] |
LiveCD, LiveDVD, lightweight desktop | 2026[29] | Core maintainers | 2015 | Core maintainers |
| CrunchBang Linux | CPU: x86 or ARM
RAM: 1 GB Drive: 2.1 GB. |
OpenBox | Debian | dpkg | 1600 MB[30] | Lightweight Desktop | 2013[31] | Philip Newborough (corenominal) | 2010[32] | Philip Newborough (corenominal) |
| CRUX | CPU: x86-64 (AMD Athlon 64, Intel Core, Intel Atom) or newer processors
RAM: 192 MB (2017)[33] |
OpenBox | - | pkgutils | 1773 MB | BSD / experienced users, lightweight | 2025[34] | Core maintainers | 2002 | Per Lidén |
| Damn Small Linux | CPU: 486dx
RAM: 8 MB[35] |
Fluxbox, JWM | — | APT (optional)[36] | 700 MB | Desktop | 2024 | 2005 | John Andrews, et al. | |
| Elive | CPU: 32 bit 500 MHz (non-PAE)
RAM: 512 MB [37] |
Enlightenment | Debian | APT | 3000 MB | 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 | RAM: 128 MB RAM
1000+ MB for full graphic[38] CPU: x86_64 |
Awesome | — | 1900 MB[39] | Desktop | 2025[40] | GoboLinux team | 2003 | Hisham Muhammad and André Detsch | |
| Knoppix | RAM: 32 MB text, 512 MB LXDE.
1 GB recommended[41] CPU: 486 |
LXDE | Debian | dpkg | 701 MB | Live | 2022 | 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 | CPU: Intel/AMD 1GHz dual core 64bit
RAM: 2 GB (2025)[42] Drive: 20 GB |
Xfce | Ubuntu LTS | APT | 2900 MB | Desktop (Windows users) | 2026[43] | Jerry Bezencon | 2013 | Jerry Bezencon |
| Lubuntu |
RAM: 384 to 800 MB[44] Drive: 4,3 GB[44] |
LXQt | Ubuntu | APT | 3300 MB | Lightweight desktop | 2026[45] | Lubuntu team | 2009 | Lubuntu team |
| LXLE | RAM: 1 GB (2022)[46]
CPU: 64-bit (2022) |
LXDE | Ubuntu LTS | APT | 1300 MB | Older computers, intermediate users | 2022 | LXLE team | 2012 | Ronnie |
| Nanolinux | RAM: 64 MB (2017)[47]
CPU: 486 |
SLWM on Nano-X | Tiny Core Linux;[48] MicroCore Linux with BusyBox. | 19 MB | Lightweight, Runs on RAM, advanced | 2015 | Georg Potthast | — | Georg Potthast | |
| OpenWrt | CPU: x86 and over 50 router platforms
RAM: 32 MB (2018)[49] 64 MB recommended |
None (headless server) - Includes LuCI admin UI[50] | BusyBox, musl | opkg | 6 MB | SOHO Routers | 2026[51] | OpenWrt developers | 2004 | |
| PCLinuxOS |
CPU: 64-bit (from 2016) RAM: 2 GB (2020)[52] |
KDE, MATE, XFCE | Mandrake | APT-RPM | 1000-3800 MB | Live | Rolling release | Bill Reynolds | 2003 | Bill Reynolds |
| Peppermint Linux OS |
CPU: x86 RAM: 1 GB. |
XFCE | Debian, Devuan | APT | 1332 MB | Desktop | 2025[54] | Peppermint, LLC | 2010 | Peppermint, LLC |
| Porteus |
CPU: 32 bit RAM: 36 MB[55] |
(multiple) | Slackware | USM | 260 MB (LxQt) | Lightweight, portable (with persistence)[24] | 2023[56] | Porteus | 2010 | Fanthom |
| Puppy Linux |
RAM: 256 MB (2017)[57] |
JWM-2.3.2 | Ubuntu LTS from Puppy 6 | Puppy Package Manager | 1100 MB (TrixiePup64)[58] | Portable (with persistence),[24] lightweight[59] | 2023[60] | Puppy Foundation | 2003 | Barry Kauler |
| Q4OS | CPU: Intel / AMD 64bit
RAM: 512 MB (TDE) / 2 GB (Plasma) Hard drive: 6 GB (TDE) / 8 GB (Plasma) |
Plasma/Trinity | Debian | APT | 1418 MB (TDE) / 1782 MB (Plasma) | Lightweight desktop | 2026[61] | Q4OS team | 2013 | Q4OS team |
| Salix OS |
RAM: 512 MB CPU: Intel Pentium III 1 GHz[62] Hard drive: 8 GB |
MATE, KDE, Xfce, Fluxbox, Openbox | Slackware | slapt-get | 613 MB (Fluxbox), 852 MB (MATE live)[63] | Desktop | 2022[64] | George Vlahavas | 2009 | George Vlahavas, Thorsten Mühlfelder and Cyrille Pontvieux |
| Slax |
RAM:256MB without web browser |
KDE till Slax 8 Fluxbox since Slax 9 |
Slackware till Slax 8 Debian from Slax 9 |
APT | 226 MB[65] | Portable | 2023[66] | Tomas Matejicek | 2002 | Tomas Matejicek |
| SliTaz |
RAM: 24 MB loram-cdrom[67] 128 MB loram 256 MB standard |
Openbox | — | TazPkg | 50 MB | Portable. Live (no persistence by default)[68] | Rolling Release[69] | dev team | 2008 | Christophe Lincoln |
| SparkyLinux | CPU: Intel/AMD 64bit | LXQt, MATE, Xfce and KDE | debian LTS | APT | 1900 MB LXQt; KDE 2100 MB | Lightweight desktop | 2026[70] | SparkyLinux team | 2012 | SparkyLinux team |
| Tiny Core Linux |
CPU: 486DX RAM: 46 MB[71] |
FLTK/FLWM, none, or you can install any | appbrowser (GUI) tce (CLI) | 11 MB (Core), 16 MB (TinyCore), 106 MB (CorePlus) | Portable, advanced | 2026[72] | Tiny Core team | 2009 | Robert Shingledecker | |
| Tiny SliTaz |
CPU: 386SX RAM: 4 MB 8 MB recommended |
None (VNC viewer or headless server) | SliTaz | Tiny SliTaz WEB site[73] | Down to 800 KB, likely a 1.44 MB floppy | Portable. Live (no persistence by default) | 2021 | dev team | 2011(?) | Pascal Bellard |
| Trisquel Mini |
RAM: 256 MB CPU: 64-bit CPU for latest version [74] |
LXDE | Ubuntu LTS | APT | 1200 MB | Free software: desktop | 2026[75] | Rubén Rodríguez Pérez (quidam) | 2005 | Rubén Rodríguez Pérez (quidam) |
| TurnKey Linux Virtual Appliance Library |
RAM: 256 MB 2017[76] |
None (headless server) - Includes Webmin admin UI | Debian (a minified base)[77] | dpkg | 212 MB (Core) | Lightweight headless server[78] | 2024[79] | TurnKey Linux team | 2008 | Alon Swartz, Liraz Siri |
| VectorLinux Light |
RAM: 64 MB Light edition 96 MB Standard 256MB Live[80] |
Several / IceWM | Slackware | slapt-get | 618 MB | Desktop | 2017 | — | 2001 | — |
| Void Linux |
CPU: ARMv6 Pentium 4 (SSE2) RAM: 520 MB Hard drive: 700 MB[81] |
Xfce, or none[82] | — | XBPS | 974 MB (i686, without desktop environment) | Desktop/embedded | 2025[83] (rolling release) | Void Linux Team, Void Linux Community | 2008 | Juan Romero Pardines |
| Xubuntu | CPU: Intel/AMD 64bit
RAM: 1 GB Hard drive: 8.6 GB[84] |
Xfce | Ubuntu | APT | 1660 MB | Lightweight desktop | 2026[85] | Xubuntu team | 2008 | Xubuntu team |
| Zenwalk | Xfce | Slackware | netpkg | 974 MB | Desktop | 2024[86] | development team | 2004 | Jean-Philippe Guillemin |
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ↑ Larabel, Michael. "Phoronix: Power & Memory Usage Of GNOME, KDE, LXDE & Xfce". Phoronix. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
- ↑ "Features - Porteus - Portable Linux". Porteus.org.
- ↑ "Download Ubuntu Desktop". www.ubuntu.com. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
- ↑ "Download Lubuntu - Community Help Wiki". Help.ubuntu.com. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
- ↑ Rob Zwetsloot. "ArchBang Linux 2012.12 Review – Lightweight Arch". LinuxUser. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
- ↑ Justin Pot (6 October 2011). "ArchBang Is Lightweight & Always Up To Date". MakeUseOf. Retrieved 2011-10-06.
- ↑ "Welcome to Dog Linux". debiandog.github.io. Github. 18 June 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ↑ "Debian Dog is a Useful Pocket Pup". Linux Insider. 25 February 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
- ↑ "Debian Dog on Github". Retrieved 16 June 2017.
- ↑ MiniOS team. "MiniOS - Fast. Simple. Reliable". minios.dev. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ↑ "ArchLabs Makes Up for Parabola's Curve Balls". linuxinsider.com. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
- ↑ "Free GNU/Linux distributions". gnu.org. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
- ↑ "absolute linux home page". Absolutelinux.org. Archived from the original on 2018-01-25. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
- ↑ "The Slackware Linux Project: Installation Help". Slackware.com. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
- ↑ "absolute linux downloads page". Absolutelinux.org. Archived from the original on 2018-01-16. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
- ↑ "Requirements". wiki.alpinelinux.org.
- ↑ "Category:Desktop". wiki.alpinelinux.org.
- ↑ "About". alpinelinux.org. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
- ↑ "Alpine Linux 3.22.5, 3.23.5 released". alpinelinux.org. Alpine Linux Development Team. 21 June 2026. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
- ↑ "Releases". Retrieved 2026-04-01.
- ↑ "Main Page - antiX". antix.mepis.org. 2016. Archived from the original on 2013-05-29. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
- ↑ "antiX-FAQ antiX-FAQ". download.tuxfamily.org. antiX Linux. 19 August 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
- ↑ "Main Page – antiX". antix.mepis.org. 2012. Archived from the original on 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2012-05-28.
- 1 2 3 "What is Persistent Linux". pendrivelinux.com. 20 May 2009.
- ↑ anticapitalista (21 March 2026). "antiX-26 released – antiX Linux". antixlinux.com. antiX Linux. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- ↑ Nitesh. "Bodhi Linux is a Lightweight Linux Distribution". Ubuntu Vibes. Archived from the original on January 29, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-05.
- ↑ "System Requirements". Bodhi Linux. 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2017-02-07.
- 1 2 "Installation". BunsenLabs. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
- ↑ "BunsenLabs Carbon Release Notes 2026/02/27". Bunsen Labs Forum. 27 Feb 2026. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ "CrunchBang++ Linux – The Ultimate Lightweight and Stable Linux Distribution". CrunchBang Linux. April 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ↑ "[ANN] Brit Linux distro CrunchBang calls it quits". The Register 2015-02-09. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ↑ "Release Notes - CrunchBang Linux 8.10.02 ~ CrunchBang Linux Wiki". 10 February 2009. Archived from the original on 10 February 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
- ↑ "3. Installing CRUX". Crux.nu. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
- ↑ "Release Notes for CRUX 3.8". Crux. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ↑ "Minimum Hardware Requirements". DSL Wiki. damnsmalllinux.org. Archived from the original on 2018-06-13. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
- ↑ "What is DSL?". Damn Small Linux. 2010. Archived from the original on 30 September 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
- ↑ "System Requirements". Elive Linux. 2024-05-23.
- ↑ "GoboLinux 016 Release Notes". Gobolinux.org. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
- ↑ "GoboLinux download page". Gobolinux.org. Archived from the original on October 24, 2002.
- ↑ "Announcing GoboLinux 017.01 - Passing the Torch 🔥". gobolinux.org. 2025-03-31. Retrieved 2026-07-03.
- ↑ "KNOPPIX - Live Linux Filesystem On CD". Knopper.net.
- ↑ Bezencon, Jerry. "Linux Download - Download Linux Lite Free Linux Operating System". Linuxliteos.com.
- ↑ "Linux Lite 7.8 Final Released". Linux Lite. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- 1 2 "Lubuntu". Lubuntu.
- ↑ "Lubuntu 26.04 LTS Released!". lubuntu.me. 2026-04-23. Retrieved 2026-07-03.
- ↑ "requirements". LXLE Linux Wiki. LXLE. 2022.
- ↑ "Home". Nanolinux Wiki. SourceForge. 2017.
- ↑ "Nanolinux". Linux Distributions. Softpedia. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
- ↑ "OpenWrt Buyer's guide". OpenWrt. 2018.
- ↑ "Luci". user guide. OpenWrt. 20 February 2018.
- ↑ "OpenWrt 25.12.5 - Service Release - 1. July 2026". OpenWrt. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ "PCLinuxOS Requirements of XFCE Desktop edition". PCLinuxOS. 2020.
- ↑ "1. Download and Install". Peppermint, LLC. 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
- ↑ grafiksinc (13 Oct 2025). "Peppermint OS (Trixie base) Released". Peppermint OS. peppermintos.org. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ "Features - Porteus - Portable Linux". Porteus. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
- ↑ "Porteus-v5.01 is released!". Porteus. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ↑ "Minimum System Requirements". Puppy Linux. 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-08-14. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
- ↑ "Index of /puppylinux/TrixiePup64". distro.ibiblio.org. Ibiblio.
- ↑ Hell-Noire, Paul (July 2010). "Puppy Linux 5.0 Review - Lightweight, Fun, Fast!". raymond.cc. Archived from the original on July 11, 2010. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
- ↑ "F96-CE_3 Stable Release". Puppy Linux. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ↑ "Q4OS - desktop operating system". q4os.org. 5 May 2026. Retrieved 6 June 2026.
- ↑ "What Is the Best Lightweight Linux Distro?". ITgirl.tech. 2019-09-15. Retrieved 2019-10-13.
- ↑ "Salix Downloads". Salix OS.
- ↑ "Salix Xfce 15.0 is released!". Salix. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ↑ M, Tomas. "Download - Slax Linux". Slax.org. Archived from the original on 2017-11-14. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
- ↑ "New Slax released". Slax author's Blog. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ↑ Lincoln, Christophe (2017). "SliTaz LiveCD Flavors". SliTaz.
- ↑ persistence can be added rather easily, though
- ↑ "Index of /Iso/Rolling/".
- ↑ pavroo (11 May 2026). "Sparky 8.3". SparkyLinux. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ "Tiny Core Linux Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)". Tiny Core Linux. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
- ↑ "Tiny Core v17.0". Tiny Core Linux. Retrieved 17 Feb 2026.
- ↑ "Tiny SliTaz - Builder". tiny.slitaz.org.
- ↑ "No 32-bit". Trisquel Official Forum. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
- ↑ "Trisquel 12.0 "Ecne" release announcement". Trisquel.me. 11 April 2026. Retrieved 3 Jul 2026.
- ↑ "Minimum hardware requirements". TurnKey GNU/Linux docs. TurnKey Linux Virtual Appliance Library. 2017.
- ↑ "TurnKey Core - Debian GNU/Linux with Batteries Included". TurnKey Linux. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
- ↑ "TurnKey Linux 13 Has Been Released!". Unixmen. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
- ↑ Mattalynn Darden (17 April 2024). "v18.0 Stable Release #6 - 10 Newly Updated ISOs, Hub Builds & Proxmox/LXC builds". www.turnkeylinux.org. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ "VectorLinux Editions". VectorLinux. Archived from the original on 2018-08-03. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
- ↑ "Installation". Void Linux Docs. Void Linux. Archived from the original on 2026-06-02. Retrieved 2026-06-06.
- ↑ "Enter the void - Downloads". Void Linux. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "February 2025 Image Release: Arm64 Extravaganza". voidlinux.org. VoidLinux contributors. 2 February 2025. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ↑ "System Requirements". Xubuntu.
- ↑ Xubuntu team (23 April 2026). "Xubuntu 26.04 released!". xubuntu.org. Canonical Ltd. Retrieved 3 Jul 2026.
- ↑ "Zenwalk Current 2024 "Santa Claus" edition is ready". distrowatch.com. 27 Dec 2024. Retrieved 3 Jul 2026.
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