Editing Light-weight Linux distribution

{{short description|Linux distribution with low resource requirements}}
[[File:Lynx_(web_browser).png|thumb|upright=1.2|In the extreme case - user can use a computer without a [[Graphical user interface|GUI]] and even browse the internet in a terminal, without images, in [[Lynx (web browser)|Lynx]], on a weak computer]]

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 [[Responsiveness|more responsive machine]], and allow devices with fewer [[system resource]]s (e.g. older or [[Embedded system|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.<ref>{{cite web|last=Larabel|first=Michael|title=Phoronix: Power & Memory Usage Of GNOME, KDE, LXDE & Xfce|url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=linux_desktop_vitals&num=1|publisher=Phoronix|access-date=30 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903042338/https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=linux_desktop_vitals&num=1|archive-date=3 September 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.porteus.org/info/features.html|title=Features - Porteus - Portable Linux|website=Porteus.org}}</ref> Accordingly, many Linux distributions offer a choice of editions. For example, [[Canonical (company)|Canonical]] hosts several variants ("flavors") of the [[Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu distribution]] that include desktop environments other than the default [[GNOME]] or the deprecated [[Unity (user interface)|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 [[System requirements|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 (user interface)|Unity]] desktop, which had minimum system requirements of a 2&nbsp;GHz processor with 2&nbsp;GB of RAM,<ref>{{cite web|title=Download Ubuntu Desktop {{!}} Download {{!}} Ubuntu|url=https://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop|website=www.ubuntu.com|access-date=12 January 2017}}</ref> while Lubuntu 10.10 included LXDE, which required at least a Pentium&nbsp;II with 128&nbsp;MB of RAM.<ref>{{cite web|title=Download Lubuntu - Community Help Wiki|url=https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Lubuntu#System_requirements|website=Help.ubuntu.com|access-date=12 January 2017}}</ref>

==Overview of some distributions==
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*[[ArchBang]] – inspired by [[CrunchBang Linux]] but based on the [[Arch Linux]] distribution instead of [[Debian]].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.linuxuser.co.uk/reviews/archbang-linux-2012-12-review-lightweight-arch|title = ArchBang Linux 2012.12 Review – Lightweight Arch|access-date = 2012-12-21|author=Rob Zwetsloot|publisher=LinuxUser}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/archbang-lightweight-date-linux/|title = ArchBang Is Lightweight & Always Up To Date|access-date = 2011-10-06|author=Justin Pot|date = 6 October 2011|publisher=MakeUseOf}}</ref>
* DebianDog<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome to Dog Linux |url=https://debiandog.github.io/doglinux/ |website=debiandog.github.io |publisher=Github |access-date=19 December 2024 |date=18 June 2023}}</ref> - [[Debian]] Live CD shaped after [[Puppy Linux]]. It is packaged with JWM and [[IceWM]], or [[Openbox]] and [[Xfce]]. [[Debian]] structure and behaviour are untouched.<ref>{{cite web|title=Debian Dog is a Useful Pocket Pup|date=25 February 2017 |url=http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/84328.html|publisher=Linux Insider|access-date=17 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Debian Dog on Github|url=https://debiandog.github.io/doglinux|access-date=16 June 2017}}</ref>
*[[LinuxConsole]] - a lightweight system for old computers made to be easy for youth and casual users.
* MiniOS<ref>{{cite web |author1=MiniOS team |title=MiniOS - Fast. Simple. Reliable. |url=https://minios.dev/ |publisher=minios.dev |access-date=19 December 2024}}</ref> - a debian based live system with various Desktop Environments.
*[[Parabola GNU/Linux-libre]] - an Arch-based lightweight system endorsed by the [[Free Software Foundation]].<ref>{{cite web |title=ArchLabs Makes Up for Parabola's Curve Balls |url=https://linuxinsider.com/story/ArchLabs-Makes-Up-for-Parabolas-Curve-Balls-84823.html |website=linuxinsider.com |date=3 October 2017 |access-date=2 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Free GNU/Linux distributions |url=https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html |website=gnu.org |access-date=2 April 2021}}</ref>
*[[postmarketOS]] – a derivative of Alpine Linux designed primarily for smartphones
* Arch-based distros: Mabox, Archcraft, and Archman.

==Comparison==
{{Incomplete list|date=May 2021}}
{{sort-under}}
{| class="wikitable sortable sort-under" style="font-size: 90%; text-align: left; width: auto;"  
|-
! Distribution
! scope="col" style="width: 200px;" | Minimum system requirements
! Desktop / Window manager
! Based on
! [[Package manager]]
! data-sort-type="number" | Image size
! Purpose
! Latest release year
! Maintainer
! Created
! Founder
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[Absolute Linux]]
| data-sort-value="64"| '''CPU:''' Intel/AMD  64bit

'''RAM:'''  64&nbsp;MB

1+ GB suggested<ref>{{cite web |title=absolute linux home page |website=Absolutelinux.org |url=http://www.absolutelinux.org/about.shtml |access-date=2016-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125104216/http://www.absolutelinux.org/about.shtml |archive-date=2018-01-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Slackware Linux Project: Installation Help |website=Slackware.com |url=http://www.slackware.com/install/sysreq.php |access-date=2016-10-27}}</ref>
| [[iceWM]]
|[[Slackware]]
| XPKGTOOL
| 2264&nbsp;MB<ref>{{cite web |title=absolute linux downloads page |url=http://www.absolutelinux.org/download.shtml |website=Absolutelinux.org |access-date=2015-08-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116092158/http://www.absolutelinux.org/download.shtml |archive-date=2018-01-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| Desktop
| 2023
| Absolute Linux Team
| 2007
| Absolute Linux Team
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[Alpine Linux]]
| '''RAM:''' 128MB (256MB to install)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Requirements |url= https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Requirements |website=wiki.alpinelinux.org}}</ref>
|None by default<ref>{{Cite web |title=Category:Desktop |url= https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Category:Desktop |website=wiki.alpinelinux.org}}</ref>
|[[BusyBox]], [[musl]]
| APK
| 8 MB (container), 130 MB (disk)
| Lightweight desktop, security<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |website=alpinelinux.org |url=https://alpinelinux.org/about/ |access-date=2021-12-09}}</ref>
| 2024<ref>{{cite web |title=Alpine 3.21.0 released {{!}} Alpine Linux |url=https://alpinelinux.org/posts/Alpine-3.21.0-released.html |website=alpinelinux.org |publisher=Alpine Linux Development Team |access-date=17 December 2024 |date=5 December 2024}}</ref>
| Alpine Linux development team
| 2010
| [[LEAF Project]] members
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[antiX]]
| data-sort-value="256"| '''CPU:''' Intel/AMD X86

'''RAM:''' 256 MB <ref>{{cite web |title=Main Page - antiX |website=antix.mepis.org |year=2016 |url=http://antix.mepis.org/index.php?title=Main_Page |access-date=2016-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529193958/http://antix.mepis.org/index.php?title=Main_Page |archive-date=2013-05-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| IceWM, Fluxbox, JWM, herbstluftwm<ref>{{cite web |title=antiX-FAQ antiX-FAQ |url=http://download.tuxfamily.org/antix/docs-antiX-23/FAQ/index.html |website=download.tuxfamily.org |publisher=antiX Linux |access-date=16 December 2024 |language=EN-us |date=19 August 2023}}</ref>
| MEPIS &lt; Debian
| [[Synaptic (software)|Synaptic]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Main Page – antiX |website=antix.mepis.org |year=2012 |url=http://antix.mepis.org |access-date=2012-05-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828212407/http://antix.mepis.org/ |archive-date=2008-08-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| 700&nbsp;MB Base, 1000 MB Full, 310 MB Core
| Desktop, portability (with persistence)<ref name="Linux with persistence">{{cite web |title=What is Persistent Linux |url=http://www.pendrivelinux.com/what-is-persistent-linux/ |website=pendrivelinux.com|date=20 May 2009 }}</ref>
| 2024<ref>{{cite web |author1=anticapitalista |title=antiX-23.2 released – antiX Linux |url=https://antixlinux.com/antix-23-2-released/ |website=antixlinux.com |publisher=antiX Linux |access-date=17 December 2024 |date=6 October 2024}}</ref>
| Anticapitalista
| 2007
| Anticapitalista
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[Bodhi Linux]]<ref>{{cite web |author=Nitesh |title=Bodhi Linux is a Lightweight Linux Distribution |publisher=Ubuntu Vibes |url= http://www.ubuntuvibes.com/2011/01/bodhi-linux-is-lightweight-linux.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110129024225/http://www.ubuntuvibes.com/2011/01/bodhi-linux-is-lightweight-linux.html |url-status= usurped |archive-date= January 29, 2011 |access-date=2011-05-05}}</ref>
| data-sort-value="512" |'''CPU:''' 32 bit 500&nbsp;MHz (non-PAE)

'''RAM:''' 512&nbsp;MB <ref>{{cite web|date=2020-11-23|title=System Requirements|url=http://www.bodhilinux.com/w/system-requirements/|access-date=2017-02-07|website=Bodhi Linux}}</ref>

'''Drive:''' 5&nbsp;GB
| Moksha (a fixed E17)
| Ubuntu &lt; Debian
| APT
| 575&nbsp;MB (Standard),<br />1024 MB (AppPack)
| Desktop
| 2023
| Bodhi Linux team
| 2011
| Bodhi Linux team
|-
!{{Rh}} | [[BunsenLabs Linux]]
|style="text-align:left;" data-sort-value="256" |'''RAM''':
256 MB to run X<ref name="BunsenLabs">{{cite web |title=Installation |url=https://www.bunsenlabs.org/installation.html |publisher=BunsenLabs |access-date=2019-07-03}}</ref> <br />1 GB for Firefox<br />2+ GB recommended
| [[OpenBox]]
| Debian Stable
| Synaptic, APT, dpkg
| 674 MB (i386, no&nbsp;PAE)<br />
1100&nbsp;MB (i386, AMD64)<ref name="BunsenLabs"/>
| LiveCD, LiveDVD, lightweight desktop
| 2024<ref>{{cite web |title=BunsenLabs Boron Release Notes 2024/01/24 |url=https://forums.bunsenlabs.org/viewtopic.php?id=8825 |website=Bunsen Labs Forum |date=24 Jan 2024 |access-date=30 April 2025}}</ref>
| ''Core maintainers''
| 2015
| ''Core maintainers''
|-
! {{Rh}} class="table-rh" |[[CrunchBang Linux]]
| data-sort-value="192" | '''CPU:'''x86/ARM

'''RAM:''' 1 GB

'''Drive:''' 2.1 GB.
| OpenBox
|  Debian
| dpkg
| 1600&nbsp;MB<ref>{{cite web |title=CrunchBang++ Linux – The Ultimate Lightweight and Stable Linux Distribution|url=https://www.debugpoint.com/crunchbang-linux-review/ |website=CrunchBang Linux |date=April 2022 |access-date=30 May 2024}}</ref>
| Lightweight Desktop
| 2013<ref>{{cite web |title=[ANN] Brit Linux distro CrunchBang calls it quits|url=https://www.theregister.com/2015/02/09/brit_linux_distro_crunchbang_calls_it_quits/ |website=The Register 2015-02-09|access-date=30 May 2024}}</ref>
| Philip Newborough (corenominal)
| 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://crunchbanglinux.org/wiki/release-notes/8.10.02#crunchbang_lite_edition|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210061655/http://crunchbanglinux.org/wiki/release-notes/8.10.02#crunchbang_lite_edition|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 February 2009|title=Release Notes - CrunchBang Linux 8.10.02 ~ CrunchBang Linux Wiki|date=10 February 2009|accessdate=24 June 2018}}</ref>
| Philip Newborough (corenominal)
|-
! {{Rh}} 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)<ref>{{cite web|title=3. Installing CRUX|url=https://crux.nu/Main/Handbook3-3#ntoc10|access-date=20 July 2018|website=Crux.nu}}</ref>
| OpenBox
|  -
| pkgutils
| 1773&nbsp;MB
| BSD / experienced users, lightweight
| 2022<ref>{{cite web |title=[ANN] CRUX 3.7 Released! |url=https://lists.crux.nu/pipermail/crux/2022-September/007229.html |website=Crux |access-date=4 May 2023}}</ref>
|''Core maintainers''
| 2002
| Per Lidén
|-
! {{Rh}} | ''[[Damn Small Linux]]''
| data-sort-value="" |'''CPU:''' 486dx

'''RAM:''' 8&nbsp;MB<ref>{{cite web |title=Minimum Hardware Requirements |work=DSL Wiki |publisher=damnsmalllinux.org |url=http://damnsmalllinux.org/wiki/minimum_hardware_requirements.html |access-date=2016-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613064514/http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/wiki/minimum_hardware_requirements.html |archive-date=2018-06-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| [[Fluxbox]], JWM
| {{sdash}}
| APT (optional)<ref name="DSL">{{cite web |title=What is DSL? |publisher=[[Damn Small Linux]] |year=2010 |url=http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/ |access-date=11 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930162042/http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/ |archive-date=30 September 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| 700 MB
| Desktop
| 2024
| 
| 2005
| John Andrews, ''et al.''
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[Elive]]
| data-sort-value="512" |'''CPU:''' 32 bit 500&nbsp;MHz (non-PAE)

'''RAM:''' 512&nbsp;MB <ref>{{cite web|date=2024-05-23|title=System Requirements|url=https://www.elivecd.org/download/beta/#instructions|website=Elive Linux}}</ref>
| [[Enlightenment_(software)|Enlightenment]]
| Debian
| APT
| 3000&nbsp;MB
| Desktop
| 2024
| Samuel F. Baggen
| 2005
| Samuel F. Baggen
|-
![https://www.elxr.org eLxr]
|'''RAM''': 512MB

'''CPU''': 500 MHz

'''Storage''': 1 GB
|None by default, but Xfce is supported
|Debian Stable
|apt
|300 MB
|Edge to Cloud
|2024
|eLxr.org and Wind River
|2024
|eLxr.org
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[FunOS]]
| '''CPU:''' Intel/AMD 64bit

'''RAM:''' 512 MB

'''Hard drive: 8''' GB
| JWM
| Ubuntu LTS
| APT
| 1800 MB
| Lightweight desktop
| 2024<ref>{{cite web |title=FunOS – GNU/Linux distro based on Ubuntu LTS with the JWM window manager |url=https://funos.org/ |publisher=FunOS Team |access-date=17 December 2024 |date=15 December 2024}}</ref>
| FunOS team
| 2024
| FunOS team
|-
!'''[[Gentoo Linux]]'''
|RAM: 32 MB
|None by default, but you can install any
| {{sdash}}
|[[Portage (software)|Portage]]
|400 MB
|Desktop, server, source-based, advanced 
|Rolling release
|
|2002
|[[Daniel Robbins (computer programmer)|Daniel Robbins]]
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[GoboLinux]]
| data-sort-value="128" |'''RAM:''' 128&nbsp;MB RAM
1000+&nbsp;MB for full graphic<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gobolinux.org/release_notes_016.html|title=GoboLinux 016 Release Notes|website=Gobolinux.org|access-date=2016-12-30}}</ref>

'''CPU:''' x86_64
| [[Awesome (window manager)|Awesome]]
| {{sdash}}
| 
| 1900&nbsp;MB<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gobolinux.org/downloads.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021024131028/http://www.gobolinux.org/downloads.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 24, 2002|title=GoboLinux download page|website=Gobolinux.org}}</ref>
| Desktop
| 2020
| GoboLinux team
| 2003
| Hisham Muhammad and André Detsch
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[Knoppix]]
| data-sort-value="32" |'''RAM:''' 32&nbsp;MB text, 512&nbsp;MB LXDE.
1&nbsp;GB recommended<ref>{{cite web |title=KNOPPIX - Live Linux Filesystem On CD |url=http://www.knopper.net/knoppix-info/index-en.html |website=Knopper.net}}</ref>

'''CPU:''' 486
| LXDE
| [[Debian]]
| dpkg
| 701 MB
| Live
| 2022
| 
| 2000
| Klaus Knopper
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[Lightweight Portable Security]]
|
| iceWM
| [[Arch Linux]]
| 
| 390 MB
| Secure live operating system
| 2021
| [[United States Department of Defense]]
| 2011
| [[United States Department of Defense]]
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[Linux Lite]]
| data-sort-value="2048" | '''CPU:''' Intel/AMD 1GHz dual core 64bit
'''RAM:''' 2 GB (2025)<ref>{{cite web |last=Bezencon |first=Jerry |title=Linux Download - Download Linux Lite Free Linux Operating System |url=https://www.linuxliteos.com/download.php#requirements |website=Linuxliteos.com}}</ref>

'''Drive:''' 20 GB
| Xfce
| Ubuntu LTS
| APT
| 2900 MB
| Desktop (Windows users)
| 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=Linux Lite 6.4 64bit - 1st April, 2023 |url=https://www.linuxliteos.com/download.php |website=Linux Lite |access-date=4 May 2023}}</ref>
| Jerry Bezencon
| 2013
| Jerry Bezencon
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[Lubuntu]]
| data-sort-value="1024" |
No minimum system requirements provided.<ref>{{cite web |title=Taking a new direction |url=https://lubuntu.me/taking-a-new-direction/ |publisher=[[Lubuntu]]}}</ref>
| LXQt
| Ubuntu
| APT
| 3300 MB
| Lightweight desktop
| 2024
| Lubuntu team
| 2009
| Lubuntu team
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[LXLE]]
| data-sort-value="512" |'''RAM:''' 1 GB (2022)<ref>{{cite web |title=requirements |work=LXLE Linux Wiki |publisher=LXLE |url=http://wiki.lxle.net/doku.php/requirements |year=2022}}</ref>

'''CPU:''' 64-bit (2022)
| LXDE
| Ubuntu LTS
| APT
| 1300 MB
| Older computers, intermediate users
| 2022
| LXLE team
| 2012
| Ronnie
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[Nanolinux]]
| data-sort-value="64" |'''RAM:''' 64&nbsp;MB (2017)<ref>{{cite web |title=Home |work=Nanolinux Wiki |publisher=[[SourceForge]] |url=http://sourceforge.net/p/nanolinux/wiki/Home/ |year=2017}}</ref>

'''CPU:''' 486
| SLWM on Nano-X
| Tiny Core Linux;<ref>{{cite web |title=Nanolinux |work=Linux Distributions |publisher=[[Softpedia]] |url= http://linux.softpedia.com/get/System/Operating-Systems/Linux-Distributions/Nanolinux-102963.shtml |access-date=25 January 2014}}</ref> MicroCore Linux with BusyBox.
|
| 19 MB
| Lightweight, Runs on RAM, advanced
| 2015
| Georg Potthast
| {{sdash}}
| Georg Potthast
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[OpenWrt]]
| data-sort-value="32" |'''CPU:''' x86 and over 50 router platforms

'''RAM:''' 32&nbsp;MB  (2018)<ref>{{cite web |title=OpenWrt Buyer's guide |publisher=[[OpenWrt]] |url=https://openwrt.org/toh/buyerguide |year=2018}}</ref> 64 MB recommended
| None (headless server) - Includes LuCI admin UI<ref>{{cite web |title=Luci |work=user guide |date=20 February 2018 |url=https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/luci/start |publisher=OpenWrt}}</ref>
| {{sdash}}
| opkg
| 6 MB
| SOHO Routers
| 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=OpenWrt 22.03.4 - Service Release - 10 April 2023 |url=https://openwrt.org/releases/22.03/notes-22.03.4 |website=OpenWrt |access-date=4 May 2023}}</ref>
| OpenWrt developers
| 2004
|
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[PCLinuxOS]]
| data-sort-value="2048" |
'''CPU:''' 64-bit (from 2016)

'''RAM:''' 2&nbsp;GB (2020)<ref>{{cite web |title=PCLinuxOS Requirements of XFCE Desktop edition|publisher=[[PCLinuxOS]] |year=2020 |url=https://www.pclinuxos.com/?page_id=3836}}</ref>
| KDE, MATE, XFCE
| Mandrake
| APT-RPM
| 1000-3800 MB
| Live
| 2023<ref>{{cite web |author1=admin |title=PCLinuxOS 2023.07 Release » PCLinuxOS |url=https://www.pclinuxos.com/?p=5601 |website=PCLinuxOS |access-date=18 December 2024}}</ref>
| Bill Reynolds
| 2003
| Bill Reynolds
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[Peppermint Linux OS]]
| data-sort-value="512" | 
'''CPU:''' x86

'''RAM:''' 1&nbsp;GB. <br />4&nbsp;GB recommended<ref>{{cite web |title=1. Download and Install |publisher=Peppermint, LLC |year=2015 |url=https://peppermintos.com/guide/downloading/ |access-date=November 10, 2016}}</ref>
| XFCE
| Debian, Devuan
| APT
| 1332 MB
| Desktop
| 2024<ref>{{cite web |author1=grafiksinc |title=A New Peppermint OS Release with More Choices – Peppermint OS |url=https://peppermintos.com/2024/07/a-new-peppermint-os-release-with-more-choices/ |website=Peppermint OS |publisher=peppermintos.org |access-date=18 December 2024 |date=17 July 2024}}</ref>
| Peppermint, LLC
| 2010
| Peppermint, LLC
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[Porteus (operating system)|Porteus]]
| data-sort-value="36" |
'''CPU:''' 32 bit

'''RAM:''' 36&nbsp;MB<ref>{{cite web |title=Features - Porteus - Portable Linux |publisher=[[Porteus (operating system)|Porteus]] |url=http://www.porteus.org/info/features.html |access-date=2016-10-27}}</ref>
| (multiple)
| Slackware
| USM
| 260 MB (LxQt)
| Lightweight, portable (with persistence)<ref name="Linux with persistence" />
| 2022<ref>{{cite web |title=Porteus-v5.0 is released! |url=https://forum.porteus.org/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=10183 |website=Porteus |access-date=4 May 2023}}</ref>
| Porteus
| 2010
| Fanthom
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[Puppy Linux]]
| data-sort-value="256" |
'''RAM:''' 256 MB (2017)<ref>{{cite web |title=Minimum System Requirements |publisher=[[Puppy Linux]] |url=http://www.puppylinux.org/wikka/MinimumSystemRequirements |year=2017 |access-date=2018-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814214556/http://puppylinux.org/wikka/MinimumSystemRequirements |archive-date=2018-08-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 
| JWM-2.3.2
| Ubuntu LTS from Puppy 6
| Puppy Package Manager
| 234 MB (Slacko)<ref>{{cite web |title=Index of /puppylinux/puppy-slacko-6.3.0/64/ |work=distro.ibiblio.org |url=http://distro.ibiblio.org/puppylinux/puppy-slacko-6.3.0/64/ |publisher=Ibiblio}}</ref>
| Portable (with persistence),<ref name="Linux with persistence" /> lightweight<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hell-Noire |first=Paul |title=Puppy Linux 5.0 Review - Lightweight, Fun, Fast! |publisher=raymond.cc |date=July 2010 |url= http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2010/07/08/puppy-linux-5-0-review-lightweight-fun-fast/ |access-date=11 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100711035158/http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2010/07/08/puppy-linux-5-0-review-lightweight-fun-fast/ |archive-date=July 11, 2010}}</ref>
| 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=F96-CE_3 Stable Release |url=https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?t=8264 |website=Puppy Linux |access-date=4 May 2023}}</ref>
| Puppy Foundation
| 2003
| Barry Kauler
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[Q4OS]]
| '''CPU:''' Intel / AMD  64bit

'''RAM:''' 256 Mb / 1 GB

'''Hard drive:''' 3 GB / 5 GB
| Plasma/Trinity
| Debian
| APT
| 1464 MB
| Lightweight desktop
| 2024<ref>{{cite web |title=Q4OS - desktop operating system |url=https://q4os.org/blog.html#news241114 |website=q4os.org |access-date=17 December 2024 |date=14 November 2024}}</ref>
| Q4OS team
| 2013
| Q4OS team
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[Salix OS]]
| data-sort-value="512" |
'''RAM:''' 512 MB

'''CPU:''' Intel Pentium III 1&nbsp;GHz<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://itgirl.tech/2019/09/15/what-is-the-best-lightweight-linux-distro/|title=What Is the Best Lightweight Linux Distro?|date=2019-09-15|website=ITgirl.tech|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-13}}</ref>

'''Hard drive:''' 8 GB
| MATE, KDE, Xfce, Fluxbox, Openbox
| Slackware
| slapt-get
| 613 MB (Fluxbox), 852 MB (MATE live)<ref>{{cite web |title=Salix Downloads |url=http://www.salixos.org/download.html |publisher=[[Salix OS]]}}</ref>
| Desktop
| 2022<ref>{{cite web |title=Salix Xfce 15.0 is released! |url=https://forum.salixos.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=8409 |website=Salix |access-date=4 May 2023}}</ref>
| George Vlahavas
| 2009
| George Vlahavas, Thorsten Mühlfelder and Cyrille Pontvieux
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[Slax]]
| data-sort-value="128" |
'''RAM:'''256MB

without web browser
| KDE till Slax 8<br />[[Fluxbox]] since Slax 9
| Slackware till Slax 8<br />Debian from Slax 9
| APT
| 226 MB<ref>{{cite web |last=M |first=Tomas |title=Download - Slax Linux |url=http://www.slax.org/en/download.php |website=Slax.org |access-date=2016-03-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114014012/http://www.slax.org/en/download.php |archive-date=2017-11-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| Portable
| 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=New Slax released |url=https://www.slax.org/blog/27718-New-Slax-released.html |website=Slax author's Blog |access-date=4 May 2023}}</ref>
| Tomas Matejicek 
| 2002
| Tomas Matejicek 
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[SliTaz]]
| data-sort-value="24" |
'''RAM:''' 24&nbsp;MB loram-cdrom<ref>{{cite web |last=Lincoln |first=Christophe |title=SliTaz LiveCD Flavors |publisher=[[SliTaz]] |url=http://www.slitaz.org/en/get/flavors.php |year=2017}}</ref>

128&nbsp;MB loram

256&nbsp;MB standard
| [[Openbox]]
| {{sdash}}
| TazPkg
| 50 MB
| Portable. Live (no persistence by default)<ref>persistence can be added rather easily, though</ref>
| 2024<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mirror1.slitaz.org/iso/rolling/|title = Index of /Iso/Rolling/}}</ref>
| ''dev team''
| 2008
| Christophe Lincoln
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[SparkyLinux]]
| '''CPU:''' Intel/AMD 64bit
| LXQt, MATE, Xfce and KDE
| debian LTS
| APT
| 1900 MB LXQt; KDE 2100 MB 
| Lightweight desktop
| 2024<ref>{{cite web |author1=pavroo |title=Sparky 7.5 |url=https://sparkylinux.org/sparky-7-5/ |publisher=SparkyLinux |access-date=18 December 2024 |date=18 September 2024}}</ref>
| SparkyLinux team
| 2012
| SparkyLinux team
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[Tiny Core Linux]]
| data-sort-value="46" |
'''CPU:''' 486DX
'''RAM:''' 46&nbsp;MB<ref>{{cite web |title=Tiny Core Linux Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) |publisher=[[Tiny Core Linux]] |url=http://www.tinycorelinux.net/faq.html#req  |access-date=2016-10-27}}</ref>
| FLTK/FLWM, none, or you can install any
|
| appbrowser (GUI) tce (CLI)
| 11 MB (Core), 16&nbsp;MB (TinyCore), 106 MB (CorePlus)
| Portable, advanced
| 2024<ref>{{cite web |title=Tiny Core v15.0 |url=https://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php/topic,26861.msg173005.html#msg173005 |website=Tiny Core Linux |access-date=4 Oct 2024}}</ref>
| Tiny Core team
| 2009
| Robert Shingledecker
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[Tiny SliTaz]]
| data-sort-value="4" |
'''CPU:''' 486DX

'''RAM:''' 4&nbsp;MB

8&nbsp;MB recommended
| None (VNC viewer or headless server)
| SliTaz
| Tiny SliTaz WEB site<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tiny.slitaz.org/|title=Tiny SliTaz - Builder|website=tiny.slitaz.org}}</ref>
| Down to 800 KB, likely a 1.44 MB floppy
| Portable. Live (no persistence by default)
| 2021
| ''dev team''
| 2016
| Pascal Bellard
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[Trisquel Mini]]
| data-sort-value="256" |
'''RAM:''' 256 MB

'''CPU:''' 64-bit CPU for latest version <ref>{{cite web |title=No 32-bit |work=Trisquel Official Forum |url=https://trisquel.info/es/forum/trisquel-32-bit-system |access-date=2023-06-29}}</ref>
| LXDE
| [[Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu]] LTS
| APT
| 1200 MB
| [[Free software]]: desktop
| 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=Lubuntu 23.04 Released! |url=https://lubuntu.me/lunar-released/ |website=Lubuntu |access-date=4 May 2023}}</ref>
| Rubén Rodríguez Pérez (quidam)
| 2005
| Rubén Rodríguez Pérez (quidam)
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[TurnKey Linux Virtual Appliance Library]]
| data-sort-value="256" |
'''RAM:''' 256 MB 2017<ref>{{cite web |title=Minimum hardware requirements |work=TurnKey GNU/Linux docs |publisher=[[TurnKey Linux Virtual Appliance Library]] |url=https://www.turnkeylinux.org/docs/hardware-requirements |year=2017}}</ref> 
| None (headless server) - Includes [[Webmin]] admin UI
| Debian (a minified base)<ref>{{cite web |title=TurnKey Core - Debian GNU/Linux with Batteries Included |publisher=TurnKey Linux |url= http://www.turnkeylinux.org/core |access-date=2016-06-08}}</ref>
| dpkg
| 212 MB (Core)
| Lightweight headless server<ref>{{cite web |title=TurnKey Linux 13 Has Been Released! |publisher=Unixmen |url= http://www.unixmen.com/turnkey-linux-13-released/ |access-date=2016-06-08}}</ref>
| 2023<ref>{{cite web |author1=Mattalynn Darden |title=Core & TKLDev v18.0 Stable Release {{!}} TurnKey GNU/Linux |url=https://www.turnkeylinux.org/blog/v18.0-stable-release-01 |website=www.turnkeylinux.org |access-date=18 December 2024 |date=14 September 2023}}</ref>
| TurnKey Linux team
| 2008
| Alon Swartz, Liraz Siri
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[VectorLinux|VectorLinux Light]]
| data-sort-value="64" |
'''RAM:'''

64 MB Light edition

96&nbsp;MB Standard

256MB Live<ref>{{cite web |title=VectorLinux Editions |url=http://vectorlinux.com/products |publisher=[[VectorLinux]] |access-date=2018-01-16 |archive-date=2018-08-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803162604/http://vectorlinux.com/products |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| Several / IceWM
| Slackware
| slapt-get
| 618 MB
| Desktop
| 2017
| {{sdash}}
| 2001
| {{sdash}}
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[Void Linux]]
| data-sort-value="96" |
'''CPU:''' ARMv6

Pentium 4 (SSE2)

'''RAM:''' 96&nbsp;MB

'''Hard drive:''' 350 MB<ref>{{cite web |title=Live Images |work=Void Linux Docs |url=https://docs.voidlinux.org/installation/live-images/index.html|publisher=[[Void Linux]] |access-date=2021-12-09 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211209181038/https://docs.voidlinux.org/installation/live-images/index.html |archive-date=2021-12-09 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|Xfce, or none<ref>{{cite web |title=Enter the void - Downloads |url=https://www.voidlinux.org/download/ |website=Void Linux |access-date=2021-12-09 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211209180712/https://voidlinux.org/download/ |archive-date=2021-12-09 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| {{sdash}}
| XBPS 
| 250&nbsp;MB (i686, without desktop environment)
| Desktop/embedded
| 2024<ref>{{cite web |title=March 2024 Image Release (and Raspberry Pi 5 support) |url=https://voidlinux.org/news/2024/03/new-images.html |website=voidlinux.org |publisher=VoidLinux contributors |access-date=18 December 2024 |language=en |date=14 March 2024}}</ref> (rolling release)
| Void Linux Team, Void Linux Community
| 2008
| Juan Romero Pardines
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[Xubuntu]]
| data-sort-value="512" | '''CPU:''' Intel/AMD  64bit

'''RAM:''' 1 GB

'''Hard drive:''' 8.6 GB<ref>{{cite web |title=System Requirements |url=http://xubuntu.org/getxubuntu/requirements/ |publisher=[[Xubuntu]]}}</ref>
| Xfce
| Ubuntu
| APT
| 1660 MB
| Lightweight desktop
| 2024<ref>{{cite web |author1=Xubuntu team |title=Xubuntu 24.10 released! « Xubuntu |url=https://xubuntu.org/news/xubuntu-24-10-released/ |website=xubuntu.org |publisher=Canonical Ltd. |access-date=18 December 2024 |date=10 October 2024}}</ref>
| Xubuntu team
| 2008
| Xubuntu team
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[Zenwalk]]
|
| Xfce
| Slackware
| netpkg
| 974 MB
| Desktop
| 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=Distribution Release: Zenwalk GNU Linux Current-230909 (DistroWatch.com News) |url=https://distrowatch.com/?newsid=11929 |website=distrowatch.com |access-date=18 December 2024 |date=10 September 2023}}</ref>
| ''development team''
| 2004
| [[Jean-Philippe Guillemin]]
|-
! {{Rh}} | [[Zorin_OS]] (Core)
| '''CPU:''' Intel/AMD 1 Ghz 64bit

'''RAM:''' 1.5 GB

'''Hard drive:''' 15 GB<ref>{{cite web |author1=Jesse Smith |title=Distribution Release: Zorin OS 17.2 (DistroWatch.com News) |url=https://distrowatch.com/?newsid=12241 |website=help.zorin.com |publisher=Zorin Group|access-date=18 December 2024 |date=19 September 2024}}</ref>
| Xfce
| Ubuntu LTS
| APT
| 3.8 GB
| Lightweight desktop
| 2024<ref>{{cite web |author1=Zorin |title=Zprin Help - System Requirements : Zorin OS 17.3 (DistroWatch.com News) |url=https://help.zorin.com/docs/getting-started/system-requirements/ |website=distrowatch.com |publisher=Zorin |access-date=26 April 2025 |date=22 July 2024}}</ref>
| Zorin Group
| 2008
| Zorin Group
|- class="sortbottom"
! 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==
{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}

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

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Linux}}
{{Embedded systems}}

[[Category:Lightweight Unix-like systems]]
[[Category:Light-weight Linux distributions]]