Suggestions for a Linux distro as minimal about software installed

Other Distributions
1

Hello Friends

I use PeppemintOS (through VirtualBox 64 bits and direct installation 32 bits) because:

  1. It is lightweight
  2. It is based on Debian (exists with Devuan too)
  3. It uses xfce (according with my understanding it is the most lightweight DE)
  4. It comes with a minimal installed programs and have a set of available programs to be installed (see next Figure)

Screenshot 2026-09-26 083526
Screenshot 2026-09-26 083526620×382 42.5 KB

If you need a distro of your preference but taking in consideration any of the two following sets based on with the points listed above:

  • 1,2,3,4
  • 1,3,4 (2 is not listed because I have no problem to try with a different distro being not based on Debian)

What would be your best suggestions?

I need in the same host for developing purposes other distro running in parallel with PeppermintOS

I thought to use Xubuntu but I am not sure yet if it has snap installed. I confirmed in Ubuntu 24:04 LTS (through Disk Usage Analyzer) that snap consumes 5GB of disk space.

For Ubuntu in a direct installation for a SSD 500GB/1TB it would be ok until some point but it is not viable for a guest. Finally I only use Firefox (VLC was uninstalled) where snap is mandatory.

Pls share your suggestions

Best to all

2

well, Arch, Void, Gentoo. You install what you need if you do it “the hard way” without any .iso image.

3

Forgive me @Manuel_Jordan, but this topic seem almost a repeat of your other post about the best lightweight Debian base distro.

4

ihasama

Thanks for your feedback. Among them which one would be your primary option?

Howard

Yes in some way but here I am letting/requesting suggest a non debian option

Thanks for your understanding

5

Can you clarify what ‘lightweight’ means to you?
To me it means somewhere in between ‘full featured’ and ‘minimal’
Minimal means no apps at all 
 just kernel and utilities, like BSD.
Does ‘lightweight’ include X11 or Wayland?
Does ‘lightweight’ include a DE or a WM?
Does ‘lightweight’ include any preinstalled apps?

6

For me, it runs quick and clean on minimum ram, doing all the requi5of an OS. Loading, saving, finding, printing, copying etc. Plus comes with apps of a similar nature, even if that means they dont have all the bells and whistles but enough to do the job. Such as a browser, simple wp tool, simple calc tool and play music..

Then if I need a complex tool for example photoshop or gimp then i install that one app, but without it can still look at a photo or draw a simple image.

Mist users dont need all the extra bits, for example excel comes with over 500 functions but most only use very simple maths like adding a column of numbers.

7

Agree! And BTW, I find all these question topics of @Manuel_Jordan highly annoying. Sorry.

8

Hello Neville

Can you clarify what ‘lightweight’ means to you?

It is as Paul indicated

For me, it runs quick and clean on minimum ram, doing all the requi5of an OS. Loading, saving, finding, printing, copying etc. Plus comes with apps of a similar nature, even if that means they dont have all the bells and whistles but enough to do the job. Such as a browser, simple wp tool, simple calc tool and play music..

Minimum hardware requirements (RAM, hard disk) and minimal set of apps - for example without “heavy” tools but letting install them. That’s why from the beginning I did do mention to PeppermintOS because I use it for that purposes. And yes with xfce

Then if I need a complex tool for example photoshop or gimp then i install that one app, but without it can still look at a photo or draw a simple image.

correct, let any user install any software as required

Mist users dont need all the extra bits, for example excel comes with over 500 functions but most only use very simple maths like adding a column of numbers.

Even from the beginning there is no need to have installed “a complete Office” package. Thus saving space

Yesterday in the night I tried Linux Mint (xfce) - live and installed - but has these situations with VirtualBox

Now trying with https://xubuntu.org/ (it has a minimal option)

I do NOT do any harm to the forum. So let me gather in peace data according with the experience of any member in this forum. There are many distro out there and the experience of each user is unique and valuable.

Have an excellent Sunday!

9

Although I have never seen or used a chromebook or googlebook is that an answer to the quest. Minimum footprint and on line apps ?

Plus in principal the OS is linux

Or as I am using more and more a tablet with android


ok someone doing big data like Neville or programming like several of you do, or running a network perhaps not a solution

Just as I was leaving the UK some 20 plus years ago our IT team were looking at computer farms (not as in sheep or agriculture) but using older boxes linked together and sharing (farming) apps and services. But no idea if it actually worked out as lost touch with computer team

10

Well. In fact, you do, with your many, often silly academic questions. Usually I mute them as soon as they appear. But go on; it’s free speech here.

11

Do no harm, in fact the perhaps make us think about the subject. Académie is full of very interesting points and adds value to discuss please continue to ask Manuel_Jordan, our site forum is open to all and contributions are value, some may choose not to follow some lines but that again comes down to the individual. Very often we go off the original topic but add value with personal expérience and interprétation of the question.

For example a few weeks ago we discussed the world being flat, or the maps of the world being wrong or redrawn no link to linux but opened up a discussion, also humour is welcome.

12

Yes, the forum is open for any question. I read on this forum more then once there are no stupid question. Even repeated ones.

13

Both Ubuntu and Xubuntu are Debian based.

14

Lightweight Linux is fine for data analysis or programming, but hardware needs to be modern with lots of ram and a fast cpu

I see from your answer that lightweight includes a smaller DE like Xfce. 
 I would take that one step further and use a WM, for example IceWM .

Lightweight does not necessarily imply everything you want preinstalled 
 you can start with a minimal like BSD or Void or Gentoo or Debian-netinst and get to lightweight by adding things.

15

Paul

Académie is full of very interesting points and adds value to discuss please continue to ask Manuel_Jordan, our site forum is open to all and contributions are value

Thanks 
 something important in education is always encourage to any student do questions, research and share ideas in peace. All the contrary always goes wrong

some may choose not to follow some lines but that again comes down to the individual

Agree

Very often we go off the original topic but add value with personal expérience and interprétation of the question.

Yes, I saw that many times and I am not saying “hey it is not based in the original topic!!!” 
 any comment is a plus for information

For example a few weeks ago we discussed the world being flat, or the maps of the world being wrong or redrawn no link to linux but opened up a discussion, also humour is welcome.

Agree 


Alfred

Many Java Senior developers (friends of mine) in big companies around the world many times share the following:

  • Don’t do a question and be ignorant for long time. Do a question and be ignorant only for 5 minutes.
  • There is no silly question, there are silly persons not doing questions.

Howard

Yes, the forum is open for any question. I read on this forum more then once there are no stupid question. Even repeated ones.

We are fine

Both Ubuntu and Xubuntu are Debian based.

Correct 
 pls remember the original post that is valid being based on Debian or not.

Tested Xubuntu, it is lightweight. It seems it does not have a default Web Browser nor GUI editor. I did do a quick test tight time yet. Right now I do not need both.

At least against Linux Mint, Xubuntu has minor issues.

Best to all!!!