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11
votes
4
answers
17917
views
Find the lightest desktop environment
A [high-votes answer][1] here for the question "What's the lightest desktop" which actually tried to quantitatively assess memory use relies on a [Wikipedia page which quotes 2011 data][2]. The [newest article I could find][3] dates back to November 2018 (thanks to https://LinuxLinks.com). Are there...
A high-votes answer here for the question "What's the lightest desktop" which actually tried to quantitatively assess memory use relies on a Wikipedia page which quotes 2011 data .
The newest article I could find dates back to November 2018 (thanks to https://LinuxLinks.com). Are there newer comparisons which objectively measure memory use?
K7AAY
(3926 rep)
May 11, 2020, 09:13 PM
• Last activity: Apr 8, 2024, 04:48 AM
0
votes
0
answers
181
views
I need lightweight Linux distro with VM support for an old processor
I have an old notebook with an i3-2350M (2 cores, 4 threads, and integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000) and 4 Gb RAM, and a decent SSD. The mother does not supports more ram. I only use it, mostly for web browsing and some light Visual Studio Code. Originally it had Windows 7, browsed the web perfectly...
I have an old notebook with an i3-2350M (2 cores, 4 threads, and integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000) and 4 Gb RAM, and a decent SSD.
The mother does not supports more ram.
I only use it, mostly for web browsing and some light Visual Studio Code.
Originally it had Windows 7, browsed the web perfectly Ok, meanwhile also running virtual machines.
It updated automatically to Windows 10, which, after many non-consensual upgrades stopped supporting virtual machines, and became slower and slower, to the point it cannot even run youtube videos at 720 smoothly. A big problem is that it runs out of ram, which is shared to graphics.
I think that the end of support for VM is due to new security requirements.
So I want to replace the OS with Linux, to restore web performance, and virtual machines support.
I do not trust major distros like Ubuntu, because I had bad experiences with his automatic updates (on other machines). But I also would like a supported Linux distro.
Which distros are lightweight, and also supports VM on old processors?
kefip
(9 rep)
Dec 24, 2022, 12:41 AM
• Last activity: Dec 24, 2022, 12:42 AM
6
votes
1
answers
7169
views
What is the webkitwebprocess in linux?
So the other day I was looking for a ultra light weight browser. Midori was the first option as per internet. But this was the RAM usage of it. [RAM USAGE][1] [1]: https://i.sstatic.net/xcznU.png though midori took only around 100MB, the webkitwebprocess ,which is being run only when I use midori, t...
So the other day I was looking for a ultra light weight browser. Midori was the first option as per internet. But this was the RAM usage of it.
though midori took only around 100MB, the webkitwebprocess ,which is being run only when I use midori, takes almost 1.2 GB of ram. what is this process ? And is there a way to run midori without this ? Also suggest some 'real' lightweight browsers unlike this.
though midori took only around 100MB, the webkitwebprocess ,which is being run only when I use midori, takes almost 1.2 GB of ram. what is this process ? And is there a way to run midori without this ? Also suggest some 'real' lightweight browsers unlike this.
Parthiv Reddy
(63 rep)
Jan 15, 2022, 10:04 AM
• Last activity: Jan 15, 2022, 10:11 AM
0
votes
2
answers
200
views
What makes a program load so fast?
I have this question that I need an answer to. What makes programs like [st][1], [zathura][2], [sxiv][3], and [feh][4] load instantly and what makes programs like [VS Code][5] and [Google Chrome][6] load so slowly in low-spec computers? For example, I have a low-spec laptop running Linux Mint. And w...
I have this question that I need an answer to.
What makes programs like st , zathura , sxiv , and feh load instantly and what makes programs like VS Code and Google Chrome load so slowly in low-spec computers?
For example, I have a low-spec laptop running Linux Mint. And when I execute **st**, it instantly opens an **st** instance, but when I execute **Google Chrome**, it takes a long time to open a **Google Chrome** instance.
What makes st load faster than Google Chrome and what makes Google Chrome load slower than st.
Thank you! :)
Wade Wayne
(121 rep)
Jul 26, 2021, 01:39 PM
• Last activity: Jul 27, 2021, 01:17 AM
0
votes
2
answers
264
views
Is there a light-weight version of X?
I am setting up a computer as a an older tablet "PC". It will run Debian and a single application, without any window manager. No Internet is needed, nor is remote access. To ensure it runs as fast as is possible, I wonder if there is a lightweight version of X, with lots of features removed, availa...
I am setting up a computer as a an older tablet "PC".
It will run Debian and a single application, without any window manager. No Internet is needed, nor is remote access.
To ensure it runs as fast as is possible, I wonder if there is a lightweight version of X, with lots of features removed, available on Debian?
Village
(4177 rep)
May 5, 2021, 08:23 PM
• Last activity: May 10, 2021, 03:13 PM
-1
votes
1
answers
1164
views
Most lightweight Ubuntu-based linux distro 2021
I'm a Ubuntu user, but my computer is getting older so I cannot use Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. I'm used to use Lubuntu 18.04 LTS and that works, but the support time runs out this year. So I need to replease current linux OS for a better one. The current linux OS I'm using is AntiX Linux. It's super fast, bu...
I'm a Ubuntu user, but my computer is getting older so I cannot use Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. I'm used to use Lubuntu 18.04 LTS and that works, but the support time runs out this year.
So I need to replease current linux OS for a better one. The current linux OS I'm using is AntiX Linux. It's super fast, but It's quite weird because everything is old here. Old software and AntiX is based on Debian 10.
I don't have so much problem with AntiX Linux, except when I try to install software. These softwares are so old, that I dosen't support some files or functions e.g GNU Octave.
So I need a Linux system that are based on Ubuntu, but take less memory than Lubuntu 18.04 LTS or as much as 18.04 LTS. The support time is important too.
What is the best lightweight Ubuntu based linux distro 2021 that follow this requriments:
- No more RAM usage than 256 Mb
- Pentium 4 or less
- Support time to 2025 or more
- Based on Ubuntu
- 64-bit
euraad
(219 rep)
Feb 14, 2021, 03:58 PM
• Last activity: Feb 16, 2021, 10:06 AM
1
votes
0
answers
303
views
Lightweight process/daemon monitor? (ie. monitor and restart a single process)
Can anybody recommend a lightweight process/daemon monitor? I'm running a user-land service process and I just need something to monitor and restart it when it crashes. The system is running embedded linux so systemd isn't installed, etc. I'm just looking for a single-binary monitor that can run lik...
Can anybody recommend a lightweight process/daemon monitor?
I'm running a user-land service process and I just need something to monitor and restart it when it crashes. The system is running embedded linux so systemd isn't installed, etc.
I'm just looking for a single-binary monitor that can run like this:
/usr/bin/monitor my_process --restart=3
(ie. restart up to 3 times, or whatever other command-line options, etc)
SofaKng
(343 rep)
Jan 25, 2021, 12:59 AM
0
votes
1
answers
129
views
Will change distro speed up boot up time?
I have an old-ish laptop with a Celeron cpu. 3 Gb of RAM. I had manjaro lxqt installed, but because I rarely use it anymore, a rolling distro isn't very appropriate. Every time I wanted to update it, it wanted 1.5 Gb of updates. My current internet connection is stable, but not much bandwidth. There...
I have an old-ish laptop with a Celeron cpu. 3 Gb of RAM. I had manjaro lxqt installed, but because I rarely use it anymore, a rolling distro isn't very appropriate. Every time I wanted to update it, it wanted 1.5 Gb of updates.
My current internet connection is stable, but not much bandwidth.
Therefore I installed PopOS!, because I had that handy on a stick. Then installed LXQT with it for a lightweight distro. It works well. I also installed
lightdm.
I might be wrong, but it seems boot time is a bit longer than it was with manjaro.
Would changing distro improve boot time? Like Lubuntu? I have the intuition that the base system won't be much faster and the biggest gains are on the desktop - but I might be wrong?
unsafe_where_true
(333 rep)
Jun 21, 2020, 02:34 PM
• Last activity: Jun 21, 2020, 04:12 PM
1
votes
1
answers
50
views
Trying to speed up lightweight distro on old computer
I'm trying to install a lightweight distro on my sister's old desktop. It has a Celeron 3.06Ghz processor, a 80GB HD but only 432 MiB RAM. With these specs I thought antiX-09.2.1_386-base was my best option but it is mind bogglingly slow even before firefox is launched and she would also like me to...
I'm trying to install a lightweight distro on my sister's old desktop. It has a Celeron 3.06Ghz processor, a 80GB HD but only 432 MiB RAM.
With these specs I thought antiX-09.2.1_386-base was my best option but it is mind bogglingly slow even before firefox is launched and she would also like me to install Thunderbird...
I know there have been similar questions in the past and I'm willing to try all suggestions in the answers. However when I run
-class cpu-cpu 1 : DISABLED-class cpulshw -class cpu
*-cpu:0
description: CPU
product: Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 3.06GHz
vendor: Intel Corp.
physical id: 4
bus info: cpu@0
version: 15.4.9
serial: 0000-0F49-0000-0000-0000-0000
slot: Socket 775
size: 3066MHz
capacity: 4GHz
width: 64 bits
clock: 133MHz
capabilities: boot fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe nx x86-64 constant_tsc pebs bts pni dtes64 monitor ds_cpl tm2 cid cx16 xtpr lahf_lm
configuration: id=0
*-cpu:1 DISABLED
description: CPU
vendor: Unknown
physical id: 5
bus info: cpu@1
version: 15.4.9
serial: 0000-0F49-0000-0000-0000-0000
slot: Socket 775
size: 3066MHz
capacity: 4GHz
clock: 133MHz
capabilities: ht
configuration: id=0
guy13
(45 rep)
Apr 21, 2020, 01:20 PM
• Last activity: Apr 21, 2020, 03:12 PM
1
votes
3
answers
2962
views
Help finding small graphical file manager
I have a console only `debian` install. I installed `X`, and then `slim`, and now I would like to add a minimal file manager, one step up from the terminal/console... I installed `xfe`, but noticed that uses dozens of dependencies, is there anything more lightweight but yet graphical?
I have a console only
debian install. I installed X, and then slim, and now I would like to add a minimal file manager, one step up from the terminal/console... I installed xfe, but noticed that uses dozens of dependencies, is there anything more lightweight but yet graphical?
sprocket12
(569 rep)
Nov 18, 2014, 02:40 PM
• Last activity: Apr 17, 2020, 08:58 AM
10
votes
3
answers
44333
views
Can I use APT on TinyCore?
Will tinyCore let me use APT? I am looking forward to use a very light version of Linux on a netbook or something. For the last few years I been using Linux Mint and I like it, but I am getting tired of it, since it is too big to my taste now, and I want an easier, faster and more lightweight one, h...
Will tinyCore let me use APT? I am looking forward to use a very light version of Linux on a netbook or something. For the last few years I been using Linux Mint and I like it, but I am getting tired of it, since it is too big to my taste now, and I want an easier, faster and more lightweight one, however I am used to apt-get in Ubuntu and Debian.
I only use my computers for coding and web development stuff, so I don't want to get my hands dirty on a Linux stuff for long, all I need is a lightweight OS that doesn't look stupid and big, vim and a browser to test. However, APT is important to me; will it work with TinyCore or something similar?
zotherstupidguy
(287 rep)
Mar 20, 2013, 03:29 PM
• Last activity: Jan 11, 2020, 09:58 PM
5
votes
2
answers
63908
views
Command Line only UNIX/Linux OS
Does anybody know of any lightweight Linux/UNIX [command-line][1] only distros? I'm trying to look for one that's less than 80MB if possible and comes with the minimum amount of required software included in the box. Any Linux/UNIX distros that can fit this would be greatly appreciated! If there are...
Does anybody know of any lightweight Linux/UNIX command-line only distros? I'm trying to look for one that's less than 80MB if possible and comes with the minimum amount of required software included in the box. Any Linux/UNIX distros that can fit this would be greatly appreciated! If there aren't any that can fit this then what are the alternatives that I can use instead?
Thanks!
Vishal Subramanyam Rajesh
(63 rep)
Oct 19, 2014, 06:20 AM
• Last activity: Jan 7, 2020, 04:25 AM
1
votes
0
answers
472
views
Can PowerShell be run on TinyCore Linux?
Is there a way to install PowerShell on TinyCore? The below link is the MS documentation for supported Linux distros. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/scripting/install/installing-powershell-core-on-linux?view=powershell-6 I thought of downloading the Ubuntu 18.04 package and using the Ti...
Is there a way to install PowerShell on TinyCore? The below link is the MS documentation for supported Linux distros.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/scripting/install/installing-powershell-core-on-linux?view=powershell-6
I thought of downloading the Ubuntu 18.04 package and using the TinyCore commands per below link
http://wiki.tinycorelinux.net/wiki:package_management_cheat_sheet
However, Wget fails somehow. Error: ***Server returned error. 404. Not found***
I tried to install Snap. Successfully installed Git on TinyCore. Snap download succeeds per instructions
https://docs.snapcraft.io/installing-snap-on-arch-linux
However, TinyCore doesn't have 'makepkg' or 'systemctl'.
Could there be any other workaround?
Ayan Mullick
(61 rep)
Jul 13, 2019, 05:38 AM
• Last activity: Jul 16, 2019, 04:44 AM
14
votes
8
answers
3125
views
Suggested setup for an ultra-lightweight text-based programming environment in linux
I am looking for suggestions for a setup for my particular needs. I haven't done much linux since college and want to get back into it as a hobby. I have some not-too-powerful hardware (512 MB ram, single core). I want to do everything via text-based shells and editors, such as vim. My goal is to ne...
I am looking for suggestions for a setup for my particular needs. I haven't done much linux since college and want to get back into it as a hobby. I have some not-too-powerful hardware (512 MB ram, single core). I want to do everything via text-based shells and editors, such as vim. My goal is to never touch the mouse.
I need the ability to have multiple shells open at once, one running a web server, one running vim, one running my application build pipeline, another one for ad-hoc shell commands such as wget, grepping and untarring, etc. I need to be able to open new shells and switch between shells quickly with the keyboard.
But even though I want multiple shells, I do **not** want a graphical desktop environment. I don't ever want to be tempted to use the mouse; part of my purpose is to force myself to learn the command-line way of doing various tasks.
I also want to be able to take advantage of my large monitor, running vim with a couple hundred columns dipslayed.
Is this possible?
Kevin Pauli
(243 rep)
Nov 22, 2012, 05:46 PM
• Last activity: Apr 6, 2019, 12:38 AM
3
votes
2
answers
793
views
I need a very light weight GUI to run under Ubuntu 9.04 (jaunty) with a twist
I have a VPS, for which I am paying next to nothing and grandfathered in. Therefore I am unwilling to part with it. And I want it to perform a smidgen more by making it accessible via VNC. Mind you this VPS runs with 256MB RAM, burstable to 512 MB only. And it is stuck at Ubuntu version 9.04, for wh...
I have a VPS, for which I am paying next to nothing and grandfathered in. Therefore I am unwilling to part with it. And I want it to perform a smidgen more by making it accessible via VNC.
Mind you this VPS runs with 256MB RAM, burstable to 512 MB only. And it is stuck at Ubuntu version 9.04, for which the usual Ubuntu archive is not providing any more new installations as it is out of support I believe. Upgrading to a supportable Ubuntu version is harder than pulling teeth at this time.
So, my question has two parts:
1. What is the best and lightest weight window manager that will run under jaunty with 256MB RAM?
2. (the twist) Where can I download all necessary parts so that I don't need to use any repositories to install it?
user38525
(31 rep)
May 4, 2013, 06:59 PM
• Last activity: Mar 9, 2019, 01:02 PM
8
votes
2
answers
3840
views
Does Linux not distinguish between processes and threads?
As far as I know in Linux kernel, - the structure `task_struct` represents threads i.e. light weight processes, but not processes. - processes are not represented by any structure, but by groups of threads sharing the same thread group id. So is the following from *Operating System Concepts* correct...
As far as I know in Linux kernel,
- the structure
task_struct represents threads i.e. light weight processes, but not processes.
- processes are not represented by any structure, but by groups of threads sharing the same thread group id.
So is the following from *Operating System Concepts* correct?
> Linux also provides the ability
to create threads using the clone() system call. However, **Linux does not
distinguish between processes and threads**. In fact, **Linux uses the term task
—rather than process or thread— when referring to a flow of control within a
program.**
What does it mean?
Thanks.
Related https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/434092/how-does-linux-tell-threads-apart-from-child-processes
Tim
(106420 rep)
Dec 30, 2018, 10:02 PM
• Last activity: Dec 31, 2018, 04:43 PM
0
votes
1
answers
42
views
Fetched size and Installed Size
i have 2 packages the first one has a Fetched 89.2 kb size and it has 571 installed size ( lxterminal ) , and the other one has a Fetched 1738 kb size and it has 502 installed size ( mlterm ) . how is it possible that a lighter Fetched size gives a heavier installed size ? and which one consider to...
i have 2 packages the first one has a Fetched 89.2 kb size and it has 571 installed size ( lxterminal ) , and the other one has a Fetched 1738 kb size and it has 502 installed size ( mlterm ) . how is it possible that a lighter Fetched size gives a heavier installed size ? and which one consider to be lighter
user301511
Sep 9, 2018, 07:09 PM
• Last activity: Sep 10, 2018, 05:45 AM
1
votes
2
answers
50
views
Give application instances their own IPs? Extremely lightweight containerization?
About two years ago I received a note with a method, but I was not able to find the note or the method right now. Anyone know the easiest way to achieve this? J.E.B.
About two years ago I received a note with a method, but I was not able to find the note or the method right now. Anyone know the easiest way to achieve this?
J.E.B.
Jonathan Brickman of Topeka KS
(31 rep)
Jan 7, 2018, 10:00 PM
• Last activity: Feb 2, 2018, 07:06 PM
1
votes
4
answers
331
views
Linux distro to run a MIDI-server on a PII 333 MHz
I am looking for a Linux distro that can be used to redirect MIDI message from the network to the soundboard a TurtleBeach Montego from 1997. Currently the computer is running Windows 98 se and I get a total latency of 10 ms when feeding audio back through an analog cable. Since the computer has no...
I am looking for a Linux distro that can be used to redirect MIDI message from the network to the soundboard a TurtleBeach Montego from 1997. Currently the computer is running Windows 98 se and I get a total latency of 10 ms when feeding audio back through an analog cable. Since the computer has no display, I cannot do any remote control (other than shutdown, which I have added as ad-hoc messages).
Full hardware list:
- Sound: TurtleBeach Montego
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 6200 AGP
- CPU: Pentium II Deschutes 333 MHz
- RAM: 256 MB
- IDE controller
The following is a list of requirements for the setup
- A total latency shorter or equal to 10 ms
- SSH
- ALSA
- Utility programs (ls, cp, ... )
Also, it would be nice to achive digital audio return through "what you hear" port without increased latency (on Windows 98 I cannot come below 40 ms if I do so).
All distros seems to be too demanding for that machine. Do I need to configure my own? I do not need any GUI since it is just a server.
user877329
(761 rep)
Apr 7, 2013, 01:42 PM
• Last activity: Nov 16, 2017, 06:49 PM
4
votes
3
answers
14420
views
Is there a way to have a web browser while no KDE or GNOME is installed?
> **Possible Duplicate:** > [install firefox in ubuntu-server edition](https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/31379/install-firefox-in-ubuntu-server-edition) I'm running an ubuntu machine (server actually) that does not have any user interface installed, only a command line. I was wondering if it'...
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> [install firefox in ubuntu-server edition](https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/31379/install-firefox-in-ubuntu-server-edition)
I'm running an ubuntu machine (server actually) that does not have any user interface installed, only a command line.
I was wondering if it'd be possible to have a web browser, say Google Chrome, run on this machine without having to insall the whole GNOME or KDE environment.
Can this be done? Or does chrome rely to much on these environments?
edit: perhaps a little word on why I would need this.
1. I don't like desktop environments, with point and clicks and navigation trough folders.
2. I do like programming / trying new stuff out.
3. When programming one often needs help (*I don't know how to do that* -> google), so browsing webpages is a must.
Similarly, viewing PDFs can be done trough the browser.
romeovs
(1720 rep)
Feb 23, 2012, 07:32 AM
• Last activity: Mar 31, 2017, 02:36 AM
Showing page 1 of 20 total questions