http://www.techradar.com/pro/linux December 2019 LXF257 39Lightweight Linux
W
Besides enhancing
performance,
the Lite Tweaks
apps helps you fix
common ailments
as well.By default, antiX boots into a IceWM desktop that uses the Rox file
manager, but offers about a dozen other combinations.SPECIALIST DISTROS
LEVEL 5
e’ve already said that mainstream distros are
put together in such a manner so as to appeal
to a large number of people. The downside of
this approach is the obvious bloat and lethargy. If you
don’t have the time to follow our advice in the previous
pages to scrape off the excess from your installation,
you can still enhance your Linux experience by
switching distros.
When you are out looking for a fast distro, you’ll find
a good number of options designed for older
computers. Since they are developed to perform within
the limited resources of an older machine, they are an
ideal choice for accelerating the desktop experience on
modern hardware.Lite speed
One of the best options for accelerating regular desktop
Linux tasks is Linux Lite. The latest version is built using
packages from the Ubuntu 18.04 release, and uses the
Xfce desktop with aesthetically pleasing modifications.
The distribution offers a good compromise between
speed and functionality, and exposes all useful desktop
features while still being responsive and fast. The
distribution will work blazingly well on anything with a
processor faster than 1.5GHz and 1GB or more of RAM.
Linux Lite looks and feels like a regular mainstream
distribution. Its list of pre-installed programs doesn’t
include any of the traditional lightweight apps and is
instead brimming with the usual suspects such as
GIMP, Firefox, VLC and LibreOffice. On top of this you
can also easily pull in other popular programs such as
Kodi, Skype, Steam, Spotify and more using the custom
Lite Software application. In fact, the distribution
includes several homebrewed Lite-branded tools for
interacting and customising various aspects of the
desktop and the installation.
There’s a welcome screen that enables you to install
updates and drivers and set up a backup restore point,
a program to help upgrade to the latest release, and
another to manage users. One of the most useful ones
is Lite Tweaks, which helps you with common admin
tasks. You can use it to free up memory, remove older
kernels and install new ones. It also includes some
performance-enhancing tweaks that we’ve discussed
in the previous pages, including zRAM and Preload.In our opinion, Linux Lite isn’t really suitable for
dated hardware. However, we’ve found it to be one of
the snappiest distros on more recent machines.AntiX antics
If, however, you do want to use a distro that prides itself
for its judicious use of system resources, there’s antiX.
The distro is content on a computer with just 256MB of
RAM, which was one of the many positives that helped it
top the charts in our recent Roundup of lightweight
distros (LXF255 and reviewed on p23). The Systemd-freedistro comes in various editions, including a core edition
that has just enough applications to help you build your
desktop from scratch. The full edition of antiX uses
IceWM, together with the Rox file manager.
The Debian-based distro boots into a pleasing-
looking IceWM window manager with icons on the
desktop. At the bottom of the screen is an application
menu, task switcher and system tray. It uses a custom
installer that’s verbose enough to be operated by
inexperienced users, despite the fact that it uses
GParted for partitioning.
AntiX ships with plenty of applications including
mainstream applications such as Firefox and
LibreOffice, but complements them with lightweights
like GNOME MPV, Claws email, the Dillo web browser
and then goes one step further by packing esoteric but
useful applications, such as the Droppy network file-
sharing webserver. You can use the streamlight-antix
application to stream videos with very low RAM usage.
One of the interesting aspects of the distro is the
metapackage installer that helps make it more
accessible to new users. The tool is so extensive that
you really don’t need to use a package manager unless
you need to install a particular library.JUST CAN’T BE BOTHERED?
“If you don’t have the time to follow
our advice, you can still enhance your
Linux experience by switching distros.”
3332Decmbr rb2c0194b095678 December 2019LXF257 39
Lightweight Linux
W
Besidesenhancing
performance,
theLiteTweaks
appshelpsyoufix
commonailments
aswell.Bydefault,antiXbootsintoa IceWMdesktopthatusestheRoxfile
manager,butoffersabouta dozenothercombinations.SPECIALIST DISTROS
LEVEL 5
e’ve already said that mainstream distros are
put together in such a manner so as to appeal
to a large number of people. The downside of
this approach is the obvious bloat and lethargy. If you
don’t have the time to follow our advice in the previous
pages to scrape off the excess from your installation,
you can still enhance your Linux experience by
switching distros.
When you are out looking for a fast distro, you’ll find
a good number of options designed for older
computers. Since they are developed to perform within
the limited resources of an older machine, they are an
ideal choice for accelerating the desktop experience on
modern hardware.
Lite speed
One of the best options for accelerating regular desktop
Linux tasks is Linux Lite. The latest version is built using
packages from the Ubuntu 18.04 release, and uses the
Xfce desktop with aesthetically pleasing modifications.
The distribution offers a good compromise between
speed and functionality, and exposes all useful desktop
features while still being responsive and fast. The
distribution will work blazingly well on anything with a
processor faster than 1.5GHz and 1GB or more of RAM.
Linux Lite looks and feels like a regular mainstream
distribution. Its list of pre-installed programs doesn’t
include any of the traditional lightweight apps and is
instead brimming with the usual suspects such as
GIMP, Firefox, VLC and LibreOffice. On top of this you
can also easily pull in other popular programs such as
Kodi, Skype, Steam, Spotify and more using the custom
Lite Software application. In fact, the distribution
includes several homebrewed Lite-branded tools for
interacting and customising various aspects of the
desktop and the installation.
There’s a welcome screen that enables you to install
updates and drivers and set up a backup restore point,
a program to help upgrade to the latest release, and
another to manage users. One of the most useful ones
is Lite Tweaks, which helps you with common admin
tasks. You can use it to free up memory, remove older
kernels and install new ones. It also includes some
performance-enhancing tweaks that we’ve discussed
in the previous pages, including zRAM and Preload.
In our opinion, Linux Lite isn’t really suitable for
dated hardware. However, we’ve found it to be one of
the snappiest distros on more recent machines.AntiX antics
If, however, you do want to use a distro that prides itself
for its judicious use of system resources, there’s antiX.
The distro is content on a computer with just 256MB of
RAM, which was one of the many positives that helped it
top the charts in our recent Roundup of lightweight
distros(LXF255andreviewedonp23).TheSystemd-freedistrocomesinvariouseditions,includingacoreedition
that has just enough applications to help you build your
desktop from scratch. The full edition of antiX uses
IceWM, together with the Rox file manager.
The Debian-based distro boots into a pleasing-
looking IceWM window manager with icons on the
desktop. At the bottom of the screen is an application
menu, task switcher and system tray. It uses a custom
installer that’s verbose enough to be operated by
inexperienced users, despite the fact that it uses
GParted for partitioning.
AntiX ships with plenty of applications including
mainstream applications such as Firefox and
LibreOffice, but complements them with lightweights
like GNOME MPV, Claws email, the Dillo web browser
and then goes one step further by packing esoteric but
useful applications, such as the Droppy network file-
sharing webserver. You can use the streamlight-antix
application to stream videos with very low RAM usage.
One of the interesting aspects of the distro is the
metapackage installer that helps make it more
accessible to new users. The tool is so extensive that
you really don’t need to use a package manager unless
you need to install a particular library.JUST CAN’T BE BOTHERED?
“If you don’t have the time to follow
our advice, you can still enhance your
Linux experience by switching distros.”