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JWarren Joined: Sep 04, 2008 Posts: 6 Other Topics	Posted Sep 11, 2008 at 2:45:00 AM Subject: OS only distribution? NO other APP's Hello to all! I have been looking for a while for a OS only distribution. I have searched through the threads here and elsewhere, but have seen no mention of one, unless I missed it. Some of the distributions are nice, with really nice additional packages, like openoffice, installed with the OS. What I really want to find is a distro with no other apps included. A couple of reasons: I want to choose what I want without having to remove a bunch stuff that I don't. and I am trying to get a better handle on how linux, in a nutshell, works. I know each distro is different and I am not looking to create a new one; I just want to be able to write a bit of code without all the other add-on's in the way to confuse my attemps. Hope that makes sense! :) Just an OS that will boot up into a windowing environment with no games, etc.....
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Waxon Joined Apr 02, 2008 Posts: 121 Other Topics	Posted: Sep 11, 2008 5:38:09 AM Subject: OS only distribution? NO other APP's Here is a link to some Softpedia pages that include a list and a download link to just about every Linux disto I've ever of. I'd guess there are around 300, more or less, distros there with descriptions of each. Take a look and see if there is anything there that suits your fancy. http://linux.softpedia.com/get/System/Operating-Systems/Linux-Distributions/ [Modified by: Waxon on September 10, 2008 09:40 PM] If it ain't broke, you aren't trying hard enough.
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JWarren Joined Sep 04, 2008 Posts: 6 Other Topics	Posted: Sep 11, 2008 7:41:44 AM Subject: OS only distribution? NO other APP's Holy cow, thanks for the link. That'll keep me busy for a while. Maybe someone will chime in with a couple specific distros. Thanks again!
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rokytnji Joined Jul 26, 2008 Posts: 447 Location:Pecos, Texas Other Topics	Posted: Sep 11, 2008 2:19:27 PM Subject: OS only distribution? NO other APP's http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/minimal Light travels faster than the speed of sound. Thats why certain people appear bright till they open their mouths. "Where is the 'any' key?" – Homer Simpson, in response to the message, "Press any key" Registered Linux User # 475019
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raluxs Joined May 14, 2008 Posts: 42 Other Topics	Posted: Sep 11, 2008 2:46:15 PM Subject: OS only distribution? NO other APP's You can try Mandriva with their "mini" version, when you go to mandriva's download sites you will see the free, the one and the mini versions, Mandriva mini will give you what you want, just the graphical environment,a browser and a terminal. From there you can add whatever you want. www.mandriva.com
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JWarren Joined Sep 04, 2008 Posts: 6 Other Topics	Posted: Sep 11, 2008 3:18:09 PM Subject: OS only distribution? NO other APP's Thanks for the replies everyone! I have one workstation that I will use to test them out. Thanks again! John
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Khabi Joined Apr 21, 2008 Posts: 110 Other Topics	Posted: Sep 11, 2008 7:03:00 PM Subject: OS only distribution? NO other APP's "I have been looking for a while for a OS only distribution." "I am trying to get a better handle on how linux, in a nutshell, works." I would suggest Gentoo. The stage 3 tarball install has only the bare minimum to get the system going (+python for its app management). From there you 'emerge' only what you need on the system. Absolutely no fluff. Full base install is only a few hundred megs. :) Trust me, the install can be a bit on the rough side for a new user, but you'll get a really good grasp on how linux works afterwards. Also, don't use the graphical installer, just follow the manual for the hand install. :)
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Reed Joined Feb 07, 2008 Posts: 122 Other Topics	Posted: Sep 13, 2008 3:17:40 PM Subject: OS only distribution? NO other APP's I would give Arch Linux a try. It doesn't require compiling everything, which can take forever, like Gentoo, but allows for almost complete control over every aspect of your system. And it's a rolling distro with frequent updates to the repositories, so there's no need to reinstall every six months like with Ubuntu.
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Les Joined Sep 13, 2008 Posts: 1 Other Topics	Posted: Sep 13, 2008 11:19:57 PM Subject: OS only distribution? NO other APP's I second the Arch Linux suggestion. I have a fully functional KDE 4.1.1 desktop with all my favorite apps: Kmail, Firefox 3, Gimp, Blender, Open Office, Bibletime, etc. with only 628 installed packages, compared to over 1400 when I was using Kubuntu. It was not an easy installation, but I'm quite happy with the results. I also like the rolling release.
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Joined Nov 23, 2008 Posts: 10 Other Topics	Posted: Sep 14, 2008 6:26:56 AM Subject: OS only distribution? NO other APP's One thing to think about: there is no clear distinction between where the OS ends and the applications begin. Even a minimal install of most distros has a variety of command line applications that are necessary to get the basic system installed and running, and a desktop environment is "just another program" on linux. I really learned a lot by building a Debian install from a minimal install (command-line only) up to a full install. You can do the same with Ubuntu server edition. Gentoo or Slackware would also be good for this kind of approach. It's a bit of a "trial by fire", but after you've done enough "what do I need to install/configure to make ____ work" questions, you'll be pretty knowledgeable.
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Artichaud Joined Sep 14, 2008 Posts: 1 Other Topics	Posted: Sep 14, 2008 9:41:50 AM Subject: OS only distribution? NO other APP's Quote: I am trying to get a better handle on how linux, in a nutshell, works. I know each distro is different and I am not looking to create a new one; I just want to be able to write a bit of code without all the other add-on's in the way to confuse my attemps. Hope that makes sense! :) It makes perfect sense :) You should give a try to linux from scratch . It details the process of compiling the whole system, step by step. It will give you a better understanding of how linux distributions works, and once you're done, you'll have the system you're looking for. Good Luck. [Modified by: Artichaud on September 14, 2008 09:42 AM]
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skeldoy Joined Sep 15, 2008 Posts: 1 Other Topics	Posted: Sep 15, 2008 7:39:28 PM Subject: OS only distribution? NO other APP's I know what you mean. I needed a distro without absolutely ANYTHING for a work-problem. I looked around and found a lot of systems, but they all (gentoo, ubuntu minimal, damn small linux, and the likes) came with around 150MBs of total nonsense that I really never use; so I decided to do the only smart thing: Build my own distro. It is really small (6MB) and does not really contain a lot but you can add whatever you like and it really gives you a hands on understanding of what a linux-system really is all about without hiding stuff in sub-directories of sub-directories. Pretty straight forward, but without a package-management system. You can try it out: http://folk.uio.no/skeldoy/IFALinux.html Shout out if it is something that you could need and I will add it! Best regards, Sverre
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qlik Joined Sep 19, 2008 Posts: 2 Other Topics	Posted: Sep 19, 2008 5:10:33 AM Subject: OS only distribution? NO other APP's Arch Linux sounds like exactly what you're looking for. Base installation has nothing but the Linux kernel, some hardware drivers, and the package manager, pacman. You can also install wireless tools from the CD if you need them. From there on up you build your own environment from scratch. You can always install GNOME or KDE or whatever, or you can go the fully customized way, and install your preferred WM then work up from there. The base installation is a little daunting, but they've got a brilliant wiki, and after reading the Beginner's Guide you should be set. The Arch community is awesome too; the repositories are some of the most up-to-date I've seen, and pacman is an amazing little piece of software. It's like Gentoo only without all the headaches, like compiling your own software and dependency hell. You should give Arch a try; at least check out the website and wiki. It's pretty awesome.
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