My old virtual machine is tanked so I have to start over. What's a good lean GUI Linux distro?
Posted by hoarduck@reddit | linux | View on Reddit | 20 comments
I can handle command line, but I don't want to. I want graphical/easy install of brave browser, VPN software, and a shared folder with my windows machine. I'd rather not fart around with config files for hours just for this so I'm not interested in something that's more secure if it also means taking days to set up.
Ideally it would be as lean as possible. Since this is a VM, it takes space on my computer and since it's supposed to be a simple "barely more than Internet" box, it shouldn't take 40 or 50 GB. I was hoping for less than 10 or 20.
MrOctantis@reddit
Why not WSL2?
hoarduck@reddit (OP)
What are the privacy implications of letting Microsoft have awareness of my Linux? Also what if I want several different VMs?
tblancher@reddit
Arch by default doesn't come with much, even the base package group doesn't contain a kernel, let alone a GUI environment.
Remember, Arch is what you make of it, so you have the tools to make it a "GUI Linux distro."
AutoModerator@reddit
This submission has been removed due to receiving too many reports from users. The mods have been notified and will re-approve if this removal was inappropriate, or leave it removed.
This is most likely because:
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
OnlyThePhantomKnows@reddit
There are lean ubuntu installs for ARM. That 22.04 will fit in less than 10G with CUDA installed. I am not sure if they package it for x64.
It's a VM that is a full machine. If you want light, install docker and get a docker Linux. I find the install of docker to be PITA.
Why do you care about disk? Most SSDs are 1TB and up. Install it on a USB 3.1 SSD. That's $21.
https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-BAR-Plus-256GB-MUF-256BE4/dp/B07BPKL2D2/ref=sr_1_2?th=1
hoarduck@reddit (OP)
I'm using VMware Player and would prefer not to use docker. I care about disk because I am using a laptop and don't need/want another external HD. People are saying Mint might be a good option.
OnlyThePhantomKnows@reddit
Mint might. I don't know it well enough. That disk I pointed you at is a small USB stick. :-D
Keely369@reddit
Debian with LXQt.
JWS19672912@reddit
I’ve been happy with Linux Mint as a VM
hoarduck@reddit (OP)
I hear a lot about Mint. Might be worth a try
phylter99@reddit
I don't see it being a smaller install than Ubuntu.
hoarduck@reddit (OP)
hmm.. is there no linux install that's lean?
1Hzdigicomp@reddit
Puppy Linux is small. Quite a bit different than the mainstream big linuxes though.
phylter99@reddit
It’s quite old. It’s based on a Debian build two major versions ago.
Sol33t303@reddit
Mints always been my suggestion when somebody wants something boring, good boring though.
10F1@reddit
Check CachyOS.
die_Eule_der_Minerva@reddit
Basically any mainstream Linux distro would do this. Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Mint all are less than 10 GB install. For your use case I would recommend Debian with something like Xfce for a lean and stable distro.
Swizzel-Stixx@reddit
Mint was larger than a 16gb install for me??? I love mint but the stock apps are quite large, and unless I am missing a way to do a lite install I would use debian for this
hoarduck@reddit (OP)
My old one was ubuntu and it was a hog. I needed 30 to 40 gb just for the most basic install. I must have done something wrong if it's supposed to actually work using less.
saberking321@reddit
Ubuntu will take more space because it uses snap. Any flatpak based distro will also take more space. Debian with Xfce would probably be a good choice, maybe also opensuse