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Of course, Tiny Core Linux isn't the only ultra-lightweight distro out there. SliTaz requires a bit more space , but packs more built-in features (including a browser). Meanwhile, Slax is specifically designed to run as a small, live-USB-friendly system aimed at physical portability; it's larger, but more compatible with mainstream Linux software. Those projects aim to be something more like "small but complete" out of the box.
Tiny Core takes a different approach, as its base system is intentionally incomplete. You get the kernel, the BusyBox utility package, a tiny GUI stack based on FLTK/FLWM, and that's about it. Anything beyond the absolute minimum, including a browser, any multimedia support, extra drivers, et cetera — it all gets installed as an extension through Tiny Core's repository system, which functions kind of like a minimal app store. Since those extensions aren't baked into the ISO, the default download stays microscopic.
This modular approach is powerful, but it also means Tiny Core demands a certain level of Linux comfort. Users are expected to know what they want to install, how Linux file systems work, and how to handle system configuration by hand, the old-fashioned way. It's not a beginner-friendly distro, and doesn't try to be. If you're fighting Windows 11 fatigue and looking to leap to Linux, jumping to Tiny Core is a bit like ditching your Ford Edsel for a unicycle.
The fun historical wrinkle is that 23MB used to be a luxury. You could run Windows 3.0 in as little as 1 MB of RAM. Early 90s Linux distributions fit entire operating systems —with the kernel, its drivers, management tools, and X11 — onto a couple of floppy diskettes. The difference is that those systems didn't have to support modern hardware stacks, wireless networking, USB3 controllers, or graphics acceleration. Once you bring in contemporary kernels and libraries, even the most aggressively stripped-down environment gains weight.
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Key considerations
- Investor positioning can change fast
- Volatility remains possible near catalysts
- Macro rates and liquidity can dominate flows
Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/software/linux/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/software/linux/tiny-core-linux-16-2-still-fits-a-proper-linux-desktop-into-a-23mb-download-but-it-has-grown-1mb-since-the-last-time-we-looked-at-it#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com
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