Rewritten:
The Incredible Power of Tiny Core Linux: A Distro with Only 10 MB!
When I first heard about a new GNU/Linux distro with a mere 10 MB size, I was skeptical. But when I saw some screenshots, I started taking it more seriously. Unlike other distros with bulky window managers, Tiny Core Linux uses the lightweight jwm. It may be small, but it packs a punch with its access to a wide range of packages and the ability to install on both hard drives and USB drives. However, it requires manual installation without the assistance of any tools.
For me, it was reminiscent of my first impression of Damn Small Linux. I had always been curious about it, but never liked it after trying it. But this time, I wanted to find out if Tiny Core Linux was any different. So, I gave it a try.
After a bit of trial and error, I finally got it to work on QEMU, but it was slow. So, I switched to VirtualBox OSE, which is available for free on Debian repositories and works much better. The best part is, with limited screen space of 1024×768 resolution, the VESA driver is all that’s needed to get it up and running.
As Tiny Core Linux does not come with many pre-installed programs, users can install them according to their individual needs. Unlike DSL, all the packages are unique, but it does have a handy graphical interface called App Browser for easy installation. The browser displays available packages, has a search engine, install and download buttons. The packages have different formats, but can be easily installed with a double-click. However, uninstalling them may prove to be a challenge, as it is not clearly mentioned in the interface.
To my surprise, Minefield (the firefox browser) is the default browser option, with version 3 despite the tiny size of the distro. I tested it on a machine with 256 RAM and it worked perfectly on VirtualBox, unlike QEMU where it was painfully slow. I also needed a text editor, and while Tiny Core Linux does come with Vi, I prefer a more user-friendly alternative. So, I installed a dwarf text editor and it worked just fine for my needs.
Though all the installations went smoothly, I hit a roadblock when trying to install the scrotum program for taking screenshots within the system. Despite installing the necessary build package, it didn’t work due to broken dependencies.
Overall, my experience with Tiny Core Linux was excellent. It may not be suitable as a single-use system, but it’s great for experiments and customization. Have you tried Tiny Core Linux? Share your thoughts in the comments! And if you’re feeling adventurous, give it a try by downloading it on a virtual machine or USB drive. Trust me, it’s worth it!
