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ZDNET Highlights
- Basengulinux might be one of the best lightweight Linux distros.
- Basengulinux is based on Debian Trixie.
- This distribution comes with a ton of preinstalled apps.
Basegnulinux. Basegnulinux. basegnulinux,
Say it three times, and Richard Stallman will appear to be shaming you for not using 100% GNU/Linux tools.
When I see GNU/Linux associated with a Linux distribution, I immediately assume that it will have a minimal amount of preinstalled applications, all of which will strictly adhere to GNU/Linux standards. Although I am not opposed to it, my problem is that such a list of applications would be limited for me.
Also: Want to save your old computer? Try One of These 9 Linux Distros for Free
For years, I’ve been of the “whatever tool works” mentality, which means sometimes I use open-source applications and sometimes not.
whatever works.
With BaseGNuLinux, you’re only getting open-source software, but unlike many distributions that came before it, this take on Linux includes a number of apps to allow you to get off the ground.
It has LibreOffice, Sylfeed (email client), Synaptic Package Manager, MPV Media Player, KeePassXC, Conky Control, Kernel Manager (a third party software manager), Brave Browser. And Brave browser with Tor integration, Deluge (a torrent app) and many others. You also get a collection of open-source games and plenty of configuration tools.
You can easily install any of these kernels on BaseGNUlinux.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
All of these apps are found in the JWM desktop menu.
What is JWM? This is Joe’s Window Manager, a lightweight Linux desktop UI that is extremely fast and instantly familiar. JWM is reminiscent of the old days of Linux desktops, but not the general desktop environment era. JWM isn’t as modern looking, doesn’t include a wide variety of effects, and isn’t as visually appealing as Cosmic or KDE Plasma.
Also: Do you want to try the original KDE desktop from 1996? I did, and it took me back – here’s how
But JWM will make you feel right at home, even on an older computer (called a Windows 10 desktop or a laptop that can’t run Windows 11). The minimum system requirements for Basengulinux are:
- CPU: 64-bit (x86-64)
- RAM: Minimum 250 MB listed, but 512 MB or more is recommended for smooth operation
- Storage: At least 8 GB disk space
That’s right, 250MB of RAM is the minimum, but 512MB or more is recommended. When was the last time you thought that a PC could run on 512 MB of RAM? Maybe when Windows XP was still a thing?
Too: These 6 Linux Apps Are the Secret to My Creative Process
Don’t let the old-fashioned look and feel fool you. BaseGNUlinux can easily serve you in this modern world. And given that it is based on Debian “Trixie”, there are always standard repositories from which any necessary software can be installed.
No universal package manager?
I was actually surprised to see that neither Snap nor Flatpak is installed on BasegnuLinux. With a large amount of preinstalled software, I would have assumed the developer understood that, in terms of software management, more is better. As a result, you are limited to APT out of the box.
The good news is that you can install Snap or Flatpak with APT, so you won’t have to be without the apps you need, like Spotify, Slack, or other proprietary software.
Too: Why Snap and Flatpak Make Linux a Better OS and How They Differ
Gasp! Am I saying that it’s okay to install non-open-source software with the word GNU in the title on a Linux distribution?
of course I am.
If you need it, install it.
If you want Flatpak, install it with:
sudo apt-get install flatpack -y
After that, add the Flathub repository with:
flatpak remote-add –if-not-exists Flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
You should be good to go.
be brave
When I saw the two iterations of the Brave browser, my curiosity was piqued. The first thing I did was launch Brave Tor to see how well it worked. Upon launching Brave Tor, the browser immediately began the process of connecting to the Tor network. Once connected, I pointed to Brave Tor what is my ip And found that it was working perfectly.
Having Tor built into Brave is a great option for privacy lovers.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
This is very good. Installing a popular browser that can be used in the normal way or as a completely anonymous browser is a breath of fresh air, especially considering that it all works out of the box.
Also: 7 features that make Brave such a great browser
For a person who values his privacy, this matters. There are times when I need complete anonymity and security, and Tor is my go-to. The ability to activate a specific version of Brave (which is already a secure browser by default) with Tor built in out of the box could be a game-changer.
old is not always bad
Certainly, Basengulinux is a Linux distribution with old-school charm. If you don’t mind a desktop environment that looks like it was created in the early 2000s, this distribution can be a great introduction to Linux for anyone. Although the sheer number of pre-installed apps in the desktop menu may be a little frustrating for some users, it shouldn’t take anyone too long to get up to speed with this lightweight Linux distribution.
Although Basengulinux has been around for a while (this is the third major release), my prediction is that it will become a darling among lightweight distributions in the coming year.
