Nanolinux

Nanolinux is an open source, free and very tiny Linux operating system based on the MicroCore Linux distribution and using the Busybox toolkit, Nano-X instead of X.Org, FLTK as the default GUI toolkit, and the super-lightweight SLWM window manager.

Distributed as a minimal Live CD

You can download this minimal distribution of Linux from its official website or via Softoware as a Live CD ISO image of approximately 14MB in size, which means that you must burn it onto a CD disc or write it on a USB flash drive in order to boot it from the BIOS of a computer.

Minimal boot prompt

The boot prompt of the Live CD is very minimal, allowing the user to hit the Enter key on his or her keyboard to boot the live environment. In addition, you can press the F2, F3 or F4 keys to view available boot options.

Cool and minimal desktop environment

As mentioned, the operating system uses the SLWM window manager as its default and only desktop environment. It comprises of a minimal taskbar located on the bottom edge of the screen and designed to provide access to some basic functionality of the system, and a desktop where right-click does not work.

A minimal set of open source applications

As expected, the distro includes several lightweight applications, including the Dillo web browser, FlWriter word processing software, Sprsht spread sheet software, FLTDJ personal information manager, AntiPaint paint application, Fluff file manager, NXterm terminal emulator, Flcalc calculator, FlView image viewer, and Fleditor text editor.

The distribution also includes several games, such as Tuxchess, Checkers, NXeyes, Mastermind and Blocks. Support for TrueType fonts and the UTF-8 character encoding is also provided in the Live CD.

The minimal bottom line

In conclusion, Nanolinux is a true minimal operating system that should be used by people who have a very old computer and don’t know what OS to install, or by hipsters.

What is new in this release:

• This version features an improved NXterm terminal emulation, and several new applications: FlMusic CD player, FlRadio internet radio, OSS sound, FlChat IRC client, Sudoku game, Mount tool, system statistics, Software package download and install utility, NTFS support for Windows hard disks, and Grub package for hard disk install.

What is new in version 1.2:

• This version features an improved NXterm terminal emulation, and several new applications: FlMusic CD player, FlRadio internet radio, OSS sound, FlChat IRC client, Sudoku game, Mount tool, system statistics, Software package download and install utility, NTFS support for Windows hard disks, and Grub package for hard disk install.