ALT Linux WindowMaker

ALT Linux WindowMaker is an open source Linux-based distribution built around the old-school and minimalistic WindowMaker window manager. It is definitely the perfect operating system for very old computers.

ALT Linux is an independent Russian Linux distribution that comes in many flavors, including School Server, School Junior, School Teacher, School Master, Server, Rescue, and specific editions with the MATE, Cinnamon, Xfce, GNOME, KDE, IceWM, LXDE, and Enlightenment desktop environments.

Distributed as Live CDs for 64-bit and 32-bit computers

This is the smallest ALT Linux flavor that includes a desktop environment. It is distributed as Live CD ISO images that support both 64-bit and 32-bit architectures. It can be run directly from the live media (CD or USB) or installed locally on a disk drive.

If used from a USB flash drive, the boot medium will provide a persistence mode that allows users to save their live session and reuse it whenever they want. The Live CDs can also be used to boot an existing operating system or run a memory test.

Uses the WindowMaker window manager for the default graphical session

Unfortunately, WindowMaker is not a desktop environment for novices. It is actually a very minimalistic window manager that features no panels or taskbars, but only some sort of widgets, called DockApps.

To access the main menu and launch applications, you will need to right click anywhere on the desktop. Each menu entry can be accessed with the left mouse click. Some basic functions for restarting the session, lock the screen and exit the window manager are also provided.

In addition, the main menu is used to switch between multiple virtual workspaces, configure various aspects of the window manager, change themes, styles, icon sets, background image, as well as to show or hide running apps.

Default applications

Default applications include the Mozilla Firefox web browser, Midnight Commander file manager, Synaptic Package Manager, XTerm terminal emulator, and some other WindowMaker related utilities.

What is new in this release:

• Linux 4.14.61 / 4.17.13
• Built using mkimage-profiles 1.2.20

What is new in version 20180613:

• Built using mkimage-profiles 1.2.16
• GnuPG2 2.2.8 (and fixed 1.4.22+)

What is new in version :

• Linux 4.9.72 / 4.14.8+
• glibc 2.26+
• xorg-server 1.19.6, Mesa 17.2.7

What is new in version 20171122:

• Linux 4.9.63 / 4.13.14
• built using mkimage-profiles 1.2.4

What is new in version 20171025:

• Linux 4.9.58 / 4.13.9
• built using mkimage-profiles 1.2.3+
• Mesa 17.2.3
• Qt 5.9.2
• ModemManager 1.6.10

What is new in version 20170830:

• Linux 4.9.45 / 4.12.9
• Firefox 55.0.3
• Built using mkimage-profiles 1.2.1+

What is new in version 20170719:

• Linux 4.9.38 / 4.12.2

What is new in version 20170613:

• Linux 4.9.31 / 4.10.17

What is new in version 20170329:

• Linux 4.9.18 / 4.10.6
• make-initrd 2.0.3
• Mesa 17.0.2

What is new in version 20170222:

• Linux 4.4.50 / 4.9.11

What is new in version 20170125:

• Linux 4.4.44 / 4.9.5
• sudo 1.8.19

What is new in version 20161228:

• Linux 4.4.33 / 4.8.9
• Firefox 50

What is new in version 20161123:

• Linux 4.4.33 / 4.8.9
• Firefox 50

What is new in version 20161026:

• Linux 4.4.27 / 4.7.10

What is new in version 20160727:

• back from Valaam release
• Linux 4.4.15 / 4.6.4
• desktop images: xorg-server 1.18.4, Mesa 12.0.1
• cinnamon: 3.0.7
• enlightenment: 0.20.10
• gnome3: updated packages; evolution 3.20.4
• kde5, lxqt: KF5 5.24.0 / 5.7.1

What is new in version 20160622:

• We Remember
• updated lvm2/mdadm/multipath-tools
• Firefox 47.0
• gnome3: some 3.20.3 packages

What is new in version 20151104:

• Russia's Unity Day release
• built using mkimage-profiles 1.1.77+ (see tag)
• os-prober 1.70 (win10 detection)
• desktop images: initial NTP support
• NetworkManager 1.0.6+
• this snapshot finally marked as tested again, hooray! (see BUGS fixed)

What is new in version 20150729:

• Built using mkimage-profiles 1.1.70+.

What is new in version 20150624:

• Linux 3.14.45 / 4.0.6
• systemd 221 (further regressions, see BUGS)
• built using mkimage-profiles 1.1.68+
• not marked as tested due to known regressions

What is new in version 20150311:

• Linux 3.14.35 (with SECCOMP_FILTER_FLAG_TSYNC) / 3.19.1
• Mesa 10.5.0 - built using mkimage-profiles 1.1.61
• desktop images: added inconsolata, terminus fonts

What is new in version 20150217:

• Linux 3.14.33 / 3.18.7
• xorg-server 1.16.4
• NetworkManager 1.0
• built using mkimage-profiles 1.1.58

What is new in version 20150204:

• Linux 3.14.31 / 3.18.5
• Firefox 35.0.1
• kde4: 14.12.1 (some packages are 4.14.4 or so)

What is new in version 20150121:

• Linux 3.14.29 / 3.18.3

What is new in version 20150107:

• Built using mkimage-profiles 1.1.54

What is new in version 20141231:

• goodbye 2014 release
• Mesa 10.4.1

What is new in version 20141224:

• Linux 3.14.27 / 3.18.1
• built using mkimage-profiles 1.1.53+
• added servicectl

What is new in version 20140912:

• Linux 3.14.18 / 3.16.1 / 3.4.96
• Built using mkimage-profiles 1.1.45 / 1.0.4 (vm)
• Installers will actually get udev-rule-generator-net onto the system
• Live CDs tend to use Mozilla Fira/Adobe Source Pro fonts instead of DejaVu