SliTaz GNU/Linux

SliTaz GNU/Linux is an open source Linux operating system that provides a minimalistic environment build around the handy Busybox command-line application. The main goal of the SliTaz project is to have a GNU/Linux distribution that works entirely in RAM (system memory), is installable to a disk drive, supports the French and English languages, and provides high performance and PC recycling.

Uses the JWM window manager

With an ISO image of less than 30MB, the SliTaz GNU/Linux operating system provides a minimalistic live environment powered by the JWM window manager. The boot menu features no more than five live modes, including core, base, GTK only and Just X. However, most users should use the “SliTaz Live” entry, which is also the default selection. But except for the “justX” one, all the other entries will provide a shell prompt.

Users are dropped to a shell prompt

In addition, users can also change the system language, check the media for errors, use the command-line, boot the system from the web (gPXE), and reboot the machine. Before using the live environment, user will be asked to select the preferred language for the system, as well as the keyboard layout. As mentioned above, you will be dropped to a shell prompt where you’ll need to login with the root/root username and password.

Quick access to over 3,300 pacakges

If you use the “justX” live session, a terminal emulator will be displayed, which provides instant access to hundreds of Linux commands, various rescue tools, and much more. An IRC client, an email client, an instant messaging client, a sound file editor, as well as over 3,300 other packages are easily installable from the default repositories with a single mouse click.

Bottom line

SliTaz GNU/Linux is a Linux operating system for hardcore UNIX/Linux users who want to use it as a system rescue CD, as well as other baisc system administration tasks.

What is new in this release:

• We have done a huge amount of work fixing bugs from RC2 with about 2500 commits in our Mercurial repositories. All the 4800 packages have been rebuilt to find and fix bugs and to ensure everything can be rebuilt from source by advanced users.

What is new in version 4.0 / 5.0 RC3:

• We have done a huge amount of work fixing bugs from RC2 with about 2500 commits in our Mercurial repositories. All the 4800 packages have been rebuilt to find and fix bugs and to ensure everything can be rebuilt from source by advanced users.

What is new in version 4.0 / 5.0 RC2:

• We have done a huge amount of work fixing bugs from RC1 with about 500 commits in our Mercurial repositories. All the 4300 packages have been rebuilt to found and fix bugs and to ensure everything can be rebuilt from source by advanced users.
• We took a lot of time to improve users experience with our default and custom LXDE desktop. Polkit and udisks configuration have been fixed to handle correctly external devices and internal hard disk partitions.
• The RC2 support a new installation method. SliTaz can be installed into a single directory without partitionning any hard disk. This method work with all file systems including NTFS and FAT32.

What is new in version 5.0 RC1:

• SliTaz 5.0 RC-1 includes many small bug fixes like the improved dialogs for the slitaz-config utility that gives new users the ability to easily setup their systems from a graphical or text interface, Tazpanel boasts a look and feel and the distribution now has better language support than ever before. We've even fixed support for old ATA hard drives to keep with our tradition of being able to run even on ancient systems.
• The desktop is again powered by PCmanFM, but with the addition of the trash can and gvfs/udisks support. The packages database has received over 200 package updates and we've added about 50 new packages to the repository. In preparation for the upcoming stable release, we've updated the main website with a new style while making the interface much easier to use.

What is new in version 4.0:

• More than 6500 commits in the wok
• More than 1000 packages added to database
• Boot in 10 seconds or less on a very recent machine
• Centralized configuration with the new control panel
• New build tool which lets you create SliTaz packages in a minute
• New rolling release ISO is built after each package cook
• 4 Distros in one on the LiveCD (The Russian dolls)
• New graphical installer and updater
• New GUI Boxes and tools to create Live systems
• Web boot improved: boot.slitaz.org
• Errata for 4.0 on the Wiki

What is new in version 3.0:

• Boot scripts rewritten and faster (super-fast booting)
• All home-made boxes improved (tazctrlbox, tazhw, wifibox, burnbox, mountbox, netbox, serverbox, installer)
• Switch to Xorg from Xvesa
• Switch to Midori as the default web browser
• Better hardware support - wifi cards, webcams, 3G-modems, printers, scanners
• Better themes and desktop integration
• Faster virtualization with lguest
• SliTaz pro: OpenERP, LAMP, GLPI and more
• Easier to customize LiveCD and LiveUSB (tazlitobox and tazusbbox)
• Tazpkg supports new features including the conversion of deb/rpm/arch/slackware/ipk packages to Slitaz native format
• Packages are now automatically built by a build bot (Tazbb)
• More contributors and stronger community
• 900 packages added to the database and many updates
• More than 2800 commits by contributors

What is new in version 2.0:

• Better hardware support for wifi, windows drivers, NTFS and low memory systems (through flavors)
• Easier customization to roll your own distro
• Web Boot support
• Openbox replaces JWM as the window manager
• More tiny graphical utilities for administration, setting preferences, system upgrade, etc

What is new in version 20090228:

• Getting ready for the next stable release, the SliTaz project is proud to publish a new Cooking version with many bug fixes, updates, improvements and new futures. PCI/USB device auto-detection is now handled by Tazhw and firmware can be installed with one click trough a graphical interface. Tazndis have also a simple box who let you manage Windows drivers in a user-friendly interface. The graphical package manager is much easier to use, the Live USB media can easily be created through a box. The desktop has a box to enable or disable applications started with the Openbox session and Ivman provides a lightweight notification system.