antiX
antiX is an extremely lightweight Debian stable derivative led by Greek developer anticapitalista, designed specifically for old computers and low-resource hardware. It runs without systemd (using sysvinit instead), provides a selection of lightweight window managers, and can run comfortably on just 256 MB of RAM. It is also the base layer upon which MX Linux is built.
Basic Information
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Based on | Debian stable |
| Release cycle | Follows Debian stable; periodic updated releases |
| Default desktop | IceWM (default), Fluxbox, JWM, Herbstluftwm |
| Target users | Old hardware owners, minimalists, anti-systemd users |
| Website | https://antixlinux.com |
Key Features
- Radical lightweight footprint: A full antiX desktop idles at 150–200 MB of RAM. Systems with 256 MB can run antiX, and 512 MB provides a comfortable experience — making decade-old hardware genuinely usable again.
- No systemd: antiX uses sysvinit as its init system, keeping the boot process simple, transparent, and fast. This also makes antiX one of the few distributions that still maintains a 32-bit release.
- Four installation editions: Full (complete set of apps), Base (lightweight with minimal software), Core (command-line only, no desktop), and Net (network installer) — so you install exactly what you need.
- Strong Live capabilities: Live mode supports persistent storage to USB, and the antiX Live USB Maker can write a running live session to a drive while preserving your settings and data.
- Legacy 32-bit support: One of the very few actively maintained distributions still providing 32-bit images, capable of running on hardware that predates PAE kernel support.
Relationship to Debian
antiX is based directly on Debian stable, drawing from official Debian repositories plus the antiX overlay repository. The main differences from standard Debian are: systemd is removed and replaced with sysvinit; a selection of lightweight window managers replaces full desktop environments; and several Debian default services are disabled or replaced with lighter alternatives. antiX provides the live boot framework and base packages that MX Linux builds upon.
Getting Started
# Download the ISO from: https://antixlinux.com/download/
# Available in Full, Base, Core, and Net editions — 32-bit and 64-bit
# After installation, update the system
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
# Check RAM usage (verifying the lightweight claim)
free -h
# Service management with sysvinit
sudo service <service-name> start
sudo service <service-name> stop
sudo update-rc.d <service-name> enable
# Install a lightweight browser (e.g., Falkon or Midori)
sudo apt install falkon -y
# Window manager selection is available at login screen
# Choose between IceWM, Fluxbox, JWM, or othersWho Is It For?
- Users with old PCs (10+ years old, 256–512 MB RAM) who want a functional Linux desktop
- Minimalists who prefer to understand every running process in their system
- Users who oppose systemd and prefer traditional sysvinit
- Anyone who wants to run a full Linux environment from a USB drive with persistent storage
antiX vs. MX Linux
antiX is the more extreme choice — leaner, closer to the command line, and best suited for users comfortable with Linux. MX Linux is built on antiX but adds graphical tools and a friendlier interface, making it better for users who prefer a GUI-first experience.
Related Links
- Website: https://antixlinux.com
- Download: https://antixlinux.com/download/
- Community forums: https://www.antixforum.com
- SourceForge mirror: https://sourceforge.net/projects/antix-linux/
Next Steps
Return to the Debian Derivatives overview to explore other Debian-based distributions.