Tiny Core Linux

Tiny Core Linux (TCL) is a minimal Linux operating system focusing on providing a base system using BusyBox and FLTK, developed by Robert Shingledecker.[2] The distribution is notable for its small size (11 to 16 MB) and minimalism; additional functions are provided by extensions. Tiny Core Linux is free and open source software and is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2.

Tiny Core Linux
Tiny Core Linux 5.x
OS familyUnix-like
Working stateCurrent
Source modelOpen source
Initial releaseJanuary 5, 2009 (2009-01-05)
Latest release11.1 / April 1, 2020 (2020-04-01)
Available inEnglish
Package managerappbrowser (GUI) / tce (CLI)
Platformsx86
x86-64
armv7
Raspberry Pi
Kernel typeMonolithic
UserlandBusyBox
Default user interfaceFLWM
LicenseGNU GPLv2[1]
Official websitetinycorelinux.net

Types of "Cores"

"Tiny Core" (16 MB) is the recommended option for new users who have a wired network connection. It includes the base Core system and a dynamic FLTK/FLWM graphical user interface.[3]

"Core" (11 MB) (also known as "Micro Core Linux") is a smaller variant of Tiny Core without a graphical desktop, though additional extensions can be added to create a system with a graphical desktop environment.[3]

"dCore" (12 MB) is a core made from Debian or Ubuntu compatible files that uses import and the SCE package format,[4] a self-contained package format for the Tiny Core distribution since 5.x series.

"CorePure64" is a notable port of "Core" to the x86_64 architecture.

"Core Plus" (106 MB) is "an installation image and not the distribution".[3] It is composed of Tiny Core with additional functionality, most notably wireless support and non-US keyboard support.[3]

"piCore" is the Raspberry Pi port of "Core."

System requirements

Minimal configuration: Tiny Core needs at least 46 MB of RAM in order to run, and Core requires at least 28 MB of RAM. The minimum CPU is an i486DX.[5]

Recommended configuration: A Pentium 2 CPU and 128 MB of RAM are recommended for Tiny Core.[5]

Design philosophy

The developers describe TCL as "a nomadic ultra small graphical desktop operating system capable of booting from cdrom, pendrive, or frugally from a hard drive."[6] As of version 2.8.1, the core is designed to run primarily in RAM but with three distinct modes of operation:

  • "Cloud" or Internet mode — A "testdrive" mode using a built-in appbrowser GUI to explore extensions from an online application extension repository loaded into RAM only for the current session.
  • TCE/Install — A mode for Tiny Core Extensions downloaded and run from a storage partition but kept as symbolic links in RAM.
  • TCE/CopyFS — A mode which installs applications onto a Linux partition like a more typical Linux installation.[7]

Release history
Version Stability Release date
1.0[8][9] Stable version January 5, 2009
2.0[8][10] Stable version June 7, 2009
3.0[8] Stable version July 19, 2010
4.0[8][11] Stable version September 25, 2011
4.7.7[8] Stable version May 10, 2013
5.0[8][12] Stable version September 14, 2013
5.0.1[8] Stable version October 1, 2013
5.0.2[8] Stable version October 18, 2013
5.1[8] Stable version November 28, 2013
5.2[8] Stable version January 14, 2014
5.3[8] Stable version April 19, 2014
5.4[8] Stable version September 10, 2014
6.0[8] Stable version January 5, 2015
6.1[8] Stable version March 7, 2015
6.2[8] Stable version May 3, 2015
6.3[8] Stable version May 30, 2015
6.4[8] Stable version September 8, 2015
6.4.1[8] Stable version November 4, 2015
7.0[8][13] Stable version February 23, 2016
7.1[8] Stable version May 22, 2016
7.2[8] Stable version July 4, 2016
8.0[8] Stable version April 10, 2017
8.1[8] Stable version September 3, 2017
8.2[8] Stable version September 22, 2017
9.0[8] Stable version February 26, 2018
10.0[8] Stable version January 20, 2019
10.1[8] Stable version June 11, 2019
11.0[8] Stable version February 9, 2020
11.1[8] Stable version April 1, 2020

See also

References
  1. Robert Shingledecker. "Frequently Asked Questions: License". Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  2. "Robert Shingledecker's Projects". Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2012.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  3. Robert Shingledecker (2012). "Downloads - Tiny Core Linux". Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  4. Juanito. "dCore-5.0.alpha1 released". Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  5. Robert Shingledecker. "Frequently Asked Questions: What are the minimum requirements?". Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  6. Robert Shingledecker (December 1, 2008). "Welcome to The Core Project - Tiny Core Linux". Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  7. Robert Shingledecker. "Tiny Core: Core Concepts". Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  8. Final Releases – Release Announcements and Change log from Tiny Core Linux Forum
  9. DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 296, 30 March 2009
  10. Tiny Core: The Little Distro That Could | Linux Magazine
  11. DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 440, 23 January 2012
  12. DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 527, 30 September 2013
  13. Tiny Core Linux 7.0 [LWN.nett]
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