AntiX
Lightweight systemd free Linux distribution
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
antiX (/ˈæntɪks/) is a Linux distribution, originally based on MEPIS, which itself is based on the Debian stable distribution.[4] antiX initially replaced the MEPIS KDE desktop environment with the Fluxbox and IceWM window managers, making it suitable for older, less powerful x86-based systems. Unlike Debian, antiX does not use the systemd init system; instead, it provides images in which either SysVinit or Runit are set as the default init system.[5]
| antiX | |
|---|---|
| |
| OS family | Linux (Unix-like) |
| Working state | Current |
| Source model | Open source |
| Latest release | antiX 23.2 "Arditi del Popolo"[1] / October 6, 2024 |
| Marketing target | older PCs |
| Update method | Long-term support LTS |
| Package manager | APT |
| Supported platforms | IA-32, x64 |
| Kernel type | Monolithic (Linux kernel) |
| Userland | GNU |
| Default user interface | Rox-IceWM, Fluxbox, IceWM, JWM, herbstluftwm[2] |
| License | GPL version 2 |
| Official website | antixlinux |
| Tagline | systemd and elogind free[3] |
Features
The distribution is lightweight and designed for older PCs, including a 'Legacy' 5.10 kernel for older computers and a 'Modern' 6.1 kernel which provides better hardware support for more recent PCs.[1] It has a large app selection from both Debian and antiX repositories,[6] and does not use systemd or elogind.
- Starting with version 19, antiX offers sysVinit and runit as a choice for the init system.
- Starting with version 22, antiX is offered elogind-free for both 32-bit and 64-bit architecture.[7]
- Starting with version 23.1, antiX has new apps: antiX TV, antiX Radio, Finder, antiX SAMBA manager, and several others.[8]
- Starting with version 23.2, antiX Full comes with two kernels: Legacy 5.10 and Modern 6.1.[1]
antiX has extensive support for "live CD" and "live USB" modes, booting quickly and running independently of the system's disk.[9]
Window managers
antiX comes with a default desktop built on top of the ROX or Zzzfm file managers, with the GTK library and using IceWM as the window manager.[10] antiX-full and antiX-base include these stacking window managers:
- Lightweight: Rox-IceWM (default), IceWM and ZzzFM-IceWM
- Minimalist: Rox-Fluxbox, Fluxbox and ZzzFM-Fluxbox
- Very minimalist: Rox-JWM, JWM[11] and ZzzFM-JWM
Running the ROX or Zzzfm variants provides desktop icons and a drag-and-drop function. Conky provides system monitor availability.
Versions
antiX is available for IA-32 (32-bit) and x86-64 (64-bit) architectures, and comes in four versions:[12][8] antiX 26 comes with 4 modern init systems (runit, dinit, s6-rc and s6-66) as well as sysVinit.[13]
- Full, Includes X, four window managers, LibreOffice suite, and a 'Package Installer' which allows installation of a full range of applications (1.7 GB)
- Base, Includes X, 4 window managers, & a 'Package Installer' which allows the user to choose their own application suite (1 GB). Available in antiX 23 and older.[13]
- Core, No X, command-line installer without encryption, enables the user to have total control over the install (520 MB) antiX-core will now need a wired connection for Internet access.[13]
- net, No X, command-line installer without encryption, enables the user to have total control, no desktop environment by default (220 MB). Available in antiX 23 and older.[13]
These four antiX versions were joined by MEPIS in 2014, developed in cooperation with the MEPIS community to form MX Linux.[14] MX Linux uses Xfce as the default desktop environment,[15] is based directly on Debian Stable, and gives solid performance from a medium-sized footprint. Since November 2016, MX Linux is listed as a separate distro on DistroWatch.[16]
Releases
The releases of antiX are named after prominent left-wing figures, groups and revolutionaries.
Historical versions
| Version[18] | Code Name | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 6.5[19] | Spartacus | 9 July 2007 |
| 7.0[20][21] | Lysistrata | 30 October 2007 |
| 7.2[22][23] | Vetëvendosje | 16 May 2008 |
| 7.5[24][25] | Toussaint Louverture | 24 August 2008 |
| 8.0[26][27] | Intifada! | 14 February 2009 |
| 8.2[28][29][30] | Tȟašúŋke Witkó | 24 July 2009 |
| 8.5[31] | Marek Edelman | 12 April 2010 |
| M11[32][33] | Jayaben Desai | 3 May 2011 |
| 12[34][35][36] | Edelweißpiraten | 7 August 2012 |
| 13[37][38] | Luddite | 2 July 2013 |
| MX-14.4 | Symbiosis | 23 March 2015 |
| 15[39][40] | Killah P | 30 June 2015 |
| MX-15 | Fusion | 24 December 2015 |
| 16[41] | Berta Cáceres | 26 June 2016 |
| 17[42] | Heather Heyer | 24 October 2017 |
| 17.1[43] | 18 March 2018 | |
| 17.2[44] | Helen Keller | 5 October 2018 |
| 17.4.1[45] | 28 March 2019 | |
| 17.5[46] | 9 January 2022 | |
Legend: Unsupported Supported Latest version | ||
Supported versions
| Version[18] | Code Name | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 19[47] | Marielle Franco | 17 October 2019 |
| 19.1[48] | 23 December 2019 | |
| 19.2[49] | Hannie Schaft | 28 March 2020 |
| 19.3[50] | Manolis Glezos | 16 October 2020 |
| 19.4[51] | Grup Yorum | 21 May 2021 |
| 19.5[52] | 25 January 2022 | |
| 21[53] | 31 October 2021 | |
| 22[7] | 19 October 2022 | |
| 23[54] | Arditi del Popolo | 28 August 2023 |
| 23.1[8] | 22 February 2024 | |
| 23.2[1] | 6 October 2024 | |
| 26 RC1[55] | Stephen Kapos | January 28, 2026 |
Legend: Unsupported Supported Latest version Preview version | ||
See also
- Category:Linux distributions without systemd
- List of Linux distributions that run from RAM
- Light-weight Linux distribution
- MX Linux a distro based on Debian using core antiX components.
