this post was submitted on 15 Jun 2023
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Linux
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Are people using it also as desktop or server OS? I only know that it is popular for docket images.
I personally use it as a desktop.
I don't understand, isn't what makes it a desktop or a server what you want to do with it?
Yes, it is. I have only never seen it to be used for something else then docker images so far.
Android was designed to be an OS for cameras, but was bought by google to make a smartphone OS. Not saying what you are saying isn't true though.
I did do a lot of configuration actually to it.
Tips and tricks? I want to install on a chromebook I have, only 16gb mmc so a light distro would be great.
I just picked Alpine Linux for security and efficiency built in mind out of the box. It still required a lot of configuration, for lowering attack surface and hardening.
I know you asked for a lightweight distro, but from a security standpoint, I recommend using whatever allows you to relock the bootloader. Which looking up I dont see any choice. If relocking doesnt matter, then any distro for speed is basically any distro that comes with as minimal stuff as possible.
Also, I might be wrong so do some research
Not speed so much as disk space, non-upgradeable 16g emmc severely limits the use of them. I have like 3-4 chromebooks I'd like something small on. Most distros get up to 4-7 gb once updated and equipped with desktop and browser. I'd like to see a loss of 1.5-2gb for a basic desktop.
Alpine was created for the sole purpose of pissing off Stallman, it doesn't have any practical use.
That is the exact question I had on my mind when coming to this post.
I mostly use it for VPS servers.
It certainly makes great VMs - graphical or otherwise. I think some people use it as a super lightweight distro as well, though my attempt to install it on a less powerful PC failed (probably a firmware issue).