Tiny Core Linux

Tiny Core Linux (TCL) is a minimal Linux kernel based operating system focusing on providing a base system using BusyBox and FLTK. It was developed by Robert Shingledecker, who was previously the lead developer of Damn Small Linux.[1][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 licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2.[3]

Tiny Core Linux
Logo of TCL
Tiny Core Linux 7.1
OS familyLinux (Unix-like)
Working stateCurrent
Source modelOpen source
Initial releaseJanuary 5, 2009 (2009-01-05)
Latest release14.0 Edit this on Wikidata / 12 April 2023 (12 April 2023)
Available inEnglish
Package managerappbrowser (GUI) / tce (CLI)
Platformsx86
x86-64
armv7
Raspberry Pi
Kernel typeMonolithic
UserlandBusyBox
Default
user interface		FLWM
LicenseGNU GPLv2
Official websitetinycorelinux.net

Types
  • 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.[4]
  • 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.[4]
  • dCore (12 MB) is a core made from Debian or Ubuntu compatible files that uses import and the SCE package format,[5] 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".[4] It is composed of Tiny Core with additional functionality, most notably wireless support and non-US keyboard support.[4]
  • 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 (micro) Core requires at least 28 MB of RAM. The minimum CPU is an i486DX.[6]

Recommended configuration: A Pentium II CPU and 128 MB of RAM are recommended for Tiny Core.[6]

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."[7] 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.[8]

Release history
Version Stability Release date
1.0[9][1] Stable version January 5, 2009
2.0[9][10] June 7, 2009
3.0[9] July 19, 2010
4.0[9][11] September 25, 2011
4.7.7[9] May 10, 2013
5.0[9][12] September 14, 2013
5.0.1[9] October 1, 2013
5.0.2[9] October 18, 2013
5.1[9] November 28, 2013
5.2[9] January 14, 2014
5.3[9] April 19, 2014
5.4[9] September 10, 2014
6.0[9] January 5, 2015
6.1[9] March 7, 2015
6.2[9] May 3, 2015
6.3[9] May 30, 2015
6.4[9] September 8, 2015
6.4.1[9] November 4, 2015
7.0[9][13] February 23, 2016
7.1[9] May 22, 2016
7.2[9] July 4, 2016
8.0[9] April 10, 2017
8.1[9] September 3, 2017
8.2[9] September 22, 2017
9.0[9] February 26, 2018
10.0[9] January 20, 2019
10.1[9] June 11, 2019
11.0[9] February 9, 2020
11.1[9] April 1, 2020
12.0[9] February 17, 2021
13.0[9] January 31, 2022
14.0 Latest version April 12, 2023

See also

References
  1. "Interview with Robert Shingledecker, creator of Tiny Core Linux". DistroWatch Weekly. March 23, 2009. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  2. Shingledecker, Christopher (July 4, 2020). "Prof. Dr. Christopher N. Shingledecker, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Benedictine College". shingledecker.org. Benedictine College. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  3. Shingledecker, Christopher. "Frequently Asked Questions". Tiny Core Linux.
  4. Robert Shingledecker (2012). "Downloads - Tiny Core Linux". Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  5. Juanito. "dCore-5.0.alpha1 released". Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  6. Robert Shingledecker. "Frequently Asked Questions: What are the minimum requirements?". Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  7. Robert Shingledecker (December 1, 2008). "Welcome to The Core Project - Tiny Core Linux". Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  8. Robert Shingledecker. "Tiny Core: Core Concepts". Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  9. Final Releases – Release Announcements and Change log from Tiny Core Linux Forum
  10. Smart, Christopher (2009-08-06). "Tiny Core: The Little Distro That Could | Linux Magazine". Linux Magazine. Archived from the original on 2019-02-02. Retrieved 2020-09-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 440, 23 January 2012
  12. DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 527, 30 September 2013
  13. Tiny Core Linux 7.0 [LWN.net]
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