systemd-free linux distributions (up-to-date list, Nov 2017)

[Anonymous]

FYI

a comprehensive list (and current, as of Nov 2017) is available at: without-systemd.org

^—- Hyperlinks to reach each project’s site/homepage are provided in the linked without-systemd.org page.
( I’m listing ’em here, on antixforum.com, to raise awareness and to (potentially) generate SEO search results benefit )

Free and Open-Source (FOSS) GNU/Linux distributions without systemd in the default installation:

4MLinux (BusyBox) supported architecture: i386
Absolute Linux (based on Slackware) IceWM+ROX; supported architectures: i686, x86_64
aldOS upstart init, eudev, ConsoleKit2; MATE desktop
Amazon Linux AMI Linux image provided by Amazon Web Services for use on Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2)
antiX Linux (based on Debian 9 “Stretch”) provides flexible remastering and persistence tools. Multiple WMs: JWM+iceWM+fluxbox; i486, x86_64 (init: SysV)
ArchBang OpenRC init, openbox WM, uses JACK instead of PulseAudio
Arch OpenRC (based on Arch Linux) using eudev + OpenRC init
Artix Linux (replaces Manjaro OpenRC) Arch + OpenRC + eudev
AUSTRUMI (based on Slackware) bootable live CD, to be run from RAM, iso images
Bedrock Linux (BusyBox/any)
Calculate Linux (based on Gentoo) using OpenRC
Chromium OS upstart init (boot-design doc)
ConnochaetOS (based on Slackware+Salix) supported architectures: i486, i686
Cromnix GNU/Linux (based on Linux From Scratch using pacman package manager) OpenRC(default installed), LFS boot scripts with Sysvinit, s6, and runit.
Cucumber Linux (init: sysV) Linux Kernel version 4.9 LTS, GNU Userspace utilities, XFCE desktop; i686, x86_64
Devil-Linux live, firewall distro. Supported architectures: i586, i686, x86_64
Devuan i686, x86_64 and various ARM targets (see /embedded downloads)
Dragora GNU/Linux Libre (runit init) i585, x86_64
Dynebolic (based on Devuan) an FSF-approved distribution geared toward users engaged in multimedia production
Exe GNU/Linux i686, x86_64 (based on Devuan) Trinity DE
Fatdog64 Linux x86_64; also FatDogArm for Raspberry Pi2 and Odroid-XU3/XU4
Funtoo Linux (based on Gentoo) FAQ uses OpenRC init DW page i486, i686, x86_64, sparc64
Gentoo Linux default init is OpenRC. If Portage is pulling in systemd, please read this. Further suggested reading
GNUinos (based on Devuan) a Libre distribution; Supported architectures: i686, x86_64
GoboLinux sysv init + BootScripts
GuixSD i686, x86_64
heads (based on Devuan) a Libre distribution, intended as a systemd-free alternative to Tails Linux
Hyperbola GNU/Linux-libre OpenRC init “LTS Arch snapshot versions + security/stability patches ported from debian”; i686, x86_64
IPFire (derived from IPCop) firewall distribution for x86 and ARM-based systems; armv5tel, i586, x86_64
KaNaPi educational+game apps; xfce and sugar desktops. i686, x86_64, armhf
Kwort Linux (based on CRUX) Uses BSD-style initscripts; x86_64
Legacy OS (previous name: TEENpup) Pentium 3 and 4
Linux Console Mate or LXDE desktop, 32bit and 64bit versions, tailored to gaming / educational use
Linux from Scratch i386, x86_64; also CLFS (aka Cross LFS) supports additional architectures: mips, powerpc, ppc64, alpha, sparc, hppa, arm
LinuxBBQ many variations, highlighting various lesser-known WMs
Liveslak aka Slackware Live Edition
Milis Linux (based on Linux From Scratch) Milis Isletim Sistemi
Moebius Linux armhf changelog minimal (no X) distro currently focused on RaspberryPi v3
MX Linux ships XFCE desktop; includes antiX remastering n persistence tools
NuTyX (based on Linux From Scratch)
Obarun (based on Arch Linux) uses S6 supervision suite as init; x86_64
Openwall GNU/*/Linux (Owl) i586, i686, x86_64
OviOS Linux (Independent) previously used systemd; was rebuilt around Sysvinit because systemd proved unsuitable for a stable storage system.
Parabola GNU/Linux-libre OpenRC Edition i686, x86_64
Parted Magic liveboot distribution providing disk partitioning and data recovery tools. Openbox WM; i486, i686, x86_64 FOSS? (licensed GPL)
PCLinuxOS x86_64
Pentoo (based on Gentoo) security-focused live CD; i686, x86_64
PicarOS “suitable for kids from 3 to 12 and teachers” ? ; XFWM; desktop environment: LXDE; i486, i686
Pisi Linux (sysvinit + python init scripts) x86_64
Plamo Linux (based on Slackware) japanese-language distro; i486, x86_64
Plop Linux PXE/liveboot, includes systemd rescue/repair tools, supports: armv6l, i486, and x86_64
Porteus (Slackware based lightweight modular live CD/USB) i486, x86_64
Porteus Kiosk (based on Gentoo) lightweight kiosk using BusyBox
PostX (based on Debian 8 “Jessie”) OpenRC init, openbox wm
Puppy Linux i386, x86_64
Quirky supports armhf, i386, x86_64
RancherOS a minimalist Linux distribution designed to host Docker containers. Supported architecture: x86_64
Redcore Linux (based on Gentoo) OpenRC or SysV init; serves pre-built binary packages from repository; openbox window manager
Refracta (based on Devuan) i386, x86_64
Salix (based on Slackware) i486, i686, x86_64
SARPi Slackware ARM on Raspberry Pi
Simplicity Linux (based on Puppy Linux) LXDE desktop; SysVinit. Supported architectures: i386
Slackel (based on Slackware+salix) i486, i686, x86_64
Slackware i586, s390, x86_64, arm
SlaXBMC (based on SlackwareARM 14.2); x86, x86_64, arm
Slint based on Slackware + Salix
SliTaz (Lightweight live CD/USB using BusyBox/SysVinit) supported architectures: armel, i386, x86_64
Slontoo (based on Funtoo) XFCE 4.12, MATE 1.12; openrc init
Source Mage GNU/Linux (source-based distribution) i386, i486, i586, i686, x86_64
Spark Linux (based on Arch Linux) Arch Linux without systemd
Star Linux (based on Devuan) ships Xfce, Fluxbox, Openbox, Jwm, i3
Superb Mini Server (based on Slackware) fluxbox WM; i486, x86_64
SystemRescueCd i586 (Gentoo/OpenRC based system rescue disk) JWM, Xfce
Tiny Core Linux FLTK/FLWM desktop. i486, x86_64 (also “piCore” edition, for Raspberry Pi)
TLD Linux i686, x86_64
Uplos32 (based on PCLinuxOS)
Vector Linux (based on Slackware) i486, x86_64
Void Linux (runit, xbps) supported architectures: armv6, armv7, i686, x86_64. supported libcs: glibc, musl.
wifislax (based on Slackware) i486
Window Maker Live (based on Debian 8 “Jessie”) sysV init; both windowmaker + xfce are preinstalled; i386, x86_64
Zenwalk (based on Slackware) suported architectures: i486, i686, x86_64

Additionally, the following distributions are available without standard GNU tools:

Adélie Linux uses Gentoo’s Portage, Alpine’s(?) APK package manager, and musl-libc x86 (32/64), PowerPC (32/64), MIPS (32/64), ARM (32-bit)
Alpine Linux (musl libc, BusyBox/OpenRC) supported architectures: i386, x86_64, armhf
Easy Linux
NanoLinux busybox init; SLWM window manager.Requires only 14 MB of disk space
Sabotage Linux (musl libc + busybox) i386, x86_64, MIPS, PowerPC32, ARM(v4t+)
sta.li (musl libc) x86_64, armhf
Void Linux (runit, xbps) supported architectures: armv6, armv7, i686, x86_64. supported libcs: glibc, musl.
XBian (based on debian) media center distribution for the Raspberry Pi, CuBox-i, and other arm devices (init: Upstart)

[Member Richard]

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re: Linux from Scratch
According to their website the versions up to and including 7.6 from about 2014 use sysvinit.
The latest version, 8.1, uses systemd.
http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/lfs/download.html

ASUSTeK 900 EeePC; RAM: 1.96 GiB;
antiX19.3; 4.9.235-antix.1-486-smp;
HDD: Super Talent STT 30.08 GiB
+SD & External HDD.

[Anonymous]

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Richard, thanks for your attention. I would ask you to “go one click further”:
http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/lfs/downloads/8.1/

[DIR] 8.1-systemd-rc1/ 2017-08-16 11:27
[DIR] 8.1-systemd-rc2/ 2017-08-18 11:58
[DIR] 8.1-systemd/ 2017-09-01 16:18
[DIR] 8.1/ 2017-09-01 16:17

or perhaps 2 clicks further, and download then search within the PDF “book”:
http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/lfs/downloads/8.1/LFS-BOOK-8.1.pdf

I’ve done so, and I continue to view the stance of LFS as:
offering equally supported “editions”, thereby providing full choice to the end user.

About a year ago I (as “kriv”) revised the wording of the page section header (without-systemd.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page) to state
“Free and Open-Source (FOSS) operating systems without systemd in the default installation”
and hold the opinion that LFS’ choice to provide “an infected edition” doesn’t merit excluding their distribution from the listing.

Can we, dare we, “judge” which edition of LFS is the “default”? If so, why? To what end?
Although I have a strong negative opinion regarding systemd, kriv’s attention is toward maintenance of a factually correct list.

[Member utu]

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Knoppix is systemd-free.
Current version is 8.1

64-bit MX-18.2 using 4.20.12 Kernel LiveUSB on Dell Laptop

[Forum Admin anticapitalista]

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utu wrote:

Knoppix is systemd-free.
Current version is 8.1

Are you sure? Not according to DW

Knoppix

Packagelist

Philosophers have interpreted the world in many ways; the point is to change it.

antiX with runit - leaner and meaner.

[Member utu]

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Knoppix 8.1 uses systemd-shim to allow optional use of some systemd
helpers while avoiding systemd to define init.

Quoting Knoppix 8.1 Synaptic on systemd-shim:
This package emulates the systemd function that are(sic) required to run
the systemd helpers without using the init service.

Systemd elements used in Knoppix 8.1 are passive in regard to init,
except as needed to discuss in real-time what Klaus doesn’t like about
Systemd.

Klaus goes to some length to explain what he doesn’t like about systemd
video given in English, after a brief apology about his Polish not
being quite presentable. Find this at:

• This reply was modified 5 years, 6 months ago by utu.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 6 months ago by anticapitalista. Reason: Made the embedded video smaller

64-bit MX-18.2 using 4.20.12 Kernel LiveUSB on Dell Laptop

[Forum Admin anticapitalista]

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Thanks. I’m glad Knoppix is free of systemd as the init. It takes the same approach as MX Linux.

Philosophers have interpreted the world in many ways; the point is to change it.

antiX with runit - leaner and meaner.

[Anonymous]

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utu, thanks for the info.
I’ve added KNOPPIX to the without-systemd.org mainpage list, including a link to the video.

[Anonymous]

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source: http://without-systemd.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page March 2018

open-source operating systems without systemd in the default installation
Linux distributions

Arch Linux derivatives
|____Alfheim Linux
|____Artix Linux
|____Obarun
|____Parabola GNU/Linux-libre OpenRC Edition
|____Spark Linux

Crux (and derivatives)
|____Crux
|________CruxEX
|________Kwort Linux

Debian derivatives
|____antiX Linux
|____Elive Linux
|____Free of Boxes
|____KNOPPIX
|____LMDE 2 (Linux Mint Debian Edition)
|____MX Linux
|____PostX
|____TRIOS Mia OpenRC/ZFS
|____Vine Linux
|____Window Maker Live

Devuan (and derivatives)
|____Devuan
|________CROWZ
|________Dynebolic
|________Exe GNU/Linux
|________Good Life Linux
|________GNUinos
|________heads
|________Hyperbola GNU/Linux-libre OpenRC
|________Maemo Leste
|________MiyoLinux
|________Nelum-Dev1
|________Refracta
|________Star Linux
|________Vuu-Do Linux

Gentoo (and derivatives)
|____Gentoo Linux
|________Adélie Linux
|________Calculate Linux
|________Chromium OS
|________CloverOS
|________Funtoo Linux
|________GaryOS
|________Pentoo
|________Porteus Kiosk
|________PrRescue
|________Redcore Linux
|________Slontoo
|________SystemRescueCd

Linux From Scratch (LFS) and derivatives
|____Linux from Scratch
|________Cromnix GNU/Linux
|________IPFire
|________Milis Linux Milis Isletim Sistemi
|________NuTyX

Puppy Linux (and derivatives)
|____Puppy Linux
|________Legacy OS
|________Simplicity Linux
|________ToOpPy Linux

Slackware Linux (and derivatives)
|____Slackware
|________Absolute Linux
|________AUSTRUMI
|________ConnochaetOS
|________LiveSlak
|________Plamo Linux
|________Porteus
|________Salix OS
|________SARPi
|________Slackel
|________SlaXBMC
|________Slint
|________Superb Mini Server
|________Vector Linux
|________Wifislax
|________Zenwalk

Independent
|____4MLinux
|____aldOS
|____Bedrock Linux
|____Cucumber Linux
|____Dragora GNU/Linux Libre
|____Fatdog64 Linux
|____GoboLinux
|____Guix System Distribution
|____KaNaPi
|____LinuxConsole 2018
|____Lombix
|____MisiProject
|____Moebius Linux
|____OviOS Linux
|____Parted Magic
|____PCLinuxOS
|________Uplos32
|____PicarOS
|____Pisi Linux
|____Plop Linux
|____Quirky
|____RancherOS
|____Sanity Linux
|____SliTaz GNU/Linux
|____Source Mage GNU/Linux
|____TAZ
|____Tiny Core Linux
|________TinyPaw-Linux
|____TLD Linux
|____Void Linux

Linux distributions available without standard GNU tools
|____Alpine Linux
|____Easy Linux
|____JanusLinux
|____Minimal Linux Live
|____NanoLinux
|____Sabotage Linux
|____sta.li
|____Void Linux
|____XBian

Android derivatives
|____Android-x86
|________AndEX
|____AOSP
|____LineageOS
|____Replicant

Linux distributions tailored for embedded devices
|____CeroWrt
|____ChibiOS/RT
|____DD-WRT
|____DevuanEmbedded
|____Gargoyle
|____LEAF
|____LEDE Project
|____libreCMC
|____OpenWRT
|____PiBox
|____postmarketOS
|____ProteanOS

[Anonymous]

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It keeps getting bigger and bigger:)
Also I like that you showed what they are based off of. nice.
I think I’ll stick to antix on mine but I might do MX on my daughters laptop
has KDE NEON right now and she doesn’t care for it.
It’s a core-I3 8gb ram acer with ssd drive so should have real good speed
on MX-171 xfce. Imight try MX on my A-10 tower too since I broke the
Antix sid install on there real bad.

[Member fatmac]

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In the above list, it has Fatdog64 as an independant, whilst it is actually based off of Slackware.
(I’m running it on a netbook since last night, it uses slapt package manager, similar to apt.)

Edit: Just checking out the competition. 😉

• This reply was modified 5 years, 1 month ago by fatmac.

Linux (& BSD) since 1999

[Moderator Brian Masinick]

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Having both antiX and MX Linux distributions installed on my systems is Handy. antiX is smaller and lighter than MX, though their foundation is very similar.

MX Linux is very handy as a drop in distribution. While easily customized, it’s ready to go as a moderately equipped desktop system. Of course antiX is also usable right away too, but at the starting point it has a window manager, file manager and core utilities with a basic set of light applications. It all depends on what you need and how much you like to tinker. antiX is made specifically for tinkering and MX Linux is an example of what you can build from antiX.

--
Brian Masinick

[Member fungalnet]

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There is also FigOS which is based on Refracta and uses a few puppy pkgs, therefore a Devuan derivative
https://archive.org/details/Puppy_Linux_Refractapup

anti-X - Adélie - obarun - systemd Free Space

[Anonymous]

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I’ve now added FigOS, but not within the MainPage listing.
Subsequent to my March25 post, several lesser projects have been culled from the MainPage list.
FWIW, classification-wise, FigOS is most similiar to “Good Life Linux” ~~ archive.org page. No contact info, no end user support/discussion. Not a viable distro

http://without-systemd.org/wiki/index.php/Talk:Main_Page#distributions_not_listed_on_MainPage_due_to_EOL_.2F_dormant_status_.2F_Other

March 2018: removed from MainPage

Vuu-Do Linux (based on Devuan) Openbox or MATE desktop
ref: “Vuu-do is not a distro. It is a project, a user re-spin. It is not really suitable to be widely distributed, there is much hackiness, all of which actually make it run faster and better for it’s intended purpose, but hackiness nonetheless.”
-=-
Star Linux (based on Devuan) ships XFCE, Fluxbox, Openbox, Jwm, i3
ref:not a “distro” ~~ no dev contact info, no end user support, just iso images posted to sourceforge.
-=-
Nelum-Dev1 (based on Devuan) Openbox, XFCE, or MATE desktop
no response to user support inquiries during past year, no project discussion, just respin iso images posted to sourceforge.
-=-
Good Life Linux (based on Devuan)
respin isos hosted at sourceforge; sf page points to archive.org page. No contact info, no end user support/discussion. Not a “distro”
-=-
CROWZ (based on Devuan) Fluxbox, Openbox, JWM
ref:no end user support, just respin isos posted to sourceforge.net
-=-
PostX (based on Debian 8 “Jessie”) OpenRC; openbox wm
perhaps an interesting respin, but not recognizable as a distinct “FOSS operating system”
-=-
Free of Boxes a live-ony image distribution (based on Debian 9) XFCE desktop; (currently in beta)
subsequent to announcement and isos posted to sourceforge.net, no indication of further activity
-=-
TRIOS Mia OpenRC/ZFS rolling release; (based on Debian Jessie) XFCE4 wm, rEFInd EFI manager, OpenRC init
stalled? Removed from MainPage until/unless can confirm this “rolling release” is still maintained
-=-
Spark Linux (sinit init) Arch Linux without systemd, to be appended into existing pacman system w/o ISO distro available
ref: “Spark is a personal project made to fit my personal tastes. I do not promise to provide support to you.”
-=-
Alfheim Linux (2) (based on Arch Linux) OpenRC init, Openbox; beta status as of Jan 2018
still beta status (not yet viable)
-=-
PrRescue (Gentoo-based) rescue cd supporting nilfs2 and btrfs; architectures: i686, amd64
ref: “PRRESCUE WAS CREATED IN MY SPARE TIME FOR MY OWN USE !”

[Forum Admin anticapitalista]

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skidoo – Simplicity is dead (under Puppy) and my guess is that the next LMDE will be based on systemd.
Elive is only sysvinit because it is wheezy based and I’m not sure if WM Live still uses sysvinit. I hope it does.

• This reply was modified 5 years, 1 month ago by anticapitalista.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 1 month ago by anticapitalista.

Philosophers have interpreted the world in many ways; the point is to change it.

antiX with runit - leaner and meaner.

[Author]

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