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Absolute Linux
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| Absolute Linux | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Paul Sherman |
| OS family | Linux (Unix-like) |
| Working state | Discontinued |
| Source model | Primarily open source |
| Initial release | 2007 |
| Latest release | 20240602 / 2 June 2024 [1] |
| Marketing target | Netbooks, older systems and general use |
| Available in | English |
| Package manager | XPKGTOOL |
| Supported platforms | x86-64 |
| Kernel type | Monolithic |
| Default user interface | IceWM |
| License | GPL and various others |
| Official website | absolutelinux.org |
Absolute Linux is a discontinued lightweight Linux distribution that works on older hardware and is based on Slackware Linux.[2] The client is designed for everyday use (internet, multimedia, documents). Absolute Linux's default window and file managers are IceWM and ROX-Filer.[3] Some of the programs offered by default include: GIMP, LibreOffice, Firefox, Xfburn, p7zip, qBittorrent, and Vivaldi.[4] Many script utilities are included with Absolute Linux to aid with configuration and maintenance of the system.
Absolute Linux uses a graphical frontend to XPKGTOOL. Absolute Linux also bundles Gsplat, a Graphical frontend to Slapt-get which works similarly to Apt-get.[5]
On 15 December 2024, the maintainer, Paul Sherman, announced that Absolute Linux is no longer in development.[6]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Absolute64-20240602 released".
- ^ "About Absolute Linux". Absolute Linux.
- ^ "DistroWatch.com: Absolute Linux". DistroWatch. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
- ^ "package list".
- ^ "Absolute Linux is an absolute winner". Linux.com. 7 August 2007.
- ^ "End of the line for Absolute".
External links
[edit]
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Absolute Linux
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History
Founding and early releases
Absolute Linux was founded in 2007 by Paul Sherman as a lightweight derivative of Slackware Linux, designed to simplify the operating system for beginners and users running older hardware.[2] The project emerged from Sherman's goal to make a stable, pre-configured distribution that retained Slackware's reliability while reducing setup complexity and resource demands.[5] The inaugural release, Absolute Linux 11.0, arrived in 2007 and was directly based on Slackware 11.0. It incorporated the IceWM window manager for a lightweight desktop experience and the ROX-Filer file manager to support efficient file handling with low overhead.[2] These choices emphasized minimalism, allowing the distribution to perform well on systems with limited RAM and processing power.[5] To counter Slackware's perceived steep learning curve, Sherman developed user-friendly utilities, including AbsMenu, a graphical tool for straightforward package management and system navigation.[2] Early releases also featured pre-configured networking tools for immediate internet connectivity and a simplified installer to streamline the setup process for non-expert users.[6] Subsequent updates through 2010, such as version 12.0 in late 2007 and 13.0 in 2009, built on this foundation by refining stability and usability without major overhauls.[5]Evolution through versions
Absolute Linux underwent significant evolution from 2010 onward, with releases focusing on stability, updated software stacks, and enhanced desktop usability while remaining optimized for older hardware. The version 13.1 series, released in mid-2010, built on the earlier 13.0 foundation that had reinstated K3b for improved multimedia capabilities, such as CD and DVD burning support.[7] Subsequent updates in the 13.x line, including 13.1.1 on June 9, 2010, and 13.1.2 on July 4, 2010, addressed bug fixes and refined graphics driver integration for better compatibility with period hardware.[5] By 2011, version 13.2.2, released on April 29, incorporated further updates to core components, aligning closely with Slackware 13.37's improvements in driver support.[5] In the mid-2010s, development emphasized documentation and application integration. Version 14.0, released on October 2, 2012, and based on Slackware 14.0, synchronized with updated libraries and toolchain, while introducing the AbsGuide—a dedicated collection of user documentation covering installation, configuration, and troubleshooting available in PDF and HTML formats.[8] This was followed by incremental releases like 14.10 in 2014 and 14.12 in 2015. The Abs 14.2 release on September 20, 2016, based on Slackware 14.2, integrated Firefox ESR for long-term stable web browsing and LibreOffice for comprehensive office suite functionality, enhancing productivity tools without increasing resource demands.[9] Recent versions marked a shift toward modern architectures and interfaces. After a development hiatus, Abs 15.0 arrived on February 6, 2022, based on Slackware 15.0, with modernized applications and a focus on 64-bit exclusivity for improved performance on contemporary systems.[10] The final release, a 64-bit live snapshot designated 20240602 on June 3, 2024, included ongoing security patches.[11] On December 15, 2024, project maintainer Paul Sherman announced the discontinuation of Absolute Linux, attributing the decision primarily to personal constraints including age, financial considerations, and insufficient time for maintenance, resulting in an indefinite pause of the project.[4]Transition in leadership and revival
On December 15, 2024, Paul Sherman, the longtime maintainer of Absolute Linux, announced the discontinuation of active development, citing personal burnout, advancing age, financial expenses associated with the project, and a general lack of time to continue.[4] The original website was taken down shortly thereafter, but legacy versions remain accessible for download via the project's SourceForge repository, ensuring continued availability for existing users.[12] Sherman expressed openness to handing over the project to interested parties, emphasizing its value as a lightweight Slackware derivative.[4] In January 2025, the project saw a revival under the stewardship of eXybit Technologies, with Jordan Tyler Burchett, the company's founder and maintainer of the RefreshOS distribution, announcing the resumption of development.[2] This transition builds on the RefreshOS philosophy, aiming to modernize Absolute Linux as a Slackware-based system while preserving its core principles of simplicity and pre-configuration for ease of use.[2] Burchett's involvement marks a shift toward structured continuation, leveraging eXybit's experience in developing efficient, user-friendly operating systems. As of November 2025, Absolute Linux has not yet released a new stable version under the new maintainers, though development is ongoing with a canary build in progress for testing.[2] The focus remains on upholding the distribution's lightweight ethos, with efforts directed at gradual updates to enhance compatibility and performance without compromising its foundational design.[2] Future directions emphasize increased community involvement through updates via the project's news page and newsletter subscriptions, alongside improvements in hardware support to accommodate both newer systems and legacy equipment.[2] This approach seeks to sustain Absolute Linux's niche as an accessible, low-resource option in the Linux ecosystem, potentially incorporating recent kernel advancements for better stability and feature integration.[2]Technical foundation
Base on Slackware
Absolute Linux inherits its core structure from Slackware Linux, adopting the upstream distribution's package format of .txz tarballs, which encapsulate software binaries and metadata for straightforward installation and management using Slackware's pkgtools suite.[1] This format ensures compatibility with Slackware's ecosystem while maintaining a lightweight footprint suitable for resource-constrained systems. Additionally, Absolute Linux retains Slackware's BSD-style initialization system, utilizing SysVinit with /etc/rc.d/ scripts for boot processes, emphasizing a traditional, script-based approach that avoids the complexity of modern init systems like systemd.[1][13] This design choice aligns with Slackware's longstanding philosophy of simplicity, stability, and the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) principle, providing users with a reliable foundation free from unnecessary abstractions or dependencies. To enhance usability without deviating from Slackware's minimalism, Absolute Linux includes utilities like Gslapt, a graphical frontend to slapt-get, for easier package management.[14][15] This tool simplifies searching, installing, upgrading, and removing packages, reducing reliance on command-line operations while preserving Slackware's text-based pkgtools as the backend. Absolute Linux releases are closely aligned with specific Slackware versions to ensure stability and timely updates, with each iteration syncing core packages from the upstream release before applying targeted enhancements. For instance, the 20240602 edition is built upon Slackware-current, incorporating its base libraries and utilities while selectively backporting newer kernel modules or drivers for improved hardware compatibility without introducing instability.[1] Earlier versions follow a similar pattern, such as Absolute Linux 14.2 mirroring Slackware 14.2 from 2016, demonstrating a commitment to versioning that tracks Slackware's conservative release cycle.[1] This synchronization minimizes divergence, enabling seamless access to Slackware's vast community resources, including SlackBuild scripts for custom builds. The Slackware foundation provides Absolute Linux with several inherent advantages, particularly in its minimal bloat, which results in a lean installation that prioritizes essential components over bundled extras, often requiring under 1 GB of disk space for a functional desktop setup.[3] Full root access is encouraged from installation, with the setup process recommending a root password without mandating a separate user account, granting immediate administrative control and aligning with power users who prefer direct system manipulation.[15] Furthermore, by adhering closely to Slackware's stable core, Absolute Linux avoids frequent upstream disruptions, such as abrupt API changes or dependency shifts, which helps preserve user customizations across updates and fosters long-term reliability on aging hardware.[16]Kernel and architecture support
Absolute Linux utilizes the vanilla Linux kernel sourced from Slackware, applying only light patches to enhance stability and compatibility without introducing significant modifications. This conservative configuration prioritizes reliability over cutting-edge features, aligning with Slackware's development philosophy. For instance, the 14.0 release from 2012 incorporated Linux kernel 3.2.7, providing broad hardware support while keeping the system lightweight.[5] Later snapshots, such as the 20240602 ISO, continued this approach by basing the kernel on contemporary Slackware-current versions, which in mid-2024 featured Linux kernel 6.9 for improved performance on modern and legacy systems alike.[17][18] The distribution targets x86_64 architecture as its primary platform starting with version 14.2 in 2016, enabling efficient operation on 64-bit processors common in contemporary hardware. Earlier releases, including versions up to 14.1, supported the i686 architecture to accommodate older 32-bit systems.[5] Absolute Linux does not officially support ARM or other non-x86 architectures, focusing instead on Intel/AMD ecosystems for desktop use.[1] Kernel optimizations emphasize support for aging components, including precompiled modules for legacy NVIDIA GPUs via the Nouveau open-source driver or proprietary legacy branches, ensuring functionality on hardware from the early 2010s without requiring manual compilation. The boot process is streamlined for minimal resource use, with a footprint suitable for systems under 1 GB of RAM, achieved through modular kernel builds that load only essential drivers on startup.[1][3] Kernel updates follow Slackware's deliberate pace to minimize regressions, typically integrated via the distribution's built-in utilities that simplify package management and configuration. This mechanism allows users to upgrade the kernel alongside system packages while preserving a stable environment, avoiding frequent disruptions common in rolling-release models.[1]File system and partitioning
Absolute Linux, as a derivative of Slackware, employs a straightforward partitioning scheme during installation that aligns with Slackware's standard layout to ensure simplicity and compatibility with a wide range of hardware. The installer prompts users to partition the disk manually using tools such as fdisk or cfdisk, allowing for a basic setup consisting of a /boot partition formatted with ext2, a root (/) partition using ext4, a swap partition sized according to available RAM (typically 1-2 times RAM for hibernation support), and an optional separate /home partition also formatted with ext4 to facilitate user data isolation. This scheme prioritizes minimalism, avoiding complex setups like logical volume management (LVM) to maintain the distribution's lightweight profile and reduce overhead on resource-constrained systems.[19][20][21] The default file system choice of ext4 for both root and home partitions provides robust journaling, support for large file sizes up to 16 terabytes, and efficient performance for general desktop use, making it suitable for Absolute Linux's focus on older hardware. While ext4 is selected by default during formatting in the installer, users can opt for alternative file systems like Btrfs or XFS through manual configuration post-installation or during partitioning, leveraging the underlying Slackware kernel's built-in support for these options without requiring additional packages. However, such alternatives necessitate explicit formatting commands (e.g., mkfs.btrfs or mkfs.xfs) and fstab edits, as the automated installation process does not include presets for them.[21][22] A distinctive feature of Absolute Linux's storage handling is the integration of ROX-Filer, its primary graphical file manager, with system tray utilities like DevTray for seamless mount management. When a removable device is detected, clicking its icon in DevTray automatically mounts the volume and launches ROX-Filer to the mount point, simplifying access to external storage without delving into terminal commands. This approach enhances usability for non-expert users while preserving the distribution's lightweight ethos by eschewing heavier desktop environment tools. For data management, Absolute Linux emphasizes manual backup strategies using standard tools like rsync, which is included in the base system, allowing users to synchronize partitions or directories efficiently; pre-configured scripts for tasks such as partition resizing (via tools like resize2fs for ext4) can be set up post-installation to handle dynamic storage needs without third-party dependencies.[14]Design and features
Desktop environment and window manager
Absolute Linux utilizes IceWM as its primary window manager, a choice maintained since the distribution's inception to prioritize performance and resource efficiency on modest hardware. IceWM is renowned for its minimal memory footprint, typically utilizing less than 20 MB of RAM for the window manager alone in idle states, which aligns with Absolute Linux's emphasis on lightweight operation. This selection enables smooth performance even on systems with limited resources, while offering customizable panels that allow users to tailor taskbars, menus, and applets for personalized workflows.[2][23] Complementing IceWM, the distribution employs ROX-Filer as its default file manager, valued for its intuitive drag-and-drop interface that simplifies file operations without requiring complex setup. ROX-Filer supports zero-configuration mounting of removable media and network shares, enhancing usability by automatically handling device detection and access through a graphical, lightweight design that integrates seamlessly with the IceWM environment. This combination ensures a responsive desktop shell focused on essential functionality rather than resource-intensive features.[2] In legacy versions prior to the 2025 revival, Absolute Linux incorporated pre-configured themes that emulate the visual style of Windows XP and Windows 7, providing a familiar interface for users transitioning from proprietary operating systems. These themes apply consistent aesthetics across windows, icons, and menus, reducing the learning curve while maintaining IceWM's efficiency.Pre-installed applications and utilities
Absolute Linux includes a curated selection of pre-installed applications focused on essential desktop functionality, emphasizing lightweight and open-source tools to maintain its minimal footprint. The web and productivity suite features Firefox ESR as the default browser for secure and efficient web access, with the full LibreOffice suite included in the base installation since version 15.0 for document editing, spreadsheets, presentations, and more.[24][10] For multimedia tasks, heavy proprietary codecs are not included by default, encouraging users to add them as needed via the package manager.[25] System utilities enhance usability with tools like AbsMenu, a graphical application launcher integrated into the IceWM desktop for quick access to installed programs. Newer builds, such as version 15.0, incorporate PCManFM as an alternative file manager, offering tabbed browsing and lightweight performance for file operations.[10] The overall software footprint is compact, with the 2024 snapshot ISO measuring approximately 3.4 GB and featuring around 1,000 pre-installed packages that prioritize open-source, resource-efficient alternatives for everyday computing.[6][26] These features are based on legacy versions; following the project's revival in 2025 under new leadership, development continues but no stable release or confirmed changes to core applications have been announced as of November 2025.[2] This selection ensures immediate productivity upon installation while aligning with Absolute Linux's philosophy of simplicity and low resource demands.Customization and maintenance tools
Absolute Linux includes a suite of graphical utilities designed to streamline system customization and maintenance, setting it apart from the command-line-focused Slackware by providing intuitive interfaces for common tasks.[1] These tools emphasize ease of use, allowing users to manage packages, configure hardware, and personalize the desktop without extensive terminal knowledge.[25] Central to package management is a graphical frontend to pkgtool, which enables the installation, upgrading, and removal of local Slackware packages (.tgz format) through a point-and-click interface, integrating seamlessly with Slackware's native system.[14] Complementing this, Gslapt provides a graphical wrapper for slapt-get, facilitating searches, installations, and updates from online repositories in a workflow akin to Debian's apt-get, thus syncing with upstream Slackware changes while supporting backups of package states.[24][27] Maintenance is further supported by leveraging slackpkg for repository synchronization and applying security patches, reducing manual intervention for ongoing upkeep.[27] For desktop personalization, a dedicated theme switcher for IceWM allows quick selection and application of pre-installed themes or user-added ones, enhancing visual customization without editing configuration files. Script-based driver managers further aid hardware maintenance, offering automated detection and reconfiguration options, such as one-click Xorg adjustments for legacy GPUs to ensure compatibility on older systems.[28] User-friendly wizards simplify post-installation tasks, guiding setup for networking, user accounts, and basic preferences through step-by-step graphical prompts. Comprehensive HTML-based AbsGuide documentation accompanies these tools, offering detailed troubleshooting sections tailored to Absolute Linux's Slackware foundation. Overall, this philosophy prioritizes accessibility, minimizing command-line reliance to make advanced tweaks approachable for novice users while preserving Slackware's stability.[14][25]Installation and system requirements
Hardware compatibility
Absolute Linux is optimized for older hardware, targeting x86_64 systems dating back to around 2005, such as those with Pentium 4 processors or equivalent. The minimum system requirements consist of 512 MB of RAM, a 1 GHz CPU, and at least 8 GB of hard disk space, enabling it to run on modest configurations without significant performance degradation.[1][3] For smoother operation, particularly with multitasking and the default IceWM desktop environment, at least 1 GB of RAM is recommended. It has been tested successfully on hardware starting from Pentium 4-era systems and supports both legacy BIOS and UEFI boot modes, ensuring broad compatibility with aging PCs.[1] The distribution excels on resource-constrained devices like netbooks and computers lacking SSE4 instruction set support, providing a lightweight experience that mimics the efficiency of 32-bit systems despite its 64-bit architecture. This design avoids unnecessary modern software bloat, allowing effective use on hardware that struggles with heavier distributions.[3][1] However, Absolute Linux does not support mobile ARM architectures, limiting its use to x86_64 Intel/AMD platforms. Additionally, very recent GPUs may encounter issues, often requiring manual installation of proprietary drivers for full functionality.[1]Installation process
The installation process for Absolute Linux starts with obtaining the ISO image, available for download from the project's legacy repository on SourceForge.[3] As the distribution is currently in transition under eXybit Technologies, with no new stable release as of November 2025, the following describes the process for legacy versions (up to 15.0, June 2024); users should check the official site for updates on new releases.[2] To prepare installation media, burn the ISO to a CD or DVD, or create a bootable USB drive. On Windows, tools like Rufus can be used to write the ISO to a USB stick; on Linux systems, the dd command facilitates this by copying the image to the device (e.g.,dd if=absolute-linux.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress && sync, replacing /dev/sdX with the appropriate device). Boot the target machine from the prepared media, typically by entering the BIOS/UEFI settings to prioritize USB or optical drive.
The boot process loads the live environment, presenting a text-based installer with an ncurses interface for accessibility.[5] Absolute Linux employs a modified version of Slackware's setup utility, featuring an AUTOSETUP option that simplifies the process for beginners by automatically detecting available drives. Users select the target disk using the spacebar and confirm the installation source, which defaults to the boot media.
During partitioning, the installer supports manual configuration via tools like fdisk or cfdisk, or an auto-partitioning feature that creates basic ext4 partitions for root, swap, and optionally /home (with further details on file system choices covered in the dedicated section). The bootloader, GRUB, is configured automatically, though manual edits may be needed post-install if issues arise. The installer performs a full installation including the IceWM desktop environment and essential utilities, with no option for minimal or custom package selection. No separate desktop choice is prompted during setup, as the distribution ships with a pre-integrated IceWM configuration.
The installation concludes with writing the master boot record and unmounting partitions, followed by a reboot. On first boot, users log in as root (password set during setup) and access the Control Center to create standard user accounts, configure networking via netsetup, and run xorgsetup for display drivers if not auto-detected. This initial configuration ensures a functional system ready for use.