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. 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.
| Tiny Core Linux | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Tiny Core Linux 7.1 | |
| OS family | Linux (Unix-like) |
| Working state | Current |
| Source model | Open source |
| Initial release | January 5, 2009 |
| Latest release | 17.0[1] / 10 February 2026 |
| Available in | English |
| Package manager | appbrowser (GUI) / tce (CLI) |
| Supported platforms | x86 x86-64 armv7 Raspberry Pi |
| Kernel type | Monolithic |
| Userland | BusyBox |
| Default user interface | FLWM |
| License | GNU GPLv2 |
| Official website | tinycorelinux.net  |
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.[2][3][4] 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.[5]
Types
[edit]- Tiny Core (23 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.[6]
- Core (17 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.[6]
- Core64 is a port to the x86_64 architecture with a 32-bit user land, i.e. it uses a 64-bit kernel and 64-bit modules, but it can use the same extensions as Core.[7]
- CorePure64 is a port of "Core" to the x86_64 architecture. 64-bit kernel and 64-bit extensions.[7]
- dCore (12 MB) is a core made from Debian or Ubuntu compatible files that uses import and the SCE package format,[8] a self-contained package format for the Tiny Core distribution since 5.x series.
- Core Plus (248 MB) is "an installation image and not the distribution".[6] It is composed of Tiny Core with additional functionality, most notably wireless support and non-US keyboard support.[6]
- piCore is the Raspberry Pi port of "Core".
System requirements
[edit]Minimal configuration: Tiny Core needs at least 46 MB of RAM, and (micro) Core requires at least 28 MB of RAM. The minimum CPU is an i486DX.[9]
Recommended configuration: A Pentium II CPU and 128 MB of RAM are recommended for Tiny Core.[9]
Design philosophy
[edit]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."[10] 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.[11]
Release history
[edit]| Version | Stability | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0[12][3] | Older version | January 5, 2009 |
| 2.0[13] | June 7, 2009 | |
| 3.0 | July 19, 2010 | |
| 4.0[14] | September 25, 2011 | |
| 4.7.7 | May 10, 2013 | |
| 5.0[12][15] | September 14, 2013 | |
| 5.0.1 | October 1, 2013 | |
| 5.0.2 | October 18, 2013 | |
| 5.1 | November 28, 2013 | |
| 5.2 | January 14, 2014 | |
| 5.3 | April 19, 2014 | |
| 5.4 | September 10, 2014 | |
| 6.0 | January 5, 2015 | |
| 6.1 | March 7, 2015 | |
| 6.2 | May 3, 2015 | |
| 6.3 | May 30, 2015 | |
| 6.4 | September 8, 2015 | |
| 6.4.1 | November 4, 2015 | |
| 7.0[16] | February 23, 2016 | |
| 7.1 | May 22, 2016 | |
| 7.2 | July 4, 2016 | |
| 8.0 | April 10, 2017 | |
| 8.1 | September 3, 2017 | |
| 8.2 | September 22, 2017 | |
| 9.0 | February 26, 2018 | |
| 10.0 | January 20, 2019 | |
| 10.1 | June 11, 2019 | |
| 11.0 | February 9, 2020 | |
| 11.1 | April 1, 2020 | |
| 12.0 | February 17, 2021 | |
| 13.0 | January 31, 2022 | |
| 13.1 | May 8, 2022 | |
| 14.0 | April 12, 2023 | |
| 15.0 | Supported version | February 22, 2024 |
| 16.0[17] | Supported version | March 31, 2025 |
| 16.1[18] | Latest version | June 16, 2025 |
| 17.0beta1[19] | Preview / public beta testing | January 24, 2026 |
See also
[edit]
- Comparison of Linux live distributions
- Lightweight Linux distribution
- List of Linux distributions that run from RAM
- Telikin
References
[edit]- ^ "Tiny Core v17.0". 10 February 2026. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
- ^ "Interview with Robert Shingledecker, creator of Tiny Core Linux". DistroWatch Weekly. March 30, 2009. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
- ^ a b "Review of Tiny Core Linux 1.2 and 1.3 RC2". DistroWatch Weekly. March 23, 2009. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ^ "Robert Shingledecker's Projects". Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
- ^ Shingledecker, Christopher. "Frequently Asked Questions". Tiny Core Linux. Archived from the original on 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
- ^ a b c d Robert Shingledecker (2012). "Downloads - Tiny Core Linux". Archived from the original on January 8, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
- ^ a b Juanito (2016). "Forum Post - tinycore vs. tinycore64". Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ Juanito. "dCore-5.0.alpha1 released". Archived from the original on June 19, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ a b Robert Shingledecker. "Frequently Asked Questions: What are the minimum requirements?". Archived from the original on October 23, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
- ^ Robert Shingledecker (December 1, 2008). "Welcome to The Core Project - Tiny Core Linux". Archived from the original on July 30, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
- ^ Robert Shingledecker. "Tiny Core: Core Concepts". Archived from the original on May 31, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
- ^ a b Final Releases Archived 2015-05-08 at the Wayback Machine – Release Announcements and Change log from Tiny Core Linux Forum
- ^ 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.
- ^ "DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 440, 23 January 2012". Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
- ^ "DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 527, 30 September 2013". Archived from the original on 26 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
- ^ "Tiny Core Linux 7.0 [LWN.net]". Archived from the original on 2018-06-26. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
- ^ Juanito (March 31, 2025). "Tiny Core v16.0". forum.tinycorelinux.net. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ Juanito (June 16, 2025). "Tiny Core v16.1". forum.tinycorelinux.net. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ Juanito (January 24, 2026). "Tiny Core v17.0beta1". forum.tinycorelinux.net. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Tiny Core Linux at DistroWatch
- "Interview with Robert Shingledecker, creator of Tiny Core Linux". DistroWatch Weekly (295). March 23, 2009. Retrieved September 13, 2012..
- Ferrill, Paul (March 19, 2009). "Tiny Core Linux -- A Minimal Distro with Big Possibilities". LinuxPlanet. Archived from the original on June 4, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
- "Tiny Core Linux Wiki". Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- Bernard, Joey (Sep 1, 2011). "Tiny Core Linux". Linux Journal. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
- "Tiny Core 4.5.....Almost In Love With A Core.!!". YouTube. 25 April 2012. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
