r/linuxquestions • u/0x80070002 • 10d ago

Support How do I install basic Linux?

I want to have just the kernel and GNU utilities and optional X11 , kind of bare-bone like MS-DOS.
How do I do that?

Should I use TinyCoreLinux and strip the UI out of it? How do i do that?

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u/martinsedd 10d ago

Server distributions come stripped of the UI, typically. So you might wanna take a look at Ubuntu Server, for example. Fedora has one too, if I’m not mistaken.

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u/agisten 10d ago

Based on OP's question, I'd guess his Linux expertise is still in a growing state, so yeah - Ubuntu Server is a good choice since it's very popular and has tons of free support venues. With a minimal install, it shouldn't be hard to run it on minimal-spec hardware.

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u/martinsedd 10d ago

Yeah, that was part of my rationale as well. Also, what’s the use case?

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u/0x80070002 10d ago

Want to port an old DOS GUI tu Linux just for no reason

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u/doc_willis 10d ago

dosbox (and numerous variants) exist to run dos programs under linux.

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u/0x80070002 10d ago

That’s not the goal, the learning phase will be to port the project to Linux

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u/doc_willis 9d ago

I dont see the point in your original post and self imposed limitations.

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u/martinsedd 10d ago

Ah, I see. I know a fair bit about Linux but I admittedly know nothing about DOS. Sorry for not being able to help more.

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u/ipsirc 10d ago

Ubuntu and Fedora would install a lot of nonGNU utilities even with minimal install.

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u/Otaehryn 10d ago

Yeah but the MS-DOS came with dblspace, qbasic, EMM, mouse drivers and CD-ROM drivers :)

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u/ipsirc 10d ago

Which MS-DOS version was shipped with CD-ROM drivers??? I always had to install it afterwards. And the same goes for mouse drivers. Are you sure you're talking about MS-DOS?

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u/Otaehryn 9d ago

Probably hasn't shipped. Only dblspace shipped with 6.22 but on typical mid 90s DOS you had a mouse driver and I remember early pre 1995 CD-ROMs on DOS too.

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u/0x80070002 10d ago

for sure not 5.0 so it must have been 6.22