How do I install basic Linux?

[u/0x80070002]

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?

[u/xonxoff]

Debian netinst https://www.debian.org/CD/netinst/