Tiny Core Linux

Tiny Core Base => TCB Q&A Forum => Topic started by: wackywavingarmman on October 10, 2019, 06:17:58 PM

Title: Basic Question - Is Core 64 right for my needs or should I just go Debian?
Post by: wackywavingarmman on October 10, 2019, 06:17:58 PM
I'm looking for a small, lightweight distro to use in several different capacities. I don't want to use different distros, I want a compromise candidate that can work as best as possible for all of the following:

1.) My everyday desktop (usable in a VM or via USB Portable as needed)

2.) A realtime OS for machine control (LinuxCNC)

3.) A kiosk version that runs Chrome or Firefox (latest) that allows me to lock down the system while still allowing for local storage access and for network & removable usb storage.

4.) In a perfect world a fourth variant that can run on a raspberry pi for those times I need something tiny and cheap that runs on 5V.


In the past I have started with Ubuntu server or a Debian network install as the base with OpenBox installed as the window manager. The nice thing about both of these is access to Aptitude. That being said I'm fine compiling from source. I would need the following as a core software suite:

1.) Python 3.XX and libraries such as Numpy, Scipy, etc

2.) OpenCV

3.) TensorFlow

4.) LinuxCNC (on the Realtime version)

5.) VMWare Player (not on the realtime version)

6.) OpenBox (I can live without this, but I've had good luck with it in the past)

7.) Chrome and/or Firefox (both preferred)

8.) gcc/make

9.) Sublime (because let's be honest, if I was using Vim I wouldn't be posting something like this on a Linux forum)

It seems like Tiny Core 64 could offer these things and the extremely fast boot times works well for what I'm trying to do. Additionally it seems like I could make a script to control which of the above software is loaded on startup by installing them on demand (so I can only load up a browser if it is needed on an application-specific basis). I realize that it would bloat pretty quickly with all that I'm adding in, but I don't need 90% of the shit installed with most Linux Distros and in the past I've found that it is easier to add software and libraries rather than remove them.

Hopefully if I'm thinking about going into Tiny Core all doey eyed and overly-optimistic one of you can warn me before I waste hours of my time.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Basic Question - Is Core 64 right for my needs or should I just go Debian?
Post by: Rich on October 10, 2019, 09:47:50 PM
Hi wackywavingarmman
1.) Python 3.XX and libraries such as Numpy, Scipy, etc

2.) OpenCV

3.) TensorFlow

4.) LinuxCNC (on the Realtime version)

5.) VMWare Player (not on the realtime version)

6.) OpenBox (I can live without this, but I've had good luck with it in the past)

7.) Chrome and/or Firefox (both preferred)

8.) gcc/make

9.) Sublime (because let's be honest, if I was using Vim I wouldn't be posting something like this on a Linux forum)
To see whats available for TC10 x64:
http://tinycorelinux.net/10.x/x86_64/tcz/
To see the  .info  file for an extension (OpenCV for example):
http://tinycorelinux.net/10.x/x86_64/tcz/opencv.tcz.info
There are also  .list,  .dep,  and  .tree  files.

Or you could boot up the  TinyCorePure64-10.1  ISO found here:
http://tinycorelinux.net/10.x/x86_64/release/
And use the  Apps  utility to see what extensions are available.

For item #8 you want to install  compiletc.tcz.  It's a meta extension which will pull in what you need for a proper toolchain.

I would suggest reading:
http://tinycorelinux.net/corebook.pdf
and looking through:
http://wiki.tinycorelinux.net/wiki:start
Title: Re: Basic Question - Is Core 64 right for my needs or should I just go Debian?
Post by: Juanito on October 11, 2019, 02:58:47 AM
Is there an open source version of sublime?
Title: Re: Basic Question - Is Core 64 right for my needs or should I just go Debian?
Post by: wackywavingarmman on October 11, 2019, 09:40:54 AM
Thanks for the responses Rich  & Juanito. I forgot that sublime isn't FOSS. I'll look around for something else - maybe bluefish.
Title: Re: Basic Question - Is Core 64 right for my needs or should I just go Debian?
Post by: Rich on October 11, 2019, 09:57:06 AM
Hi wackywavingarmman
Both  bluefish  and  geany  are available:
http://tinycorelinux.net/10.x/x86_64/tcz/bluefish.tcz.info
http://tinycorelinux.net/10.x/x86_64/tcz/geany.tcz.info
Title: Re: Basic Question - Is Core 64 right for my needs or should I just go Debian?
Post by: hiro on October 11, 2019, 05:00:29 PM
9.) Sublime (because let's be honest, if I was using Vim I wouldn't be posting something like this on a Linux forum)
1) i use VIM 2) i don't know sublime
why should one like me not post on a linux forum? :D