I use Debian flavors for my daily drivers. I have no complaints, no real desire to switch it up on that front.

However, I am starting to get into self-hosting and homelab projects. I’d like to start test driving some light-weight distros of a different flavor.

I’d prefer a GUI be available, but the environment and WM is pretty inconsequential-- except it shouldn’t be bloated. I’ll install any additional apps I want, I don’t need a curated mid-to-heavy-weight distro.

The plan is to make heavy use of Docker images, to try to maintain a clean and modular setup of services. If that makes any difference.

Suggestions? Any slim distros you’re just gaga for?

  • Kualk
    1414·
    6 months ago

    Arch is the best Debian alternative out there. They have archinstall now. It will speed up installation and will allow use of encrypted drive.

    Since you want Docker, it works better on btrfs. Arch can do that on encrypted drive.

    It is lightweight as far as you want to take it.

    NixOS is a great light alternative, but i gave ip on it twice.

    Manjaro if arch is too intimidating.

      • alephEnglish
        80·
        6 months ago6 months ago

        OP is clearly not that if their use case involves a homelab and docker containers. Arch is a perfectly valid suggestion here.

    • Contend6248
      50·
      6 months ago

      Wait, what are the things Debian and Arch are alike?

      • cmnyboEnglish
        110·
        6 months ago

        Apart from both being lightweight, they are more like opposites.

        • Kualk
          10·
          6 months ago6 months ago

          Arch is good for home server, because you will not have to do major update ever again and because at home one usually doesn’t mind restarting after updating.

          Debian is a good option for private virtual server on the cloud. Because Debian is frequently an option there, while Arch is not an option due to its rolling nature. Debian supposedly can update without restart, but I never trusted that.

    • Tywèle [she|her]
      10·
      6 months ago6 months ago

      Since you want Docker, it works better on btrfs.

      Can you elaborate?

      • Kualk
        20·
        6 months ago6 months ago

        Docker images are immutable and if you run lots of images there will be overlap of commonly used layers.

        Docker has BTRFS driver, which will efficiently reuse layers on BTRFS.

        Basically, there’s good chance to waste less drive space with Docker on BTRFS.