PorteuX, the lightweight Linux distro based on Slackware, has just released version 1.7, further solidifying its reputation as a portable, ultrafast, and modular operating system. Often confused with its similarly named counterpart, Porteus, PorteuX draws inspiration from Slax and Porteus, offering a sleek experience with seven diverse desktop environments: Cinnamon, GNOME, KDE Plasma, LXDE, LXQt, MATE, and Xfce.
The latest update of PorteuX comes with the Linux kernel version 6.11.4, refreshed desktop environments, updated apps, reduced ISO file sizes, and a host of bug fixes. Of particular interest is its compact nature—while the KDE edition measures just a little over 500 MB (551 MB for KDE 6.2.1 and 502 MB for KDE 5.23.5), all other desktops remain comfortably under 500 MB. The smallest variant is LXDE 0.10.1, coming in at a mere 431 MB.
However, potential users should note that PorteuX’s minimalist approach means you won’t find built-in web browsers, email clients, or office suites. Yet, it packs essential modern-day packages such as glibc 2.40, gtk 4.16.3, gnome-shell 47.1, kmod 33, samba 4.21.1, wayland 1.23.1, qt 6.7.3, and Python 3.11.10, giving you a solid foundation to customize as needed.
The updates in version 1.7 focus heavily on resolving issues within Xfce 4.18, alongside improvements for GNOME, LXDE, and Cinnamon. With a whopping 45 changes highlighted in the release notes, the PorteuX team proudly labels this iteration as a “big release,” aiming to offer users a fast, stable, and exciting system.
For those looking to carry multiple Linux distros conveniently, a customizable 9-in-1 32 GB USB drive is available, featuring popular options like Ubuntu, Mint Cinnamon, MX Linux Xfce, and more. Priced at an economical $19.99, this USB drive, pre-configured by EZISTOL, provides an easy solution for users eager to explore the wide world of Linux distributions.
