Tiny Core Linux

Tiny Core Linux
	Tiny Core Linux 7.1
OS family	Linux (Unix-like)
Working state	Current
Source model	Open source
Initial release	January 5, 2009; 16 years ago
Latest release	16.0 / 31 March 2025; 21 days ago
Available in	English
Package manager	appbrowser (GUI) / tce (CLI)
Platforms	x86; x86-64; armv7; Raspberry Pi
Kernel type	Monolithic
Userland	BusyBox
Default; user interface	FLWM
License	GNU GPLv2
Official website	tinycorelinux.net

Tiny Core Linux (TCL) is a minimal Linux kernel based operating system focusing on providing a base system using BusyBox and FLTK. It was developed by Robert Shingledecker, who was previously the lead developer of Damn Small Linux.^[2]^[3] The distribution is notable for its small size (11 to 16 MB) and minimalism; additional functions are provided by extensions. Tiny Core Linux is free and open-source software licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2.^[4]

Types

Tiny Core (23 MB) is the recommended option for new users who have a wired network connection. It includes the base Core system and a dynamic FLTK/FLWM graphical user interface.^[5]
Core (17 MB) (also known as "Micro Core Linux") is a smaller variant of Tiny Core without a graphical desktop, though additional extensions can be added to create a system with a graphical desktop environment.^[5]
Core64 is a port to the x86_64 architecture with a 32-bit user land, i.e. it uses a 64-bit kernel and 64-bit modules, but it can use the same extensions as Core.^[6]
CorePure64 is a port of "Core" to the x86_64 architecture. 64-bit kernel and 64-bit extensions.^[6]
dCore (12 MB) is a core made from Debian or Ubuntu compatible files that uses import and the SCE package format,^[7] a self-contained package format for the Tiny Core distribution since 5.x series.
Core Plus (106 MB) is "an installation image and not the distribution".^[5] It is composed of Tiny Core with additional functionality, most notably wireless support and non-US keyboard support.^[5]
piCore is the Raspberry Pi port of "Core".

System requirements

Minimal configuration: Tiny Core needs at least 46 MB of RAM in order to run, and (micro) Core requires at least 28 MB of RAM. The minimum CPU is an i486DX.^[8]

Recommended configuration: A Pentium II CPU and 128 MB of RAM are recommended for Tiny Core.^[8]

Design philosophy

The developers describe TCL as "a nomadic ultra small graphical desktop operating system capable of booting from cdrom, pendrive, or frugally from a hard drive."^[9] As of version 2.8.1, the core is designed to run primarily in RAM but with three distinct modes of operation:

"Cloud" or Internet mode — A "testdrive" mode using a built-in appbrowser GUI to explore extensions from an online application extension repository loaded into RAM only for the current session.
TCE/Install — A mode for Tiny Core Extensions downloaded and run from a storage partition but kept as symbolic links in RAM.
TCE/CopyFS — A mode which installs applications onto a Linux partition like a more typical Linux installation.^[10]

Release history

Version	Stability	Release date
1.0^[11]^[2]	Older version	January 5, 2009
2.0^[12]		June 7, 2009
3.0		July 19, 2010
4.0^[13]		September 25, 2011
4.7.7		May 10, 2013
5.0^[11]^[14]		September 14, 2013
5.0.1		October 1, 2013
5.0.2		October 18, 2013
5.1		November 28, 2013
5.2		January 14, 2014
5.3		April 19, 2014
5.4		September 10, 2014
6.0		January 5, 2015
6.1		March 7, 2015
6.2		May 3, 2015
6.3		May 30, 2015
6.4		September 8, 2015
6.4.1		November 4, 2015
7.0^[15]		February 23, 2016
7.1		May 22, 2016
7.2		July 4, 2016
8.0		April 10, 2017
8.1		September 3, 2017
8.2		September 22, 2017
9.0		February 26, 2018
10.0		January 20, 2019
10.1		June 11, 2019
11.0		February 9, 2020
11.1		April 1, 2020
12.0		February 17, 2021
13.0		January 31, 2022
14.0		April 12, 2023
15.0	Supported version	February 22, 2024
16.0^[16]	Latest version	March 31, 2025

References

^ "Tiny Core v16.0". 31 March 2025.
^ ^a ^b "Interview with Robert Shingledecker, creator of Tiny Core Linux". DistroWatch Weekly. March 23, 2009. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
^ Shingledecker, Christopher (July 4, 2020). "Prof. Dr. Christopher N. Shingledecker, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Benedictine College". shingledecker.org. Benedictine College. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
^ Shingledecker, Christopher. "Frequently Asked Questions". Tiny Core Linux. Archived from the original on 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Robert Shingledecker (2012). "Downloads - Tiny Core Linux". Archived from the original on January 8, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
^ ^a ^b Juanito (2016). "Forum Post - tinycore vs. tinycore64". Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
^ Juanito. "dCore-5.0.alpha1 released". Archived from the original on June 19, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
^ ^a ^b Robert Shingledecker. "Frequently Asked Questions: What are the minimum requirements?". Archived from the original on October 23, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
^ Robert Shingledecker (December 1, 2008). "Welcome to The Core Project - Tiny Core Linux". Archived from the original on July 30, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
^ Robert Shingledecker. "Tiny Core: Core Concepts". Archived from the original on May 31, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
^ ^a ^b Final Releases Archived 2015-05-08 at the Wayback Machine – Release Announcements and Change log from Tiny Core Linux Forum
^ Smart, Christopher (2009-08-06). "Tiny Core: The Little Distro That Could | Linux Magazine". Linux Magazine. Archived from the original on 2019-02-02. Retrieved 2020-09-11.
^ "DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 440, 23 January 2012". Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
^ "DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 527, 30 September 2013". Archived from the original on 26 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
^ "Tiny Core Linux 7.0 [LWN.net]". Archived from the original on 2018-06-26. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
^ Juanito (March 31, 2025). "Tiny Core v16.0". forum.tinycorelinux.net. Retrieved 21 April 2025.