Wallon
### Comparison: Minimal Debian 13 (Trixie) vs. antiX 26
**Context:** This comparison is for users who love the speed of antiX but require systemd compatibility for specific software or hardware drivers.
The following data is based on fresh 64-bit installations on modern hardware (like Dell Latitude/ThinkPad series with 16 GB ram).
| OS / Configuration | Desktop / WM | Estimated Idle RAM (64-bit) | Key Features |
| **antiX 26 (Full Edition)** | IceWM / Fluxbox | **~300 – 350 MB** | No-systemd, extremely fast, pre-configured. |
| **Debian 13 + Openbox** | Openbox (Minimal) | **~300 – 380 MB** | Systemd native, ultra-minimal, high compatibility. |
| **BunsenLabs “Carbon”** | Openbox + Tint2 | **~350 – 450 MB** | “CrunchBang” successor, elegant, ready to use. |
| **SparkyLinux 8 Minimal** | Openbox / JWM | **~380 – 500 MB** | Debian stable base with extra helper tools. |
| **Debian 13 + Xfce** | Xfce 4.20 | **~460 – 600 MB** | Full Desktop Environment, balanced & stable. |
### Technical Observations:
1. **Systemd Footprint:** On modern 64-bit systems, systemd adds roughly 20-40 MB of RAM overhead compared to runit or sysvinit. This is a negligible trade-off for full compatibility with modern Linux binaries.
2. **Minimal Install:** To achieve the “Debian 13 + Openbox” score, one should use the **Netinst ISO**, uncheck all Desktop Environments in tasksel, and manually install components:
sudo apt install xorg openbox thunar tint2
3. **The “Full” vs “Core” Paradox:** While antiX “Core” can idle at 150MB, the “Full” version (with network managers, update notifiers, and desktop services) sits around 350MB, making a minimal Debian 13 install just as competitive.
Let us know what you’ve chosen?