Emmabuntüs

Overview

Emmabuntüs is a free, open-source Linux distribution based on Debian Stable (earlier versions were based on Ubuntu). Designed for refurbishing old computers and getting started with GNU/Linux, it emphasizes user-friendliness, resource-saving nature, and community-oriented approach. Launched in 2011 by the Emmabuntüs collective (a French non-profit organization), its name derives from "Emmaüs" (a French charity) and "Ubuntu," with the goal of donating recycled computers to humanistic organizations and promoting the use of GNU/Linux. Emmabuntüs supports amd64 (64-bit) and i386 (32-bit) architectures and offers the Xfce desktop environment by default (with LXQt as an option), making it suitable for older hardware and beginners. It uses a fixed-release model and offers offline installation (ISO includes all packages), requiring no internet connection. It comes pre-installed with software such as LibreOffice, Firefox, and VLC, and supports multiple languages (over 167, including Chinese).

History and Development

• Origins:
  • 2011: The Emmabuntüs collective launched the project as an operating system for refurbished computers for the Emmaüs charity organization. Based on Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot," it introduced the Xfce desktop.
  • The goal was to simplify GNU/Linux installation and usage and reduce electronic waste.
• Development History:
  • 2012: Emmabuntüs 1 was released, based on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, adding automated installation scripts and non-free software options.
  • 2014: Emmabuntüs 2 was based on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, with optimized resource usage and support for 32-bit and 64-bit versions.
  • 2016: Emmabuntüs 3 was based on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS and introduced the LXDE desktop option. - 2018: Migration to a Debian base, Emmabuntüs Debian Edition 1 released, based on Debian 9 "Stretch".
  • 2021: Emmabuntüs Debian Edition 3, based on Debian 11 "Bullseye", adds the LXQt desktop.
  • August 31, 2023: Emmabuntüs Debian Edition 5 released, based on Debian 12.1 "Bookworm", with kernel 6.1, Xfce 4.18.1, and LXQt 1.2.0, supported until 2028.
• Community and Support:
  • Maintained by the Emmabuntüs collective, hosted at emmabuntus.org and SourceForge. - Supports English, French, and multiple languages (Chinese via Xfce settings). Documentation includes installation guides and tutorials for refurbished computers.
  • A Reddit user called Emmabuntüs "perfect for refurbished computers."
• Open Source Licenses:
  • GPL v3 (core scripts), MIT (some tools).

Key Features

Emmabuntüs is user-friendly, installs offline, and is lightweight, making it ideal for refurbished computers. Here are its key features:

1. Xfce and LXQt Desktops
   • Default Xfce 4.18.1, optional LXQt 1.2.0, lightweight, requiring approximately 400-600MB of RAM.
2. Offline Installation
   • The ISO includes all packages, supports a complete offline installation, and automates user setup.
3. Stability Based on Debian Stable
   • Based on Debian 12 "Bookworm," which offers 5 years of support.
   • Uses apt package management, supporting non-free software options.
4. Pre-installed Software
   • Pre-installed LibreOffice 7.6.5, Firefox, VLC, GIMP, and more, with multi-language support.
5. Hardware Compatibility
   • Supports older hardware (minimum 1 GHz CPU, 1 GB RAM, 20 GB disk space). Kernel 6.1 is compatible with Intel, AMD, and Nvidia.
6. Security and Privacy
   • ufw firewall enabled by default, ZFS supported.
7. Development Support
   • Pre-installed Python 3 and Git, with support for Flatpak and Snap.

Advantages and Limitations

Advantages

• Offline-friendly:
  • The ISO includes all packages, superior to Arch Linux's online dependencies.
  • X post says, "Offline installation of Emmabuntüs DE 5 is incredibly convenient."
• Lightweight:
  • Xfce/LXQt takes up 400-600 MB of RAM, making it suitable for refurbished computers.
• Debian Stable Stability:
  • 5 years of support.
• Multi-language Support:
  • 167 languages.
• Community-Oriented:
  • Maintained by a non-profit organization that provides tutorials for refurbished computers.

Limitations

• Limited Customization:
  • More pre-installed software, better than Bodhi Linux's Moksha but not as minimalist as Archcraft.
• Limited ARM Support:
  • The ARM version is a beta version, not as good as Raspberry Pi OS.
• Software Update Speed:
  • Slower than Archcraft's rolling updates.

Summary

Emmabuntüs is a free, open-source Linux distribution based on Debian Stable. The latest version, Debian Edition 5 (August 31, 2023), is based on Debian 12.1 "Bookworm" and features Xfce 4.18.1 and kernel 6.1. It supports amd64 and i386. It features offline installation, is lightweight (400-600 MB RAM), and is multi-lingual (167 languages), providing apt package management. Emmabuntüs stands out for its offline friendliness and renovation orientation, but customization is limited and ARM support is in beta.