Peppermint OS

Overview

Peppermint OS is a free and open-source Linux distribution based on Debian and Devuan Stable (and originally Ubuntu). Designed to be lightweight, user-friendly, and a hybrid cloud/local environment, it aims to provide a desktop experience with minimal hardware requirements. Developed by the Peppermint OS team, it uses the Xfce desktop environment (paired with the Thunar file manager) by default and supports x86_64 and i386 architectures (with some ARM support, such as on the Raspberry Pi). Peppermint OS uses a rolling release model (based on the Debian/Devuan repositories), provides the Calamares graphical installer and the apt package manager, and comes pre-installed with lightweight applications such as Firefox (recently switched to LibreWolf) and Ice (a site-specific browser, SSB). The latest version is Peppermint OS 2024-10 (October 2024), based on Debian 12 "Bookworm" and featuring the Linux kernel 6.1 and Xfce 4.18.

Versions:

• Peppermint OS Standard: Default Xfce desktop, pre-installed with Ice and essential tools.
• Peppermint OS Loaded: Includes more pre-installed software.
• Peppermint OS ARM: Community-supported ARM version, compatible with the Raspberry Pi.

History and Development

• Origins:
  • 2010: Conceived by Shane Remington and Kendall Weaver at the Black Rose Pub in Hendersonville, North Carolina, with the goal of creating a lightweight Linux distribution oriented towards social media.
  • Initially based on Lubuntu 10.04, using the LXDE desktop, it later switched to Xfce.
• Development History:
  • May 9, 2010: Peppermint One released, reaching over 25,000 downloads, and VPS.NET becoming its first sponsor. - June 23, 2014: Peppermint Five released, optimizing the hybrid cloud/on-premises experience.
  • 2015: Ice support added for Firefox and Chromium, enhancing SSB functionality.
  • June 24, 2016: Peppermint Seven released, supporting 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems, including UEFI/GPT/Secure Boot.
  • January 14, 2020: Team leader Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec) passed away, and the project was continued by the community.
  • July 2023: Peppermint 10 Respin released, based on Debian/Devuan, removing Ubuntu dependencies.
  • October 2024: Peppermint OS 2024-10 released, switching to the LibreWolf browser and supporting ZFS and Wayland (beta).
• Community and Support:
  • Maintained by the Peppermint OS team, hosted at peppermintos.com, SourceForge, and the forums (sourceforge.net/p/peppermintos/pepos).
  • Supports English and some Chinese (via Xfce setup). Documentation covers installation and Ice configuration.
  • A Reddit user claims, "Peppermint OS turns an old laptop into a productivity machine."
• Open Source License:
  • GPL v2 (core), MIT (some tools).

Key Features

Peppermint OS is designed to be lightweight, hybrid cloud/local, and user-friendly, making it suitable for low-spec devices and beginners. Here are its key features:

1. Lightweight Xfce Desktop
   • Defaults to Xfce 4.18, paired with the Thunar file manager, and consumes approximately 300-500 MB of RAM.
   • Supports Wayland (beta), providing a smooth interface.
2. Ice Site-Specific Browser (SSB)
   • The Ice tool converts web pages (such as Google Drive and Microsoft Word) into independent browser windows, integrated into the desktop.
   • Supports Firefox, LibreWolf, and Chromium.
3. Rolling Updates and Debian Repositories
   • Based on the Debian/Devuan repository, rolling updates ensure the latest software.
4. Hardware Compatibility
   • Supports x86_64, i386, and arm64 (Raspberry Pi, beta). Minimum requirements are 1 GB of RAM and 4 GB of disk space (2 GB of RAM and 10 GB of disk space recommended).
5. Security and Configuration
   • AppArmor is enabled by default, and ufw is supported (installation required). 6. Development Support
   • Pre-installed Python and Git, with support for Flatpak and Snap (requires installation).

Advantages and Limitations

Advantages

• Lightweight and Efficient:
  • Xfce uses 300-500MB of RAM, making it suitable for older hardware and superior to Mageia's multi-desktop functionality.
  • User comment: "Peppermint OS has given my old laptop a new lease of life, allowing it to run 60 FPS games."
• Cloud/Local Hybrid:
  • Ice SSB integrates cloud applications and is superior to Archcraft's window manager.
• User-Friendliness:
  • The Calamares installer and pre-configured packages reduce the learning curve and are superior to Arch Linux's manual configuration.
• ARM Support:
  • Community support for the Raspberry Pi, superior to GhostBSD (amd64 only).
• Community Support:
  • Active SourceForge forums and helpful documentation.

Limitations

• Insufficient Installation Documentation:
  • Lack of detailed instructions (e.g., swap partition configuration) can lead to user errors.
• Limited ARM support:
  • The ARM version is a beta version and not as native as Raspberry Pi OS.
• Community size:
  • Smaller than Arch Linux or Mageia, with limited Chinese documentation.
• Software issues:
  • Some users report that video playback causes the system to shut down.

Summary

Peppermint OS is a free, open-source Linux distribution based on Debian/Devuan. The latest version, 2024-10, features Linux kernel 6.1 and Xfce 4.18, supporting x86_64, i386, and arm64 (beta). It focuses on being lightweight (300-500 MB of RAM), hybrid cloud/local (Ice SSB), and user-friendly. It offers the Calamares installer and apt package management. Peppermint OS stands out for its lightweight and SSB features, but it has a small community and limited ARM support.