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    OpenBSD 7.8

    (cdn.openbsd.org)
    282 points paulnpace | 15 comments | 22 Oct 25 02:02 UTC | HN request time: 0.649s | source | bottom
    1. fujigawa ◴[22 Oct 25 03:34 UTC] No.45664664[source]▶
    The most compact, minimalist general purpose OS out there by far. Tiny memory footprint and loaded with network services built-in.

    Linux has become so bloated its users can't in good conscience make fun of Microsoft anymore, they are worse.

    Debian refuses to install with less than 512MB RAM, the text only installer will choke with less than that, it's pathetic. That's a console-only install, no GUI.

    replies(7): >>45664680 #>>45664683 #>>45664704 #>>45665049 #>>45665425 #>>45665994 #>>45678932 #
    2. casparvitch ◴[22 Oct 25 03:37 UTC] No.45664680[source]▶
    you're right, 60MB for alpine is really pushing hardware capabilities in 2025
    3. j3th9n ◴[22 Oct 25 03:39 UTC] No.45664683[source]▶
    I love it you can still install the latest OpenBSD on 32MB RAM systems.
    replies(1): >>45667706 #
    4. mycall ◴[22 Oct 25 03:42 UTC] No.45664704[source]▶
    Alpine Linux is similar in spirit to openbsd, slim and secure but perhaps with less features oobe.
    replies(1): >>45664725 #
    5. fujigawa ◴[22 Oct 25 03:47 UTC] No.45664725[source]▶
    They cheat and use busybox.

    Meanwhile OpenBSD running all the default network services like sshd and smtpd uses < 32 MB RAM and that's with full ksh and real tools. That doesn't happen by accident.

    replies(1): >>45665861 #
    6. winrid ◴[22 Oct 25 05:01 UTC] No.45665049[source]▶
    lol Linux Mint with latest KDE is WAY snappier and quicker to start than Win10 on my laptops
    7. f1shy ◴[22 Oct 25 06:13 UTC] No.45665425[source]▶
    Is there a cheap SBC in which it runs without hassle? I would like to give it a try. I've used Freebsd from 2000 up to 2015 or so, but never used openbsd
    replies(1): >>45667574 #
    8. argsnd ◴[22 Oct 25 07:24 UTC] No.45665861{3}[source]▶
    Is that fair? Busybox has fewer features than OpenBSD coreutils but those in turn have fewer features than GNU coreutils. All three implement the entire POSIX spec as far as I am aware.
    9. mna_ ◴[22 Oct 25 07:47 UTC] No.45665994[source]▶
    No love for NetBSD?
    replies(1): >>45679626 #
    10. IcePic ◴[22 Oct 25 11:37 UTC] No.45667574[source]▶
    If you can get an Edgerouter Lite 3 it will run fine() on that, serial console, three gig ports, fanless and not-x86 and probably available for cheap if you look at used hw sites.

    ) as far as its hw goes, that is. Will not be competing in speed competitions, but cheap SBCs just never will, do they?

    11. daneel_w ◴[22 Oct 25 11:54 UTC] No.45667706[source]▶
    But you can't effectively run it on that little memory, since over a decade.
    replies(1): >>45679244 #
    12. akimbostrawman ◴[23 Oct 25 06:48 UTC] No.45678932[source]▶
    >Linux has become so bloated its users can't in good conscience make fun of Microsoft anymore, they are worse.

    Please show me where Linux comes pre installed with ads, ai and other 3rd party adware and uses a start menu written in react that makes your CPU fans spin up when you press it a couple time

    There is a enormous difference between bloat for the sake of feature or profit maximizing. If you think gnome and systemd are bloat then simply don't use them.

    replies(1): >>45679599 #
    13. j3th9n ◴[23 Oct 25 07:37 UTC] No.45679244{3}[source]▶
    Ok pitty, I was about to install it on a 486DX4 with 32MB RAM for use as a webserver, maybe I will link a blog with my findings about it later here on HN.
    14. anthk ◴[23 Oct 25 08:36 UTC] No.45679599[source]▶
    The parent commenter stated that even booting in text mode 512MB are not enough. 20 years ago you could run a whole KDE3 stack pretty happily among a live installer if you cared.
    15. anthk ◴[23 Oct 25 08:40 UTC] No.45679626[source]▶
    I'd leave NetBSD for sub Pentium III machines, where OpenBSD's KALR and some security features would hurt the performance notability. If you have a Pentium Pro/II@300 MHZ machine with 64-128MB of RAM NetBSD would be a nice choice.

    You can always install cwm, oksh and some nice OpenBSD software from pkgin.