antiX 26 Arrives As a lightweight alternative designed to give a second life to laptops and desktop computers with limited hardware, a scenario still very common in homes and small offices, the project maintains its commitment to a fast, minimalist, and flexible system, geared towards users who want detailed control over what runs on their machine.
This launch, built on the future branch Debian 13 “Trixie”, reinforces the antiX philosophy of to do without components considered heavyweight or overly intrusive, such as systemdThe result is an environment that can run smoothly on older computers, but at the same time offers enough modern tools for everyday use, from office applications to multimedia playback and system administration utilities.
antiX 26 based on Debian 13 and a system without systemd
antiX 26 is distributed as a variant based on Debian 13, but completely free of systemd, libsystemd0, and elogind, which is unusual among popular distributions. Instead, the system uses... eudev as a replacement for udev and proposes a simpler environment to debug and understand for those who prefer classic Unix-like structures.
One of the defining features of this launch is the possibility of choosing between five initialization systemsRunit is used out of the box, but SysVinit, dinit, s6-rc, and 66 are also included; the latter is an additional layer on top of s6 from the Obarun project. This variety allows administrators and advanced users to customize the system boot process to their preferences, which is particularly useful in educational or laboratory environments where system administration is taught.
Available images and supported architectures
To facilitate installation in different scenarios, the development team offers antiX 26 in two main editions: an image full size of around 2 GB which includes a comprehensive set of programs for using the system from the first boot, and a variant core of approximately 660 MB, more basic, designed for users who want to build their own environment from scratch.
Both images are distributed for architectural purposes. 32-bit and 64-bitThis is a relevant detail for those who still rely on very old equipment and lightweight desktop environments, common in educational institutions or organizations that reuse donated computers. The continued support for 32-bit systems distinguishes antiX from other distributions that have stopped offering this option.
Linux kernels and sound system
In the kernel section, antiX 26 incorporates Two versions of the Linux kernel: 5.10.240 and 6.6.119Kernel 6.6 is only available in the full 64-bit edition and is geared towards users who need better compatibility with recent hardware, while 5.10 acts as a more conservative and tested option.
In the full 64-bit edition, the system defaults to the following combination PipeWire and WirePlumber For audio management, a modern configuration that improves the handling of devices and sound streams; it is also compatible with players like AudaciousHowever, the full 32-bit image opts for a more classic and lightweight approach using ALSAThis reduces resource consumption and is more suitable for very old machines.
Lightweight window managers instead of desktops
Instead of using full desktop environments like GNOME, KDE, or Xfce, antiX 26 maintains its commitment to lightweight window managerswhich save memory and improve system responsiveness. The default environment is IceWMA manager with traditional menus and low resource consumption; for users interested in graphical alternatives, there are lightweight environments like LXQt that offer another approach.
Along with IceWM, the system includes Fluxbox, JWM and herbstluftwmThe latter is a tiling-type layout. This combination allows each user to find the workflow that best suits their computer usage, from those who prefer a classic interface with a panel and menus to those who want to organize windows using keyboard shortcuts.
Turnstile: New session management in antiX 26
One of the most notable technical innovations is the integration experimental turnstileTurnstile is a session manager developed in the Chimera Linux environment as an alternative to logind, the systemd component normally responsible for managing user sessions. Turnstile tracks the activity of each session and launches user services without depending on a specific startup system.
Combining five starting systems and turnstile It was incorporated thanks to the work of one of the project's collaborators, known as ProwlerGR. With this approach, antiX reinforces its identity as a distribution focused on modularity and the ability to swap components without being tied to a single technology stack.
Applications included in the full edition of antiX 26
The full image of antiX 26 comes with a range of applications designed to make the system work from the very beginning without needing to download too many additional packages. In the area of office automation, it includes LibreOfficewhile for browsing the web one opts for Firefox ESR, the extended support edition of the well-known browser.
As an email client, it is offered Claws MailA lightweight tool suitable for computers with limited memory, and the system is integrated for printing. CUPSwhich facilitates the management of local and network printers, something relevant for both home use and small offices.
In the multimedia section, antiX 26 incorporates several video players such as Celluloid, mpv and XineAnd for audio, the veteran is included. xmmsFurthermore, the usefulness gtk-pipe-viewer It allows you to play YouTube videos without opening the browser, which can reduce resource consumption and be useful on slow connections.
To manage PDF documents, the system brings Evince, while file management relies on several managers: zzzFM, ROX-Filer and Midnight CommanderThe latter is in text mode for those who prefer to work from the console. As for graphical text editing, the following are offered: Geany and Leafpadcovering both simple needs and light programming tasks.
The set is completed with multimedia conversion tools, such as WinFF for video and Asunder for audioso it is possible to rip and transform files without installing additional programs.
Network connectivity and specific utilities
Internet and local network connections are managed through ConnMan and ceniTwo tools that cover most wireless and wired scenarios. For those who still rely on dial-up lines, antiX retains GNOME PPPwhich can be useful in rural areas with limited infrastructure.
In addition to the generic applications, the distribution incorporates a number of own profits that aim to simplify routine administrative tasks. antiX Control Centre It acts as a centralized panel for adjusting system settings, from hardware and network to appearance.
The tools iso-snapshot and remaster tools They allow you to create custom ISO images from a pre-configured installation, which is very useful for deploying the same environment on multiple machines in a classroom or workshop. The program bootrepair It helps to recover the starter charger, and ddm-mx It simplifies the installation of proprietary NVIDIA drivers when better graphics performance is needed; for disk partitioning and maintenance tasks, it can be complemented with tools such as partition management.
Streaming multimedia and file management
Among the applications developed specifically for the project, the following stand out: antiX TV and antiX RadioThese features have been revised and expanded in this version. Both integrate with MPV to provide access to internet television and radio content without requiring external platforms or additional services.
Utility Finder It centralizes the search for files, installed applications, and even web pages from a single interface, which is convenient for less technical users. For local networks based on the SMB protocol, the antiX SAMBA manager It helps manage shared resources and permissions.
In the field of sound, the following tools are added: antiX equalizer togglewhich allows you to quickly activate or deactivate the equalizer integrated into PipeWire/EasyEffects, and antiX acoustic coloursdesigned to change the audio output profile and adapt the sound to different scenarios, such as desktop speakers or headphones.
Another notable use is wingrid-antixThis adds grid-based window organization features to stacked window managers, bringing the experience closer to that of tiled managers. Backup and recording capabilities are included. Xfburn for CD/DVD y LuckyBackup for scheduled backups, along with digitization tools such as Simple Scan and XSane for scanners and multifunction printers.
Advanced console and networking tools in antiX 26
antiX 26 maintains a strong focus on terminal usage, therefore it incorporates as standard nano and vim-tiny as console-based text editors. For those who still consume news via RSS, the following is offered newsboatwhile real-time communication is covered by irssi, a veteran IRC customer.
In the multimedia field, the command line provides MOCP for audio and MPV for videocapable of running even on very limited hardware. A torrent client is included for P2P downloads. rtorrent, and for recording discs from the console it is available cDW.
The project repositories provide several additional tools focused on secure communication and remote administration. These include: 1-to-1-voice-antixintended to make encrypted voice calls between two devices using Mumble, and 1-to-1-assistance-antixdesigned to facilitate remote access to another machine. The utility ssh-conduit It helps manage connections to resources using SSH, which can simplify the configuration of tunnels or server access; to manage SSH connections from the local machine, it can be complemented with a lightweight SSH manager.
To share files within the local network, the following is offered droopy-antixwhich allows you to easily upload and download files, while connectshares-antix It handles the management of shared resources accessible from the system.
Visual appearance and location
In terms of aesthetics, antiX 26 uses the Qogir icon theme and an appearance based on arc-evopro2-theme-antixwhich provides a modern yet understated style. Although performance remains the priority, the system doesn't neglect visual presentation, something that may improve its appeal to users accustomed to more visually striking desktops; furthermore, it's possible to enhance the appearance with external tools such as a very lightweight system monitor.
The pitcher App Select It functions as an advanced application menu, with extra features that make it easy to quickly locate and launch programs. Regarding languages, the tool... User Language It handles adjusting the localization of many popular applications, which is important for those who want to work entirely in Spanish or other European languages without having to check each program one by one.
Package management without Snap or Flatpak
True to its philosophy, antiX 26 It does not include support for Snap packages., which depend on systemd, nor for Flatpak, which requires elogindInstead, application installation is managed through its own tools. Package Installer and Repo Manager, based on traditional Debian repositories and additional sources defined by the project.
This decision may appeal to users and administrators who prefer to maintain strict control over installed software and avoid background services associated with heavier package formats. In return, installing certain modern applications may require a bit more manual configuration, although the community usually provides guides and repositories for the most popular programs.
antiX 26 thus establishes itself as an option to consider for those looking for a fast, lightweight and highly configurable systemIt is capable of leveraging older hardware without sacrificing a comprehensive set of tools for work, communication, and administration. Its commitment to multiple boot options, the absence of systemd, and the integration of its own utilities place it in a unique niche within the GNU/Linux ecosystem, aimed at users who value technical simplicity, low resource consumption, and the ability to adapt the system to their specific needs.
