document_title: Kit Kat

question_text: when did the kit kat bar come out

question_tokens: when did the kit kat bar come out

text: Kit Kat

text: History[edit]

text: Use of the name Kit Kat or Kit Cat for a type of food goes back to the 18th century, when mutton pies known as a Kit-Kat were served at meetings of the political Kit-Cat Club in London owned by pastry chef Christopher Catling.[2][3][clarification needed]

text: The origins of what is now known as the Kit Kat brand go back to 1911, when Rowntree's, a confectionery company based in York in the United Kingdom, trademarked the terms Kit Cat and Kit Kat. The names were not used immediately and Kit Kat first appeared in the 1920s, when Rowntree's launched a brand of boxed chocolates entitled Kit Cat. This continued into the 1930s, when Rowntree's shifted focus and production onto its Black Magic and Dairy Box brands. With the promotion of alternative products the Kit Cat brand decreased and was eventually discontinued.[4] The original four-finger bar was developed after a worker at Rowntree's York Factory put a suggestion in a recommendation box for a snack that "a man could take to work in his pack".[5] The bar launched on 29 August 1935, under the title of Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp (priced at 2d), and was sold in London and throughout Southern England.[6]

text: The product's official title of Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp was renamed Kit Kat Chocolate Crisp in 1937, the same year that Kit Kat began to incorporate "Break" into its recognisable advertising strategy.[4] The colour scheme and first flavour variation to the brand came in 1942, owing to World War II, when food shortages prompted an alteration in the recipe. The flavour of Kit Kat was changed to dark chocolate; the packaging abandoned its Chocolate Crisp title, and was adorned in blue.[7] After the war the title was altered to Kit Kat and resumed its original milk recipe and red packaging.

text: Following on from its success in the United Kingdom, in the 1940s Kit Kat was exported to Canada, South Africa, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. In 1958, Donald Gilles, the executive at JWT Orland, created the iconic advertising line "Have a Break, Have a Kit Kat". The brand further expanded in the 1970s when Rowntree created a new distribution factory in Germany to meet European demand, and established agreements to distribute the brand in the USA and Japan through the Hershey and Fujiya companies, respectively.[4]

text: In June 1988, Swiss company Nestlé acquired Kit Kat through the purchase of Rowntree's. This gave Nestlé global control over the brand, except in the US,[8] and production and distribution increased with new facilities in Japan and additional manufacturing operations set up in Malaysia, India and China.[4]

text: The Hershey Company has a licence to produce Kit Kat bars in the United States which dates from 1970, when Hershey executed a licensing agreement with Rowntree. Nestlé, which has a substantial presence in the US, had to honour the licensing agreement when it bought Rowntree in 1988 which allowed Hershey to retain the Kit Kat licence so long as Hershey was not sold. As Kit Kat is one of Hershey's top five brands in the US market, the Kit Kat licence was a key factor in Hershey's failed attempt to attract a serious buyer in 2002.[9][10]

text: Variants in the traditional chocolate bar first appeared in 1996 when Kit Kat Orange, the first flavour variant, was introduced in the United Kingdom. Its success was followed by several varieties including mint and caramel, and in 1999 Kit Kat Chunky was launched and received favourably by international consumers. Variations on the traditional Kit Kat have continued to develop throughout the 2000s. In 2000, Nestlé acquired Fujiya's share of the brand in Japan, and also expanded its marketplace in Japan, Russia, Turkey, and Venezuela, in addition to markets in Eastern and Central Europe.[4] Throughout the decade Kit Kat has introduced dozens of flavours and line extensions within specific consumer markets, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on 10 October 2009.[citation needed]

text: The traditional bar has four fingers which each measure approximately 1 centimetre (0.4 in) by 9 centimetres (3.5 in). A two-finger bar was launched in the 1930s, and has remained the company's best-selling biscuit brand ever since.[6] The 1999 Kit Kat Chunky (known as Big Kat and Kit Kat Extra Crispy in the US) has one large finger approximately 2.5 centimetres (1 in) wide. Kit Kat bars contain varying numbers of fingers depending on the market, ranging from the half-finger sized Kit Kat Petit in Japan, to the three-fingered variants in Arabia, to the twelve-finger family-size bars in Australia and France. Kit Kat bars are sold individually and in bags, boxes and multi-packs. In Ireland, France, the UK and America Nestlé also produces a Kit Kat ice cream, and in Australia and Malaysia, Kit Kat Drumsticks.[citation needed]

text: In 2010, a new £5 million manufacturing line was opened by Nestlé in York. This will produce more than a billion Kit Kat bars each year.[11]

text: Global confection[edit]

text: Kit Kat bars are produced in 16 countries by Nestlé: Brazil, Mexico, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Germany, Russia, Japan, China, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Bulgaria and Algeria. Kit Kat bars in the United States are produced under licence by The Hershey Company, a Nestlé competitor, due to a prior licensing agreement with Rowntree. The year 2003 was a turning point for the Kit Kat bar as well as the confectionery industry in general. The popularity of low carb diets and the push to healthier eating stifled sales growth in many parts of the world. In addition, fierce competition from Cadbury's newly formed Dairy Milk superbrand also contributed to sales of the Kit Kat decreasing considerably in its home market of the UK, and threatened to depose it from its No.1 position.[12][13] The solution adopted by Nestlé and others was to increase dramatically the number of new and unique variations of their confections and market them as limited or special editions, whereby they would usually only be available for a few months at a time so as not to impact the sales of their permanent edition counterparts.[14] The strategy initially reversed the decline of the Kit Kat[15] and has been adopted worldwide by Nestlé, Hershey, Mars and others with similar success.[16][17]

text: This has resulted in many new flavours and varieties of the Kit Kat and other confections appearing globally since then. While some flavours have been hits, many have flopped, alienating some consumers in the process, causing Nestlé to scale back on new releases.[citation needed]

text: In September 2006, Nestlé announced that they would be cutting 645 jobs in their York factory and moving Smarties production to their Hamburg factory in which two thirds of production was already taking place. They stated that this move would allow for a £20 million investment to modernise the antiquated York factory and improve Kit Kat production.[18]

text: As dark chocolate has seen increased demand and favour worldwide because of its purported health benefits, September 2006 saw the launch of the four-finger Kit Kat Fine Dark in the UK as a permanent edition, as well as new packaging for the entire brand.[citation needed] Hershey had sold the four-finger Kit Kat Dark in the US several years previously as a limited edition, and has begun doing so again.[19]

text: Nestlé now manufactures two finger Kit Kats with natural flavourings, and for the first time, Kit Kats in this format are suitable for vegans.[citation needed] It is not known at this date whether or not other varieties will follow suit. In 2014, Kit Kat was ranked the third best selling chocolate bar in the UK, after Dairy Milk and Galaxy.[20]

text: Design[edit]

text: When first introduced, the original Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp bar had a red wrapper, which briefly became blue between 1945–1947. As a result of milk shortages after the end of World War II, the milk chocolate coating was suspended and a dark chocolate was used instead during that period.[citation needed]

text: Since its introduction in the 1970s, the Hershey's Kit Kat packaging and advertising in the United States differed from the branding used in every other country where it was sold. In 2002, Hershey Kit Kats adopted the slanted ellipse logo used worldwide by Nestlé, though the ellipse was red and the text white. The US version of "Kit Kat Chunky" is known as "Big Kat".

text: In the United Kingdom, the product has traditionally been wrapped in silver foil and an outer paper band. In 2001, flow wrap plastic was substituted as the confectionery's packaging.[21]

text: In Norway, a similar product is manufactured by Mondelēz International and sold as Kvikk Lunsj; Kvikk Lunsj XXL is similar to a Kit Kat Chunky.

text: Marketing and promotion[edit]

text: After launching in the 1930s, Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp was originally advertised as "the biggest little meal" and "the best companion to a cup of tea". During World War II, Kit Kat was depicted as a valuable wartime foodstuff, with the slogan "what active people need". 'Kitty the Kat' arrived in the late 1940s to emphasise the "rich full cream milk" qualities of the bar and, thanks to contemporary improvements in production methods, also highlighted the new and improved 'snap' by responding to a biscuit being broken off screen. The first Kit Kat poster appeared in 1951, and the first colour TV advertisement appeared in 1969.

text: Since 1958, the slogan for the Kit Kat in the UK and elsewhere has been "Have a break... have a Kit Kat". However, in 1995, Nestlé sought to trademark the "Have a break" portion. After a ten-year legal battle, which was contested by rival Mars, the European Court of Justice ruled on 7 July 2005 to send the case back to the British courts.[22] In 2004, Nestlé UK used the slogan "Make the most of your break",[23] but later returned to the original slogan.

text: The United States also used the short-lived slogan, "Tastes So Good, You'll Roar", in the early 1980s. The TV commercial most known from this slogan involves a young man biting into one of the Kit Kat bars in a grocery store, and roaring like a lion so loudly the whole store shakes violently, knocking items from the shelves. Another short-lived US slogan was "That's What You Want", whose television adverts showed people pulling unlikely foodstuffs from their pockets or purses, before rejecting them in favour of a Kit Kat.

text: The "classic" American version of the "Gimme a Break" Kit Kat jingle (in use in the US since 1986) was written by Ken Shuldman (copy) and Michael A. Levine (music) for the DDB Advertising Agency. Versions of the original have been covered by Carrie Underwood, Shawn Colvin, and many studio singers, as well as people who have appeared on-camera in the commercials. The jingle was cited in a study by University of Cincinnati researcher James J. Kellaris as one of the top ten "earworms" – bits of melody that become stuck in your head. Another version of the advertising jingle 'Gimme a break' created for Kit Kat "Factory" commercial in the US was an original recording by Andrew W.K. W.K. was hired to write a new musical version for their "Gimme a break" slogan. Variations on the Andrew W.K. advertisement included executive dance routines in corporate offices and a network newsroom. However, the "classic" song has also been used again since the newer version first aired in 2004.

text: A 1989 United Kingdom advertisement for Kit Kat, in which a zoo photographer "takes a break" from waiting for pandas to appear in an enclosure and misses them performing a dance routine, came in 30th in Channel 4's "100 Greatest Adverts" poll in 2000.

text: The Maltese tour boat MV Lady Davinia had a distinctive red and white Kit Kat paint scheme before she sank in 2008.

text: In late 2004 through to the end of 2006, Nestlé Rowntree sponsored the English football club York City F.C.. As a result, the club's home-ground, Bootham Crescent, was renamed to KitKat Crescent.[24]

text: In an 2012 advertising campaign in the UK and Ireland, several new flavours of Chunky Kit Kat were marketed, with consumers being asked to vote for their favourite. Selecting from white chocolate, double chocolate, peanut butter, and orange, Peanut butter was the winner by having 47% of votes. A similar campaign occurred in 2013 with mint, coconut, hazelnut and chocolate fudge.

text: Association with Android[edit]

text: In September 2013, it was announced that version 4.4 of Google's Android mobile operating system would be named "KitKat".[25] Google licensed the name from Nestlé, with no money changing hands.[26] A promotion ran in numerous countries with specially branded Android Kit Kat bars to win Nexus 7 devices and Google Play Store credit.[27]

text: Fairtrade[edit]

text: In December 2009, it was announced that the four finger variety of Kit Kat would use Fairtrade chocolate (at least in Britain and Ireland) from January 2010.[28] It has also been announced that the Fairtrade Kit Kat promotion will be extended to the finger edition as of January 2010.[29]

text: Golden ticket draw[edit]

text: During the first three weeks of Big Brother Series 7, Channel 4 conducted a promotion in conjunction with Nestlé to distribute 100 "golden tickets" randomly throughout Kit Kats, in a style reminiscent of the story Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Members of the public finding these tickets were permitted to use them to give themselves a chance to become a Big Brother housemate and bypass the standard auditions process.

text: Golden ticket holders were invited to a television show where one of them, Susie Verrico, was chosen to enter the House by Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace, picking a ball out of a machine at random.

text: This contest caused some controversy, with the Advertising Standards Authority saying that the terms and conditions of the draw should have been made clearer in related advertisements, and that an independent adjudicator should have been present before and during the draw.[30]

text: Varieties[edit]

text: Flavours[edit]

text: Many varieties of Kit Kat have existed, either permanently or as limited editions, such as those sold to commemorate festivals such as St. Valentine's Day.[citation needed] In Japan, Nestlé has introduced over 200 different flavours since 2000,[31] including ginger ale, soy sauce, creme brulee, green tea, sake, and banana.[32] The flavours are designed to appeal to younger buyers,[33] and are often bought as good-luck gifts as the brand name echoes the Japanese phrase "Kitto Katsu", roughly translating as "surely win."[31]

text: The Kit Kat Orange was the first flavour variant to be introduced in the United Kingdom, in 1996 and 1998 in Ireland. It was followed in 1997 by the Kit Kat Dark and Kit Kat Mint.[citation needed] All three were available as permanent editions of the two-finger multipack in the United Kingdom, along with the Kit Kat Original, the Kit Kat White, and from 2012 the Kit Kat Cookies & Cream.

text: A wide variety of promotional items exist, ranging from traditional merchandise (such as mugs, pens, oven gloves and tea-towels) to less common items such as coats for small dogs. Recently in Japan,[when?] Kit Kats have come packaged with CD singles, and a special limited edition double pack of Kit Kat Crispy Monogatari came bundled with a mini book featuring six short stories, one of which was written by Koji Suzuki, author of the Ring cycle series. In Japan, Kit Kats are also available in jars that are dispensed from vending machines.

text: Forms[edit]

text: The 'standard' Kit Kat finger bars can come in a variety of presentations and nutritional values. The bars can come in a miniature form of two finger mini bars, or a larger standard four, or in some cases, three, fingered bars.

text: The standard size has been upgraded in several cases up to a 'monster Size' bar, which can include up to five or eight fingers. Large single-fingered "Chunky Kit Kats" were launched in the United Kingdom in 1998 and have been sold in a variety of flavours.

text: Other forms and shapes include "Choc'n'Go" individually wrapped fingers from France, a twelve-finger "Family Block which is available in New Zealand, " in Australia, round bite-sized "Pop Choc" pieces, square "Kubes", praline-filled "Senses", a yoghurt with Kit Kat pieces, and a Kit Kat ice cream cone.

text: In the 1980s, a Kit Kat with five shorter fingers was sold in vending machines in the UK.[34]

text: The Japanese Bake 'N Tasty Mini Kit Kats Custard Pudding Flavour was launched in 2014. The bar must be baked in an oven before consumption, and the surface sugar caramelises in the process.[35]

text: In 2015, a new luxury and giftable variant of Kit Kat called Kit Kat Rubies was launched in Malaysia. Comes with the box of 20 small bars, the Kit Kat Rubies bar made with the premium chocolate truffle cream and imported roasted hazelnut pieces.[36]

text: As of 2017, U.S. variants include the standard and king-size four-finger bars, standard bars covered with white or dark chocolate, snack-size orange-covered bars for Halloween, bagged wrapped one-finger miniatures (original and assorted), unwrapped minis, a redesigned Big Kat, and a king-size Big Kat (two of the new Big Kat bars).[37]

text: Chocolatory Melbourne[edit]

text: Kit Kat has opened a Chocolatory in the Melbourne Central Shopping Centre in Melbourne, Australia. The dedicated shop allows customers to use touch screens to craft their own Kit Kat from a selection of chocolates and ingredients which are then created for them on site while they wait. [38]

text: Criticism and controversy[edit]

text: In March 2010, Kit Kat was targeted for a boycott by Greenpeace for using palm oil, which the environmental organisation claimed resulted in destruction of forest habitats for orangutans in Indonesia.[39] A YouTube video by Greenpeace went viral[40] and Nestlé announced a partnership with The Forest Trust to establish "responsible sourcing guidelines" and ensure that its products did not have a deforestation footprint. They aimed to achieve a fully sustainable method of palm oil harvesting by 2015.[41]

text: Kit Kat Milk Chocolate is made for the North American market with the ingredient PGPR (polyglycerol polyricinoleate, E476, AKA Palsgaard PGPR 4150),[42] which is used to reduce the amount of cocoa butter needed and as an emulsifier.[43] The FDA has determined it to be safe for humans in amounts up to 7.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. "Liver and kidney enlargement was noticed at much higher doses."[44]

text: Ingredients[edit]

text: Original Kit Kat ingredients unless otherwise stated, listed by decreasing weight: milk chocolate (sugar, milk ingredients, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, whey powder, lactose, soya lecithin, polyglycerol polyricinoleate, natural flavour), wheat flour, sugar, modified palm oil, cocoa, sodium bicarbonate, soya lecithin, yeast, and natural flavour.

text: Europe[edit]

text: Milk chocolate (66%) (sugar, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, dried whole milk, cocoa mass, lactose and proteins from whey, whey powder, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), butterfat, flavouring), wheat flour, sugar, vegetable fat, cocoa mass, yeast, raising agent (sodium bicarbonate), salt, emulsifier (soya lecithin), flavourings.

text: In 2006, the UK four-finger Kit Kat contained 233 dietary calories (kcal) (975 kilojoules). In 2009, the two-finger Kit Kat contained 107 calories.

text: In 2013, the UK Kit Kat Chunky contained 247 calories which reduced to 207 calories in 2015. This correlated to a reduction in weight by 19% from 48 g to 40 g.[45][46]

text: United States[edit]

text: Hershey's Kit Kat Crisp Wafers in Chocolate [1 oz] Sugar, wheat flour, cocoa butter, nonfat milk, chocolate, refined palm kernel oil, lactose (milk), milk fat, contains 2% or less of: soy lecithin, PGPR (emulsifier), yeast, artificial flavor, salt, and sodium bicarbonate.

text: Canada[edit]

text: Milk chocolate (sugar, modified milk ingredients, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, whey powder, lactose, soya lecithin, polyglycerol polyricinoleate, natural flavour), wheat flour, sugar, modified palm oil, cocoa, sodium bicarbonate, soya lecithin, yeast, Natural Flavour.

text: Dark form[edit]

text: Dark chocolate (sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, milk ingredients, soya lecithin, salt, artificial flavour), wheat flour, sugar, modified palm oil, unsweetened chocolate or cocoa powder, sodium bicarbonate, soya lecithin, artificial flavour. May contain salt and/or yeast.

text: Asia[edit]

text: Nestlé has factories in various locations in China, to supply to China and Hong Kong. During the 2008 Chinese milk scandal, where melamine was found to have tainted some milk suppliers in China, importers in Hong Kong chose to import bars manufactured in the United Kingdom.


document_title: List of Linux distributions

question_text: is an open source debian-based linux distribution sponsored by canonical ltd

root

text: List of Linux distributions

text: RPM-based[edit]

text: Red Hat Linux and SUSE Linux were the original major distributions that used the .rpm file format, which is today used in several package management systems. Both of these were later divided into commercial and community-supported distributions. Red Hat Linux was divided into a community-supported but Red Hat-sponsored distribution named Fedora, and a commercially supported distribution called Red Hat Enterprise Linux, whereas SuSE was divided into openSUSE and SUSE Linux Enterprise

tag: p

text:
Distribution
Description

Red Hat Linux

Split into Fedora Core and Red Hat Enterprise Linux. The last official release of the unsplit distribution was Red Hat Linux 9 in March 2003.

CentOS

Community-supported Linux distribution designed as an OpenSource version of RHEL and well suited for servers.

Fedora

Community-supported Linux distribution sponsored by Red Hat.

openSUSE

A community-developed Linux distribution, sponsored by SUSE. It maintains a strict policy of ensuring all code in the standard installs will be from FOSS solutions, including Linux kernel Modules. SUSE's enterprise Linux products are all based on the codebase that comes out of the openSUSE project.

Mandrake Linux

The first release was based on Red Hat Linux (version 5.1) and KDE 1 in July 1998. It had since moved away from Red Hat's distribution and became a completely separate distribution. The name was changed to Mandriva, which included a number of original tools, mostly to ease system configuration. Mandriva Linux was the brainchild of Gaël Duval, who wanted to focus on ease of use for new users.

tag: table

text: CentOS/RHEL-based[edit]

text:
Distribution
Description

Asianux

A Linux distribution co-developed between Red Flag Software Co., Ltd., Miracle Linux Corp. and Haansoft, INC., focused on Chinese, Japanese and Korean support.

ClearOS

Small Business Server. File, Print, Messaging, UTM, VPN.

Fermi Linux LTS

Based on Scientific Linux.[1]

Miracle Linux

Developed by Japanese software vendor Miracle Linux Co., Ltd

Oracle Linux

Supported by Oracle. Aims to be fully compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

Red Flag Linux

A Linux distribution developed in China and optimized for the Chinese market. Based on Asianux.

Rocks Cluster Distribution

A Linux distribution for building a High-Performance Computing computer cluster, with a recent release supporting Cloud computing. It is based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux but with extensions to support large multi-node heterogeneous systems for clusters (HPC), Cloud, and Data Warehousing (in development).

Scientific Linux

A Linux distribution co-developed by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), which aims to be compatible with and based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

SME Server

Based on CentOS and targeting Small and Medium Enterprises.

text: Fedora-based[edit]

text: Fedora is a community supported distribution. It aims to provide the latest software while maintaining a completely Free Software system.[2]

text:
Distribution
Description

Aurora SPARC Linux

For Sun's SPARC architecture

Berry Linux

A medium-sized Fedora-based distribution that provides support in Japanese and English.

BLAG Linux and GNU

A completely free software distribution listed by the Free Software Foundation.[3]

EduLinux

For educational purposes

EnGarde Secure Linux

Server-only Linux distribution designed to be secure.[4]

Fuduntu

Designed to fit in somewhere between Fedora and Ubuntu.

Hanthana

Designed to cater the needs of Sri Lankan computer users who are unable to access Internet frequently, with many most-wanted applications built in.

K12LTSP

A distribution for educational purpose. Comes with LTSP support.

Korora

Initially aimed at easy installation of a Gentoo system by using install scripts instead of manual configuration. Now based on Fedora.

Linpus Linux

Focused on the Chinese market, along with Linpus Lite focused on the netbook market.

MeeGo

Built by Intel and Nokia, intended for mobile phones (mainly Nokia N9) and tablets. It is based on Moblin together with Maemo.

Moblin

Built around the Intel Atom processor; supplanted by Meego when Intel and (temporarily) Nokia combined activities

MythDora

Specialized Linux distribution for easy setup of the MythTV PVR software, similar to KnoppMyth, based on Fedora.

Network Security Toolkit

A Live CD/DVD with security and networking tools to perform routine security and networking diagnostic and monitoring tasks.

Qubes OS

Focused on security for desktop users. Based on an "ancient" Fedora release which we are somewhere said it to upgrade under YUM.

Russian Fedora Remix

A remix of Fedora.

Sugar-on-a-Stick Linux

An educational operating system for the children of the OpenMandriva world, originally designed for the One-Laptop-Per-Child project.

Trustix

A Linux distribution focused on security.[5]

Yellow Dog Linux

For the PowerPC platform.

text: openSUSE-based[edit]

text:
Distribution
Description

SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop

Previously branded Novell Linux Desktop. A desktop-oriented Linux distribution supplied by SUSE and targeted at the enterprise market.

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server

A server-oriented Linux distribution supplied by SUSE and targeted at the business market.

SUSE Studio

SuSE studio is the html5 frontend over KIWI.

GeckoLinux

Have offline Live-USB/DVD installer, editions with a different desktop environment, have pre-installed programs like a proprietary drivers. Have Static and Rolling editions.

text: urpmi-based[edit]

text:
Distribution
Description

Mandriva Linux

Open-source distribution (with exceptions), discontinued in 2011.

Mageia

A community Linux distribution initially forked from Mandriva Linux in response to the discontinuation of free versions of Mandriva Linux.

ROSA Linux

A Russian distribution available in three different editions: ROSA Desktop Fresh, ROSA Enterprise Desktop and ROSA Enterprise Linux Server, with the latter two aiming at commercial users. Its desktop editions come bundled with proprietary software such as Adobe Flash Player, multimedia codecs and Steam.

OpenMandriva

The last release of Mandriva Linux was in August 2011. Most developers who were laid off went to Mageia.[5] Later on, the remaining developers teamed up with community members and formed OpenMandriva, a continuation of Mandriva.

Annvix

A security-focused server Linux distribution. Originally based on Mandrake 9.2 but has diverged a lot. Discontinued.

TinyMe

Based on Unity Linux, targeted to be as lightweight as possible.

Trinity Rescue Kit

Aimed specifically at offline operations for Windows and Linux systems such as rescue, repair, password resets and disk cloning

Unity Linux

Meant to be a base for custom distributions.

text: apt-rpm based[edit]

text:
PCLinuxOS

A rolling release Linux Live CD distribution. Originally based on Mandrake 9.2. Later rebased on Mandriva 2007.

Vine Linux

A Japanese distribution originally based on Red Hat Linux.

ALT Linux

ALT Linux is a set of RPM-based operating systems built on top of the Linux kernel and Sisyphus packages repository. ALT Linux has been developed collectively by ALT Linux Team developers community and ALT Linux Ltd.

text: Independent RPM distributions[edit]

text: This list is about the distributions using the .rpm packages, excluding derivatives over zypp or Fedora or urpmi or apt-rpm.

text:
Distribution
Description

Caldera OpenLinux

A Linux distribution originally introduced by Caldera and later developed by its subsidiary Caldera Systems. It was later developed by Caldera International (which bought SCO and was renamed The SCO Group).  The distribution is no longer produced. Last release: 3.1.1 – Jan. 30, 2002

cAos Linux

A general purpose Linux distribution. Designed to have low overhead, run on older hardware, and be easily customizable.

Turbolinux

Originally based on Red Hat Linux.

YOPER

A rolling release desktop distribution from New Zealand that focuses on optimizing system performance for workstation use. Discontinued.

text: Debian-based[edit]

text: Debian is a distribution that emphasizes free software. It supports many hardware platforms. Debian and distributions based on it use the .deb package format[6] and the dpkg package manager and its frontends (such as apt-get or synaptic).[7]

text: Sid-based[edit]

text:
Distribution
Description

LinuxBBQ

LinuxBBQ is a plethora of releases for various targets and goals based on Debian Sid GNU/Linux.

text: Testing based[edit]

text:
Distribution
Description

Ubuntu

A distribution sponsored by Canonical Ltd. and receiving major funding from South African Mark Shuttleworth. Aims to offer a complete and polished desktop on a single DVD.[8]

Kali Linux

Made to be a completely customizable OS, used for penetration testing. It is based on Debian GNU/Linux[9]

Parsix

Optimized for personal computers and laptops. Built on top of Debian testing branch and comes with security support.[10]

BackTrack

Developed by Offensive Security and designed for penetration testing.[11]  In March 2013, the Offensive Security team rebuilt BackTrack around the Debian distribution and released it under the name Kali Linux.[12].

text: Ubuntu-based[edit]

text: Ubuntu is a distribution based on Debian, designed to have regular releases, a consistent user experience and commercial support on both desktops and servers.[13]

text: Official distributions[edit]

text: These Ubuntu variants simply install a set of packages different from the original Ubuntu, but since they draw additional packages and updates from the same repositories as Ubuntu, all of the same software is available for each of them.[14]

text:
Distribution
Description

Edubuntu

A complete Linux based operating system targeted for primary and secondary education. It is freely available with community based support. The Edubuntu community is built on the ideas enshrined in the Edubuntu Manifesto: that software, especially for education, should be available free of charge and that software tools should be usable by people in their local language and despite any disabilities.[15]

Kubuntu

An official derivative of Ubuntu Linux using KDE instead of the GNOME or Unity interfaces used by default in Ubuntu.[16]

Ubuntu GNOME

Formerly an official Ubuntu variant,[17] but since 17.10, which uses Gnome Shell as its default desktop and GDM as its display manager, this has been merged into mainline releases.[18]

Ubuntu MATE

An official derivative of Ubuntu using MATE, a desktop environment forked from the now-defunct GNOME 2 code base, with an emphasis on the desktop metaphor.[19]

Ubuntu Budgie

An official derivative of Ubuntu using Budgie.

Lubuntu

Lubuntu is a project that is an official derivative of the Ubuntu operating system that is "lighter, less resource hungry and more energy-efficient", using the LXDE desktop environment.[20][21][22]

Xubuntu

An official derivative of Ubuntu using Xfce. Xubuntu is intended for use on less-powerful computers or those who seek a highly efficient desktop environment on faster systems, and uses mostly GTK+ applications.[23]

Ubuntu Kylin

An official derivative aimed at the Chinese market.

Ubuntu Server

An official derivative made for use in servers. Ubuntu Server handles mail, controls printers, acts as a fileserver, can host LAMP and more.[24]

Ubuntu Studio

Based on Ubuntu, providing open-source applications for multimedia creation aimed at the audio, video and graphic editors.[25]

text: Discontinued official distributions[edit]

text:
Distribution
Description

Gobuntu

Gobuntu was an official derivative of the Ubuntu operating system, aiming to provide a distribution consisting entirely of free software. It was officially announced by Mark Shuttleworth on July 10, 2007, and daily builds of Gobuntu 7.10 began to be publicly released. The project ended around the release of 8.04 and has since merged into mainline Ubuntu as a 'free software' option.[26]

Ubuntu for Android

Designed for use with Android phones.[27] No longer under active development.

Ubuntu JeOS

"Just Enough OS" – was described as "an efficient variant [...] configured specifically for virtual appliances".[28] Since the release of Ubuntu 8.10 it has been included as an option as part of the standard Ubuntu Server Edition.

Ubuntu Mobile

An embedded operating system designed for use on mobile devices. The operating system will use Hildon from maemo as its graphical frontend. Ubuntu Touch is a successor to Ubuntu Mobile.

Ubuntu Netbook Edition

Netbook Edition was an official derivative of Ubuntu designed for netbooks using the Intel Atom processor. Starting from Ubuntu 11.04, Ubuntu Netbook Edition has been merged into the desktop edition.[29]

Ubuntu Touch

Designed for use with touchscreen devices.

Ubuntu TV

Designed for use with TVs.[30]

Mythbuntu

Based on Ubuntu and MythTV, providing applications for recording TV and acting as a media center.[31] On 4 November 2016 the development team announced the end of Mythbuntu as a separate distribution, citing insufficient developers.

text: Third-party distributions[edit]

text: Unofficial variants and derivatives are not controlled or guided by Canonical Ltd. and generally have different goals in mind.

text:
Distribution
Description

Aurora

Specifically for the Eee PC range of netbooks, based on Debian. Previously named Eeebuntu and based on Ubuntu.[32]

Baltix

Ubuntu-based distribution for Lithuanian and Latvian people. Supported languages are Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian, Russian, English, Norwegian and other around Baltic region. Main language is Lithuanian.[33]

BackBox

BackBox is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu. It has been developed to perform penetration tests and security assessments. Designed to be fast, easy to use and provide a minimal yet complete desktop environment, thanks to its own software repositories, always being updated to the latest stable version of the most used and best known ethical hacking tools.[34]

BackSlash Linux

BackSlash Linux is an Ubuntu and Debian-based operating system for AMD64 and Intel x64 based Personal Computers developed in India. It is based on free software and every release of the operating System is named after the characters of the Disney blockbuster, Frozen.[35]

Bodhi Linux

An Ubuntu-based Linux distribution featuring the Moksha Desktop environment and targeting users who want a minimum of preinstalled software or low system requirements.[36]

Cub Linux

Ubuntu-based distribution designed to mimic the desktop appearance and functionality of Chrome OS.[37][38][39][40]

dyne:bolic

Live CD geared toward multimedia (audio and video) production, but comes with other non-media specific application (e.g. word processor, desktop publisher)[41]

EasyPeasy

Fork of Ubuntu designed for netbooks[42]

Element OS

Based on Xubuntu, made for Home theater PCs[43]

elementary OS

A powerful, user-friendly distribution known for its well received user interface and devoted community of developers and artists.[44]

Emmabuntüs

Based on Xubuntu designed to facilitate the repacking of computers donated to Emmaüs Communities.[45]

GendBuntu

A version adapted for use by France's National Gendarmerie.

Goobuntu

An Ubuntu-based distribution that was used internally by Google (until changing to non-Ubuntu, Debian-based GLinux]); not available outside of Google

gOS

Uses the GNOME desktop environment with user interface enhancements to make it work more like Mac OS X, it also features Google Apps, Picasa, Google Gadgets and other web-based applications, and comes with Wine 1.0 pre-installed.

Guadalinex

Ubuntu-based distribution promoted by the local government of Andalucia, Spain, for home users and schools.[46]

Impi Linux

South African and focuses on the enterprise and government sector.[47]

Iskolinux

A Linux distribution packaged and maintained by UP Manila's (UPM) Information Management System as part of University of the Philippines' thrust to migrate to Linux.

Joli OS

Joli OS (formerly named Jolicloud) is in development and Pre-beta testing. Joli OS is built upon Debian and Ubuntu 9.10, but is tweaked to be more suitable for computers that have weaker specifications in terms of disk storage, memory and screen size. It is designed to run on relatively low-powered netbook computers.[48]

Karoshi

A formerly PCLinuxOS-based distribution designed for use in schools.[49]

Kuki Linux

Lightweight Ubuntu-based Linux distribution founded by João Ferro, built to be a replacement for the Linpus Linux Lite distribution on the Acer Aspire One.[50]

LiMux

A project by the city council of Munich, Germany

Linux Lite

The purpose of Linux Lite is to introduce Windows users to Linux, and provide them with a comfortable and useful user experience. It is designed to be simple and suitable for new Linux users who want a lightweight, highly responsive, and fully functional environment.[51]

Linux Mint

Linux Mint synchronizes its release-cycle with Ubuntu's long term support, and is tailored to user-friendliness for desktop users.[52]

LinuxMCE

Linux Media Center Edition, a Kubuntu-based distribution that provides in-depth HTPC functionality as well as home automation.[53]

LinuxTLE

A Thai Linux distribution[54]

LliureX

A distribution by the Generalitat Valenciana[55]

LOUD

LCSEE Optimized Ubuntu Distribution, an Ubuntu distribution used at West Virginia University. It contains several specialized educational packages as well as its own themes and login manager.[56]

MAX

Stands for Madrid LinuX[57]

Molinux

Ubuntu based initiative to introduce the Castile-La Mancha community in Spain to the information society.[58]

Netrunner

Kubuntu based distribution with complete software and codecs installed, developed by Blue Systems (also sponsoring Kubuntu and LinuxMintKDE).[59]

Nova

Cuban state-sponsored distribution developed at the University of Information Science, Havana. Formerly based on Gentoo.

OpenGEU

Ubuntu based distribution with Enlightenment window manager, previously known as Geubuntu.[60]

Peppermint OS

A light-weight LXDE distribution for cloud applications through its own Ice Framework using Chromium Web Browser. Based on Lubuntu[61]

Pinguy OS

An Ubuntu-based distro for people that have never used Linux before or for people that want an out-of-the-box working OS without having to tweak a fresh installation of Ubuntu or other Ubuntu-based distro.[62]

Poseidon Linux

For academic and scientific use. Based on Ubuntu, but enhanced by GIS/maps, numerical modelling, 2D/3D/4D visualization, statistics, tools for creating simple and complex graphics, programming languages.

PUD

A small distribution, aimed at being simple and usable

Qimo 4 Kids

Educational games for children aged three and up. Ubuntu-based with easy-to-use interface.[63]

Sabily

Ubuntu based distribution for Muslims (formerly Ubuntu Muslim Edition)[64]

Trisquel GNU/Linux

Fully free-software system without proprietary software or firmware and uses the Linux-libre kernel, based on Ubuntu LTS Releases[65]

UberStudent

For higher education and advanced secondary students, those who teach them, and lifelong learners[66]

Ututo

Ututo UL ("Ubuntu-Libre") Distributes Simusol, a system to simulate Solar Energy projects, returned to the heart of the project.[67]

Vinux

A Linux distribution designed for visually impaired users[68]

text: Stable based[edit]

text:
Distribution
Description

grml

Live CD for system recovery[69]

Knoppix

The first Live CD (later DVD) version of Debian[70]

MEPIS

Focuses on ease of use. Also includes a lightweight variant called antiX. antiX is meant to be used on older computers with limited hardware.[71] There is also a Xfce distro called MX Linux that's based on Debian Stable.[72]

RXART

Desktop-oriented distribution. Focused on providing proprietary software.[73]

Raspbian

Desktop-oriented distribution. Developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation as the official OS for their family of low-power single-board computers.[74]

SteamOS

Debian-based and gaming-focused distribution developed by Valve Corporation and designed around the Steam digital distribution platform.

Astra Linux

OS developed for Russian Army with raised security.[75]

Bharat Operating System Solutions (BOSS)

Indian Linux distribution

Canaima

A Venezuelan Linux distribution.[76]

Corel Linux

Commercial. Short-lived desktop Linux distribution, bought by Xandros Linux.[77]

CrunchBang Linux

A small Linux Distro and Live CD based on Debian Stable, featuring the Openbox window manager and tint2 panel with GTK+ applications.[78] Development has ended for CrunchBang as of February, 2015.[79]

Devuan

A fork of Debian begun in 2014 with the primary goal of allowing user choice in init systems, by decoupling software packages from systemd.[80]

Dreamlinux

A Brazilian Linux distribution (not active anymore)

Daylight Linux

An ultra light-weight linux distribution with fluxbox desktop for computers and Raspberry Pi.

Elive

A Belgian Linux distribution that is lightweight but still provides an attractive Graphical User Interface. Ideal for older devices.[81]

Emdebian Grip

A small-footprint Linux distribution based on and compatible with Debian, intended for use on resource-limited embedded systems.[82]

Finnix

A small system-administration Live CD that is available for multiple architectures[83]

gNewSense

Originally based on Ubuntu and later upon Debian, and developed with sponsorship from the Free Software Foundation. Its goal is user-friendliness, but with all proprietary (e.g. binary blobs) and non-free software removed.

HandyLinux

Designed for senior citizens running old computers for which Windows has become too slow[84]

Kanotix

An installable live DVD/CD for desktop usage using KDE and LXDE, focusing on convenient scripts and GUI for ease of use.[85]

Kurumin

Earlier, it was a version of the Knoppix distribution, modified with Debian and designed for Brazilian users.

LEAF Project

The Linux Embedded Appliance Framework. A tiny primarily floppy-based distribution for routers, firewalls and other appliances.[86]

LiMux

An ISO 9241 industry workplace certified Linux distribution, deployed at the City of Munich, Germany.[87]

Maemo

A development platform for hand held devices such as the Nokia N800, N810, and Nokia N900 Internet Tablets and other Linux kernel–based devices.[88]

MintPPC

For PowerPC computers. Although MintPPC uses some Mint LXDE code, it is not Linux Mint.[89]

Musix GNU+Linux

Intended for music production, graphic design, audio, video editing, and other tasks. It is built with only free software.[90]

NepaLinux

A Debian- and Morphix-based distribution focused for desktop usage in Nepali language computing.[91]

OpenZaurus

Debian packages and ROM image for the Sharp Zaurus PDA. Replaced by Ångström distribution.[92]

Pardus

Developed by Turkish National Research Institute of Electronics and Cryptology. Prior to 2013 it used PISI as the package manager, with COMAR as the configuration framework. Starting with Pardus 2013, it is Debian-based.

PelicanHPC

Dedicated to setting up a computer cluster.[93]

Sacix

A Debian Pure Blend originally created to support the educational and free software diffusion goals of the Telecentres project of the city of São Paulo, Brazil.[94]

Skolelinux

A Linux distribution from Norway, now the basepoint for and now synonymous to Debian EDU. It provides as a thin client distribution for schools.[95]

SolydXK

Xfce and KDE desktop focused on stability, security and ease of use.[96]

SparkyLinux

SparkyLinux is a Debian-based Linux distribution which provides ready to use, out of the box operating system with a set of slightly customized lightweight desktops. Sparky is targeted to all the computer’s users who want replace existing, proprietary driven OS to an open-sourced..

Sunwah Linux

A Chinese Linux distribution[97]

Symphony OS

Includes the Mezzo desktop environment. Previous versions were based on Knoppix.[98]

SalineOS

Lean, stable and easy-to-use distribution with XFCE as graphical interface.[99]

The Amnesic Incognito Live System (TAILS)

The Amnesic Incognito Live System' or Tails is aimed at preserving privacy and anonymity, with all outgoing connections forced to go through Tor.[100]

TurnKey GNU/Linux

Open source project developing a family of free, Debian-based appliances optimized for ease of use in server-type usage scenarios.[101] Based on Debian since 2012; previously based on Ubuntu.

Univention Corporate Server

Enterprise distribution with integrated IT infrastructure and identity management system by the company Univention GmbH, Germany. A full version for up to 5 users for tests and for private use can be downloaded for free.[102]

Webconverger

Debian Live based browser only distribution, similar to Google Chrome OS. However based on Firefox and dwm, with no user sign-in, no special hardware required and designed for public places.[103]

Vyatta

Commercial open source network operating system includes routing, firewall, VPN, intrusion prevention and more. Designed to be an open source Cisco replacement.[104]

VyOS

Free routing platform that competes directly with other commercially available solutions from well known network providers. Because VyOS is run on standard amd64, i586 and ARM systems, it is able to be used as a router and firewall platform for cloud deployments.

text: MEPIS-based[edit]

text:
Distribution
Description

antiX

It is comparatively lightweight and suitable for older computers, while also providing kernel and applications, as well as updates and additions via the Aptitude and Debian-compatible repositories.

MX Linux

A midweight OS based on Debian Stable with core components from antiX and using Xfce, offering simple configuration, high stability, solid performance and medium-sized footprint.[105]

text: Knoppix-based[edit]

text: Knoppix, itself, is based on Debian. It is a live distribution, with automated hardware configuration and a wide choice of software, which is decompressed as it loads from the drive.[106]

text:
Distribution
Description

Damn Small Linux

A small Linux distro designed to run on older hardware. It is commonly used on virtual machines due to low memory requirements.[107]

Feather Linux

Boots from either a CD or a USB flash drive. Uses Knoppix-based hardware detection and the Fluxbox window manager.[108]

Hikarunix

A Linux distribution solely for studying and playing the game of Go. Based on Damn Small Linux.[109]

text: Pacman-based[edit]

text: pacman is a package manager that is capable of resolving dependencies and automatically downloading and installing all necessary packages. In theory, a user need only run a single command to completely update the system.

text:
Distribution
Description

Arch Linux

An x86-64-optimized distribution targeted at experienced users. Arch runs on a rolling release system and uses the pacman utility for package management.

Antergos

Derived from Arch Linux with GUI installer and offers multiple choices of desktop environments, but Xfce by default.

ArchBang

Based on Arch Linux, but also provides Live CDs with working system and graphical installation scripts; uses Openbox as default window manager.

Chakra Linux

Originally derived from Arch Linux, with the latest KDE. For now uses the pacman utility for package management. Strives to be Qt-only.

Frugalware Linux

A general purpose Linux distribution designed for intermediate users. Has some influences from Slackware, and uses a heavily modified version of pacman, Pacman-G2, a fork of a cvs version of the complete rewrite of Pacman-G1 by Aurelien Foret (the old monolithic Pacman-G1 is written by Judd Vinet). The packages are tar archives compressed using xz.[110]

LinHES

LinHES (Linux Home Entertainment Server) designed for use on Home Theater PCs (HTPCs), providing applications for recording TV and acting as a sound and video center.

Manjaro Linux

Based on Arch Linux, using its own repositories and ships with Xfce (as the default desktop environment), KDE, Openbox, a net edition without GUI, and also an Xfce netbook edition.

Parabola GNU/Linux-libre

An Arch derivative without any blobs, plus various added packages. Packages are also built for ARMv7 in addition to i686 and x64. MATE and text-mode distributions available.

text: Gentoo-based[edit]

text: Gentoo is a distribution designed to have highly optimized and frequently updated software.[111] Distributions based on Gentoo use the Portage package management system with emerge[112] or one of the alternative package managers.

text:
Distribution
Description

Chromium OS[113]

Chrome OS[114] is used on various Chromebooks, Chromeboxes and tablet computers. It is primarily Internet-based, launching each app within the Chrome browser. The OS features a user interface that is very similar-looking to Chrome instead of GNOME, Cinnamon, LXQt, Xfce, etc.

Calculate Linux

Calculate Linux is a family of distributions.

Container Linux

Linux distribution by CoreOS designed for clustered and containerized deployments with update subscription

Gentoox

An adaptation of Gentoo for the Xbox

Knopperdisk

A Linux distribution aimed at USB sticks.

Pentoo

Penetration-testing Live CD.

Sabayon Linux

Made in Italy. It is a European Linux distribution based on Gentoo. However, it follows the "out of the box" philosophy, aiming to give the user a wide number of applications ready to use and a self-configured operating system. Like Gentoo, Sabayon uses the rolling release model; it uses a customized version of Red Hat's Anaconda Installer and includes a Media Center application.

SystemRescueCD

System rescue Live CD version of Gentoo.

Tin Hat Linux

Based on hardened Gentoo, this distribution is based primarily on security.

Ututo

Made in Argentina. An FSF Approved Free Distribution.[3]

text: Also, the Gentoo project maintains its own list of distributions based on Gentoo.

text: Slackware-based[edit]

text: Slackware is known as a highly customizable distribution that stresses ease of maintenance and reliability over cutting-edge software and automated tools. Generally considered a distribution for advanced users, it is often suggested to those who want to learn the inner workings of a Linux operating system.

text:
Distribution
Description

Austrumi Linux

A 108 MB bootable live CD as of version 1.9.3

Freenix

A free and libre derivative of Slackware for x86_64 systems.

Frugalware Linux

A general-purpose Linux distribution designed for intermediate users who are familiar with command-line operations. Early versions were based on Slackware, but it is now an independently developed distribution.

HostGIS

A Slackware-based distribution specifically made for handling GIS information

KateOS

A desktop distribution aimed at intermediate users. It uses Xfce as its default desktop environment. No longer in development.

MuLinux

Floppy-based Linux distribution with replaceable modules

NimbleX

Completely customizable through the NimbleX website. Now no longer producing new versions.

Platypux

A French Linux distribution of the Slackware family

Salix OS

Originally a fork of Zenwalk, Salix is a complete Linux distribution fully backwards compatible with Slackware.
Uses Xfce, KDE, LXDE, Fluxbox or Ratpoison as its default desktop environment.
32 and 64bits version. Live versions are also available.

Sentry Firewall

A firewall, server, or intrusion detection system distribution

simpleLinux

simpleLinux uses LZMA compression to compress its system files. The project started on year 2007 by a group of Malaysian developer. simpleLinux is a Slackware-based distribution that comes in both Live CD or Persistence version that can be installed to a medium. simpleLinux comes to be a multi-tasking operating system that runs the X Window System.

Slackintosh

An unofficial port of Slackware to the PowerPC architecture

Slamd64

An unofficial port of Slackware to the x86-64 architecture

Slax

A live CD which aims to provide a complete desktop for general use. Permanent installation of Slax is not recommended or supported; it is designed for "live" use only. Also can be run from a USB flash drive.

SuperGamer

A Live DVD distribution focused on gaming

Topologilinux

Designed to run from within Microsoft Windows, Topologilinux can be installed without any changes to the user's hard disk. Outdated.

VectorLinux

A lightweight Linux distribution designed to be easy to use even for new users. Generally considered well-suited for older hardware.

WinLinux

A Linux distro that runs on a FAT32 filesystem

Wolvix

A desktop-oriented Linux distribution based on Slackware, mainly targeted at home users, featuring Xfce. No longer available.

Zenwalk

Originally a minimal version of Slackware, Zenwalk has evolved into a very different operating system; however, compatibility with Slackware is still maintained.

ZipSlack

A lightweight and portable version of Slackware

text: Slax-based[edit]

text: Slax's modularity and reputation of quality have made it a popular base for other live CD projects.

text:
Distribution
Description

DAVIX

A Linux Live CD for data analysis and visualisation.

DNALinux

A small Linux distribution designed for running bioinformatics software, including BLAST and EMBOSS.

Porteus

A small Linux distro based on Sector

text: source-based[edit]

text:
Distribution
Description

Linux From Scratch

A distribution and book on how to build GNU/Linux from its source code along with bootstrapping the GNU-tool-chain's sources.

text: Independent[edit]

text: The following distributions can not be categorized under the preceding sections.

text:
Distribution
Description

Alpine Linux

A security-oriented, lightweight Linux distribution based on musl and BusyBox.  Has a derivative, postmarketOS, for mobile devices.

Android

Android is a mobile operating system developed by Google, based on the Linux kernel and designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.[115]

Billix

A live CD or live USB system administration toolkit and multi-boot distribution with the ability to install any of the included distributions.

Coyote Linux

A router and firewall Linux distribution

CRUX

CRUX is a lightweight, x86-64-optimized Linux distribution targeted at experienced users. The focus is "keep it simple", which is reflected in a simple tar.xz-based package system, BSD-style initscripts, and a relatively small collection of trimmed packages

DD-WRT

Embedded firewall Linux distribution

Dragora GNU/Linux-Libre

A Linux distribution written entirely from scratch[116] and sharing some similarities with Slackware. Approved by the GNU Project as a free operating system.[117]

ELinOS

Linux distribution for embedded systems by SYSGO. ELinOS focuses on industrial application and provides real-time extensions.

Familiar Linux

Linux distribution for iPAQ handhelds.

fli4l

A router and firewall Linux distribution[118]

Foresight Linux

A rolling release Linux distribution built around the Conary package manager.

GeeXboX

Live CD media center Linux distribution, mainly to play special-encoded video files (e.g.: .ogg, XVID) on home theater.

Guix System Distribution (GuixSD)

Declarative Linux distribution with atomic upgrades and rollbacks built on top of the GNU Guix package manager. Supports amongst others unprivileged package management and per-user profiles.

GoboLinux

An alternative Linux distribution which redefines the file system hierarchy by installing everything belonging to one application in one folder under /Programs, and using symlinks from /System and its subfolders to point to the proper files.

Jlime

Linux distribution for the HP Jornada 6xx and 7xx and NEC MobilePro 900(c) handhelds.

Lightweight Portable Security (LPS)[119]

A distribution created by the United States Department of Defense that boots entirely in RAM

Linux Router Project

Embedded networking appliance progenitor (defunct).

Lunar Linux

A source code-based Linux distribution descended from Sorcerer.

MCC Interim Linux

Possibly the first Linux distribution, created by the Manchester Computing Centre in February 1992

MkLinux

A legacy Linux distribution for PowerPC systems that runs the Linux kernel as a server on top of the Mach microkernel.

Mobilinux

By Montavista for smartphones

MontaVista Linux

Embedded distribution by MontaVista Software

NASLite

A floppy-based Linux designed to turn an old computer into a simple Network Attached Storage device.

Nitix

Developed by Net Integration Technologies Inc., Nitix claims to be the first autonomic Linux kernel–based server operating system.

NixOS

Declarative Linux distribution with atomic upgrades and rollbacks built on top Nix package manager

OpenWrt

A router and firewall Linux distribution, also other embedded systems, a lot of routing options via opkg available

paldo

Independently developed desktop operating system and package manager (upkg) with a rolling release format and standard Gnome environment.

PS2 Linux

Sony Computer Entertainment Linux distribution released officially for the PlayStation 2 video game console.

Prevas Industrial Linux

Embedded systems customizable Linux distribution by Prevas.

Puppy Linux

A mini Linux distribution which runs well under low-end PCs – even under 32 MB RAM.

rPath

A distribution built around the Conary package manager. Discontinued.

SliTaz

With less than 40 MB a very small Live-Distribution, which uses 256 MB RAM (or with a special edition only 24 MB[120]) for a complete GUI.

Smallfoot

Developed by the Santa Cruz Operation (SCO UNIX / SCO Group), formerly Caldera International and Caldera Systems – based on Caldera OpenLinux 3.x and 4.x binaries.

SmoothWall

A router and firewall Linux distribution

Softlanding Linux System

One of the earliest Linux distributions, developed from 1992–1994; Slackware was originally based on it.

Solus

Desktop Linux distribution offering Budgie, GNOME and MATE desktop environments, eopkg for package management. The roots in package management and configuration can be seen in Clear Linux[121]

Sorcerer

A source code-based Linux distribution.

Source Mage

A source code-based Linux distribution, descended from Sorcerer.

Stable Hybrid Release

For smartphones, offering Enlightenment's Illume user interface. It is based on FSO.

Thinstation

Thin client Linux distribution supporting all major connectivity protocols.

Tinfoil Hat Linux

Bootable floppy Linux distribution focusing on extreme security

Tiny Core Linux

Tiny Core Linux is a minimalist (around 10 MB) Linux system focusing on providing a base system with BusyBox, FLTK and other minimalist software.

tomsrtbt

Root boot disk.

Tor-ramdisk

An i686 uClibc-based micro Linux distribution (about 5 MB) that runs in system memory and whose only purpose is to host a Tor server in an environment that maximizes security and privacy.

Void Linux

Void is a general purpose operating system, based on the monolithic Linux kernel. Its package system allows you to quickly install, update and remove software; software is provided in binary packages or can be built directly from sources with the help of the XBPS source packages collection.

Yggdrasil Linux/GNU/X

One of the oldest Linux distributions, not updated since 1995.