Minimal X install

Josh000 · 10-16-2009, 07:38 PM

So, does anyone have any interest in this?

Looking through the x directory, there seems to be so many packages that are not actually needed or necessary to use X productively.

I have now managed to narrow down the actual needed packages to have a full X environment with fluxbox, and not including fonts, only need about 20 of the 300 or so packages.

I am sure most people just install the series because hard drive space is cheap, but I have always preferred to know exactly what is on my machine. In this case, I feel it helps me to learn more to know what everything is doing, and what I do or don't need, and why.

I was wondering if anyone feels a similar way, and also runs a minimal X install?

pljvaldez · 10-16-2009, 07:49 PM

I did once on an old debian box (I think it was woody) because I only had a 400 MHz processor and 128MB ram. It was quite the exercise and I too found that most of the packages were drivers I didn't need, etc. So I gutted it (and recompiled the linux kernel) for a speed increase. The kernel recompile helped more than leaving out packages in terms of speed increase.

Since then, I haven't bothered because it was a bit of a hassle for me to figure out what was the actual base packages, and like you said, disk space is cheap. Plus, now that I have several little kids running around, time has become a premium.

gnashley · 10-17-2009, 02:45 AM

Post your list of packages. This has been discussed before, but you might as well post your list so that the thread is a little more informative.

jedi_sith_fears · 10-17-2009, 03:22 AM

What about LFS? You can make it as small as you can .

Slax-Dude · 10-17-2009, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh000

So, does anyone have any interest in this?

I am

Please post your package list, so I can add it to my minimal install package: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...97#post3698797

Dinithion · 10-17-2009, 05:37 AM

I like to strip down and only include what I need. I do include alot more fonts then I would need, but I'm to lazy to start cleaning up the font "mess". I also include every *proto package, as they are needed to compile certain programs.

BrZ · 10-17-2009, 09:21 AM

can you post that 20? thanks.

slackd · 10-17-2009, 10:06 AM

i have ample space for linux, but i would like to have a list of all the 20 packages that u are talking about, just out of curiosity.

Josh000 · 10-17-2009, 10:59 AM

Sorry for the delay guys, having to do work in Windows for a while but will post in a few hours.

Josh000 · 11-04-2009, 05:40 PM

I am sorry for the delay, here is my list of packages to get X working.

Under this, I can watch movies and use Firefox, Fluxbox and XFCE work fine...everything seems fine. In fact, I could probably still remove quite a few packages, but this may be useful for those looking to make a minimal install..

Code:

/var/adm/packages/x11-skel-7.4-x86_64-1
/var/adm/packages/xauth-1.0.3-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/xcompmgr-1.1.4-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/xconsole-1.0.3-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/xcursor-themes-1.0.1-noarch-2
/var/adm/packages/xdg-utils-1.0.2-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/xdm-1.1.8-x86_64-1
/var/adm/packages/xev-1.0.3-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/xf86-input-evdev-2.2.5-x86_64-1
/var/adm/packages/xf86-input-keyboard-1.3.2-x86_64-1
/var/adm/packages/xf86-input-mouse-1.4.0-x86_64-1
/var/adm/packages/xf86-input-synaptics-1.1.3-x86_64-1
/var/adm/packages/xf86-video-ati-6.12.2-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/xf86-video-radeonhd-1.2.5-x86_64-1
/var/adm/packages/xf86-video-vesa-2.2.1-x86_64-1
/var/adm/packages/xfs-1.1.0-x86_64-1
/var/adm/packages/xfsprogs-3.0.1-x86_64-1
/var/adm/packages/xhost-1.0.2-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/xine-lib-1.1.16.3-x86_64-5
/var/adm/packages/xine-ui-0.99.5-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/xinit-1.1.1-x86_64-1
/var/adm/packages/xinput-1.4.2-x86_64-1
/var/adm/packages/xkbcomp-1.1.0-x86_64-1
/var/adm/packages/xkbevd-1.0.2-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/xkbprint-1.0.1-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/xkbutils-1.0.1-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/xkeyboard-config-1.6-noarch-1
/var/adm/packages/xmessage-1.0.2-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/xmms-1.2.11-x86_64-3
/var/adm/packages/xmodmap-1.0.3-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/xorg-server-1.6.3-x86_64-1
/var/adm/packages/xproto-7.0.15-noarch-1
/var/adm/packages/xsetmode-1.0.0-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/xsm-1.0.1-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/xterm-243-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/xtrans-1.2.4-noarch-1
/var/adm/packages/xv-3.10a-x86_64-5
/var/adm/packages/xvidtune-1.0.1-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/xz-4.999.8beta-x86_64-1
/var/adm/packages/font-adobe-100dpi-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-adobe-75dpi-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-adobe-utopia-100dpi-1.0.1-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-adobe-utopia-75dpi-1.0.1-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-adobe-utopia-type1-1.0.1-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-alias-1.0.1-noarch-2
/var/adm/packages/font-arabic-misc-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-bh-100dpi-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-bh-75dpi-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-bh-lucidatypewriter-100dpi-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-bh-lucidatypewriter-75dpi-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-bh-ttf-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-bh-type1-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-bitstream-100dpi-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-bitstream-75dpi-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-bitstream-speedo-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-bitstream-type1-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-cronyx-cyrillic-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-cursor-misc-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-daewoo-misc-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-dec-misc-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-ibm-type1-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-isas-misc-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-jis-misc-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-micro-misc-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-misc-cyrillic-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-misc-ethiopic-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-misc-meltho-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-misc-misc-1.0.0-noarch-4
/var/adm/packages/font-mutt-misc-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-schumacher-misc-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-screen-cyrillic-1.0.1-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-sony-misc-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-sun-misc-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-util-1.0.1-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/font-winitzki-cyrillic-1.0.0-noarch-3
/var/adm/packages/font-xfree86-type1-1.0.1-noarch-2
/var/adm/packages/fontconfig-2.6.0-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/ghostscript-fonts-std-8.11-noarch-1
/var/adm/packages/libXfont-1.4.0-x86_64-1
/var/adm/packages/libXfontcache-1.0.4-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/liberation-fonts-ttf-1.04-noarch-1
/var/adm/packages/libfontenc-1.0.4-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libX11-1.2.2-x86_64-1
/var/adm/packages/libXScrnSaver-1.1.3-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXTrap-1.0.0-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXau-1.0.4-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXaw-1.0.6-x86_64-1
/var/adm/packages/libXcomposite-0.4.0-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXcursor-1.1.9-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXdamage-1.1.1-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXdmcp-1.0.2-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXevie-1.0.2-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXext-1.0.5-x86_64-1
/var/adm/packages/libXfixes-4.0.3-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXfont-1.4.0-x86_64-1
/var/adm/packages/libXfontcache-1.0.4-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXft-2.1.13-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXi-1.2.1-x86_64-1
/var/adm/packages/libXinerama-1.0.3-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXmu-1.0.4-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXp-1.0.0-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXpm-3.5.7-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXprintAppUtil-1.0.1-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXprintUtil-1.0.1-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXrandr-1.3.0-x86_64-1
/var/adm/packages/libXrender-0.9.4-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXres-1.0.3-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXt-1.0.6-x86_64-1
/var/adm/packages/libXtst-1.0.3-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXv-1.0.4-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXvMC-1.0.4-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXxf86dga-1.0.2-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXxf86misc-1.0.1-x86_64-2
/var/adm/packages/libXxf86vm-1.0.2-x86_64-2

114 in total, approx 35 packages for just X stuff, not libaries or fonts...if I removed stuff like xmessage, XMMS, xv etc, I could probably get it close to 80 for everything.

sahko · 11-05-2009, 12:30 AM

The above list contains packages from other package groups besides x/.
xine-*, xz, and ghostscript-fonts, maybe others too.

Josh000 · 11-05-2009, 01:15 AM

I know, which is why I said

Quote:

if I removed stuff like xmessage, XMMS, xv etc, I could probably get it close to 80 for everything.

I didn't weed them out manually, because aside from the few that are obvious, such as xine and xv, I am not sure which libaries or fonts are specifiec/needed for X.

sahko · 11-05-2009, 01:41 AM

Ok, the title of yours confuzed me. xz (not xv) is in a/ and i vital application to install if you want a functionable Slackware >=13.0. And its totally unrelated to X. Also gsfonts is in ap/. Totally unrealated to X as well. But whatever.

Josh000 · 11-05-2009, 02:39 AM

What?

The list of packages is for a minimal X install.

My package list has a few(Very few) other packages that are not exactly related to X, that I did not bother to weed out from the list.

It's not really that hard to understand......

gnashley · 11-05-2009, 05:59 AM

I was hoping you really had a list of ~20!
Here's a smaller list:

Code:

bdftopcf-X11R7.0-1.0.0-i486-1
bitmap-X11R7.1-1.0.2-i486-1
encodings-X11R7.0-1.0.0-i486-1
font-adobe-100dpi-X11R7.0-1.0.0-i486-1
font-adobe-75dpi-X11R7.0-1.0.0-i486-1
font-alias-X11R7.0-1.0.1-i486-1
font-bitstream-100dpi-X11R7.0-1.0.0-i486-1
font-bitstream-75dpi-X11R7.0-1.0.0-i486-1
font-bitstream-speedo-X11R7.0-1.0.0-i486-1
font-bitstream-type1-X11R7.0-1.0.0-i486-1
font-cursor-misc-X11R7.0-1.0.0-i486-1
font-micro-misc-X11R7.0-1.0.0-i486-1
font-misc-misc-X11R7.0-1.0.0-i486-1
font-util-X11R7.1-1.0.1-i486-1
fonttosfnt-X11R7.0-1.0.1-i486-1
fslsfonts-X11R7.0-1.0.1-i486-1
fstobdf-X11R7.1-1.0.2-i486-1
iceauth-X11R7.0-1.0.1-i486-1
libSM-X11R7.1-1.0.1-i486-1
libX11-X11R7.1-1.0.1-i486-1
libXau-X11R7.1-1.0.1-i486-1
libXaw-X11R7.1-1.0.2-i486-1
libXcomposite-X11R7.1-0.3-i486-1
libXcursor-X11R7.1-1.1.6-i486-1
libXdmcp-X11R7.1-1.0.1-i486-1
libXevie-X11R7.1-1.0.1-i486-1
libXext-X11R7.1-1.0.1-i486-1
libXfixes-X11R7.1-4.0.1-i486-1
libXfont-X11R7.1-1.1.0-i486-1
libXfontcache-X11R7.1-1.0.2-i486-1
libXft-X11R7.0-2.1.8.2-i486-1
libXi-X11R7.1-1.0.1-i486-1
libXmu-X11R7.1-1.0.1-i486-1
libXp-X11R7.0-1.0.0-i486-1
libXpm-X11R7.1-3.5.5-i486-1
libXrandr-X11R7.1-1.1.1-i486-1
libXrender-X11R7.1-0.9.1-i486-1
libXres-X11R7.1-1.0.1-i486-1
libXt-X11R7.1-1.0.2-i486-1
libXv-X11R7.0-1.0.1-i486-1
libXxf86misc-X11R7.1-1.0.1-i486-1
libfontenc-X11R7.1-1.0.2-i486-1
liblbxutil-X11R7.1-1.0.1-i486-1
liboldX-X11R7.0-1.0.1-i486-1
libxkbfile-X11R7.1-1.0.3-i486-1
libxkbui-X11R7.1-1.0.2-i486-1
xbitmaps-X11R7.0-1.0.1-i486-1
xcursor-themes-X11R7.0-1.0.1-i486-1
xcursorgen-X11R7.1-1.0.1-i486-1
xinit-X11R7.1-1.0.2-i486-1
xkbcomp-X11R7.1-1.0.2-i486-1
xkbdata-X11R7.0-1.0.1-i486-1
xorg-cf-files-X11R7.1-1.0.2-i486-1
xorg-server-X11R7.1-1.1.0-i486-1

# adjust according to your hardware
xf86-video-fbdev-X11R7.1-0.3.0-i486-1
xf86-video-nv-X11R7.1-1.1.1-i486-1
xf86-video-vesa-X11R7.1-1.2.0-i486-1
xf86-video-vga-X11R7.1-4.1.0-i486-1
xf86-input-keyboard-X11R7.1-1.1.0-i486-1
xf86-input-mouse-X11R7.1-1.1.0-i486-1

# pretty sure these are all optional
xdpyinfo-X11R7.0-1.0.1-i486-1
xrandr-X11R7.1-1.0.2-i486-1
xrdb-X11R7.1-1.0.2-i486-1
xprop-X11R7.0-1.0.1-i486-1
xset-X11R7.1-1.0.2-i486-1
xsetroot-X11R7.0-1.0.1-i486-1
xgamma-X11R7.0-1.0.1-i486-1
xconsole-X11R7.1-1.0.2-i486-1
mkfontdir-X11R7.1-1.0.2-i486-1
mkfontscale-X11R7.0-1.0.1-i486-1
sessreg-X11R7.0-1.0.0-i486-1
setxkbmap-X11R7.1-1.0.2-i486-1
xauth-X11R7.0-1.0.1-i486-1
xkill-X11R7.0-1.0.1-i486-1
xmessage-X11R7.0-1.0.1-i486-1
xmodmap-X11R7.1-1.0.1-i486-1

That list is from a much earlier version of xorg, but mostly still valid names. You really can start with lots less packages -but I added most of the libs back to be able to use most progs.
If you just want to avoid the 'clutter' of so many package names, you can eliminate nearly all the input and video drivers. But, if you want to cut down on installed size, then you have to concentrate on eliminating fonts as they are the biggest pieces.

You can build a 'tiny' list by just installing Xlibs, a couple of font-related tools and a couple of fomnt packages, plus the drivers you need. just keep adding stuff until you can get X to start without any window manager. Then try your favorite WM and add packages until *that* runs. Them start trying your favorite programs and keep adding until they all run. I started that way and only had 20-30 packages until I started running apps. then it became easier to just install all the lib packages -I never kept the original 'tiny' list.

As with all questions regarding 'minimal install', my idea of minimal wll never be the same as anyone elses -what essential for you might be 'cruft' to you.