Why this lightweight Linux distro won't win any popularity contests but is perfect for power users

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Can a Linux distribution shrug off nearly everything most distributions hold dear and still deliver a desktop operating system that is powerful, fast, and easy to use? That's exactly what AntiX manages to do.

Although this Ubuntu-based distribution is best suited for those who know their way around Linux, AntiX is not beyond the realm of new users. Why is this distro best suited for experienced Linux users? Is it the lack of systemd? No. Most new users rarely (if ever) have to bother with a startup service. Is it because the desktop includes Konky (a widget that displays various bits of information)? No. Konky doesn't really affect how the desktop is used.

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The primary reason why I recommend this distribution to those with experience is based purely on the fact that AntiX opts for the zzzFM-IceWM window manager. Although the developers have gone out of their way to make IceWM look and feel like most desktops, you'll quickly realize that AntiX isn't exactly your grandmother's operating system when you decide to make any changes. 

With zzzFM-IceWM, you have a menu dedicated to Settings with three sub-menus:

Focus: Configure windows to gain focus with either traditional, strict, sloppy, or quiet mouse focus.Preferences: Configure things like QuickSwitch, TaskBar, Show, KeyWin, KeySys, KeySysWorkspace, and more.
Themes: Theme your desktop.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

So many themes

Speaking of themes, AntiX ships with a fairly large collection of themes that range from simple color combinations to large themes, glass themes, and more. There are enough themes to almost guarantee that you'll find one you like. Will any of those themes turn AntiX into a modern-looking desktop? Not even remotely. But for most new users, the idea of fine-tuning the look and feel of the desktop is probably foreign anyway.

So many apps

AntiX does include a GUI package installer and -- since the OS is based on Ubuntu -- there are thousands of applications to choose from. There's also a vast selection of repositories that are configurable from within the GUI (something you don't find in most distributions). 

You'll also find plenty of pre-installed apps, including Firefox, LibreOffice, Firejail, and several multi-media players (including the Streamtuner2 internet radio app). The pre-installed applications found on AntiX are as impressive a list as I've seen in a while. Granted, some of the apps would never be opened by new users (especially the likes of Firejail, which allows you to sandbox applications) but there's plenty to choose from.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

So much performance

Because AntiX uses a lightweight window manager, it performs like a champ. This OS is blazing fast and doesn't have nearly the system requirements found on the likes of Windows 11. That's good news for anyone with a PC not supported by Microsoft's latest. I tested AntiX as a virtual machine with only 3GB of RAM and 2 CPU cores and the speed and responsibility were both very impressive. 

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Not only do apps open almost instantly, they install very quickly. I tested this by installing the Plasma Desktop environment. Within less than a minute, Plasma was installed. After logging out, selecting Plasma as my DE, and logging back in, I was surprised to find AntiX was still pretty snappy. Plasma can't compete with the speed of zzzFM-IceWM, but it's certainly close.

So, who's AntiX really for?

At the heart of AntiX is the lack of the systemd startup service. For various reasons, some members of the Linux community would rather not deal with systemd, preferring to stick with the old-school methods. But those who stand up against systemd aren't the only users who would benefit from AntiX. If you want something to revive aging hardware, if you want to experience what Linux was like before the modern desktops took over, or if you want a desktop that will help you learn Linux in ways Ubuntu, Linux Mint, or elementary OS might not, AntiX is a great choice.

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If, however, you simply want a desktop OS that is more in line with modern sensibilities, or you don't care whether or not processes are started with systemd, then AntiX is not going to be of much interest. You can download the latest version of AntiX (23.2) from the official download site.