Bodhi Linux

Bodhi Linux is a light-weight Linux distribution based on Ubuntu that uses the Moksha window manager.[3] The philosophy for the distribution is to provide a minimal base system so that users can populate it with the software they want. Thus, by default it only includes software that is essential to most Linux users, including a file browser (PCManFM), a web browser (GNOME Web)[4][5][6][7] and a terminal emulator (Terminology). It does not include software or features that its developers deem unnecessary. To make populating systems with software easy, Bodhi Linux developers maintain an online database of lightweight software that can be installed in one click via apturl.

Bodhi Linux
Bodhi Linux 5.1.0
DeveloperBodhi Linux Team
OS familyLinux (Unix-like)
Working stateCurrent
Source modelOpen source
Initial release26 March 2011 (2011-03-26)
Latest release5.1.0 / 25 March 2020 (2020-03-25)[1]
Update methodAPT (front-ends available)
Package managerdpkg (front-ends like Synaptic available)
PlatformsIA-32, x86-64
(formerly ARM too[2])
Kernel typeMonolithic (Linux kernel)
UserlandGNU
Default user interfaceMoksha (based on Enlightenment)
LicenseFree software licenses (mainly GPL), plus proprietary binary blobs
Official websitebodhilinux.com

In addition to the standard version of Bodhi Linux, which is for Intel-compatible processors, there was an alpha release version for tablet devices with ARM processors, based on Debian.[8] The tablet device version of Bodhi is not officially supported anymore, because of the amount of time needed to keep it up to date. Package and image updates will rarely be made, if at all, in the future.[2]

Performance

System requirements include 512 MB RAM, 5 GB hard disk space, and a 500 MHz processor.[9] 32-bit processors without PAE capability are supported on same terms as PAE-enabled ones. Only difference between the Bodhi versions is that an older kernel is used.

By using an Enlightenment DR17-based fork called Moksha Desktop, Bodhi provides rich desktop effects and animations that do not require high end computer hardware.[10] The rationale for forking the project from DR17 was due to its established performance & functionality while E19 possessed "optimizations that break existing features users enjoy and use" as per Jeff Hoogland's statement.[11] The Enlightenment window manager, as well as the tools developed specifically for Bodhi Linux, were written in C programming language and Python.[12]

Support

Bodhi Linux is derived from the Ubuntu long term support releases (14.04, 16.04, 18.04...), so support follows the same pattern: Security bug fixes are released on a daily basis throughout the five-year period. As opposed to Ubuntu, Bodhi has no short-term support release. An installed Bodhi Linux can be upgraded to the latest state via command line or package manager.

Release cycle

Releases are numbered x.y.z, where

  • x represents a major release,
  • y represents an update (or point) release and
  • z represents a bug fix release.

The major release (x.y.z; e.g. version 2.y.z > 3.0.0) follows the Ubuntu long term support with a delay of a few months. The goal is to deliver a new major release in July every other year following the new Ubuntu LTS, which is expected in April. New functionality is not added after the release. The Bodhi Linux 3.0.0 branch was released in February 2015 with an additional legacy version for older hardware.[13]

The update/point release (x.y.z; e.g. version 2.3.z > 2.4.0) is similar to point releases in Ubuntu (12.04.1, 12.04.2,...). Once more frequent, they are used for delivering new software versions and other improvements which are not related to security.

Beginning with version 2.4.0 update frequency is reduced to three times a year. Every four months - in January, May and September for now - a new update should come out. Bodhi Linux 2.4.0 (planned for release in August 2013) appeared a little late in mid-September, when it [was] ready.[14] A bug fix release (x.y.z; e.g. version 2.4.0 > 2.4.1) is meant for correcting errors with the default configuration.

Version[15]Release dateCommentsSupported until
0.1.62011-02First version of Bodhi Linux.Old version, no longer maintained: unsupported
0.1.72011-03Old version, no longer maintained: unsupproted
1.0.0[16]2011-03Old version, no longer maintained: unsupported
1.1.02011-05Old version, no longer maintained: unsupported
1.2.02011-09Old version, no longer maintained: unsupported
1.2.12011-10Old version, no longer maintained: unsupported
1.3.0[17]2011-12Old version, no longer maintained: unsupported
1.4.02012-03[18]N/AOld version, no longer maintained: unsupported
1.5.02012-06Last update release to the 10.04 baseOld version, no longer maintained: unsupported
2.0.02012-07First stable release to the 12.04 baseOld version, no longer maintained: unsupported
2.1.0[19]2012-09Update release (3-month cycle)Old version, no longer maintained: unsupported
2.2.0[20][21]2012-12Update releaseOld version, no longer maintained: unsupported
2.3.0[22]2013-03Update releaseOld version, no longer maintained: unsupported
2.4.02013-09Last update release to 12.04 baseOld version, no longer maintained: unsupported
3.0.0[23]2015-02First stable release to the 14.04 baseOld version, no longer maintained: unsupported
3.1.02015-08Update release first to feature the Moksha Desktop EnvironmentOld version, no longer maintained: unsupported
3.2.02016-03Update releaseOld version, no longer maintained: unsupported
4.0.0[24]2016-10First stable release to the 16.04 baseOlder version, yet still maintained: 2021-04
4.1.0[25]2017-01Update releaseOlder version, yet still maintained: 2021-04
4.2.02017-05Update releaseOlder version, yet still maintained: 2021-04
4.3.0[26]2017-08Update releaseOlder version, yet still maintained: 2021-04
4.4.0[27]2017-12Update releaseOlder version, yet still maintained: 2021-04
4.5.0[28]2018-02Update releaseOlder version, yet still maintained: 2021-04
5.0.0[1]2018-08Based on Ubuntu 18.04Current stable version: 2023-04
5.1.0[1]2020-03Current version, based on Ubuntu 18.04.04Current stable version: 2023-04
Legend:
Old version
Older version, still maintained
Latest version
Latest preview version
Future release

R_Pi Bodhi Linux

The R_Pi Bodhi Linux build was built directly on top of Raspbian and incorporates all of the changes and improvements to produce optimized ″hard float″ code for the Raspberry Pi (armhf or ARM HF[29]). Technically, R_Pi Bodhi Linux is built with compilation settings adjusted to produce optimized ″hard float″ code for the Raspberry Pi (armhf or ARM HF). The hard float application binary interface of the ARM11, a 32-bit RISC microprocessor ARM architecture with ARMv6 architectural additions, provides enormous performance gains for many use cases. However, this has required significant effort to port elements of Debian Wheezy to ARMv6 CPU, as official builds require ARMv7.[30] This should significantly enhance performance for applications that make heavy use of floating point arithmetic operations, as previous less efficient "soft float" settings, that is, native ARMv6 architecture floating point arithmetic operations simulated by software. Because of the effort to build a working release, the ARMHF release is not officially supported anymore at the moment.[2]

Reception

Jack Germain from LinuxInsider wrote a positive review of Bodhi Linux 5.0.0, noting that Bodhi Linux is "elegant and lightweight", and that this distribution "can be a productive computing platform".[31]

See also

References
  1. Bodhi Linux 5.1.0 Released | Bodhi Linux
  2. Jeff Hoogland. "Dropping Official Support for ARM Devices". Bodhi Linux Forums. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
  3. Jeff Hoogland. "Introducing Moksha Desktop". Moksha Development Team. Retrieved 2015-07-30.
  4. "Bodhi Linux 5.1.0 Released". bodhilinux.com. Retrieved 11 May 2020. In addition to replacing epad with leafpad, midori with epiphany
  5. "Bodhi Linux 5.1 Review: Slightly Different Lightweight Linux". itsfoss.com. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  6. "Bodhi Linux 5.1.0 Released, Based on Latest Ubuntu Point Release". OMG! Ubuntu!. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  7. "Bodhi's Modular Moksha Desktop Is Modern and Elegant". linuxinsider.com. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  8. Jesse Smith. "DistroWatch Weekly". distrowatch.com. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
  9. Jim Lynch. "Bodhi Linux 1.0". desktoplinuxreviews.com. Archived from the original on 2011-04-19. Retrieved 2011-05-06.
  10. Joey Sneddon. "Bodhi Linux may just be your favorite new lightweight distro". OMG! Ubuntu!. Retrieved 2011-05-06.
  11. Jeff Hoogland. "Introducing Moksha Desktop". Moksha Development Team. Retrieved 2015-08-02.
  12. Jack Wallen. "Bodhi Linux: Interview with Jeff Hoogland". Techrepublic. Retrieved 2011-05-12.
  13. Christine Hall (2015-02-23). "Running Bodhi 3.0.0 Legacy on Older Hardware". FOSS Force. Retrieved 2015-03-07.
  14. Jeff Hoogland. "Bodhi Release Cycle Changes". Bodhi Linux Forums. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  15. Bodhi Linux announcements at DistroWatch.com
  16. Bodhi Linux sticks with design principles » Linux Magazine
  17. DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 437, 2 January 2012
  18. Bodhi Linux, the Beautiful Configurable Lightweight Linux | Linux.com | The source of Linux information
  19. DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 474, 17 September 2012
  20. Bodhi Linux 2.2 review - Square peg for round hole, Dedoimedo
  21. Bodhi Linux 2.2.0 review | LinuxBSDos.com
  22. DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 504, 22 April 2013
  23. DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 602, 23 March 2015
  24. DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 692, 19 December 2016
  25. Bodhi Linux 4.1.0: Like Visiting an Old Friend | Linux.com | The source of Linux information
  26. Bodhi Linux With Moksha Is Truly Enlightening | Reviews | LinuxInsider
  27. Download Bodhi 4.4.0 / 5.0.0 RC, Softpedia Linux. Archived 13 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine
  28. "Bodhi Linux 4.5.0 Release". Bodhi Linux. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  29. ARMHF
  30. "Raspbian FAQ". Raspbian. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  31. "Enlightenment Has Limits in Bodhi Linux". www.linuxinsider.com. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
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