BunsenLabs Linux is a distribution offering a light-weight and easily customizable Openbox desktop. The current release is Deuterium1, derived from Debian Jessie. The project is a community continuation of CrunchBang Linux.
Defining features
The distribution consists of configuration and resource packages installed on top of Debian. There are no changes to the way the Debian base system is administrated.
- Pre-configured Openbox window manager with tint2 panel and conky system monitor
- Assortment of harmonising GTK2/3 themes, wallpapers and conky configurations
- Various configuration and application utilities to maintain this system
- Additional desktop-, multimedia- and hardware-related packages come pre-installed to offer a better “out-of-the-box” experience.
There is no limit to customization: You can review desktop configurations in our forums’ Artwork & Screenshots section, and we also host several active threads on conky configuration.
Architectures
We offer combined live-CD and installation media for the Debian i386 (i686) and amd64 (x86-64) architectures.
However, you can install our packages also on ARM platforms. Our repository currently provides armhf. If you would like to see another Debian ARM port supported, file a request here.
Community support
In general, we recommend new users to visit and sign up for our forums: It provides plenty of resources and assistance in dealing with every configuration aspect of the BL distribution, and is the main platform for user-to-user support as well as the place to voice suggestions and report bugs.
There are a few independent communities, see here for a list.
FAQ and How to get started
- Refer to the Getting Started section on the forums, and
- Please do also look at our dedicated FAQ page page for more general information and bug reporting guidelines.
In the press
- 2017-04-28: ghacks.net, A look at Desktop Environments: Openbox Window Manager
- 2017-03-28: Video review in Portuguese: BunsenLabs Linux - Apresentação e Configurações iniciais
- 2017-01: Linux Format, printed issue 219, there is a review of several lightweight distros including BunsenLabs on pages 29f.
- 2017: DistroWatch, Reader supplied reviews for BunsenLabs Linux
- 2016-10/11: LinuxWelt, printed edition 10-11/2016, there is a one-page review on page 34
- 2016-07-29: LinuxWelt, 5/2016: BunsenLabs is featured on the accompanying DVD
- 2016-06-13: DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 665: Review: BunsenLabs Linux
- 2016-05-02: DistroWatch: BunsenLabs Linux entry
- 2016-02-19: LINUX.COM: 5 Linux Desktop Distributions You Should Kow
- 2016-01: Ubuntu User, Spring 2016: BunsenLabs Hydrogen – CrunchBang’s lightweight successor
- 2016-01-21: LinuxUser 02/2016: Bunsenbrenner: BunsenLabs “Hydrogen” auch für ältere Hardware
- 2015-12-07: Linux Insider: Hot New BunsenLabs Linux Eases Pain of CrunchBang Loss
- 2015-11-15: Sunday Morning Linux Review, Episode 167: BunsenLabs Linux
- 2015-09-21: DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 628: New Linux distributions
- 2015-06-21: entornos GNU/Linux: Un pasno por BunsenLabs GNU/Linux 8.1 (Hydrogen)
There is a forum thread for collecting quality reviews – if you have a link to add, please submit a post!