4MLinux is a real lightweight among Linux distributions and comes in four versions with Joe Window Manager (JWM), a particularly lightweight window manager for the X Window System. The special feature of the "miniature Linux" is its four spins maintenance, "multimedia", mini-server and mystery".

(Mini-)distribution in four editions

4MLinux 34.0 is especially designed for low-performance and older systems and places relatively low demands on the hardware of the user. While the three regular editions "Maintenance", "Multimedia" and Mystery" are already satisfied with 128 MB of free RAM, the mini server requires 256 MB.

On the one hand, the frugality is due to the window manager JWM with its extremely small footprint, as well as the fact that the distribution never carries more ballast in the form of software packages than is really necessary for the intended area of application. "Spin Maintenance" is a live CD with tools for fast data recovery, while multimedia has everything on board to play DVD and numerous other media files.

The "Miniserver" output primarily addresses users who want to set up a miniserver using a daemon of type Inetd. With the "Mystery" variant, the distribution also provides a working environment that, in addition to numerous pre-installed native Linux games, also has the Wine Windows-compatible runtime environment in version 5.14 and invites you to play.

Current software packages for every need

4MLinux 34.0 with Joe’s Window Manager

The comparatively small 4MLinux 34.0 (ISO) system image is only about 890 MB in size, but can be expanded with current software packages for every need after installation via the current repositories.

In addition to the current browsers Firefox 80 and Chromium 83 as well as the e-mail client Thunderbird 78, the free office suites LibreOffice 7.0 and Gnome-Office, consisting of AbiWord 3.0.4, GIMP 2.10.20, Gnumeric 1.12.47, are also available. On request, DropBox 103.4.383 takes care of the data exchange and the VLC Player 3.0.11 provides compatibility with media files with corresponding codecs.

Operating system kernel Linux 5.4.61, 4MLinux 34.0 supports

Based on the operating system kernel Linux 5.4.61, 4MLinux 34.0 supports modern hardware and is particularly suitable as a live and emergency system on a USB medium that requires little or no resources. Complex animations and eye candy should not be expected with this lightweight.

The developers have summarized further information in the release notes as usual, while the official package list provides an overview of the available software for 4MLinux 34.0.