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ZDNET Highlights
- BunsenLabs Carbon is a Debian-based distro and Crunchbang successor.
- The latest version, called Carbon, is lighter and highly customizable.
- You can download and install this Linux distro for free.
BunsenLabs is a minimalist but fantastic Linux distribution that surprised me a few years ago. Based on Debian and sporting the Openbox desktop, BunsenLabs seems to me like a combination of Bodhi Linux and Ubuntu. On the BunsenLabs desktop, you have a vertical panel with a desktop menu that smells of Ubuntu, a green theme, and a Bodhi Linux-like right-click desktop menu. There’s also Conky on the desktop for good measure.
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If you’re looking for a lightweight Linux distribution that’s out-of-the-box, but still offers Debian dependencies, BunsenLabs’ latest version, called Carbon, is what you want.
What is Bunsenlabs?
A community-driven Linux distribution, BunsenLabs is the successor to Crunchbang Linux, a popular lightweight distro that faded away too fast. BunsenLabs’ philosophy is to create a desktop Linux that:
- Uses minimal resources without compromising usability.
- Provides easy-to-edit configuration files and scripts.
- Remains user-friendly for all types of users.
- Promotes open development and community-driven contributions.
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BunsenLabs Carbon is a mix of Linux desktop components, which shines when you go to customize the desktop.
For example, you have the nwg-look app to customize your desktop look. However, after choosing a theme in that app, I noticed that it had no effect on the panel. For that, I have to open the Xfce panel preferences app. After setting it up, I realized that the desktop menu doesn’t respect the new theme, so I had to go back to the desktop menu and click User Settings > JGMenu > “Sync themes with Openbox”.
This is very difficult to handle, unless you are used to customizing Linux desktops.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
It’s a lot, but once you get the hang of it, customization becomes second nature. These options make it clear that newcomers to Linux will have a bit of a learning experience in learning how to work with the desktop. However, if you stick to the out-of-the-box look and feel, the Bunsenlabs Carbon is a simple, point-and-click affair that anyone can use (as long as you can accommodate a vertical panel).
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But wait: if you don’t like the position of the “Deskbar” panel, you can always move it to a more traditional horizontal position.
The Bunsenlabs Carbon, configured to look like a traditional desktop.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
You can also give the panel a “float” look, similar to what you’ll find in KDE Plasma.
preinstalled applications
Preinstalled applications in BunsenLabs Carbon include Firefox ESR, LibreOffice, Conky, VLC Media Player, BL Media Player, FileZilla, Transmission, X Web Browser, and several settings tools. There are also the usual Linux utilities, like a terminal app, file manager, notifications, and more.
What is Bunsenlabs Carbon for?
BunsenLabs aims to be friendly to all types of users. However, I would say that this distribution is best suited for people who like to customize their desktop. If that’s you, this light delivery will keep you thrilled for hours. It doesn’t matter whether you’re new to Linux or an experienced user; If you like to change things up, the Bunsenlabs Carbon will bring a smile to your face.
If you’re not one to customize your desktop, BunsenLabs may still work for you, but you may not get the most out of it.
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Personally, I love good desktop customization, so Bunsenlabs Carbon is right up my alley. And given that it is based on Debian, there is access to a wide range of apps in the standard repositories, as well as the amazing stability that comes with the “mother of all distributions”.
If you are interested in BunsenLabs Carbon, Download an ISO ImageBurn it to a USB drive, boot it on a spare machine, and enjoy. One thing to keep in mind is that, when you boot the ISO image, you will want to select the Installer option from the menu.
