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Ultralight Debian-based distro Q4OS 5.8 now available

Debian-based ultralight Q4OS 5.8 now available (Image source: Generated using DALL·E 3)
Q4OS 5.8 has just arrived (Image source: Generated using DALL·E 3)
Q4OS, often praised as a faster solution for old computers than Puppy or Bodhi Linux, is back with a new update. Labeled 5.8, this refresh is based on Debian Bookworm 12.10 and the 6.1.0-32 kernel. In addition to the Debian-specific changes, Q4OS 5.8 also comes with several translations for Calamares, improved Flatpak app handling, and more.

Those still stuck with old hardware have plenty of options when it comes to Linux distributions, but Q4OS is probably one of the most underestimated ones out there. With the 0.5.0 initial release dated July 4th, 2013, Q4OS is known for the XPQ4 addon, which allows the user to enjoy visual themes that replicate the look and feel of various Windows versions, starting with Windows 2000 and XP. Today, it still supports 32-bit hardware and features two desktop choices, namely KDE Plasma (only for 64-bit systems) and Trinity.

Released yesterday, Q4OS 5.8 comes with the following highlights:

  • A generous list of security and bug fixes, thanks to the Debian Bookworm 12.10 core.
  • Additionally, the Debian stable 6.1.0-32 kernel provides performance improvements and better hardware support.
  • The Calamares live installer now features several new translations.
  • A new Flatpak plugin and rewritten profiler code, with support for true multithreading.

Existing users will get the update automatically via the Q4OS repository. New users or those who want to go with a fresh install can grab the latest media images from this page. The minimum system requirements remain incredibly low for 2025: 1 GHz CPU and 1/5 GB memory/storage for the Plasma desktop and a 350 MHz CPU alongside only 256 MB of memory and 3 GB of storage space when choosing to go with the Trinity desktop.

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Codrut Nistor, 2025-03-28 (Update: 2025-04- 1)