SnackLinux is an ultra-minimal Linux distribution targeting Intel 486 processors. Built on a streamlined 4.x kernel (<1MB) with BusyBox, musl libc, and Bash, it's a complete Linux environment in under 4MB.

Go to the Downloads page to download the live ISO or hard drive image, or even build it yourself. Check out the getting started page on how to set everything up.

Target Hardware: i486DX CPUs (33MHz+) with 8MB RAM minimum

Latest Release: March 01, 2025

The philosophy is to create a completely hackable Linux system, controllable by makefiles.

• Simple build instructions,
• Standard GNU build utilitiess
• Simple distribution of software.

SnackLinux uses a minimalist kernel with downloadable kernel modules, optimized for systems with ISA expansion slots rather than PCI. Designed for 486DX and higher processors (including Cyrix and AMD variants), it combines modern software packages with extreme optimization for size and low memory requirements. The distribution includes 40+ pre-built packages and a built-in package manager.

When building, the makefile process creates a fully customizable local rootfs directory: add any software, files, or modifications you want included in your final build for complete hackability. Think of it as Linux From Scratch with reduced complexity and less features, perfect for minimal VMs, wasting an entire weekend, or breathing new life into vintage hardware.