_._
           e/` '\,.eo-__.     lin0 (linux zero) is a
          '/.' .|_/e--. '\e   super minimal source
    ,;-o-.'|`  //e    e\ |`   based linux meta
  ./' ,e0\o   //-o.__. ,. \'  distribution, aimed
 ./` /' -/e   e\o_/___.  \|'  at power users or
 e|`/`,o-o\  /v-/e_.  '\. \.  minimalism enthusiasts
'/  ._e._, \ //    \`  \e |'
'|'"/     \.V |    `|' `|'|`  it was born from
`|e`|'    | # /    `|.  |`|`  exercises in how
e|` `    /\- ,\    e|'  '\`   minimal a linux system
 '`    _/  / / \     `  `|'   can get.
   .,wW'^^^//;^-^;^;w_

lin0 (linux zero) is a super minimal source-based Linux meta-distribution, aimed at power users or minimalism enthusiasts. It was born from exercises in seeing just how minimal a Linux system can get.

The distro features a barebones system built from scratch:

• Linux kernel (no initrd)
• musl libc
• mksh (Myr Korn Shell)
• tcc (Tiny C Compiler)
• toybox
• Simple shell-script-based init system

v0.0.2

• Improved compiler toolchain

v0.0.1

• Initial release

• Adjust kernel build:
  • Build HP EliteDesk with firmware built-in

• Make system compile itself
• Improve RPi 3B+ rootfs
• Support mod loading and daemons in init script
• Improve issue file or add a login program like ly
• Create man pages
• Support RPi Zero W
• Support RPi Compute Module 5
• Add lin0 to fetch et al. commands

We provide system images in multiple formats so you can get started without building everything from scratch.

These are platform-targeted rootfs tarballs (no kernel):

v0.0.2

• x86_64 (3.3 MB)

v0.0.1

• arm64 (3.0 MB)

• HP EliteDesk 800 G1 (13 MB)
• Pinebook Pro (13 MB)
• Raspberry Pi 3B+ (26 MB)

We also provide Docker images for quick testing or compiling with musl and tcc:

👉 bleemayer/lin0 on Docker Hub

docker pull bleemayer/lin0:latest

Supported architectures match the tarballs.

Clone this repo:

git clone https://terminal.pink/lin0

Then follow these steps:

1. Copy your kernel config file to:

   configs/MODEL-linux.config

2. Build the root filesystem with:

   platform=PLATFORM ./make.sh

   Replace PLATFORM with the name of your target system (see configs/ folder).

3. Copy the generated rootfs to your target system.

Extra packages in the pkg/ folder will be copied to /home/root/ on the target.

If you downloaded one of the tarballs, you can install lin0 as follows:

1. Extract the root filesystem to your destination partition:

   tar -xf rootfs-ARCH.tar.xz -C /mnt/your-root

   Replace ARCH with the appropriate architecture (e.g., x86_64, arm64).

2. Copy your kernel to the boot folder:

   cp path/to/your/kernel /mnt/your-root/boot/

   (This could be a bzImage, Image, or zImage, depending on your platform.)

After successfully booting lin0, you'll be greeted with a login prompt.

• Username: root
• Password: lin0

lin0 provides a minimal base system — to make it usable, you'll need to do a few things manually:

Create a simple /etc/resolv.conf:

echo "nameserver 1.1.1.1" > /etc/resolv.conf

Replace 1.1.1.1 with your preferred DNS server if needed.

You can add users manually (note: toybox may provide a limited adduser):

adduser myuser
passwd myuser

But I recommend editing the shells file and creating the home folder.

passwd

Install extra software as required — for example, to connect to Wi-Fi install wpa_supplicant and its dependencies.

lin0 does not come with systemd or other init frameworks — it uses a basic shell script–based init.

You are expected to customize your system configuration.

Think of lin0 as a starting point: it's minimal by design.

Welcome to lin0 — now you build the rest.

Email the mailing list:
lin0 AT terminal DOT pink

Wiki coming soon.

This project is licensed under the BSD 2-Clause License. (C) 2023-2025 Brian Mayer