2 GB
Old laptops
Runs on just 2 GB of RAM — a ten-year-old laptop feels new again.
v1.2Obsidian is out — built on DebianThe Linux that brings
The Linux that brings
old machines back to life
A free Debian-based Linux distribution with the Xfce desktop — lightweight, beginner-friendly, and built in Pakistan. The essentials work out of the box, on old and new hardware alike.
Base · Debian (stable)Desktop · Xfce 4.20RAM · 2 GB minCost · Free · Open source
Your hardware, your choice
One system for every machine you own
Basalt asks very little from hardware — that is the whole point.
10 GB
Disk space
A full install fits in just 10 GB of disk — 20 GB leaves comfortable room to grow.
64-bit
New machines
Any 64-bit CPU, old or new — the same ISO, the same calm desktop.
Why Basalt
Everything you need. Nothing you don't.
A beginner-friendly Debian distribution that stays out of your way — fast to install, quick to learn, and easy to keep updated.
Polished Xfce desktop
Xfce 4.20 with the Orchis GTK theme and Papirus icons — a modern, cohesive look that stays fast on any hardware.
Ready out of the box
Browser, file manager, media player and office tools pre-installed. Add what you need — nothing you don't.
Debian stable foundation
Built on Debian: the full Debian repository, familiar APT commands, and a rock-solid upgrade path.
Lightweight by design
Runs on 2 GB of RAM and a 64-bit CPU. A genuine lightweight Linux distro for old laptops as well as new machines.
APT & Flatpak
Manage everything with APT, then reach for Flathub when you want sandboxed apps — one command each, no lock-in.
Secure & maintained
Inherits Debian's security updates and long support cycles, with a public issue tracker for anything we ship.
Take a look
Clean from the first boot
A clean, modern desktop experience out of the box — no themes to configure, no apps to remove.
A warm welcome
First boot walks you through a short setup — appearance, desktop options, and optional extras.
Calamares installer
A guided, partition-aware install that finishes in a few minutes — fully offline.
Get started
Your old laptop will thank you.
Version 1.2 “Obsidian” — one ISO, one USB stick, a few minutes. Download it, write it to a USB drive, and try it live before you install. Nothing is lost until you say so.
Xfce 4.20 · 64-bit · SHA256 checksums provided
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Basalt Linux is a general-purpose Linux distribution built on Debian. It offers a clean, ready-to-use experience with the Xfce desktop environment — designed for beginners and everyday users.
Yes, Basalt Linux is completely free and open source. Build scripts and website are MIT licensed; the included packages (kernel, GNU tools, Xfce) retain their respective licenses.
A 64-bit (x86_64) processor, 2 GB of RAM and 10 GB of disk space (20 GB recommended). 4 GB of RAM and an SSD are recommended for comfortable everyday use.
Basalt Linux is maintained by Qaisar Rafique, who started the project and handles its releases. Development happens publicly on GitLab.
Yes. Basalt Linux is built in Pakistan and distributed worldwide. It is a Debian-based distribution aimed at everyday users who want a lightweight, beginner-friendly desktop.
Report issues on our GitLab or check the known issues. For community support, join our Discord server — other users and the maintainer hang out there.