Linux Distributions

A lightweight, source-based distribution inspired by BSD's Ports system, aimed squarely at experienced Linux users who want a minimal base they build up entirely themselves.

A fork of Debian created specifically to keep offering a systemd-free init-system option after Debian itself adopted systemd as its default, without otherwise diverging from Debian's package base.

A source-based distribution where nearly every package is compiled on your own machine from source rather than downloaded pre-built, giving fine-grained control over exactly how software is built.

Not a distribution to download and install, but a detailed book/guide that walks you through building an entire working Linux system from source code, package by package, by hand.

A French, independently built distribution inspired by Linux From Scratch's approach, offering both source-based and pre-built binary package installation through its own 'cards' package manager.

The oldest actively maintained Linux distribution still in continuous development, deliberately avoiding automatic dependency resolution in favor of a simple, traditional Unix-like system design.

A source-based distribution built around its own 'Sorcery' package management system, in the same general family as Gentoo but with an independent, smaller, longer-running community.

A source-based 'Distribution Build Kit' rather than a fixed distribution -- a framework of tools and scripts for constructing an entirely custom Linux distribution tailored to specific hardware or goals.