Reviews distribution CrunchBang Linux Andy Hudson wonders if it’s CrunchBang by name, CrunchBang by nature.

buntu has a lot to answer for – In brief... in four short years it has risen Uto dominate the Linux -derived landscape. It has also spawned several distribution re-spins, including the excellent Mint designed to be light Linux, and now CrunchBang Linux. on resouce usage. The principal method of installing Also consider Xubuntu. CrunchBang is by using a Live CD, which will enable you to get a taste of the distro before installing, and never before has this been more important than it is with CrunchBang. For starters, it’s designed to be minimalist in order to increase performance, but not to lose Core any functionality in the process. To aid software this, the developers have opted to use Kernel 2.6.27 the Openbox window manager, which is CrunchBang comes armed with an array of software, including Gwibber, Skype and Claws Mail, and codecs for playing our collection of classic DVDs. Openbox 3.4.7 extremely minimalist. Totem 2.24.3 It’s not helped by the fact that the AbiWord 2.6.4 theme is based on a greyscale look and reference guide to some of the application that connects to multiple feel, which takes some time to get used keyboard shortcuts that come services, including , to keep you Claws Mail 3.5.0 to, especially if you’re used to the configured by default. We hadn’t come in the loop as to the activities of your Gwibber 0.7 caramel colouring of Ubuntu. Once your across Conky until recently; however, social networking buddies. It’s the first eyes have become accustomed to the we’re very glad we did, as it’s a useful time we’ve come across Gwibber being lack of colour, it becomes quite resource and fits in very well with included by default in a distro, and it soothing to look at. As for the rest of the CrunchBang’s minimalist approach. only serves to indicate the trend of desktop, you get the ubiquitous integrating web 2.0 technologies within Build on brown distros. Codecs are in place to handle “CrunchBang Linux CrunchBang Linux is built with mostly MP3s as well as DVD playback; our Ubuntu packages, making it compatible trusty collection of Carry On DVDs is built with mostly with the already huge Ubuntu worked just fine, but The Dark Knight repositories, and therefore Debian also. seemed to pose some problem, which Ubuntu packages.” However, the work only begins there, as prevented playback. the creator has taken the time to On the whole CrunchBang Linux NetworkManager icon, the clipboard, customise the distro to make it as offers an enticing performance-focused desktop switcher, clock and also a basic speedy as possible. With the Conky alternative to Ubuntu – it’s unlikely to Conky task bar, which serves as a quick sidebar, it’s not long before you’re well become a mainstream distribution any versed in pressing Super+Spacebar to time soon, but it should appeal to those get the menu on screen, or opening up Ubuntu users who are looking to dig Firefox by pressing Super+F – the deeper into Linux. LXF speed with which the applications snap to life is extremely impressive. Under the hood, CrunchBang Verdict retains the same kernel version as its CrunchBang Linux 8.10.01 parent (2.6.27 in this case), and rather annoyingly it also configures Grub to Developer: Philip Newborough Web: http://crunchbanglinux.org show Ubuntu 8.10 rather than Price: Free CrunchBang, which is something of an Features 9/10 annoyance when you have a multiboot Performance 10/10 system. As mentioned earlier, Openbox Ease of use 8/10 is the window manager of choice, Documentation 5/10 allowing access to the GTK libraries and CrunchBang should find a consequently any Gnome applications. dedicated following among AbiWord is bundled by default, along performance seekers. with Claws Mail which has long had a The primary method of accessing the menu is to right- reputation for speed. Also included is Rating 8/10 click anywhere on the desktop. Who needs a Start button? Gwibber, a social networking

28 Linux Format March 2009

LXF116.rev_crunch 28 16/1/09 5:19:24 pm