Small, Simple, and Secure: Alpine Linux under the Microscope

Alpine Linux is a distro that has become popular for Docker images. Why do we need another distro? Why does Alpine matter? How does it differ from other distros? In this talk, we'll answer all these questions - and a few more.

[@TomGeogecko]

This is a really good Software Engineering paradigm. A modern, memory efficient and secure platform.

[@basdfgwe]

Alpine is so good, im using it for virtualisation. The resource footprint is so small.

[@Rilex037]

This distro is actually pretty old, now its picking up pace, with popularity of docker

[@MrJuliolix]

Alpine Linux is awesome. I've loved It.

[@noutuhihoga2937]

Only one problem cannot use metasploit framework

[@lancestu]

I'm using Alpine on IPAD pro M4 for Linux access. The kernel version is 4.20.69. I've used for gcc, ssh, & python, Pretty thrilled to have it. Wondering what else I can do with it.

[@user-yf8il6we2z]

I like this distro a lot

[@kleins0]

same

[@blackfaithdoom9018]

Hmmm.., to start with.... , 1. Where do i download Alpine Linux in its version 2.14 ?`Do i really have to spend more time to search for it ?

[@kim-hendrikmerk4163]

Google the website?

[@GuillermoRetamar]

Great!!!

[@furkantokac]

Except apt | apk comparison part, nice presentation.

[@diegonayalazo]

Thanks

[@sjblackhawk9887]

we are going alpine for our java containers now...

[@Eyuphuro]

These guys only ship binaries, no docs in the pkg, no lang, no dev files, no dgb. My hole GNOME setup have around 600 pkgs occupying not much than 2GB (with all libreoffice apps and Firefox). Alpine is good for small notebooks with only 32GB of storage.

[@alpanasinghal7827]

How can I create .apk from python app for alpine?

[@rddepartment8338]

Can it be used in an old x220 for programming?

[@matthiasschuster9505]

sure. why not? depends if the editor of your choice is implemented and which langage compiler you use. with huge c++ and Rust programs, you run obviously into 10 hour compilations :D

[@rddepartment8338]

@@matthiasschuster9505 Thanks!

[@johnsimon8457]

I wouldn't use Alpine as a desktop OS with a GUI and mouse - there is Lubuntu, a lightweight Ubuntu...
There ARE chromium and firefox packages available for alpine, but I've never looked at it.
Of course if you're the sort of person to use purely in text mode, no X, just tmux and vi ... your laptop won't even get warm :)

[@victorzedwings]

Xserver sucks. very slow.

[@chuckles2040]

he goes talks about why apk is better package manager.. one read/write etc.. this is a total waste of resources. updating packages is not something done a lot on a running system i think dnf pacman is about a stable system not who can cp a file and extact.... libc musl... good work, but whywaste time on the apk... its at best a nightmare waiting to happen

[@sixsherry]

I think it's also what makes the image very small, their package manager :P

[@matthiasschuster9505]

"for our use-case"

[@o_o6869]

his accent is good but idk weird

[@MrTweetyhack]

Alpine linux sucks. It may be small but be prepared for package hell like back in the good old days.

[@foxikira]

because you are seeing it as distro but it is good for using with docker or small systems

[@foxikira]

it is not designed for desktop distro

[@0M9H4X_Neckbeard]

It's not a desktop OS

[@johnsimon8457]

a lot of use cases with Alpine are a Docker container with a single fat Go binary and a few config files, no packages. The only thing there is busybox in case you need to connect to the container and inspect the system.

[@a0um]

Example of “package hell“ in Alpine?