Love to customize your Linux desktop? This lightweight distro is great fun for newbies and experts

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

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ZDNET's key takeaways

• BunsenLabs Carbon is a Debian-based distro and CrunchBang successor.
• The latest version, dubbed Carbon, is lightweight and highly customizable.
• You can download and install this Linux distro for free.

BunsenLabs is a minimal yet elegant Linux distribution that took me by surprise a couple of years ago. Based on Debian and sporting the OpenBox desktop, BunsenLabs feels to me like a combination of Bodhi Linux and Ubuntu. On the BunsenLabs desktop, you have a vertical panel with a desktop menu that smacks of Ubuntu, a green theme, and a right-click desktop menu a la Bodhi Linux. There's also Conky on the desktop for good measure.

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If you're looking for a lightweight Linux distribution that's a bit off the beaten path, but still offers Debian dependability, BunsenLabs' latest version, dubbed Carbon, is what you want.

What is BunsenLabs?

A community-driven Linux distribution, BunsenLabs is the successor to CrunchBang Linux, a popular lightweight distro that faded far too fast. The philosophy of BunsenLabs is to create a desktop Linux that:

• Uses minimal resources without sacrificing usability.
• Provides easy-to-edit configuration files and scripts.
• Remains user-friendly for all user types.
• Fosters open development and community-driven contributions.

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BunsenLabs Carbon is a mishmash of Linux desktop components, which shines through when you go to customize the desktop. 

For example, you have the nwg-look app for customizing your desktop appearance. However, after selecting a theme in that app, I noticed it didn't affect the panel. For that, I had to open the Xfce Panel Preferences app. After setting that, I realized the desktop menu didn't honor the new theme, so I had to go back to the desktop menu and click User Settings > jgmenu > "Sync theme with OpenBox." 

It's a lot to handle, unless you're used to customizing the Linux desktop.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

It's a lot, but once you get the hang of it, the customization becomes second nature. What these options make clear is that Linux newbies will experience a bit of a learning curve as they figure out how to work with the desktop. However, if you stick with the out-of-the-box look and feel, BunsenLabs Carbon is a simple, point-and-click affair that anyone can use (as long as you can adjust to a vertical panel).

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But wait: If you don't like the "Deskbar" panel position, you can always move it to a more traditional horizontal position.

BunsenLabs Carbon, configured to look more like a traditional desktop.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

You can even give the panel a "float" look, as you would find in KDE Plasma.

I love a floating panel.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Preinstalled applications

Preinstalled applications in BunsenLabs Carbon include Firefox ESR, LibreOffice, Conky, VLC media player, BL Media Player, FileZilla, Transmission, X Web Browser, and a ton of settings tools. There are also the usual Linux utilities, such as the terminal app, file manager, notifications, and much more.

Who is BunsenLabs Carbon for?

BunsenLabs aims to be friendly for all types of users. I would say, however, that this distribution is best suited for those who like to customize their desktops. If that's you, this lightweight distribution will keep you enthralled for hours. It doesn't matter if you're new to Linux or a seasoned user; if you like to tweak things, BunsenLabs Carbon will put a smile on your face.

If you're not one to customize your desktop, BunsenLabs can still work for you, but you might not get the most out of it.

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Personally, I love a good desktop customization, so BunsenLabs Carbon is right up my alley. And given that it's based on Debian, there's access to a wide range of apps in the standard repositories, as well as the amazing stability that comes with the "mother of all distributions."

If you're interested in BunsenLabs Carbon, download an ISO image, burn it to a USB drive, boot it up on a spare machine, and have fun. One thing to keep in mind is that, when you boot the ISO image, you'll want to select the Installer option from the menu.