Looking for a lightweight Raspberry Pi distribution with no desktop burden? You think Raspbian Lite right? Well, don’t. There is an alternative you need to try: DietPi.
Designed to be lightweight, with superior and hardware customization options, DietPi also comes with pre-configured software ready to install. Basically, if you haven’t tried DietPi yet, now is the time.
Here’s how to install DietPi on Raspberry Pi and why it can turn into your favorite Raspbian alternative.
Why use a lightweight distribution?
Most Raspberry Pi users rely on the latest version of Raspbian. There is nothing wrong. After all, this is the original operating system and is designed specifically for the Pi.
However, things started to get a little out of hand. At the time of writing, there are three versions of Raspbian available:
- Raspbian Light
- Raspbian from desktop
- Raspbian with desktop and recommended software
The more choice, the more software. For a basic experience that allows you to ditch desktop PCs in favor of more processing power, you can opt for Raspbian Lite. But why do you need a lightweight Raspberry Pi OS? Some possible answers:
- No desktop needed
- Focus Pi on specific tasks
- Make the most of equipment
Raspbian Lite is not the lightest Raspberry Pi OS these days. In fact, it’s not even the second easiest.
Enter DietPi.
DietPi or Raspbian Lite: which one to use?
The comparisons are unfair. However, while Raspbian Lite is basically Raspbian without a desktop or additional software, DietPi is much more than that.
If you’re happy with using Raspbian, then Raspbian Lite is probably great for you. However, if you’re looking for more configuration options (akin to a more mature Linux OS), then DietPi is a stronger OS.
With detailed configuration options, DietPi can be configured to perform most tasks from the command line. This means you can set up your Pi to run at the optimal settings for any purpose. Worried about losing GPIO access? Don’t — DietPi supports Raspberry Pi I/O pins.
If you’re not looking for an operating system with a desktop environment, DietPi is potentially the best Raspberry Pi OS out there. Don’t just take our word for it — find out for yourself!
Install DietPi on your Raspberry Pi
DietPi requires a standard method for installing an operating system on a Raspberry Pi. Download the IMG file, use a PC to burn it to an SD card, then upload it to the Pi.
While various proprietary and third-party disc burners are available for this, the best option is Etcher. This cross-platform tool greatly simplifies the process.
Download : Etcher
Download : DietPi for Raspberry Pi
Start by unzipping the downloaded DietPi disk image. Then download and install Etcher, then insert the microSD card into your PC’s card reader.
Launch Etcher and click » Select Image», to find the DietPi IMG file. With this selected, the SD card should be detected. Make sure it’s a recording device, then click Flash . Burning a disc image usually takes about five minutes.