Tag: Linux

GameMaker Studio 2 Linux Configuration

This article will guide you through the setup of a Xubuntu 16.04 LTS Virtual Machine to test, compile and run your GameMaker Studio 2 projects on Linux.

I’m choosing Xubuntu instead of Ubuntu simply because Xubuntu is less resource hungry (and my notebook is 5 years old). The resulting package will run just fine on Ubuntu machines as well.

Continue reading GameMaker Studio 2 Linux Configuration

Xubuntu 16.04 Xenial Xerus out now. RAM usage Minimal vs Desktop

Before downloading the Desktop image of Xubuntu 16.04 take a look at these pictures.

Notice the RAM usage. Full Xubuntu Desktop is 270 MB while the Minimal Xubuntu setup is 192 MB. I’m not a math genius, but I can see what’s going on here…

This is the full Xubuntu Desktop 16.04 Xenial iso. Just after the first boot.
This is the full Xubuntu Desktop 16.04 Xenial iso. Just after the first boot.

This is the mini.iso with Xubuntu Minimal installed.

Notice the lower RAM usage of the Minimal installation. First boot as well.
Notice the lower RAM usage of the Minimal installation. First boot as well.

My choice

I have a notebook with 8 GB of RAM but this isn’t a good reason to waste it. I think the Minimal Xubuntu 16.04 is a viable alternative, especially if you want to have proper control over the software you want (or don’t want) on your system.

Download Links

How I did the test

  • Fired up a couple of identical Virtualbox  VMs.
  • Installed the systems using their respective ISO images.
  • Installed htop.

How to install the Minimal

To get the Xubuntu Minimal Setup you have to download the mini.iso and run the setup. After a few questions about localization, keyboard, download mirror locations and so on, you’ll be asked to select what software you want to install. Make sure you keep the selected core stuff but also check the Xubuntu Minimal for installation.

If you check the Xubuntu Desktop entry, instead of the Minimal, you might get the “heavier” version regardless of this whole mini.iso procedure.

Note that you need an active internet connection to download the required packages while installing the OS.