Unique Features

Here’s a detailed breakdown of Bodhi Linux’s unique features, grouped by category for clarity.

Moksha (pronounced “mohk-shuh,” Sanskrit for “liberation” or “release”) is what truly sets Bodhi apart — it’s one of the very few active Linux distros using this Enlightenment-based desktop in 2026.

  • Ultra-Low Resource Footprint with Visual Flair Moksha delivers desktop effects, animations, compositing, and transparency without needing high-end hardware. Idle RAM usage often stays under 200–300 MB, even with effects enabled — far lighter than most modern environments.
  • Highly Modular and Customizable Everything is built around modules, gadgets, and shelves:
    • Modules load/unload features (e.g., CPU monitor, weather, systray, quick launcher).
    • Gadgets are on-screen widgets (clock, system monitor, sticky notes, moon phase, flame effect, snow/rain animations).
    • Shelves act as customizable panels — place them on any screen edge, multiple per desktop/virtual desktop, and fill with gadgets, launchers, or menus. This modularity lets users build exactly the desktop they want — no forced bloat.
  • Edge & Key Bindings Bind actions (launch apps, switch workspaces, show menus) to screen edges, corners, mouse gestures, or keyboard shortcuts. Click anywhere on the desktop to open the main menu — no traditional taskbar required.
  • Themes, Profiles, and Visual Depth Extensive theme support (including animated backgrounds in newer versions like Arc-Green), icon sets, and full control over window borders, shadows, and behaviors. Profiles save complete desktop setups for quick switching.
  • Stability-Focused Fork By forking Enlightenment E17 in 2015, Bodhi avoided upstream instability in later E versions. Moksha backports useful features, fixes bugs, adds new modules, and keeps everything lightweight and reliable.
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Bodhi ships with almost nothing pre-installed — just essentials:

  • File manager: Thunar (lightweight, customizable)
  • Terminal: Terminology (beautiful, feature-rich)
  • Web browser: Usually Firefox or Midori/Chromium (depending on edition)
  • No office suite, media players, or heavy apps by default

This “less is more” approach forces (and empowers) users to install only what they need via:

  • Bodhi Linux AppCenter — a curated, browser-based store using apturl for one-click installs of verified software, themes, icons, and extras. It keeps things simple and safe.
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  • Full 64-bit and 32-bit Non-PAE support — rare in 2026, allowing very old machines (pre-2008 CPUs without PAE) to run a modern OS.
  • Extremely low minimum requirements: ~300–500 MHz CPU, 128–512 MB RAM, 5–10 GB disk.
  • Experimental R_Pi Bodhi builds for Raspberry Pi (optimized ARM hard-float code).
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  • Built on Ubuntu LTS (currently 22.04 base in Bodhi 7 series), so you get:
    • 5 years of security updates
    • Vast software repository via APT
    • Rock-solid foundation
  • But Bodhi strips away Ubuntu’s heavier defaults (no Snap by default in many cases, no telemetry, cleaner experience).
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  • Enlightened Menu System — Right-click or left-click desktop anywhere → full menu; no hunt for a start button.
  • Virtual Desktops & Workspaces — Fully configurable, with per-desktop shelves/gadgets.
  • Compositing via Picom — Lightweight effects (shadows, transparency, animations) without heavy overhead.
  • Community-Driven & Open — Small team, active forums, GitHub for Moksha, Patreon support — encourages contributions in C, Python, theming, etc.
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Bodhi Linux isn’t just another lightweight distro — it offers a distinct, almost philosophical computing experience: efficient, beautiful, deeply personalizable, and unapologetically free of modern excess. If you value performance on modest hardware and enjoy tailoring your desktop down to the smallest detail, Moksha on Bodhi delivers an “enlightened” alternative unmatched by mainstream options.

“The Moksha desktop is like the perfect combination of old and new.”

J.Wallen,  2025; ZDNET, 15 December

Bodhi Linux Features

Feature CategoryWhat Makes It Unique to BodhiBenefit to User
Moksha DesktopForked E17 with custom modules/gadgets/shelvesExtreme customization + low RAM usage
Minimal Base InstallOnly core apps; build your own systemNo bloat, total user control
AppCenterCurated, browser-based software/themes/iconsEasy, safe additions without terminal fear
Legacy 32-bit Non-PAESupports ancient hardwareRevives 15–20-year-old PCs
Edge/Key BindingsActions anywhere on screenFaster workflow, fewer clicks