Hi,
Can anyone tell me the difference between RASPBIAN STRETCH WITH DESKTOP and RASPBIAN STRETCH LITE.
Thank you.
Re: Difference in RASPBIAN STRETCH WITH DESKTOP and RASPBIAN STRETCH LITE.
Lite does not have the desktop stuff included
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Re: Difference in RASPBIAN STRETCH WITH DESKTOP and RASPBIAN STRETCH LITE.
This ^
Lite is a very basic Linux OS with only a command line interface (CLI). There is no Desktop or GUI of any kind, and it does not include the educational or productivity software included with the Desktop version. To interact with the Lite version you will need to type commands. For new users and people not familiar with Linux the Desktop version is recommended.
My mind is like a browser. 27 tabs are open, 9 aren't responding,
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lots of pop-ups, and where is that annoying music coming from?
Re: Difference in RASPBIAN STRETCH WITH DESKTOP and RASPBIAN STRETCH LITE.
you can make lite the same as desktop with a few apt-get installs.
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Re: Difference in RASPBIAN STRETCH WITH DESKTOP and RASPBIAN STRETCH LITE.
What is the command for getting the minimum GUI?
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Re: Difference in RASPBIAN STRETCH WITH DESKTOP and RASPBIAN STRETCH LITE.
Is it difference between the sizes of installed LITE and DESKTOP?
- HawaiianPi
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Re: Difference in RASPBIAN STRETCH WITH DESKTOP and RASPBIAN STRETCH LITE.
Depends on how minimal? You could run just openbox without an actual desktop...
To install the Raspberry Pi Desktop
Code: Select all
sudo apt install raspberrypi-ui-mods
Actually, it's closer to 2.9 GB.
The Lite version can be installed to a 4GB card (technically, it should fit on a 2GB, but it would leave almost no free space).deepakdeshp wrote: ↑Thu May 10, 2018 6:30 pmIs it difference between the sizes of installed LITE and DESKTOP?
The Desktop version requires at least an 8GB card (due to the additional software and GUI it's about 4.6GB in size).
My mind is like a browser. 27 tabs are open, 9 aren't responding,
lots of pop-ups, and where is that annoying music coming from?
lots of pop-ups, and where is that annoying music coming from?
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Re: Difference in RASPBIAN STRETCH WITH DESKTOP and RASPBIAN STRETCH LITE.
The last time I did a Lite install, the actual space it took was 1.4GB on a 2GB card. So there is room to work with. Not a huge amount, but it's not like you're going to have instant problems.HawaiianPi wrote: ↑Fri May 11, 2018 3:36 amThe Lite version can be installed to a 4GB card (technically, it should fit on a 2GB, but it would leave almost no free space).deepakdeshp wrote: ↑Thu May 10, 2018 4:19 pmIs it difference between the sizes of installed LITE and DESKTOP?
The Desktop version requires at least an 8GB card (due to the additional software and GUI it's about 4.6GB in size).
The fundamental difference between the two releases is all the stuff the Lite version leaves out that the full version includes. A major reason why the Lite version even exists is that the CM (and now the CM3) modules only have 4GB of on-board flash and it got to the point that the full version wouldn't fit. In the early days of the Pi, I used to install Raspbian on 4GB cards. You can't do that any more for the full version. On the other hand, it's getting harder to get 8GB cards these days, let alone anything smaller. (USB sticks have the same problem. I'd love to be able to get a fistful of 256KB--or even 128KB--USB sticks. They should be cheap, but you really don't see them available at all.)
Re: Difference in RASPBIAN STRETCH WITH DESKTOP and RASPBIAN STRETCH LITE.
As noted the desktop full version includes all the scripts to display the desktop, all the utilities needed to configure the desktop, and scripts to interface other programs on and display using the desktop. All of the command line is available to the desktop using the terminal window. If one starts in the command line and then starts the desktop, the shut down allows returning to the command line. If one boots directly to the desktop there is no option to return to the command line.
f u cn rd ths, u cn gt a gd jb n cmptr prgrmmng.
Re: Difference in RASPBIAN STRETCH WITH DESKTOP and RASPBIAN STRETCH LITE.
I hope it's OK to add my question here, I feel it somehow matches the topic, but that part wasn't answered yet.
Is there a performance difference? (in terms of RAM use)
My scenario: I pretty much always use the Pi in CLi mode. But once in a while it's fun to get to the desktop. That would requite of course the desktop version.
But when there is no Desktop/UI required I like to have the full Raspbian performance. So I wonder if even in CLi use, are there any dormant UI parts active in the RAM?
I am fully aware that the space requirement on the SD card is much higher. That is no problem for me.
Is there a performance difference? (in terms of RAM use)
My scenario: I pretty much always use the Pi in CLi mode. But once in a while it's fun to get to the desktop. That would requite of course the desktop version.
But when there is no Desktop/UI required I like to have the full Raspbian performance. So I wonder if even in CLi use, are there any dormant UI parts active in the RAM?
I am fully aware that the space requirement on the SD card is much higher. That is no problem for me.
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Re: Difference in RASPBIAN STRETCH WITH DESKTOP and RASPBIAN STRETCH LITE.
Basically, Lite--as it comes in the download--lack the X windowing system, so that won't be running. You can configure the Full version to boot without running X and the desktop if you want to do a comparison of RAM usage. Depending on what exactly you are doing, you could cut the amount of RAM allocated to the VC4 graphics hardware to the minimum of 16MB in either mode, but you're much more likely to get away with that (without adverse impact) if X isn't running. And, of course, when you are running fewer services, there will be less load on the CPU cores. I'm not sure you'd notice any difference, thugh.qualle wrote: ↑Mon Aug 27, 2018 3:29 amI hope it's OK to add my question here, I feel it somehow matches the topic, but that part wasn't answered yet.
Is there a performance difference? (in terms of RAM use)
My scenario: I pretty much always use the Pi in CLi mode. But once in a while it's fun to get to the desktop. That would requite of course the desktop version.
But when there is no Desktop/UI required I like to have the full Raspbian performance. So I wonder if even in CLi use, are there any dormant UI parts active in the RAM?
I am fully aware that the space requirement on the SD card is much higher. That is no problem for me.
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Re: Difference in RASPBIAN STRETCH WITH DESKTOP and RASPBIAN STRETCH LITE.
You don't need to use the Desktop version of Raspbian, you can install raspberrypi-ui-mods to add the Desktop and required dependencies to Lite (and it will still be lighter, because it won't include loads of extra software pre-installed on the Desktop version of Raspbian).qualle wrote: ↑Mon Aug 27, 2018 3:29 amI hope it's OK to add my question here, I feel it somehow matches the topic, but that part wasn't answered yet.
Is there a performance difference? (in terms of RAM use)
My scenario: I pretty much always use the Pi in CLi mode. But once in a while it's fun to get to the desktop. That would requite of course the desktop version.
If you configure Raspbian to boot to the CLI, then the difference in RAM use and performance should be negligible.
Of course when you are actually running the Desktop GUI it will require more RAM and may impact performance, but having it installed and not using it will use SD card space more than anything else.
Last edited by HawaiianPi on Thu Aug 30, 2018 11:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
My mind is like a browser. 27 tabs are open, 9 aren't responding,
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lots of pop-ups, and where is that annoying music coming from?
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Re: Difference in RASPBIAN STRETCH WITH DESKTOP and RASPBIAN STRETCH LITE.
Languages using left-hand whitespace for syntax are ridiculous
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DMs sent on https://twitter.com/DougieLawson or LinkedIn will be answered next month.
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Re: Difference in RASPBIAN STRETCH WITH DESKTOP and RASPBIAN STRETCH LITE.
DougieLawson wrote: ↑Mon Aug 27, 2018 7:36 pmFYFFY,YW (fixed your fix for you)

- HawaiianPi
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Re: Difference in RASPBIAN STRETCH WITH DESKTOP and RASPBIAN STRETCH LITE.
LOL! Sorry for the typo.
Will add the Raspberry Pi Desktop to Raspbian Lite.
Code: Select all
sudo apt update && sudo apt install raspberrypi-ui-mods
My mind is like a browser. 27 tabs are open, 9 aren't responding,
lots of pop-ups, and where is that annoying music coming from?
lots of pop-ups, and where is that annoying music coming from?
Re: Difference in RASPBIAN STRETCH WITH DESKTOP and RASPBIAN STRETCH LITE.
Related questions.
Does LITE come with wifi software installed?
What is the installed size of LITE?
What is the installed size of LITE plus raspberrypi-ui-mods?
And if LITE doesn't come with wifi software, is it included in raspberrypi-ui-mods?
Does LITE come with wifi software installed?
What is the installed size of LITE?
What is the installed size of LITE plus raspberrypi-ui-mods?
And if LITE doesn't come with wifi software, is it included in raspberrypi-ui-mods?
Re: Difference in RASPBIAN STRETCH WITH DESKTOP and RASPBIAN STRETCH LITE.
Raspbian Lite comes with eveything you need to get WiFi up and running.
If you need something else it's just an apt-get away.
If you need something else it's just an apt-get away.
Memory in C++ is a leaky abstraction .
- HawaiianPi
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Re: Difference in RASPBIAN STRETCH WITH DESKTOP and RASPBIAN STRETCH LITE.
When I setup a new Raspbian Lite boot device I copy a pre-configured wpa_supplicant.conf file onto the small FAT32 "boot" partition, which Raspbian will move to the correct location and use to connect to my WiFi when I fire up the Pi. Much easier than trying to configure a WiFi connection from the CLI. It works with any model with built-in WiFi, or with a Raspbian compatible USB WiFi dongle.
This is, of course, after writing a Raspbian image to the device (using NOOBS complicates things).
This is, of course, after writing a Raspbian image to the device (using NOOBS complicates things).
My mind is like a browser. 27 tabs are open, 9 aren't responding,
lots of pop-ups, and where is that annoying music coming from?
lots of pop-ups, and where is that annoying music coming from?
Re: Difference in RASPBIAN STRETCH WITH DESKTOP and RASPBIAN STRETCH LITE.
That will make it much easier, I had just been trying to remember how to set up wifi, so I'll just make a back up copy & copy it over.
Thanks, HawaiianPi.
Thanks, HawaiianPi.

Re: Difference in RASPBIAN STRETCH WITH DESKTOP and RASPBIAN STRETCH LITE.
So, an update, & answers to my previous questions.
Raspberry-stretch-lite = 1.1GB installed size.
With GUI (raspberrypi-ui-mods) = 1.6GB installed size.
Add in chromium-browser = 1.8GB installed size.
Hope that is of some use to someone else too.
Raspberry-stretch-lite = 1.1GB installed size.
With GUI (raspberrypi-ui-mods) = 1.6GB installed size.
Add in chromium-browser = 1.8GB installed size.
Hope that is of some use to someone else too.

Re: Difference in RASPBIAN STRETCH WITH DESKTOP and RASPBIAN STRETCH LITE.
Does Raspbian Lite include Avahi, or some other way to find it to ssh into it? Or must I connect a keyboard and monitor?