Alpine Linux is an independent, general-purpose Linux distribution designed for power users who appreciate security, simplicity, and resource efficiency.

Alpine Linux is built around musl libc and busybox. This makes it smaller and more resource-efficient than traditional GNU/Linux distributions. A container requires no more than 8 MB and a minimal installation to disk requires around 130 MB of storage. Not only do you get a fully-fledged Linux environment but a large selection of packages from the repository.

Binary packages are thinned out and split, giving you even more control over what you install, which in turn keeps your environment as small and efficient as possible.

Alpine Linux is a straightforward distribution that will try to stay out of your way. It uses its own package manager called apk, the OpenRC init system, script driven set-ups, and that’s it! This provides you with a simple, crystal-clear Linux environment without all the noise. You can then add on top of that just the packages you need for your project, so whether it’s building a home PVR, or an iSCSI storage controller, a wafer-thin mail server container, or a rock-solid embedded switch, nothing else will get in the way.

Alpine Linux was designed with security in mind. All userland binaries are compiled as Position Independent Executables (PIE) with stack smashing protection. These proactive security features prevent the exploitation of entire classes of zero-day and other vulnerabilities.

Standard
Alpine as it was intended. Just enough to get you started. A network connection is required.

Extended
Most commonly used packages included. Suitable for routers and servers. It runs from RAM. Includes AMD and Intel microcode updates.

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