NTDEV, the developer behind Tiny11, has released a new update for its miniature Windows 11 operating system, called Tiny11 2311, that adds Microsoft’s latest feature update, 23H2, into the OS and introduces a plethora of bug fixes addressing issues in the outgoing version of Tiny11. On top of this, the new update also shrinks Tiny11’s install size by a whopping 20%, making Tiny11’s renowned footprint even smaller.
There is absolutely no need for Windows 11 to be as big and invasive as it is, and it feels like such a shame and missed opportunity to burden an otherwise good and capable operating system with such cruft and useless junk.
At what point does this become a bloated version of Windows 11 IOT? Microsoft offer a bare bones version of the OS if you want to strip everything out that makes it a desktop OS.
A reasonable question since the differences between Windows versions are artificial. I guess the answer is what applications and / or features are able to be installed and run as Tiny11 identifies itself as Windows Pro. Windows IOT is more limited. I think the idea here is that you can add back just the things you need or want.
The idea is sound though of course the legality is suspect. Also, I am not sure how much a project like this should be trusted. It would make a fantastic Trojan Horse. Then again, I download gigabytes of software from the Open Source world all the time and barely think about it. I install some from the AUR every day. I allowed a Minecraft server for my son onto my Proxmox just yesterday and did absolutely nothing to vet the ISO for the custom distro I used for that. Come to think of it, I set PiHole up on a network yesterday as well and executed a script directly off the Internet to do it. So, I am hardly the person to be preaching about security. Still something to think about if you are going to use Tiny11 ( or similar ).
If you don’t trust his ISO you can download the official ISO from MS and apply Tiny11 patch by yourself : https://github.com/ntdevlabs/tiny11builder
I believe MSFT’s W11 IOT image is 4.8 GB and requires an Enterprise license. That is a bit of a hurdle, for most, compared to using a Pro license for Tiny11..
There are different versions, but you are correct there are licence differences. IOT Core is free for example but technically limited to running only 1 app.
Adurbe,
So if you run a single daemon, or batch process, that’s all you can run?? If that’s right, wow what a way to gimp the OS and discourage it’s uptake. I am surprised MS bothers with artificial restrictions when linux is already the market leader for IOT and has no restrictions.
You can run 1 front application but mulitple background applications.
ultrabill,
Do you mean GUI application? Many of the win32 network tools I’ve written are console applications (regardless of whether they run in the foreground or background). I’ve also written internet software in VB.net that had a GUI interface in the icon tray. I’m really unclear as to windows IOT would do with that? Microsoft’s documentation doesn’t really clarify what happens when you try to run more programs.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/iot-core/windows-iot-core
Even an IOT device (say a car infotainment system hypothetically) might technically want to run several GUI programs. Does this mean windows IOT core would be unsuitable? Oh well. I wouldn’t use windows IOT anyway, but I am curious in what way they are enforcing the single app restriction.
Microsoft intended for windows 7 starter edition to have a 3 app limit but reversed course.
https://www.computerworld.com/article/2524598/microsoft-kills-windows-7-starter-s-3-app-limit.html