[mdlug] Are Linux Distros Too Bloated?

[LAP]

I usually get a lot of negative feedback from a question of this sort
but I will ask anyway.

Are Linux distros far too bloated?  Have they become just like the
unmentionable commercial OS's?

A check is easily accomplished.  Just execute the following command,
ideally in a virtual terminal, from within your GUI environment:

ps ax | grep -v '\[.*\]'

This command will list the running processes after stripping out the
kernel threads.

On my highly customized Gentoo system, with X, the FVWM3 window
manager, the network, three xterm virtual terminals, and the
Palemoon browser all up and running my process list is this:

  PID TTY      STAT   TIME COMMAND
    1 ?        Ss     0:00 init
  105 ?        Ss     0:00 /sbin/udevd --daemon
  210 ?        Ss     0:00 syslogd -m 0
  212 ?        Ss     0:00 klogd -c 3
  227 ?        Ss     0:00 /usr/sbin/gpm -m /dev/input/mice -t imps2
  233 tty1     Ss     0:00 -bash
  245 ?        Sl     0:00 pdnsd -d
  336 tty1     S+     0:00 xinit -- /usr/bin/Xorg -config /root/xorg.conf -nolisten tcp :0
  343 tty2     S<sl+   0:07 /usr/bin/Xorg :0 -config /root/xorg.conf -nolisten tcp :0
  356 tty1     S      0:00 sh /root/.xinitrc
  360 tty1     S      0:00 /usr/local/bin/fvwm3
  366 tty1     S      0:00 xterm -class UXTerm -title uxterm -u8 -fa Liberation Mono ...
  367 tty1     S      0:00 xterm -class UXTerm -title uxterm -u8 -fa Liberation Mono ...
  368 tty1     S      0:00 xterm -class UXTerm -title uxterm -u8 -fn -misc-fixed-...
  378 pts/2    Ss     0:00 bash
  380 pts/0    Ss     0:00 bash
  381 pts/1    Ss+    0:00 bash
  445 tty1     Sl     0:20 /usr/bin/palemoon

This is only a small hand full of processes that support a totally
functional GNU/Linux desktop workstation that is equivalent to any
other.

But from trying live DVD/USB's of various distros and from other
reports the average process list number of a typical installation is
close to a HUNDRED.

To me this indicates serious bloat.

Others may disagree.

LAP