On Wed, 24 Apr 2019 12:36:29 -0500
Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> wrote:
I'm attempting a very minimal install because:
1. small size in and of itself is a good goal
2. fending for oneself is a valuable educational experience compared
to having everything handed to you on a "golden platter" {Debian's
default installer}
My current experiments revolve around defining my personal take on a
minimal MATE desktop. Part of the motivation is that some recommended
packages clash with ones I wish to use. Just removing offending packages
after the fact is unaesthetic.
If you intend on using MATE or for that matter, any desktop
environment, you're not going to get a VERY minimal install. Or even a
small install. I suggest you go with just a window manager. That's
what I did first with Wheezy, then Stretch.
Start with a clean terminal only system, then add X or enough of it to
make things work, the window manager, etc. until you've got what you
want. Add the applications and utilities that you need. More work, but
you do get a small, efficient system without all the crap an
apt-get install MATE would get.