Earlier this month, Microsoft unveiled comprehensive details regarding Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024, the long-term servicing channel version of its latest operating system. This announcement has sparked interest in the tech community, particularly among developers and enthusiasts.
Innovative Developments in Lightweight Operating Systems
In a notable response, NTDEV, the mastermind behind the compact builds known as tiny11 and tiny10, has released an update to the tiny11 project. This latest iteration features Windows 11 version 24H2, ingeniously crafted using the framework of Windows 11 LTSC 2024.
The developer takes pride in the remarkably small size of tiny11 24H2, which can be comfortably stored on a standard DVD. With a mere footprint of 3.54 GB, this lightweight operating system leaves ample space, as a typical DVD can accommodate nearly 4.7 GB of data.
NTDEV attributes this impressive compression capability to the use of LZX delta compression. For those unfamiliar, LZX, or Lempel-Ziv Extended compression, is an advanced compression engine based on the LZ77 algorithm, utilized primarily for NTFS file compression. NTFS, or New Technology File System, remains the cornerstone for managing various Windows system files.
While Microsoft has introduced enhancements to the Resilient File System (ReFS) in its latest feature update, these improvements are not intended for the average user, leaving a niche for innovative projects like tiny11.
Well, the good news is that you can still make the entire tiny11 fit on a DVD! (with LZX compression, of course).
Behold, tiny11 based on Windows 11 LTSC 24H2! pic.twitter.com/tXS3Z8KoSw
— NTDEV (@NTDEV_) October 12, 2024
Beyond its compact size, the tiny11 developer frequently emphasizes the minimal system memory requirements of their creation. In previous demonstrations, tiny11 has successfully operated on as little as 176 MB of RAM. In a particularly impressive feat, they managed to reduce this requirement to a mere 100 MB with a “text-only” version of Windows 11, effectively stripping the operating system of its graphical user interface.
