Jack Wallen/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Alpine Linux is a small but mighty distribution. With a bit of work, it can be shaped into a lightning-fast desktop OS. Alpine Linux is free to download and install. I’ve used every conceivable Linux distribution, from the extremely lightweight to the overstuffed and bloated. With almost every distribution type, I can find a rock-solid use to make the most of what it offers. Also: The best Linux laptops: Expert tested for students, hobbyists, and pros Alpine Linux is no outlier. However, for the most part, I’ve used this lightweight, security-focused distribution for container deployments —  one of the most common use cases for Alpine Linux because its base image is incredibly small (between 2.67 and 5 MB – yes, megabytes). This gives Alpine Linux a minimal attack surface, which is great for containers. But is Alpine Linux an option for the desktop? The answer to that is yes, but with a big honking asterisk. Let me explain. What is …