Show HN: Full graphical desktop running on a 128MB VPS Alpine+XRDP+WindowMaker

#1

Post by backtogeek » Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 1:41 PM UTC

Built this as a guide for users of my hosting service. Everything here was run on a real instance. The Mesa/LLVM dependency is genuinely painful on a 1GB disk, and I couldn't find a way around it. WindowMaker won the window manager battle purely on dependency chain cleanliness; it pulls in no GTK, no Python, no audio stack. Happy to answer questions about any of the choices made. Screenshots at the end.

Show HN: Full graphical desktop running on a 128MB VPS Alpine+XRDP+WindowMaker
tierhive.com

Re: Show HN: Full graphical desktop running on a 128MB VPS Alpine+XRDP+WindowMaker

#2

Post by Imustaskforhelp » Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 2:02 PM UTC

Hey backtogeek! I see you on lowendtalk quite often, Its amazing to see you on hackernews as well!

(Tierhive is amazing btw, I have used it and I do quite like the idea of minimalism and you are well regarded within the lowendtalk when we talk about Minimalist vm's for example)

Although hackernews doesn't have a discussion, I am commenting as a form of appreciation method. It was a good surprise to reading the domain name of this post and your name on hackernews :-)

Also I do wonder what is the intersection of people who use both lowendtalk and hackernews.

Re: Show HN: Full graphical desktop running on a 128MB VPS Alpine+XRDP+WindowMaker

#3

Post by backtogeek » Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 4:04 PM UTC

Imustaskforhelp wrote: post #2

Hey backtogeek! I see you on lowendtalk quite often, Its amazing to see you on hackernews as well! (Tierhive is amazing btw, I have used it and I do quite like the idea of minimalism and you are well regarded within the lowendtalk when we talk about Minimalist vm's for example) Although hackernews doesn't have a discussion, I am commenting as a form of appreciation method. It was a good surprise to reading the domain…

Thanks I appreciate you taking the time to comment!

I wonder that too. I have been a reader for YEARS, lost access to my old account, so I am cautious about posting content here, as I know new low-post accounts are often seen as spammy, which is fair enough.

Re: Show HN: Full graphical desktop running on a 128MB VPS Alpine+XRDP+WindowMaker

#4

Post by Imustaskforhelp » Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 5:08 PM UTC

backtogeek wrote: post #3

Imustaskforhelp wrote: post #2

Hey backtogeek! I see you on lowendtalk quite often, Its amazing to see you on hackernews as well! (Tierhive is amazing btw, I have used it and I do quite like the idea of minimalism and you are well regarded within the lowendtalk when we talk about Minimalist vm's for example) Although hackernews doesn't have a discussion, I am commenting as a form of appreciation method. It was a good surprise to reading the domain…

Thanks I appreciate you taking the time to comment! I wonder that too. I have been a reader for YEARS, lost access to my old account, so I am cautious about posting content here, as I know new low-post accounts are often seen as spammy, which is fair enough.

> I wonder that too. I have been a reader for YEARS, lost access to my old account, so I am cautious about posting content here, as I know new low-post accounts are often seen as spammy, which is fair enough.

Yea a lot of new accounts on Hackernews are indeed spammy, I am lucky that my account is old enough and hopefully verified enough within the community to not be considered AI now.

I hope that my comment gives your account any minor reputation because your work is fantastic within lowendvps's spaces and I wish to say to the hackernews community that tierhive's cheapest vps at 3$/yr is definitely a steal deal especially when as you have shown how much things can run within a lowend-vps

Have a nice day :)

Re: Show HN: Full graphical desktop running on a 128MB VPS Alpine+XRDP+WindowMaker

#5

Post by ftth_finland » Fri, Mar 27, 2026, 9:42 PM UTC

Imustaskforhelp wrote: post #4

backtogeek wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks I appreciate you taking the time to comment! I wonder that too. I have been a reader for YEARS, lost access to my old account, so I am cautious about posting content here, as I know new low-post accounts are often seen as spammy, which is fair enough.

> I wonder that too. I have been a reader for YEARS, lost access to my old account, so I am cautious about posting content here, as I know new low-post accounts are often seen as spammy, which is fair enough. Yea a lot of new accounts on Hackernews are indeed spammy, I am lucky that my account is old enough and hopefully verified enough within the community to not be considered AI now. I hope that my comment gives yo…

The micro VPS is actually only 10 cents per month on Tierhive, so only $1.20 per year :)

I'm rocking one right now and it's surprisingly useful.