Originally Posted by justanoldmuso
...native on linux under the smallest linux distro possible.
I can't see a huge benefit in "the smallest distro possible" bearing in mind that an UltraPAK is a couple or so hundred gigabytes.
Even AVLinux, which admits to being a pretty rich AV environment is less than 4GB.

On most modern hardware there's no longer any point in using one of the customised real-time kernels, though people occasionally still suggest that; A low-latency is absolutely fine and the standard normal-scheduler is generally OK, despite being optimised for different purposes.

For me, I settled on AVLinux a few years back, having tried several with mixed results. AVLinux mostly "just works" for the user, as Glen McArthur who produces it tests the integration pretty thoroughly and will hold back things that have faults, and there tend to be a few of those in Wine, Wine-staging, YADbridge, mostly because their purpose is a moving target. Glen has also long worked alongside people like FalkTX and others who develop specifically music-oriented applications and shims.

I think Ubuntu Studio should also be pretty good now as it's been around for a few years and probably has most of the wrinkles removed.

If one doesn't need to run Windows stuff on the system, then probably any half-decent Linux would do. Smaller may then be better and there are plenty under 1/2GB.

From PG Music's perspective I suspect they're right not to get too deeply involved in Linux. We already see they have enough to do to keep up with the general BIAB issues and with MacOS issues, without opening a further front. But the Linux community gets on and deals with most Linux issues. Most VSTs I have will run on Linux, or at least did prior to new download managers with 'odd' looks into the OS. But as Musocity says, if someone at PGM was prepared to spend some time addressing a small number of hurdles, BIAB under Wine could be a reasonable reality.

Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
.