Lightweight software

In computing, lightweight software^[1] also called lightweight program and lightweight application, is a computer program that is designed to have a small memory footprint (RAM usage) and low CPU usage, overall a low usage of system resources. To achieve this, the software should avoid software bloat and code bloat and try to find the best algorithm efficiency.^[2]

LXDE, a lightweight desktop environment for GNU/Linux and BSD.

Examples

While all software development generally tries to avoid excessive size and including unnecessary code through various best practices and compiler optimization, lightweight software development implies the employment of specific programming techniques and styles designed to produce extremely small and performant software.

A demonstrative example of the extreme end of lightweight software are complex programs developed entirely in assembly language.

• KolibriOS - a fully-functional, bespoke operating system written in x86_64 assembly, which is small enough to boot from a floppy diskette.

• RollerCoaster Tycoon - A construction and management simulation game written in assembly.

Lightweight software for everyday usage is generally focused around applications that are used frequently, have a singular purpose, and are expected to load and execute almost instantaneously.

• XFCE - A desktop environment for Unix-like operating systems, written in C, that is regarded as being highly performant, and especially suited to devices with older or mininal hardware capabilities.

• Neovim - A terminal-based text editor with an extremely broad feature set and programmability via Lua. Because Neovim lacks any GUI, it can include many features, while remaining lightweight, because the graphics libraries are the "heaviest" part of most applications.

See also

• Software optimization
• Application footprint
• Light-weight process
• Lightweight protocol
• Lightweight Procedure Call
• Lightweight programming language
• Lightweight markup language
• Load (computing)

References

1. Rouse, Margaret (September 2005). "What is lightweight? - Definition from WhatIs.com". Retrieved 24 May 2019.
2. Crilly, Liam (31 March 2023). "What is Lightweight Software? Revisiting the Definition". Retrieved 26 February 2026.