Abandoned Linux Projects That Still Outperform Modern Tools

The Linux ecosystem thrives on innovation—but sometimes, older, forgotten projects remain shockingly superior to their modern counterparts. While today’s developers chase bloat and eye candy, abandoned tools from the 90s and early 2000s still deliver unmatched speed, efficiency, and reliability.

In this article, we’ll explore three “abandoned” Linux projects that still dominate in raw performance:

• WindowMaker – The lightning-fast NeXTSTEP-inspired GUI that humiliates GNOME and KDE
• Mutt – The text-based email client trusted by Edward Snowden and security experts
• Dillo – The 2MB browser that laughs at Chrome’s 8GB RAM appetite

These tools prove that good software doesn’t die—it just gets ignored by the hype machine.

1. WindowMaker: The 90s Desktop That Embarrasses GNOME

What Is WindowMaker?

Developed in 1997 as an open-source clone of NeXTSTEP’s GUI, WindowMaker was once a leading Linux desktop environment. Today, it’s barely maintained—yet it boots in under 300MB of RAM and handles modern workflows effortlessly.

Why It’s Still Better Than GNOME/KDE

• Instant launch – Full desktop ready in < 5 seconds (vs. GNOME’s 15-30s)
• Zero lag – Even on a Pentium III, it feels snappy
• True minimalism – No background services eating CPU
• Precision window control – Pixel-perfect tiling without extensions

Who Still Uses It?

• Developers who hate systemd and DBus dependencies
• Retro computing enthusiasts
• Anyone who values speed over animations

How to Try It:

sudo apt install wmaker  # Debian/Ubuntu
sudo dnf install WindowMaker  # Fedora

2. Mutt: The Email Client Snowden Trusts

Why Mutt Beats Thunderbird & Gmail

Edward Snowden still uses Mutt, a 1995-born TUI email client, for one reason: security and efficiency.

Key Advantages:

• No tracking – Unlike webmail, Mutt doesn’t load external content
• Offline-first – Encrypted mailbox access without internet
• Lightning-fast – Search 100k emails in seconds (no indexing)
• Extensible – Integrate GPG, notmuch, and custom scripts

Modern Alternatives Fail Because:

• ProtonMail/Bird still rely on bloated Electron
• Gmail scans your emails for ads
• Thunderbird struggles with >50k emails

Example Mutt Command:

mutt -f imaps://user@server  # IMAP login

3. Dillo: The 2MB Browser That Loads Pages Instantly

The Tragedy of Modern Browsers

Chrome uses 8GB RAM for 10 tabs. Firefox isn’t much better. Meanwhile, Dillo (last updated in 2018) renders most sites in under 2MB of RAM.

Where Dillo Wins:

• Near-instant page loads – No JS bloat
• Zero ads – No tracking scripts execute
• Runs on a toaster – 1990s hardware? No problem

Limitations:

• No JavaScript (a feature, not a bug)
• Basic CSS support
• Best for:
• Reading documentation
• Quick searches
• Terminal users who curl anyway

Installation:

sudo apt install dillo  # Debian/Ubuntu

Why Were These Projects Abandoned?

1. Corporate Influence – Red Hat/Canonical pushed GNOME/KDE
2. “Modern” Expectations – Users wanted eye candy over speed
3. Maintainer Burnout – Open-source isn’t sustainable forever

Yet, these tools still outperform their successors because:
✔ No feature creep – They do one thing well
✔ No telemetry – Your data stays yours
✔ No dependency hell – Static binaries exist

How to Revive (and Improve) These Tools

1. Fork Them

• WINGs (WindowMaker’s toolkit) could be modernized
• NeoMutt exists, but needs more contributors
• Dillo-Powered browsers could use a Rust rewrite

2. Use Them Daily

• WindowMaker as your main DE
• Mutt for all email (even Gmail via IMAP)
• Dillo for reading (pair with lynx for JS-heavy sites)

3. Spread Awareness

Most Linux users don’t know these tools exist. Share this article.

Conclusion: The Forgotten Giants of Linux

While GNOME and Chrome chase “modern” trends, WindowMaker, Mutt, and Dillo prove that less is more. They’re not just relics—they’re benchmarks of efficiency that today’s software fails to match.

Next Steps:

1. Install one (try WindowMaker first)
2. Tell a friend
3. Consider contributing

The golden age of Linux isn’t over—it’s just waiting for you to rediscover it.

Further Reading:

• WindowMaker’s Official Site
• Mutt’s Advanced Guide
• Dillo’s Minimal Web

Which “dead” Linux tool do you still use? Let us know below! ⚡