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The trick is, figuring out the names of the packages you want. :-\ Experiment, and take notes, I guess.

I had a fun experience playing with `grml-debootstrap', GRML¹ being a command-line-oriented LiveCD built upon Debian. Once you’ve booted up, that app installs a minimal Debian instance on your computer. I haven't tried using the stock Debian `debootstrap' utility.

1: https://grml.org/

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I meant installing just what you need, like web servers and such. Probably should have written that in the original comment. You need to do that on any other operating system anyway, including any of the BSDs.

If you just need a plain system to drop a statically linked binary onto, Debian minimal install is perfectly usable right out of the box, and (IIRC) ships fewer components than OpenBSD.

About grml-debootstrap:

https://grml.org/grml-debootstrap/

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