Debian, then at the "task selection" stage choose nothing (definitely not desktop environment), later install xmonad and trayer and all that. Or you want xfce,

Debian, then at the "task selection" stage choose nothing (definitely not desktop environment), later install xmonad and trayer and all that. Or you want xfce, OK install that. Oh and probably lightdm or xdm or some login manager, assuming you don't want to log in text and then startx or whatever other strategy. Its not like Debian "requires" gnome or kde or whatever as part of the install. Just install what you want.