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SparkyLinux RSS Feed DistroWatch.com: SparkyLinux

SparkyLinux


Last Update: 2025-09-16 15:13 UTC


SparkyLinux is a lightweight, fast and simple Linux distribution designed for both old and new computers featuring customised Enlightenment and LXDE desktops. It has been built on the "testing" branch of Debian GNU/Linux.

Popularity (hits per day): 12 months: 24 (390), 6 months: 25 (393), 3 months: 24 (453), 4 weeks: 46 (330), 1 week: 56 (308)

Average visitor rating: 8.3/10 from 111 review(s).


SparkyLinux Summary
Distribution SparkyLinux
Home Page https://sparkylinux.org/
Mailing Lists --
User Forums https://forum.sparkylinux.org/
Alternative User Forums
Documentation https://wiki.sparkylinux.org/
Screenshots https://sparkylinux.org/screenshotsDistroWatch Gallery
Screencasts
Download Mirrors https://sparkylinux.org/download/DistroWatch Torrent Archive
Bug Tracker https://sourceforge.net/p/sparkylinux/tickets/
Related Websites  
Reviews 2020.x: Dedoimedo
7.x: FOSS Force
5.x: DistroWatch
3.x: DistroWatchLinuxInsiderNavy ChristianDedoimedo
2.x: DistroWatch
Where To Donate, Buy or Try The Linux Shop Donate

Recent Related News and Releases
  Releases announcements with download links and checksums:
 • 2025-09-16: Distribution Release: SparkyLinux 2025.09
 • 2025-08-14: Distribution Release: SparkyLinux 8.0
 • 2025-07-15: Distribution Release: SparkyLinux 7.8
 • 2025-04-10: Distribution Release: SparkyLinux 7.7
 • 2024-05-07: Distribution Release: SparkyLinux 2024.05
 • 2024-02-12: Distribution Release: SparkyLinux 2024.02
 • 2023-12-07: Distribution Release: SparkyLinux 7.2
 • 2023-06-15: Distribution Release: SparkyLinux 7.0
 • 2023-02-06: Distribution Release: SparkyLinux 6.6
 • 2022-08-13: Distribution Release: SparkyLinux 6.4
 • 2022-03-08: Distribution Release: SparkyLinux 2022.03
 • 2021-09-19: Distribution Release: SparkyLinux 2021.09
 • More SparkyLinux releases...

  Headlines:
 • 2023-01-21 Sparky offers storage persistence on USB thumb drives
 • 2022-08-02 Sparky updates classic desktops and language translations
 • 2020-02-15 Sparky introduces MystiQ
 • 2019-12-05 SparkyLinux introduces portable edition
 • 2019-06-02 SparkyLinux adds QtFM file manager
 • 2018-04-07 Sparky reducing number of editions
 • 2017-12-12 Sparky runs on a Raspberry Pi
 • 2016-11-29 SparkyLinux unveils several changes
 • More SparkyLinux headlines...

Table Notes and Explanations

(Please refer to the table below.)
  • Select view:
  • To compare the software in this project to the software available in other distributions, please see our Compare Packages page.
  • Notes: In case where multiple versions of a package are shipped with a distribution, only the default version appears in the table. For indication about the GNOME version, please check the "nautilus" and "gnome-shell" packages. The Apache web server is listed as "httpd" and the Linux kernel is listed as "linux". The KDE desktop is represented by the "plasma-desktop" package and the Xfce desktop by the "xfdesktop" package.
  • Colour scheme: green text = latest stable version, red text = development or beta version. The function determining beta versions is not 100% reliable due to a wide variety of versioning schemes.
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Feature 2025.09 8.0.1 7.8 6.7 5.16 4.13 4.5.2 3.6 3.1 2.1 2.0.1 Feature
Release Date 2025-09-16 2025-09-05 2025-07-15 2023-05-09 2022-01-14 2020-10-04 2016-12-23 2014-12-08 2013-09-29 2013-03-19 2012-12-18 Release Date
End Of Life         07-2024             End Of Life
Price (US$) Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Price (US$)
Image Size (MB) 1000-2700 900-2500 700-2300 600-1800 500-1400 400-1400           Image Size (MB)
Free Download ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO Free Download
Installation Calamares Calamares Calamares Calamares Calamares Calamares Calamares Calamares Calamares Calamares Calamares Installation
Default Desktop KDE Plasma, LXQt, MATE, Xfce KDE Plasma, LXQt, MATE, Xfce KDE Plasma, LXQt, Xfce KDE Plasma, LXQt, Xfce LXQt, Xfce LXDE KDE Plasma, LXDE, LXQt, MATE, Xfce Enlightenment, LXDE, Razor-qt LXDE LXDE LXDE Default Desktop
Package Management DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB Package Management
Release Model Semi-Rolling Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Release Model
Office Suite LibreOffice LibreOffice LibreOffice LibreOffice LibreOffice LibreOffice LibreOffice LibreOffice GOffice, LibreOffice LibreOffice -- Office Suite
Processor Architecture x86_64 x86_64 i686, x86_64 i686, x86_64 i686, x86_64 i686, x86_64 i586, x86_64 i486, x86_64 i486, x86_64 i486, x86_64 i486 Processor Architecture
Init Software systemd systemd systemd systemd systemd systemd systemd systemd SysV SysV SysV Init Software
Journaled File Systems Btrfs, ext4, XFS Btrfs, ext4, XFS Btrfs, ext4, XFS Btrfs, ext4, XFS Btrfs, ext4, XFS Btrfs, ext4, XFS ext4, XFS ext4, XFS ext4, XFS ext4, XFS ext4, XFS Journaled File Systems
Multilingual de, en, fr, pl de, en, fr, pl de, en, fr, pl de, en, fr, pl de, en, fr, pl de, en, fr, pl de, en, fr, pl de, en, fr, pl de, en, fr, pl en en Multilingual
Asian Language Support -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Asian Language Support
Full Package List 2025.09 8.0.1 7.8 6.7 5.16 4.13 4.5.2 3.6 3.1 2.1 2.0.1 Full Package List
Package 2025.09 8.0.1 7.8 6.7 5.16 4.13 4.5.2 3.6 3.1 2.1 2.0.1 Package
alsa-lib (1.2.14) 1.2.14 1.2.14 1.2.8 1.2.4 1.2.5.1 1.1.3 1.1.2 1.0.28 1.0.27.2 1.0.25 1.0.25 alsa-lib (1.2.14)
amdgpu (25.0.0) 23.0.0 23.0.0 23.0.0 19.1.0 21.0.0 -- -- -- -- -- -- amdgpu (25.0.0)
apparmor (4.1.2) 4.1.0 4.1.0 3.0.8 2.13.6 3.0.3 -- -- -- -- -- -- apparmor (4.1.2)
apt (3.1.8) 3.1.5 3.0.3 2.6.1 2.2.4 2.3.13 1.4.10 1.4 1.0.9.3 0.9.9.4 0.9.7.7 0.9.7.6 apt (3.1.8)
bash (5.3) 5.3 5.2.37 5.2.15 5.1 5.1 4.4 4.4 4.3 4.2 4.2 4.2 bash (5.3)
bind (9.20.13) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- bind (9.20.13)
chromium (141.0.7390.107) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- chromium (141.0.7390.107)
cinnamon (6.4.13) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- cinnamon (6.4.13)
cups (2.4.14) 2.4.10 2.4.10 2.4.2 2.3.3 2.3.3 2.2.1 2.2.1 1.7.5 1.6.3 1.5.3 1.5.3 cups (2.4.14)
e2fsprogs (1.47.3) 1.47.2 1.47.2 1.47.0 1.46.2 1.46.4 1.43.4 1.43.3 1.42.12 1.42.8 1.42.5 1.42.5 e2fsprogs (1.47.3)
ffmpeg (8.0) 8.0 7.1.1 6.0.1 4.4.4 4.4.1 3.3.9 3.2.2 2.4.3 1.2.3 1.0.5 1.0 ffmpeg (8.0)
firefox (144.0) 128.14.0 128.14.0 128.12.0 102.10.0 95.0 78.3.0 45.5.1 -- 17.0.8 10.0.12 10.0.11 firefox (144.0)
flatpak (1.16.1) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- flatpak (1.16.1)
freetype (2.14.1) 2.13.3 2.13.3 2.12.1 2.10.4 2.11.0 2.6.3 2.6.3 2.5.2 2.4.9 2.4.9 2.4.9 freetype (2.14.1)
gcc (15.2.0) 15.2.0 14.2.0 12.2.0 10.2.1 11.2.0 6.3.0 6.2.1 4.9.1 4.8.1 4.7.2 4.7.2 gcc (15.2.0)
gimp (3.0.6) 3.0.4 3.0.4 2.10.34 -- -- -- -- 2.8.14 2.8.6 2.8.2 -- gimp (3.0.6)
git (2.51.1) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1.7.10.4 1.7.10.4 git (2.51.1)
glibc (2.42) 2.41 2.41 2.36 2.31 2.32 2.24 2.24 2.19 2.17 2.13 2.13 glibc (2.42)
gnome-shell (49.1) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- gnome-shell (49.1)
grub (2.12) 2.12 2.12 2.06 2.06 2.04 2.02 2.02beta3 2.02beta2 1.99 1.99 1.99 grub (2.12)
gtk (4.20.2) 4.20.1 4.18.6 4.8.3 3.24.24 3.24.30 3.22.11 3.22.4 3.14.4 2.24.20 2.24.10 2.24.10 gtk (4.20.2)
httpd (2.4.65) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- httpd (2.4.65)
inkscape (1.4.2) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- inkscape (1.4.2)
kmod (34.2) 34.2 34.2 30 28 29 23 23 18 9 9 9 kmod (34.2)
krita (5.2.13) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- krita (5.2.13)
LibreOffice (25.8.2) 25.8.1 25.2.3 7.4.7 7.0.4 7.2.3 5.2.7 5.2.4 4.3.3 4.1.1 3.5.4 -- LibreOffice (25.8.2)
Package 2025.09 8.0.1 7.8 6.7 5.16 4.13 4.5.2 3.6 3.1 2.1 2.0.1 Package
libselinux (3.9) 3.8.1 3.8.1 3.4 3.1 3.3 2.6 2.6 2.3 2.1.13 2.1.9 2.1.9 libselinux (3.9)
linux (6.17.4) 6.16.7 6.12.41 6.1.140 5.10.178 5.15.5 4.9.228 4.8.7 3.16.7 3.10.11 3.2.39 3.2.23 linux (6.17.4)
mariadb (12.0.2) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- mariadb (12.0.2)
mate-desktop (1.28.2) 1.26.2 1.26.2 1.26.0 -- 1.24.1 -- 1.16.1 1.8.1 -- -- -- mate-desktop (1.28.2)
mesa (25.2.5) 25.2.2 25.0.7 22.3.6 20.3.5 21.2.6 13.0.6 13.0.2 10.3.2 9.1.6 8.0.5 8.0.5 mesa (25.2.5)
mysql (9.4.0) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- mysql (9.4.0)
nautilus (49.1) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- nautilus (49.1)
NVIDIA (580.95.05) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- NVIDIA (580.95.05)
openjdk (25) -- -- -- -- -- -- 8u111 7u71 7u21 7u3 7u3 openjdk (25)
openssh (10.2p1) 10.0p1 10.0p1 9.2p1 8.4p1 8.7p1 7.4p1 7.3p1 6.7p1 6.2p2 6.0p1 6.0p1 openssh (10.2p1)
openssl (3.6.0) 3.5.2 3.5.1 3.0.16 1.1.1n 1.1.1l 1.1.0l 1.0.2d 1.0.1j 1.0.1e 1.0.1e 1.0.1c openssl (3.6.0)
perl (5.42.0) 5.40.1 5.40.1 5.36.0 5.32.1 5.32.1 5.24.1 5.24.1 5.20.1 5.18.1 5.14.2 5.14.2 perl (5.42.0)
php (8.4.13) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- php (8.4.13)
plasma-desktop (6.4.5) 6.3.6 6.3.6 5.27.5 5.20.5 5.23.4 -- 5.8.2 -- -- -- -- plasma-desktop (6.4.5)
postfix (3.10.4) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- postfix (3.10.4)
postgresql (18.0) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- postgresql (18.0)
Python (3.14.0) 3.13.7 3.13.5 3.11.2 3.9.2 3.9.7 3.5.3 3.5.1 3.4.2 2.7.5 2.7.3 2.7.3rc2 Python (3.14.0)
qt (6.10.0) 6.8.2 6.8.2 6.4.2 5.15.2 5.15.2 5.7.1 5.7.1 5.3.2 4.8.5 4.8.2 4.8.2 qt (6.10.0)
samba (4.23.2) 4.22.4 4.22.3 4.17.12 4.13.13 4.13.14 4.5.16 4.4.7 4.1.13 3.6.18 3.6.6 3.6.6 samba (4.23.2)
systemd (258.1) 258rc4 257.7 252.38 247.3 249.7 232 232 215 -- -- -- systemd (258.1)
thunderbird (144.0.1) 128.14.0 128.13.0 128.12.0 102.10.0 91.3.2 68.12.0 45.2.0 -- 10.0.12 10.0.12 -- thunderbird (144.0.1)
vim (9.1) 9.1 9.1 9.0 -- -- 8.0 8.0 7.4 7.4 7.3 7.3 vim (9.1)
vlc (3.0.21) 3.0.21 3.0.21 3.0.21 3.0.18 3.0.16 3.0.11.1 2.2.4 2.2.0rc2 2.0.8 2.0.5 2.0.4 vlc (3.0.21)
wayland (1.24.0) 1.24.0 1.23.1 1.21.0 1.18.0 1.19.0 1.12.0 1.11.0 1.6.0 1.2.1 -- -- wayland (1.24.0)
xfdesktop (4.20.1) 4.20.1 4.20.1 4.18.1 4.16.0 4.16.0 -- 4.12.3 4.10.2 -- -- -- xfdesktop (4.20.1)
xorg-server (21.1.18) 21.1.18 21.1.16 21.1.7 1.20.11 1.20.13 1.19.2 1.19.0 1.16.1.901 1.12.4 1.12.4 1.12.4 xorg-server (21.1.18)

Reader Ratings
Reader supplied reviews for SparkyLinux

Average rating
8.3
from 111 review(s)



What are your thoughts on SparkyLinux?
Please include a few pros and a few cons, along with your overall impression of the operating system.
Our FAQ page has tips on writing a good mini-review.

Version:

Rating:    out of 10

Your review (minimum 250 words):




Past reviews - sort by:

Version: 2025.09
Rating: 9
Date: 2025-10-12
Votes: 1


SparkyLinux, is one of the best debian derivatives, which exists today.
Both the stable version (based on debian 13 'trixie') and rolling (debian 14 'forky').

It is perfectly valid for current hardware, as well as for old equipment. Where its performance is simply formidable.
It is fast, light and reliable.

Available (stable or rolling) with lightweight desktops such as Mate, LXQT, Xfce, in addition to KDE.
And there are also versions like MinimalGUI (with Openbox WM) and MinimalCLI (command line).

I have been using the rolling version, for a lot of years. And I have not had any noticeable problems in their daily use,
or with their successive upgrades ...

A highly recommended distro if you like GNU/Linux debian. Both for novice users or for experienced users.


Was this review helpful? Yes No
Version: 7.8
Rating: 9
Date: 2025-09-17
Votes: 3


Been using Sparky for 2 years, on 3 platforms, all are rather lightweight.
Toshiba C55-B5100 (essentially a mid level chrome book with a DVD drive)
HP Elitedesk 705 G4 (retired and refurbed AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 2400 GE 1 liter for factor)
and
Dell Optiplex 9020 with 17 and 32 GB (old but still in use)

Sparky handles all of them very well, they are quite usable.

I always use the Mate Desktop Environment, and almost all of my troubles are the Mate file manager, Caja, not a Sparky problem.
Not to say Caja is anywhere a trainwreck, but more saying Mate is in need of cleaning up existing packages. so maybe go with a different DE when considering Sparky. Unless Mate gets cleaned up!

Handy feature which newbs would like: the APTus AppCenter. Also, system and software updates using a few dialogs from Sparky APTus.

Backed by the efforts of Debian.

All works very well.

Give it a try!


Was this review helpful? Yes No
Version: 7.8
Rating: 5
Date: 2025-07-25
Votes: 0


Sparky Linux has been a good. basic, uncomplicated, Debian-based, Linux distro for quite a while. It seemed to be problem-free. I like the simplicity including the Mate desktop. The last 2 editions have had some problems though. Version 7.7 had an issue that wouldn't allow downloading and installation of GIMP. Version 7.8 fixed that (with a couple of passes with Synaptic to get all the pieces installed). However, when I try and install 7.8 on my old Dell laptop Vostro 1500 it says I don't have an internet connection even though I have an active RJ-45 ethernet cable plugged in. It doesn't recognize WiFi capability either during the installation nor after rebooting the installed OS. That is a serious problem. Since version 7.7 upgrades to 7.8 I decided to use the 7.7 install DVD and then update. The new version didn't recognize the ethernet nor WiFi either. Version 7.7 ethernet had worked on an old HP/Compaq tower computer I gave to a friend so this is puzzling, and not good. I will update that computer and get GIMP installed at the same time.
On my laptop I had replaced Emmabuntus which worked fine on it. I just wanted the same OS on both my old laptop and computers I give to people. I should have left Emmabuntus alone although I don't like the dark theme which isn't changeable on Emmabuntus.


Was this review helpful? Yes No

See all 111 reader reviews of SparkyLinux...



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