There are a lot of Linux distributions, and many have other distros based on them.
SparkyLinux is one such distro, which is an attempt to package Debian in a more user-friendly way.
Let’s find out.
What Is SparkyLinux?
It also has multiple editions, which will be mentioned in detail below.
The community also changed from being based on Ubuntu to Debian.
First, you have the choice between Stable or what they call “(Semi-) Rolling” distros.
The latter has newer packages and is recommended for advanced users.
SparkyLinux Installation
Installing SparkyLinux is a lot like installingother modern desktop Linux distros.
You download the installation ISO and extract it to your installation media.
SparkyLinux is available for 32-bit and 64-bit Intel and AMD processors.
The absolute minimum on RAM is 128MB for the CLI edition.
512MB is the minimum for the XFCE desktop, and 1GB is required to execute the Sparky Installer.
SparkyLinux works on both BIOS and UEFI-based machines.
Soon enough, you’ll have a working Linux desktop system.
SparkyLinux Desktop(s)
As mentioned earlier, you have a choice of desktops with SparkyLinux.
The flagship is a customized version of XFCE, but versions based on KDE and LXQt are also available.
The included apps are also fairly standard on Linux desktops.
You have Mozilla Firefox as the web online window and LibreOffice as the productivity suite.
Firefox’s default home page is a customized page that searches DuckDuckGo.
Thunderbird is the default email client, for those people who still use local email clients.
you’re free to access many common file formats out of the box.
It also includes VLC for media playback and Exaile for listening to audio files.
Altri lets you view PDF files.
SparkyLinux includes a firewall, something that a lot of desktop Linux systems don’t bother with.
If you’re comfortable using APT on Ubuntu or Debian, you should feel right at home on SparkyLinux.
You use the same commands on the command line as you would on those other systems.
For those looking for a graphical front-end to APT, the APTus AppCenter is available.
This program lets you browse packages for categories if you don’t know what you want to install.
SparkyLinux or Standard Debian?
You might be wondering if SparkyLinux is better than a stock Debian or Ubuntu installation.
SparkyLinux is attractive to those who like lighter-weight distros.
SparkyLinux bills itself as a “mid-weight” distro but the system design seems to bear this out.
XFCE has pretty low system requirements, but other desktops are even lower.
The included apps are full-weight, and the system itself uses systemd under the hood.
One advantage that SparkyLinux offers over stock Debian is the greater amount of handholding you get with the system.
SparkyLinux will also prompt you when new packages are available.
You’ll also be able to handle more media files than with a stock Debian installation.
It also uses APT instead of the hybrid APT/Snap environment in the latest Ubuntu version.
If you don’t like the way Ubuntu has been going, SparkyLinux might be a good alternative.
SparkyLinux offers the stability of Debian in a more user-friendly package.
There’s not much that’s exciting, but you get a usable system immediately post-installation.
It would be a good option forreviving an older computer that no longer gets Windows updates.
It’s a young distro with a lot of potential.
SparkyLinux is also a good alternative to Debian.
Debian’s flexibility makes it a good base for other distros.
Therefore, there are lots of Debian offshoots to choose from, including Ubuntu.
