A New Release of Lightweight Linux Distribution SparkyLinux is Now Available
SparkyLinux, a Debian-based Linux distribution, has been giving its quarterly point release, with LXQt, KDE Plasma, Xfce, OpenBox, and text modes available.
SparkyLinux 6.4 is here. Based on Debian Bullseye, this lightweight distribution ships with plenty of updates for packages like Firefox, Thunderbird, VLC, LibreOffice, LXQt, Xfce, Openbox, and KDE Plasma and makes it possible to install a number of those applications from Debian unstable (to enjoy more recent releases). The latest release is updated from both the Debian and Sparky stable repositories (as of August 11, 2022).
Out of the box, you'll find apps like Firefox to be a bit out-of-date (with version 91.11.0.0esr installed. Fortunately, those who prefer to use a more recent version of Firefox can install versions 103.0.2 or 102..1.0esr from the Sparky repositories (either firefox-sparky or firefox-esr-sparky).
Users who are running earlier versions of Sparky 6.x can upgrade to the latest version with the command sparky-upgrade.
This new release is available for the following architecture:
- amd64: Versions – LXQt, KDE Plasma, Xfce, Openbox, and text mode
- i686: LXQt, Openbox, and text mode
- armhf: Openbox and text mode
To find out more about Sparky 6.4, read the full release notes and download a copy of the ISO for installation.

Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
CIQ Releases Security-Hardened Version of Rocky Linux
If you're looking for an enterprise-grade Linux distribution that is hardened for business use, there's a new version of Rocky Linux that's sure to make you and your company happy.
-
Gnome’s Dash to Panel Extension Gets a Massive Update
If you're a fan of the Gnome Dash to Panel extension, you'll be thrilled to hear that a new version has been released with a dock mode.
-
Blender App Makes it to the Big Screen
The animated film "Flow" won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature at the 97th Academy Awards held on March 2, 2025 and Blender was a part of it.
-
Linux Mint Retools the Cinnamon App Launcher
The developers of Linux Mint are working on an improved Cinnamon App Launcher with a better, more accessible UI.
-
New Linux Tool for Security Issues
Seal Security is launching a new solution to automate fixing Linux vulnerabilities.
-
Ubuntu 25.04 Coming Soon
Ubuntu 25.04 (Plucky Puffin) has been given an April release date with many notable updates.
-
Gnome Developers Consider Dropping RPM Support
In a move that might shock a lot of users, the Gnome development team has proposed the idea of going straight up Flatpak.
-
openSUSE Tumbleweed Ditches AppArmor for SELinux
If you're an openSUSE Tumbleweed user, you can expect a major change to the distribution.
-
Plasma 6.3 Now Available
Plasma desktop v6.3 has a couple of pretty nifty tricks up its sleeve.
-
LibreOffice 25.2 Has Arrived
If you've been hoping for a release that offers more UI customizations, you're in for a treat.