SparkyLinux LXQt

SparkyLinux LXQt is a completely free and open source distribution of Linux derived from the highly acclaimed Debian GNU/Linux operating system and built around the brand-new LXQt graphical desktop environment.

The main emphasis of this distribution is on LXQt, which is a mix between the LXDE (Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment) and Razor-Qt window manager. It aims to offer a modern and low on resources computer operating system that works on low-end machines.

Distributed as 64-bit and 32-bit Live DVDs

The LXQt edition of SparkyLinux is a available for download as two Live DVD ISO images, one for each of the supported CPU architectures (64-bit and 32-bit). The ISOs have approximately 1 GB in size each and can be written to either DVD discs or USB thumb drives of 1GB or higher capacity.

Comes with standard boot options

The Live DVDs come with standard boot options that can also be found on other SparkyLinux editions. These options allow you to start the live system with normal configuration, in text mode or in failsafe mode, run a memory diagnostic test, as well as to boot an existing operating system from the local drive.

Simple, clean and traditional desktop environment

The LXQt desktop environment has been modified in SparkyLinux to provide users with a clean, siimple and traditional graphical session that comprises of a single panel located on the bottom edge of the screen, from where users can access the main menu, cycle between virtual workspaces, interact with running programs, or access essential system functions. On the desktop, only the SparkyLinux Installer shortcut is provided, so you can easily install the distro.

Not so many apps have been installed in SparkyLinux LXQt

At this moment, SparkyLinux LXQt offers fewer apps than other LXQt-based distributions of Linux, most probably because it is in development. You can only find a text editor (Leafpad), a file manager (PCManFM), a screenshot utility, an image viewer (GPicView), a programmer’s editor (Vim), a web browser (Iceweasel), an IRC client (XChat), a two-pane file manager (Midnight Commander), as well as several terminal emulators (LXTerminal, XTerm and UXTerm).

What is new in this release:

• full system upgrade from Debian testing repos as of June 10, 2018
• Linux kernel 4.16.12 (4.17.0-sparky is available in Sparky ‘unstable' repo)
• Calamares 3.1.12 (not upgraded to 3.2 yet)
• added packages: xinit (provides "startx" command)
• removed packages: gksu
• Firefox ESR removed and replaced by the latest Firefox 60.0.2 (LXQt edition)
• Java web plugin removed; most modern web browsers don't support the plugin any more
• Open Java (OpenJDK) removed from the live system too; the package can be installed back via APTus-> Codecs-> OpenJDK
• Clementine music player changed by Yarock; Clementine uses old Qt 4, Yarock uses Qt 5 (LXQt edition)
• slightly refreshed appearance of the Tint2 panel (MinimalGUI edition)
• the Midori web browser is not upgraded for the last 3 years about so has been removed and replaced by an other small and fast Otter Browser (still in RC stage); your favorite web browser can be installed via APTus-> Network
• the default terminal emulator has been changed from XTerm to LXterminal (MinimalGUI edition)
• added a new, small tool to the Tint2 panel: Sparky Dashboard which displays all installed applications inside of Yad based fullscreen window (MinimalGUI edition); and can run them of course.

What is new in version :

• full system upgrade from Debian testing repos as of December 17, 2017
• Linux kernel 4.14.2 from Debian Sid repos (4.14.8-sparky is available in Sparky ‘unstable' repo)
• Calamares 3.1.10 as the default system installer
• the full disk encryption option has been activated in the Calamares, so Sparky can be installed on an encrypted disk now
• added 8 new wallpapers of Polish nature to ‘sparky-artwork-nature' package added symlink of ‘sparkylinux-installer' to ‘sparky-installer' (Advanced Installer), and ‘spb' shortcut to ‘sparkybackup' command (backup tool)

What is new in version 4.5 / 5.1 Rolling:

• full system upgrade from Debian testing repos as of September 25, 2017
• Linux kernel 4.12.13 as default (4.13.3-sparky is available in Sparky ‘unstable' repo)
• gcc 6 removed from the live media; the default compiler is gcc 7
• obmenu-generator updated up to version 0.80 (MinmalGUI edition), what speeded up launching the menu with svg icons
• the default system installer Calamares updated up to version 3.1.4
• added new tool for installing a web browser: Sparky Web Browser Installer
• new desktop environment added to Sparky repos: Manokwari
• live system's memtest86+ issue has been fixed
• source code repos moved to GitHub

What is new in version 4.5 / 5.0 Rolling:

• full system upgrade as of August 15, 2016
• Linux kernel 4.6.4 (4.7.1-sparky is available in Sparky repos, see howto)
• firefox 45.3.0.ESR (firefox 48 is available in Sparky repos)
• calamares is available (but not default yet) in our repos
• new default theme called ‘Numix-SX'
• added new desktops to MinimalISO and APTus: Lumina, Trinity and PekWM
• ‘tint2' panel replaced by ‘fbpanel' in the MinimalGUI iso images
• added ‘rootactions-servicemenu' to the Dolphin file manager in the KDE edition
• added short key which runs a terminal emulator in the MinimalGUI edition (Super+t)
• added an option which lets you install a PDF viewer, to the ‘sparky-office' tool
• Midori web browser replaced by NetSurf in the MinimalGUI edition
• the ‘sparky-firstrun' which lets you fully upgrade the system and install missing language packages has been fixed
• the ‘sparkylinux-installer' a part of ‘sparky-backup-core' tool refreshes package list itself and installs the latest desktop settings in the MinimalGUI and MinimalCLI editions
• added Vivaldi and NetSurf web browsers to Sparky repos
• improved Wiki pages

What is new in version 4.5:

• full system upgrade as of August 15, 2016
• Linux kernel 4.6.4 (4.7.1-sparky is available in Sparky repos, see howto)
• firefox 45.3.0.ESR (firefox 48 is available in Sparky repos)
• calamares is available (but not default yet) in our repos
• new default theme called ‘Numix-SX'
• added new desktops to MinimalISO and APTus: Lumina, Trinity and PekWM
• ‘tint2' panel replaced by ‘fbpanel' in the MinimalGUI iso images
• added ‘rootactions-servicemenu' to the Dolphin file manager in the KDE edition
• added short key which runs a terminal emulator in the MinimalGUI edition (Super+t)
• added an option which lets you install a PDF viewer, to the ‘sparky-office' tool
• Midori web browser replaced by NetSurf in the MinimalGUI edition
• the ‘sparky-firstrun' which lets you fully upgrade the system and install missing language packages has been fixed
• the ‘sparkylinux-installer' a part of ‘sparky-backup-core' tool refreshes package list itself and installs the latest desktop settings in the MinimalGUI and MinimalCLI editions
• added Vivaldi and NetSurf web browsers to Sparky repos
• improved Wiki pages

What is new in version 4.4:

• full system upgrade as of August 15, 2016
• Linux kernel 4.6.4 (4.7.1-sparky is available in Sparky repos, see howto)
• firefox 45.3.0.ESR (firefox 48 is available in Sparky repos)
• calamares is available (but not default yet) in our repos
• new default theme called ‘Numix-SX'
• added new desktops to MinimalISO and APTus: Lumina, Trinity and PekWM
• ‘tint2' panel replaced by ‘fbpanel' in the MinimalGUI iso images
• added ‘rootactions-servicemenu' to the Dolphin file manager in the KDE edition
• added short key which runs a terminal emulator in the MinimalGUI edition (Super+t)
• added an option which lets you install a PDF viewer, to the ‘sparky-office' tool
• Midori web browser replaced by NetSurf in the MinimalGUI edition
• the ‘sparky-firstrun' which lets you fully upgrade the system and install missing language packages has been fixed
• the ‘sparkylinux-installer' a part of ‘sparky-backup-core' tool refreshes package list itself and installs the latest desktop settings in the MinimalGUI and MinimalCLI editions
• added Vivaldi and NetSurf web browsers to Sparky repos
• improved Wiki pages

What is new in version 4.3: