SparkyLinux MATE

SparkyLinux MATE is an open source Linux distribution built around the MATE desktop environment and based on the stable branch of Debian GNU/Linux. It provides users with a very fast, simple and traditional computing environment. The SparkyLinux operating system comes with multiple desktops, support for most wireless and wired network cards, and a straightforward installation process.

Distributed as 32-bit and 64-bit Live DVDs

The MATE edition of SparkyLinux reviewed here is distributed as Live DVD ISO images that support both 32-bit and 64-bit architectures. They can be deployed on USB sticks or DVD discs and used as-is.

Another great aspect of using the Live DVDs of SparkyLinux is that they are supported in several languages, including English, Romanian, Spanish, French, Swedish, Danish, Dutch, German, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, Hungarian, Slovak, Czech, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Hebrew, Greek, Hindi and Italian.

Boot options

Users who encounter graphical issues with any of these options, should use the failsafe or text modes and start the graphical interface from there, using the startx command. If that fails, then you’re out of luck, as your video card is not supported.

MATE is the default and only desktop environment

The MATE desktop, a clone of the traditional GNOME 2 user interface, is comprised of a single panel located on the upper part of the screen, and a dock (application launcher) on the bottom edge of the screen.

Default applications

Default applications include the Iceweasel web browser, Icedove email client, Pidgin instant messenger, uGet download manager, Transmission BitTorrent client, XChat IRC client, Liferea news reader, gFTP FTP client, LibreOffice office suite, Exaile music player, GNOME MPlayer video player, VLC Media Player, and GIMP image editor.

All the standard MATE applications are included in this edition of SparkyLinux, such as the Caja file manager, pluma text editor, Eye of MATE image viewer, MATE Calculator, MATE Terminal, Engrampa archive manager, Atril document viewer, and MATE system monitor.

Bottom line

SparkyLinux MATE is a recent, but trusted Linux distro that proved to be stable enough for daily use. It is used with success by home users and office workers alike for more than the common daily tasks.

What is new in this release:

• 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 :

• 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: