The latest version of SparkyLinux can be downloaded from Softpedia

Mar 8, 2014 18:49 GMT  ·  By

SparkyLinux, a lightweight, fast, and simple Linux distribution designed for both old and new computers featuring customized LXDE, e17 and Razor-Qt desktops, is now at version 3.3.

The SparkyLinux 3.3 “Annagerman” system is built on Debian GNU/Linux “Jessie,” just like the previous versions, and features the LXDE, e17, and Razor-Qt desktop environment.

The developers of SparkyLinux also provide a number of other flavors for this particular distributions, but these are the main ones. The latest update, even if it’s just a maintenance one from 3.2 to 3.3, it comes with a large number of changes and improvements.

According to the developers, the Linux kernel has been upgraded to version 3.12. This is not the latest version available, but it’s still one of newest ones available. Also, the distribution now has all the packages upgraded from the Debian testing repositories, up until March 4, 2014.

The installer of the Linux distribution has been changed and the developers chose to fork the one used by LMDE/SolydXK. This is not such an unusual practice, especially if the new installer provides some features that couldn’t be implemented in the last one. Unfortunately, the new installer still doesn’t support UEFI, but that might change in the future.

SparkyLinux 3.3 also comes now with a new wallpaper called Strange Nature. The Grub, Plymouth and the installer are also using the new wallpaper.

Even if the new installer has been implemented, the old version is still available and can be especially useful for older machines. You can run it from a terminal:

sudo sparkylinux-installer

If you prefer the graphical mode, you need to run this command:

sudo sparkylinux-installer gui

According to the developers, the old installer has been updated as well and the partition detection way has been changed after the disk partitioning process has ended, and a new option ‘nogrub’ which lets you NOT install bootloader Grub has been added.

A number of new tools have been added: Boot-repair (a tool to repair frequent boot issues), TrueCrypt, Plymouth, uGet (a download manager), Iceowl plugin (has replaced Osmo), Hotot-Gtk (a microblogging client), sparky-eraser, and sparky-wine.

Also, the SparkyBackup-System has been removed from the system. It seems that for now it need to be rebuilt due to some changes between system base and installer of Sparky 3.2 and 3.3.

A complete list of changes and new features can be found in the official announcement of the SparkyLinux distro.

Download SparkyLinux 3.3 LXDE right now from Softpedia. Download SparkyLinux 3.3 e17 right now from Softpedia. Download SparkyLinux 3.3 Razor-Qt right now from Softpedia.