Polish distro based on Debian continues
to impress and is still a joy to use
By Larry Cafiero
When we last left SparkyLinux – back in July of last year reviewing version 7.7 for FOSS Force – the distro was, if I recall correctly, impressive.
After a year and apparently a few improvements, the Polish distro based on Debian is back at Distro of the Week for another test drive. The project basically offers two versions – based on Debian Stable and Debian Testing – and provides separate editions featuring desktop environments like KDE Plasma, LXQt, MATE, and Xfce, as well as the Openbox window manager.
There is an option to add more desktop environments/window managers, but we’ll get to that later.
Code-named Seven Sisters in keeping with SparkyLinux’s constellation motif, SparkyLinux 8.4 is a significant update from version 7, introducing several key enhancements and features. Most notably, the distro reintroduces support for 32-bit installation images, catering to users with older hardware while reversing the previous decision made when Debian dropped support for 32-bit ISO images.
Additionally, the desktop environments in SparkyLinux 8.4 have been updated to their latest versions, enhancing user experience and functionality. Overall, the distro offers significant improvements over its previous version, making it a more suitable choice for users with older hardware as well as those seeking the latest features in their operating system.
Installing SparkyLinux 8.4
Opting for the Debian Stable version and the KDE Plasma desktop, the ISO for SparkyLinux 8.4 is an economical 2.4 GB and downloaded well within 15 minutes. Transferring it onto a USB drive was quick, and the resulting up-time for the live USB was swift.
Installing SparkyLinux 8.4 using the Calamares-based installer was simple and straightforward, asking for location for time-zone purposes, keyboard setup, disk partitions, user name and password (at which point there’s an option to use the user name and password as the administrator account, which we opted out of and supplied an root password), and after checking all this in the summary, it was time to install.
The developers at SparkyLinux must have had a sixth sense about users who upgrade immediately after rebooting their new installation, because upon reboot and login, a small window popped up on the lower right of the screen asking if the user would like to upgrade. Yes, please, and with that the distro did an upgrade.
Kicking the tires on SparkyLinux 8.4
While this upgrade happened, the user is treated to a standard issue SparkyLinux Welcome window, which allows the user to modify his or her system accordingly. Of special note is the button on the window which takes users to the APTus AppCenter, which for some of us was a treat.
The APTus AppCenter provides a wide range of modification choices, should the user want to make them in their SparkyLinux distro. Not only can you upload any software you think the distro might be lacking, broken down by category, there’s much more to it than this. Not the least of which is the Desktop button, which offers 27 – count ‘em, 27 – different desktop environment and/or window manager options from which to choose.
Coupled with the fact that a user really doesn’t have to add software unless it’s something that’s somewhat particular to his or her use, SparkyLinux 8.4 is simply a joy to use. The distro performed gracefully and problem-free over the week. This, of course, was no different than when we test-drove it a year ago, and with Debian rumbling under the proverbial hood, applications were nimble and quick.
Trying to get the RAM up proved to be a chore – a good chore, but a chore nonetheless – since like it was a year ago, SparkyLinux handled everything the user threw at it with ease. Opening several programs and using them simultaneously worked flawlessly on this distro, with the RAM just barely using over 3 GB at its busiest.
That said, multitasking was ultimately seamless, with daily use like web surfing and email comings-and-goings being a simple chore for this distro. Listening to music is also a treat, thanks to the VLC media player included in the original installation.
The final word
SparkyLinux 8.4 represents a clear and significant distance from another Polish distro we reviewed recently – namely Linux Q83 – insofar as the look is less utilitarian (for lack of a better term) and the user experience is far more upbeat. Again, we are using the KDE Plasma version of the distro, which may make a difference.
But that said, even today SparkyLinux 8.4 – like its counterpart reviewed a year ago – is fast and versatile; two items that should be the hallmark of Linux distros across the board, but the distro adds even more versatility by providing its own tools and scripts for easier system management.
SparkyLinux would be an almost ideal entry into Linux for beginners, if for no other reason that the APTus AppCenter is both a blessing and a curse – but mostly a blessing – for new users wishing to experiment and take their Linux experience to new heights. The downside, however minor, would be that users would use it as a “crutch,” so to speak, and not learn how to install software via other methods.
But never mind: While SparkyLinux is good for beginners, more experienced users should find Sparky an admirable distro for a variety of reasons, stemming from the inclusion of software and other tools available to it.
Don’t take my word for it. Give SparkyLinux 8.4 a try by downloading the distro from SparkyLinux’s download page.
Do you have a distro you think would make a great feature for Distro of the Week? Don’t be shy—let me know! Email me at larry.cafiero@gmail.com and I’ll make an effort to make your choice available to the wider public … No suggestion is too mainstream!