Sparky 7.8 released with Linux kernel 6.1 LTS and updated software & desktop environments

Debian-based Linux distribution SparkyLinux has released version 7.8 of its “Orion Belt” series, focusing on updated core components and improved usability. This release is built on the Linux kernel 6.1 LTS, while offering alternative kernel versions 6.15, 6.12 LTS, and 6.6 LTS through its repositories.

SparkyLinux 7.8 gives users multiple desktop environments, including KDE Plasma 5.27.5, LXQt 1.2.0, MATE 1.26, Xfce 4.18, and Openbox 3.6.1. Alongside the desktop updates, key applications have been refreshed with this release. LibreOffice 7.4.7, Thunderbird 128.12 ESR, and Firefox 128.12 ESR are bundled, while newer versions can be found in Debian backports or SparkyLinux’s own repositories.

This release resolves a conflict with previous multimedia libraries that blocked the installation of packages like GIMP. The GIMP graphics editor now comes preinstalled on the live media, simplifying setup for creative tasks. Users running SparkyLinux on ARM hardware should note that ARM images remain at version 7.7 in this update.