SparkyLinux 8.0, codenamed "The Seven Sisters," has been released, built on Debian 13.0 "Trixie". The latest version features updates to various packages, introduces a new package called 'sparky-package-tool', and includes enhancements to GIMP packages. The CLI system installer now includes the capability to encrypt the home partition and perform auto-partitioning. Concerns involve disk encryption implementation during the installation process with Calamares, as well as the utilization of outdated KDE Plasma 6 themes. Images for Raspberry Pi will be developed at a subsequent date.

Sparky 8.0

A new version of SparkyLinux 8.0, codenamed “Seven Sisters,” has been released.

SparkyLinux 8.0 “The Seven Sisters” is based on an fully compatible with Debian 13.0 “Trixie”.

Sparky 8 codename “The Seven Sisters” (or Pleiades – in the Messier catalog, M45 or Messier 45; other names: Babies, Chickens, Church of the Masonic) – is the most famous open cluster in the sky. Its popularity is primarily due to its ability to be easily observed with the naked eye. It is located in the constellation Taurus, approximately 444 light-years (136 parsecs) away.

Main changes:
– all packages updated from the stable Debian and Sparky repositories as of August 13, 2025.
– Linux kernel: 6.12.41-LTS (6.16.0, 6.12.41-LTS, 6.6.99-LTS in sparky repositories)
– LibreOffice 25.2.3
– KDE Plasma 6.3.6
– LXQt 2.1.0
– MATE 1.26
– Xfce 4.20
– Openbox 3.6.1
– Firefox 128.13.0esr (141.0.3 in sparky repo)
– Thunderbird 128.13.0esr
– added new package ‘sparky-package-tool’ (spt) which helps with package management in a text console
– added gimp package to all ISO images
– CLI system installer (sparky-installer) now has an option to encrypt the home partition, and auto-partitioning (it selects the entire disk, all on one (partitions)
– Openbox: PCManFM has been replaced by Thunar
– Sparky APTus AppCenter has been updated; many packages removed from the Debian “Trixie” repo have also been removed from APTus.

Known issues:
– Disk encryption during installation using Calamares does not work correctly
– KDE Plasma: old KDE Plasma 6 themes (from external sources) do not work

Images for Raspberry Pi will be built at a later date.
x86/i686 ISO images have been abandoned; packages for the i386 architecture are still available in the Sparky repo.

Installation on UEFI machines requires an active internet connection.

New ISO images can be downloaded from the  Download SparkyLinux page.

It is possible to upgrade Sparky 7.x to 8.x:
https://wiki.sparkylinux.org/doku.php/upgrade_7_to_8

Sparky users of the testing line (semi-rolling) should update their packages as usual. The new testing repositories will be activated soon and a separate post will be published.

Sparky 8.0