SparkyLinux LXDE For Linux

SparkyLinux LXDE is an open source Linux distribution built around the LXDE (Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment) and based on the stable branch of the Debian GNU/Linux operating system. The project provides users with a fast, stable and easy-to-use-and-configure Linux OS that supports most wireless and mobile network cards. It is distributed into multiple editions that can be downloaded from Softpedia.

This is the LXDE edition of SparkyLinux, which means that users will download and ISO image that boots into the lightweight desktop environment called LXDE. It’s distributed as two ISO images, one for each of the supported architectures (32-bit and 64-bit).

The boot medium supports multiple languages, including English, Swedish, Dutch, French, Romanian, Korean, German, Portuguese, Hungarian, Polish, Spanish, Hebrew, Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, Hindi, Slovak, Czech, Italian, Danish, Russian, and Greek.

Users can run a memory test, boot an existing operating system, as well as to start the live environment in text-mode or failsafe mode, in case their graphics card is not supported by the default settings.

As mentioned, the live session is powered by the LXDE desktop environment. It is comprised of a dock (application launcher), a Conky widget that monitors disk usage, network traffic, CPU, memory, and running processes, as well as a top panel that can be used to access the main menu, switch between virtual workspaces, interact with opened windows and system tray area.

For this edition, the developer opted for a black and white theme, even though the desktop widget is colored. Default applications include the Iceweasel web browser, VLC Media Player, Icedove email client, Pidgin multi-protocol instant messenger, Liferea news readers, and Exaile music player.

The LibreOffice office suite, Xfburn CD/DVD burning tool, GIMP image editor, Gufw firewall, Evince document viewer, and Synaptic Package Manager applications are also included in SparkyLinux LXDE.

Overall, the distribution proved to be responsive and stable enough as a workstation. It can be installed on both low-end and high-end machines without much hassle.