SparkyLinux 7.8 is now available for download as the eighth update to the Sparky 7 “Orion Belt” series. This release brings fresh packages and bug fixes to users of the stable edition, which is based on Debian 12 “Bookworm.” As usual, there is no need to reinstall if you’re already running Sparky 7. Existing users while just keep their systems updated.
All packages have been refreshed from the Debian and Sparky stable repositories as of July 14, 2025. The default kernel is Linux 6.1.140 LTS. Alternative versions such as 6.15.6, 6.12.38 LTS, and 6.6.98 LTS are available in the Sparky repositories for those who want different kernel options.
Desktop environments included in this release are up to date. KDE Plasma is at version 5.27.5, LXQt is 1.2.0, MATE is 1.26, Xfce is 4.18, and Openbox is at 3.6.1. LibreOffice comes preinstalled at version 7.4.7, but users who prefer newer features can install LibreOffice 25.2.3 from the Debian backports repo.
For web browsing and email, the release includes Firefox ESR 128.12.0 and Thunderbird 128.12.0. If you want the latest Firefox, version 140.0.4 is available in the Sparky repos.
One important change involves fixing a library conflict that was preventing the installation of packages like GIMP. The problem was caused by versions of libavutil57 from the debian-multimedia repositories. That issue has been addressed. If you were affected, you may need to uninstall the problematic version and reinstall the correct one manually. To simplify things, GIMP is now preinstalled in the live media.
ARM images have not been updated in this release. If you’re running Sparky on ARM, you can continue using version 7.7 for now.
SparkyLinux remains a reliable choice for users who want a clean, fast, and Debian-compatible system. The 7.8 release keeps things fresh while maintaining the stability that Sparky users expect.
