The Sparky Linux team has released version 8.2, the second quarterly update in its “Seven Sisters” series based on Debian 13 “Trixie”. This version incorporates the latest packages from Debian and Sparky repositories as of February 14, 2026, along with refreshed desktop options. Users of the previous version can upgrade without reinstalling.
Sparky Linux 8.2 serves as an update for the distribution's “Seven Sisters” series, which is built on Debian 13 “Trixie”. Released on February 16, 2026, it includes all package updates available in the Debian and Sparky stable repositories up to February 14, 2026. The default kernel is Linux 6.12.69 LTS, with alternatives such as 6.12.72 LTS, 6.6.125 LTS, and 6.19.1 offered in the repositories for user preference.
Desktop environments in this release align with the Debian 13 foundation. The KDE edition features Plasma 6.3.6, while other variants include LXQt 2.1, MATE 1.26, Xfce 4.20, and Openbox 3.6.1. A small fix addresses a bug in the Openbox edition that had blocked the terminal emulator from starting via the package manager.
Key applications have also been refreshed. LibreOffice stands at version 25.2.3, Firefox at 140.7 ESR (with 147 accessible through Sparky repositories), and Thunderbird at 140.7 ESR.
ISO images are provided for amd64 architecture, supporting BIOS, UEFI, and Secure Boot, in editions like Xfce, LXQt, MATE, KDE Plasma, MinimalGUI with Openbox, and MinimalCLI. ARM64 options are limited to Openbox and CLI versions. For current Sparky 8 installations, a standard system upgrade suffices to obtain these updates.
One noted limitation affects ARM64 images: Wi-Fi may fail to function immediately after the initial boot, but a system restart resolves this and enables wireless connectivity.
